1904 – Audi’s Story Begins With August Horch
In 1904, Audi was founded in its original form when August Horch established Horch & Co. Motorwagenwerke in Germany. Horch quickly built a reputation for advanced engineering and luxury automobiles, but tensions soon developed between Horch and the company’s leadership. After a bitter fallout, he left the company and started a new automaker called August Horch Automobilewerke.
That immediately created a problem: the original Horch company sued him over the use of the family name. During a meeting at the home of one of his business partners, the group searched for a replacement name. According to company lore, the partner’s teenage son overheard the conversation while studying Latin and suggested “Audi,” the Latin translation of “Horch,” which means “listen” in German. The name stuck, giving birth to one of the world’s most recognizable automotive brands.
1923 – Alfred P. Sloan Takes Control of General Motors
In 1923, Alfred P. Sloan was elected President and Chairman of General Motors. Sloan would go on to completely reshape the modern auto industry, introducing concepts like annual model changes, brand hierarchy, and consumer financing. Under his leadership, GM overtook Ford to become the dominant force in the American automotive market for decades.
1960 – Cannonball Baker Dies
In 1960, legendary endurance rider and racer Erwin ‘Cannonball’ Baker died at age 78. Baker became famous for setting countless cross-country speed records on both motorcycles and in automobiles during the early 20th century. His daring coast-to-coast runs helped prove the practicality of the automobile and inspired the famous “Cannonball Run” events that would later become part of automotive folklore.
2012 – Carroll Shelby Passes Away
In 2012, Carroll Shelby died at the age of 89. Shelby was one of the most influential figures in American performance car history, known for transforming the British AC Ace into the legendary Shelby Cobra and helping create high-performance versions of the Ford Mustang, including the GT350 and GT500. His work blended raw American V8 power with lightweight sports car engineering, leaving a lasting impact on racing, muscle cars, and performance culture worldwide.
