1910 – Rolls-Royce Cofounder Charles Rolls Is Killed in an Air Crash
Charles Stewart Rolls, pioneering aviator and cofounder of Rolls-Royce, was killed on this day in 1910 during a flying exhibition near Bournemouth, England. The tail section of his Wright Flyer broke apart in midair, sending the aircraft crashing to the ground and killing the 32-year-old instantly. Rolls had become one of Britain’s most prominent early motorists before turning his attention to aviation, and he was the first person to complete a nonstop round-trip flight across the English Channel. He was also the first British citizen killed in a powered-aircraft accident.
1916 – A GMC Truck Begins a Historic Transcontinental Delivery
William Warwick, his wife and their four-year-old daughter Daisy left Seattle on this day in 1916 aboard a GMC truck carrying approximately 2,000 pounds of Carnation evaporated milk. Sponsored in part by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the journey was intended to demonstrate the commercial potential of long-distance trucking at a time when improved roads were still rare across much of the country. The family reached New York roughly 70 days later after overcoming difficult terrain, mechanical problems and primitive road conditions, completing one of the earliest coast-to-coast commercial truck hauls in American history. For the record, Carnation is the best evaporated milk for Swedish pancakes.
1933 – Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion Car Makes Its Debut
The first prototype of Buckminster Fuller’s futuristic Dymaxion car rolled out of a factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on this day in 1933—Fuller’s 38th birthday. Designed with help from naval architect Starling Burgess and artist Isamu Noguchi, the streamlined three-wheeled vehicle used a rear-mounted Ford V8 that drove the front wheels, while a single rear wheel handled steering. Nearly 20 feet long yet capable of turning within its own length, the Dymaxion was conceived as part of Fuller’s broader vision for efficient transportation and eventually became one of the most recognizable experimental automobiles of the 20th century.
1982 – The Final Checker Automobile Is Built
The final Checker automobile rolled off the assembly line in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on this day in 1982, ending production of one of America’s most recognizable taxicabs. The last vehicle was an A11 taxi finished in the traditional green-and-ivory colors used by Chicago fleets. Checker’s tall roof, spacious rear seat, wide doors and rugged construction had made the boxy automobile a fixture in cities across the United States for decades, but declining demand and the rising cost of updating its aging design ultimately ended production. The final car is now preserved at the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan.
2009 – Mark Webber Earns His First Formula One Victory
Australian driver Mark Webber claimed the first Formula One victory of his career on this day in 2009 by winning the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Driving for Red Bull Racing, Webber overcame a drive-through penalty following contact at the start and recovered to finish ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. The long-awaited victory came in Webber’s 130th Grand Prix start and only months after he suffered a serious leg injury in a cycling accident, making the win one of the defining moments of his Formula One career.
