The History of Auto Racing in the U.S.

For some people, cars are just a form of transportation. For others, cars are collectibles. And for some, cars are a sport and a way of life. At Quality Coaches, Inc., we serve all kinds of car enthusiasts. From classic cars to racecars, we love them all. But as auto mechanics in Minneapolis, MN, we are big fans of auto racing.

Auto racing brings together people of all ages around their love for cars. From NASCAR to children’s Go-Kart races, auto racing is a sport that’s fun and exciting for everyone. What you might not know, however, is how auto racing started here in the United States. Well, sit back and buckle up, because we’re about to take you on a road trip into the history of auto racing in the U.S.

City-to-city and distance racing

Auto racing’s earliest beginnings in the U.S. were in the late 1800s, and were pretty much simultaneous with the invention of the automobile. Charles Duryea, a bicycle mechanic from Massachusetts, invented the first successful American gasoline-powered automobile in 1893. Two years later, on Thanksgiving Day in 1895, Duryea raced and won the first ever American auto race held in Illinois. The race was sponsored by the Chicago-Times Herald with the intention of boosting the American car industry. The publicity worked not only for the car industry but for the sport of auto racing as well. City-to-city racing, also known as distance racing, became popular across the U.S., with races being held in New York, California, Georgia and Wisconsin.

Circuit racing

The first closed-circuit race was held in 1899 on a horse track in Branford Park in New Haven, Connecticut. However, the oldest racetrack in the U.S. that is still in operation is the Milwaukee Mile located in West Allis, Wisconsin. Also originally a horse track, the Milwaukee Mile hosted its first auto race in 1903. Perhaps one of the most prestigious racing venues in the U.S., however, is the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa. Holding the title as the oldest racing venue in the U.S., the Knoxville Raceway was built in the late 1800s as a horse track, and was then converted to an auto racing track in 1914.

Speedways

As the popularity of auto racing increased, speedways were built for the specific purpose of auto racing. The first paved track with high-speed banked corners built in the U.S. is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indiana. Built in 1909, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is still in use today and is the largest sports venue in the world.

Today, the wide world of racing includes everything from the nationally watched NASCAR and the IndyCar series to local county races and competitions. As auto mechanics in Minneapolis, MN, we’re proud of America’s long history in the sport of auto racing and we’re happy to contribute to the sport in our own way by offering our customers expert vehicle repairs for all types of cars, including racecars! If you want to know more, give us a call or stop in today!

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Sharon Morgan