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The first successful gasoline engine was developed by Nikolaus Otto. The engine was then modified and in 1876, Otto introduced the four-stroke, cycle engine.
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George Selden of Rochester, NY. filed for the first patent for an automobile (5-8-1879). The US Patent Office did not grant it until 11-5-1895.
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The first sale of a motor car, by a German Co. (Benz) to a Frenchman (M. Emile Roger of Paris), was recorded.
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Charles & J. Frank Duryea introduced the first American gas powered, four wheel, automobile. The modest carriage was powered by a one cylinder engine (9-21-1893).
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The first official auto race in the world, a 732 mile, round trip race from Paris to Bordeaux, was won by Emile Levassor in a Panhard-Levassor. He was later disqualified because his car could carry only two people (more than two were required).
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The world’s first closed track (an oval track) race was held between eight four wheelers (five gas powered) on a one mile dirt, horse racing, track in Cranston, R.I.
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The nation’s first auto show opened in Madison Square Garden, NY (11-3-1900)
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Racing bicyclist Barney Oldfield won the 5 mile Manufacturers Challenge Cup at Grosse Point, MI. in Henry Ford’s car, the 999 (10-23-1902). A road race on a 53 mile circuit near Bastogne, Belgium was the first European race on a closed circuit
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The second Vanderbilt Cup race was held again at Long Island, NY. Vanderbilt’s mission of encouraging American competition was successful in that the AAA was forced to hold elimination trials due to the large number of entries.
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Racing in Europe became better organized and more professional. France began to see increased competition from the Italians and Germans. Professional racing drivers slowly began to replace the wealthy playboys who enjoyed racing.
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Barney Oldfield drove Harry Miller’s first chassis and engine creation, the enclosed cockpit “Golden Submarine”, to 80 mph over a mile in St. Louis (8-9-1917)
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Jimmy Murphy won the French Grand Prix in a Duesenberg. It was the first GP win for an American car and driver. It was a terrific race.
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Effective with the Indy 500, the AAA reduced engine displacement to 91.5 ci…and, strangely, winner Frank Lockhart’s average race winning speed was faster than his qualifying speed
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On 8-16-1934 the first issue of National Speed Sport News was published as a stand alone weekly tabloid
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A four cylinder “Offy”, descendant of the successful Miller eight, won the Indy 500 for the first time. Indy also installed electric warning lights and mandated the wearing of helmets.
