1907 – Arthur Duray Wins Russia’s Grand Prix
Early Grand Prix racing crossed the Russian Empire on this day in 1907 when Belgian driver Arthur Duray won the Moscow-to-St. Petersburg Grand Prix driving a 60-horsepower Lorraine-Dietrich. Long-distance races like this tested both speed and reliability on rough roads long before dedicated circuits became the norm, helping establish international motorsport during an era when crossing vast distances by automobile remained a remarkable feat.
1928 – Plymouth Begins Full-Scale Production
Chrysler’s answer to Ford and Chevrolet entered full-scale production on this day in 1928 as Plymouth prepared to enter the fiercely competitive low-cost market. Though the first Plymouth officially rolled off the line on June 11, production operations ramped up in early June as Walter Chrysler positioned the new brand to offer affordable cars with features often unavailable on cheaper competitors, including hydraulic brakes. Plymouth would eventually become one of America’s best-selling automotive nameplates before disappearing after the 2001 model year.
1992 – NASCAR Cofounder Bill France Sr. Dies
American stock car racing lost its founding architect on this day in 1992 when Bill France Sr. died at age 82. France cofounded NASCAR in 1948 and transformed loosely organized Southern stock car racing into one of America’s largest spectator sports. Under his leadership, NASCAR expanded from dusty short tracks to superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega, building a racing empire that reshaped American motorsport.
2013 – Tragedy on a City Bus in China
A devastating transportation tragedy unfolded on this day in 2013 in Xiamen, Fujian province, China, when a city bus was intentionally set ablaze during rush hour by Chen Shuizong in an apparent murder-suicide attack. Flames spread rapidly through the vehicle before igniting fuel, resulting in an explosion that killed 47 people and injured dozens more. Though not an automotive event in the traditional enthusiast sense, the incident renewed conversations around transit safety, emergency vehicle design, and public security aboard buses and other mass transportation systems.
2021 – Fisker Promises a Carbon-Neutral Vehicle Before Its First Car Arrives
EV startup Fisker Inc. made an ambitious promise on this day in 2021, announcing plans to build a carbon-neutral vehicle by 2027, despite not yet having delivered its first production model. The company’s long-delayed Fisker Ocean eventually debuted in 2023 as Fisker sought to position itself as a sustainability-focused challenger in the growing EV market. The pledge reflected both the optimism and risk surrounding modern electric vehicle startups, where ambitious promises often arrive well before mass production.
