1911 – Mason Motor Company Is Founded in Flint
The Mason Motor Company was incorporated in Flint, Michigan, on July 31, 1911, as part of William C. Durant’s effort to rebuild his automotive empire after losing control of General Motors. Created with former Buick engine superintendent Arthur C. Mason, the company was established to produce engines for Durant’s new automotive ventures, including Chevrolet and the Little Motor Car Company. Although the Mason name had already appeared on earlier automobiles built in Iowa, this Flint operation belonged to a different chapter of the industry’s development. Mason Motor Company became part of the complicated network of companies that helped launch Chevrolet, which Durant eventually used as the foundation for his return to General Motors.
1916 – Racing Driver Louise Smith Is Born
Louise Smith was born on July 31, 1916, in Barnesville, Georgia, and later became one of the first women to compete in NASCAR. Known as the “First Lady of Racing,” Smith began racing in the late 1940s and quickly developed a reputation for fearlessness, determination and frequent crashes. She competed in NASCAR’s top division during its formative years and also became a successful modified and sportsman driver, reportedly winning dozens of races throughout her career. In an era when women were rarely welcomed in stock car racing, Smith built a following through grit and personality. She was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1999, recognizing her role as a pioneer for women in American motorsport.
1960 – Atlanta Motor Speedway Opens
Atlanta Motor Speedway opened on July 31, 1960, with the Dixie 300, a NASCAR Grand National race won by Fireball Roberts. Originally known as Atlanta International Raceway, the track was built in Hampton, Georgia, as a 1.5-mile oval intended to bring major stock car racing to the Atlanta region. Like many early superspeedways, the facility faced financial struggles in its first years, but it eventually became one of the most important tracks in NASCAR. Over time, the speedway hosted dramatic finishes, championship battles and multiple renovations, including a major reconfiguration in the 1990s. Today, Atlanta remains a key part of Southern motorsports history and a symbol of NASCAR’s expansion beyond short tracks and beach courses.
1971 – Apollo 15 Astronauts Drive on the Moon
Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to drive on the Moon on July 31, 1971, using NASA’s Lunar Roving Vehicle near the Hadley-Apennine landing site. The electric rover allowed astronauts to travel much farther from the lunar module than earlier Apollo crews could manage on foot, greatly expanding the mission’s scientific reach. Built to fold into the lunar module and operate in low gravity, the rover carried tools, cameras, communications equipment and collected samples across the lunar surface. Though far removed from ordinary motoring, the Moon buggy remains one of the most remarkable vehicles ever built: a four-wheeled machine designed not for roads, but for another world.
1981 – The Final St. Louis Corvette Is Built
The final Chevrolet Corvette built in St. Louis rolled off the assembly line on July 31, 1981, ending nearly three decades of Corvette production in the city. Corvette assembly had moved to St. Louis from Flint, Michigan, in 1954, and the plant produced generations of America’s sports car through the C1, C2 and C3 eras. By 1981, General Motors had already opened its new Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and production briefly overlapped between the two facilities. The last St. Louis car marked the end of an important chapter in Corvette history, while Bowling Green went on to become permanently associated with the model. Every production Corvette built since has come from Kentucky.
