1901 – America Gets Its First Speed Limit Law
Long before radar guns, speeding tickets, and interstate patrols, the state of Connecticut quietly changed driving forever by passing America’s first speed-limit law on this day in 1901. The regulation capped speeds at a blistering 12 mph in cities and 15 mph on country roads, reflecting public anxiety over the growing presence of noisy, unfamiliar automobiles mixing with horses, wagons, and pedestrians. At a time when most roads were still dirt and cars remained experimental novelties, Connecticut’s law laid the foundation for the traffic regulations and highway enforcement systems that would eventually shape motoring nationwide.
1914 – Greyhound Begins Its Journey
One of America’s most recognizable transportation companies traces its origins to this day in 1914, when what would become the Greyhound Lines was founded in Minnesota. Starting as a modest regional bus operation connecting miners to mines using a 1914 Hupmobile, the company expanded rapidly as automobiles and paved roads reshaped American mobility. By the mid-20th century, Greyhound buses had become symbols of long-distance travel, carrying everyone from servicemen and migrant workers to tourists and students across the country, helping connect America long before affordable airline travel became common.
1933 – German Racing Star Otto Merz Dies at AVUS
Speed came at a brutal cost during motorsport’s earliest decades, and few reminders were as tragic as the death of famed German racer Otto Merz. Widely respected for his work behind the wheel of Mercedes race cars, Merz was killed during a practice run for the AVUSrennen on this day in 1933 after crashing at Berlin’s fearsomely fast AVUS circuit. Prewar racing demanded enormous bravery, with primitive safety standards, towering speeds, and unforgiving tracks making fatalities disturbingly common among Europe’s top drivers.
1988 – Bobby Ore Balances a Double-Decker Bus on Two Wheels
Stunt driver Bobby Ore proved just how far vehicle control could be pushed on this day in 1988 by driving a double-decker bus on just two side wheels for an astonishing 246 meters. Ore, famous for precision driving and stunt instruction, spent decades teaching actors and stunt professionals advanced driving techniques for film and television. The feat demonstrated not just balance and bravery, but an incredible understanding of weight transfer and vehicle dynamics.
2003 – Alejandro de Tomaso Dies
The automotive world lost one of its great personalities when Alejandro de Tomaso died on this day in 2003. Founder of De Tomaso Automobili, de Tomaso became famous for blending Italian exotic styling with accessible American V8 power in cars like the De Tomaso Pantera. The Pantera, sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in the United States during the 1970s, offered Ferrari-like looks with Ford performance and helped cement de Tomaso’s place in sports car history.
