April 20, 2008 – Danica Patrick becomes first woman to win IndyCar race
When the checkered flag flew at the Indy Japan 300 on this day in 2008 Danica Patrick was the first one across the finish line, making her the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race. Patrick began her career in kart racing before moving to Formula Fords in
April 19 , 1953 – Pebble Beach breaks 100 entries
“Concours d’Elegance;” just saying it sounds fancy. Visitors to the opening of the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on this day in 1953 were the first to see a Concours featuring more than 100 vehicle entries. The first Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was held in 1950, in conjunction of
April 18, 1964 – Ford GT40 makes its public track debut
The American powered, British bodied, Ford GT40 had one job: outperform Ferrari in endurance races. Introduced a few weeks earlier at the New York Auto Show, the first of the car GT40s, Mk1 chassis 101 and 102, made their first public appearance on a track on this day in
April 17, 1964 – The Ford Mustang goes on sale
Picture yourself the New York Auto Show on this day in 1964. You’re in a huge crowd, gathered to hear Henry Ford II, grandson of Henry Ford, make a monumental announcement. He begins his speech, puffing up a balloon of anticipation. Then POP! The curtain drops and you feast
April 16, 1946 – Arthur Chevrolet commits suicide
Arthur Chevrolet passed away on this day in 1946 after hanging himself. For many years prior he battled unyielding depression. Arthur and his brothers Louis and Gaston were highly successful race car drivers between the 1900s and 1920s. It is Louis, though, who worked with Billy Durant to co-found
April 15, 1964 – Gail Wise is first to buy a Ford Mustang
On this day in 1964, two days before the Ford Mustang was officially supposed to go on sale, one mistakenly left the dealership. The lucky new owner, the first person to buy a Mustang , was Gail Wise, a 22 year old school teacher from Chicago. Her parents let
April 14, 1912 – A Renault sinks aboard the Titanic
There are probably very few, if any, remnants left of a certain 1912 Renault Type CB Coupe de Ville at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, that Renault, made famous by Jack and Rose in “Titanic.” The ship struck an iceberg during her maiden voyage on this day
5 sweet vans for sale on Craigslist under $4K – that run!
The first car I bought myself to actually daily drive (first bought a 1949 Plymouth as a project), was a 1983 Chevy G20 van. It’s beautiful shades of brown inside and out led me to name it the Kangaroo Pouch. My friends and I soon dubbed ourselves the Kangaroo
