1908 – William Durant Incorporates General Motors
On September 16, 1908 William C. Durant took the formal step of incorporating General Motors as a holding company, initially centered on Buick and other marques Durant was assembling under one roof. Durant had already orchestrated Buick’s rapid growth and used that success to bring independent carmakers into a new corporate structure, creating a vehicle for capital, parts purchasing and cross-brand management. The incorporation in New Jersey represented a new business model in the rapidly consolidating auto industry: a single organization that could own multiple manufacturers and brands. That structure would shape how large auto groups acquired technology, dealers and market share throughout the 20th century.
1938 – Eyston’s Thunderbolt Reclaims the Land-Speed Crown
At Bonneville on 16 September 1938 Captain George E. T. Eyston pushed his twin‑Rolls‑Royce‑powered car, Thunderbolt, to a two‑run average of 357.5 mph, enough to wrest the world land‑speed record back from John Cobb. Thunderbolt’s distinctive twin‑engine layout and long, streamlined body were engineered specifically to tame the salt flats at extreme speed; on that day the car and driver posted the certified average that counted for the record. The run underscored the late‑1930s arms race of purpose‑built record cars and the continuing role of Rolls‑Royce power in Britain’s high‑speed efforts on the salt.
1962 – Navajo Route 1 Dedicated at Four Corners
Dedication ceremonies at Four Corners on September 16, 1962 opened the all‑weather Navajo Trail — designated Navajo Route 1 and forming parts of what became U.S. Route 160 — linking Tuba City, Arizona, northeastward toward Cortez, Colorado. Federal, state and regional leaders attended the event, which celebrated completion of a paved highway across previously difficult high‑desert terrain and formalized a direct motor route through Navajo Nation lands at the Four Corners point. The new pavement reduced seasonal isolation for communities along the corridor and provided a continuous road that state and federal agencies would thereafter maintain as part of the regional highway network.
2007 – Spa Sees Two Drivers Reach 100 Grand Prix Starts
The 2007 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa‑Francorchamps on 16 September doubled as a quiet milestone for two established drivers: Mark Webber celebrated his 100th Formula 1 start, and Fernando Alonso reached his 100th Grand Prix appearance as well. Spa’s classic mix of high speed and compressions provided the backdrop while teams ran in the critical late‑season stretch; the race result and entry lists for that weekend list both drivers’ century‑race marks amid a season of shifting team fortunes. Reaching 100 starts signified longevity and consistency in an era when driver lineups and competitiveness were in constant flux.
2021 – Toyota GR 86 Begins Pace-Car Duties at NASA Nationals
For the National Auto Sport Association’s National Championships at Daytona, the all‑new 2022 Toyota GR 86 began official pace‑car duties on September 16, 2021. Toyota’s press release announced the GR 86 would “kick off” pace duties that Thursday, matching NASA’s event schedule for the four‑day championships at Daytona International Speedway. The compact, rear‑drive GR 86 was used to control pace laps and safety periods for the club competition, showcasing Toyota’s sports‑car underpinnings in a high‑visibility amateur/pro‑am environment and giving competitors a modern production‑car reference for handling and braking during race weekend activities.
