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Tag: racing

February 29, 1932 – The Kansas City Flash is born
29Feb By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
Automotive, This Day

February 29, 1932 – The Kansas City Flash is born

Racing driver Masten Gregory, nicknamed the Kansas City Flash, was born on leap day, February 29,1932 in Kansas City, Missouri. His father ran an insurance company, but died when Masten was 3, leaving him a large inheritance. At age 20, Masten used the money to buy his first race car, a Mercury powered Allard, which he competed in for the first time at an Sports Car Club of America race in Caddo Mills, Texas in November 1952. A blown head gasket forced him out of the race. He then planted a Chrysler Hemi engine into the Allard and took the car to Sebring, FL. He again did not finish, this time due to suspension trouble. His third race was a completely different story. Masten headed to Stillwater, Oklahoma where he pushed his Allard to a first place finish. He soon traded his Allard fo...
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February 2, 1992 – 24 Hours at Daytona trophy goes to Japan for first time
2Feb By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

February 2, 1992 – 24 Hours at Daytona trophy goes to Japan for first time

Endurance automobile racing began at Daytona International Raceway in Florida shortly after the course opened in April of 1959, beginning with a six hour sports car race. The green flag at the first 24 Hours of Daytona took flew in 1966. Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby won the event driving a Ford GT40 Mk. II. For decades Porsche dominated the race, with an occasional American or other European win. Then, on this day in 1992 when Japanese racers Masahiro Hasemi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Toshio Suzuki took the trophy to Japan for the first time. They raced a Nissan R91CP (pictured) sponsored by Nissan Motorsports Intl. Together, the drivers covered 2,712.720 miles (4,365.7 km) during their monumental victory. Daytona road course
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October 19, 1987 – A controversial Grand Prix winner dies
19Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

October 19, 1987 – A controversial Grand Prix winner dies

German racer Hermann Lang was a promising 30 year old Mercedes driver in 1939 when World War II broke out as Germany invaded Poland, an event that may have handed him a championship trophy. The hostile action took place just two weeks after the 1939 AIACR European Drivers’ Championship held its final event of the season in Switzerland. Due to the outbreak of war, the AIACR never had the chance to officially name the winner, a title that is still disputed because that season began without a clear points distribution system in place. The old points system, which was well known at the time, was to be replaced by the French maximum points system, a relative of the current Grand Prix scoring method.   Lang, who died at age 78 on this day in 1987, was named the the season winner by the presi...
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October 11, 1928 – Long name, fast driver
11Oct By Automotive HistoryNo Comments
This Day

October 11, 1928 – Long name, fast driver

Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago, better known as Alfonso de Portago, was a Ferrari race car driver, Olympic bobsledder and stunt pilot from Spain, who was born on this day in 1928. One of his first transportation feats wasn’t by land but by air, when the millionaire heir flew his plane beneath a bridge at age 17, winning a $500 bet.  After meeting a US Ferrari importer in 1953 Alfonso began a successful auto racing career. He took first at many prestigious events, including the Tour de France automobile race, the Grand Prix of Oporto and the Nassau Governor's Cup. Alfonso and his co-driver, Edmund Nelson, were killed in a crash on May 12, 1957, during the Mille Miglia. The wreck, caused by a tire blowo...
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Meanwhile, Joe Zolper built a Badass 1969 Daytona Door Slammer
1Jun By Automotive History1 Comment
Features

Meanwhile, Joe Zolper built a Badass 1969 Daytona Door Slammer

9 Years and 2,500 Horsepower Later, the Car is Ready for the Strip It was nine years ago Joe Zolper accepted a gutted 1968 Dodge Charger as payment for painting a friend’s semi. Back then, the deal wasn't that good, but you took what you could get to chase your dream. In Joe's case, he dreamed of owning a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona. With prices soaring into the heavens, the chances of the master fabricator bringing one home were slim, but this rotting Charger gave him an idea: build one. The car came into Joe’s life at the perfect time. Facing some personal hardships, he believed a big project could carry him through and keep his mind off the troubles. When the Mopar landed in his shop, the tear down began. Word of his endeav...
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The first 24 Hours at Le Mans
27May By Automotive History28 Comments
Business

The first 24 Hours at Le Mans

The first 24 Hours of Le Mans ended on this day in 1923. This first of its kind automobile endurance race held in Le Mans, France began on the May 26 with 33 cars and all but three finished. The winners of the race were Frenchman André Lagache and René Léonard who were driving a Chenard et Walcker Sport. They completed 128 laps, while second place finished at 124. Originally the winner of the race was to be determined after three years of competition, combining the distance traveled over the race each year. This idea was abandoned after the first three year period, 1923-1925. The average speed of the 1923 race was 92.064 km/h, about 60 miles per hour. The race has been held every year since 1932 except 1936 and between the years 1940 to 1948 due to WWII. The next race will start June 15th,...
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