The History of Auto Racing and the Race Car

There are many professional sports you can choose to enjoy, including watching car races. Auto racing fans are likely to watch a certain type of race, follow a favorite driver and boast about a particular style of racing car. Some even know their car racing history, while others are just interested in what’s going on in the racing world today. Which type of racing fan are you?

If you want to learn more about the history of auto racing and the race car, there’s no better resource than a professional auto restoration service in Minneapolis, MN. Here’s a brief history:

• 1867: On August 30, 1867 in England, the first documented race between two self-powered road vehicles took place. The vehicles used? Carriages! One racer from the town of Ashton-under-Lyne and one from Old Trafford raced on a predetermined 8-mile racing route.
• 1887: The construction of the first successful gasoline-powered automobile led to combustion auto racing events. It was April 1887 when the first race took place in France. The route was 1.2 miles long.
• 1894: Le Petite Journal, a Parisian magazine, organized what most consider the world’s first motoring competition on July 22, 1894. The race going from Paris to Rouen attracted 102 enthusiastic competitors.
• 1895: In the U.S., Thanksgiving Day in 1895 marked the first American automobile race. With the help of press coverage, this was the beginning of America’s obsession with car racing. During this time, France dominated the auto construction industry and racing, staging both European and international races.
• 1907: In Surrey, the first venue was built specifically for motor racing. The venue opened in June 1907, featuring a 2.75-mile concrete track with high-speed banked corners all around.
• 1909: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana holds America’s oldest existing racing tracks, and the world’s largest sports venue, measuring 2.5 miles long and able to hold over 257,000 seats for racing spectators.
• 1948: With the help and support of several drivers, Bill France, Sr. founded NASCAR. The first “strictly stock” NASCAR race took place in Daytona Beach, Florida on June 19, 1949.
• 1962: There was a temporary shift from sports cars to GT cars. The FIA replaced the World Championship for sports cars with the International Championship for GT car manufacturers.
• 1972-2003: From 1972 through 2003, NASCAR called the premier series the Winston Cup Series, with their sponsor being the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s Winston brand. This sponsor change in 1972, along with a reduced racing schedule from 48 to 32 races a year, was the beginning of NASCAR’s modern era.

It’s not just classic cars that can benefit from professional auto restoration. Other than being decades old and in need of new paint or a new engine, more modern cars—including sports race cars—may need this service after suffering damage in an accident. An all-encompassing auto restoration service in Minneapolis, MN will gladly take a look at and work on all types of vehicles. Contact our expert team of mechanics at Quality Coaches, Inc. today!

Categorised in: Auto Restoration Service

This post was written by Sharon Morgan