Racing & Motorsport
August in Racing History
The excitement and energy in the month of August in the world of motorsports and racing. These and other events formed motor racing history in the month of August from across the world.
The Top 50 Motorsport Moments In The Month of August
As August's sun casts long, golden shadows on racetracks worldwide, the motorsport community has repeatedly risen to the occasion, delivering spectacles that linger long in memory. This month, historically marked by the crescendo of summer, has seen feats of unparalleled skill, heart-thumping finishes, and tales of underdog triumphs that embody the spirit of racing. Dive in with us as we navigate the thrilling chicanes of history, spotlighting the top 50 motorsports and racing moments that have made August an epic chapter in the annals of speed.
IHOP Heist
Drag racer Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins’ racecar hauler, with racecar, is stolen out of an IHOP restaurant parking lot. Stripped Pro Stock Chevrolet Vega is not found until two days later (1973).
First Brick Yard 400
Jeff Gordon wins the inaugural NASCAR Brick Yard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1994). This entire racing move was a major break with tradition.
Double-Win
Julian Bailey and Jamie Campbell-Walter drive a Lister Storm GTL to victory in the two British GT races at Donington, England (1999).
Stratos On Top
Antonio Fassina and Mauro Mannini guide a Lancia Stratos to victory in the European Rally Championship Volta á Madeira Rally in Portugal (1979).
A 1-2 for McLaren
Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme finish 1-2 in their Team McLaren M8B-Chevrolets in the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Can-Am race (1969).
Drag Race Deaths
Two spectators are killed and 19 injured when a Pro Stock car driven Bill Bagshaw crashes during the AHRA Gateway Nationals drag race in St. Louis, Missouri (1974).
Porsche 956-83
Jochen Mass and Jackie Ickx win the Mosport 1000-km sports car race driving a Porsche 956-83 (1984).
First Pikes Peak Hill Climb
The first Pikes Peak Hill Climb is run. The event is won by Rea Lentz driving the Romano Demon Special (1916).
First Post-WWII Race
The first post-WWII circuit race in Germany, the Grand Prix of Braunschweig, is run (1946).
Mirage M2 First Test
The BRM-powered Mirage M2 prototype sports car is tested for the first time at Silverstone, England (1968).
Donington Rests For A Bit
The final motorsport event held at Donington Park, England, before the start of WWII is a motorcycle race. Motor racing will not return to Donington until 1977 (1939).
T70 MKII Big Debut
John Surtees wins the Guards/International Trophy race at Brand Hatch, England, driving a Lola T70 MKII. First win in its first race for a T70 MKII (1965).
Alfa First GP Win
Giuseppe Campari gives Alfa Romeo their first GP win when he drives a P2 to victory in the Grand Prix of France and Europe at Lyon (1924).
Early Record Broken
Ralph DePalma drives a Stutz to a 10-mile World Record Time of 6 minutes and 9.18 seconds at Des Moines Speedway in Iowa (1915).
Quattros Finish 1-2-3-4
Audi Quattros finish 1-2-3-4 in the Rally Argentina, with Hannu Mikkola driving the winning car (1983).
UOP Shadow Last Win
Jackie Oliver wins the last Can-Am race held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Last Can-Am win for Oliver and the UOP Shadow team (1974).
Porsche 917 Driven
A Porsche 917 with a 16-cylinder engine is driven for the first time by Hubert Mimler (1971).
McLaren M30-Ford Debut
The McLaren M30-Ford makes its race debut in the Dutch Grand Prix with Alain Prost finishing sixth. Nelson Piquet in a Brabham-Ford wins the race (1980).
Ferrari Says "No More"
Ferrari withdraw from F1 for the remainder of the season after their number one driver, Niki Lauda, nearly dies in an accident on the Nürburgring (1976). Ferrari later on reverses their earlier decision.
First Podium for Jim Clark
Jim Clark, driving a Lotus-Climax, achieves his first podium finish in a Grand Prix when he comes home third behind the Cooper-Climaxes of Bruce McLaren and race winner Jack Brabham in the Portuguese GP (1960).
First Winston Cup Race
At Bristol, Tennessee, Ernie Irvan wins his first NASCAR Winston Cup race (1990).
270MPH Top Speed
Kenny Bernstein becomes the first NHRA Funny Car driver to break 270 mph when he runs 272.41 mph at Indianapolis, Indiana, USA (1986).
Enzo's Last Race
Enzo Ferrari participates in his last race as a driver, finishing 2nd in the Circuit of the Three Provences driving an Alfa Romeo 2300MM (1931).
How Fast Can We Go?
First auto speed trials held on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah (1914). The first world land-speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats was set on Sep 3, 1935, by Sir Malcolm Campbell.
Final Swiss GP
Final Swiss GP won by Juan Manuel Fangio in a Mercedes-Benz W196 (1954).
BMW 328 Victory
Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Baumer drive a BMW 328 to victory in the Mille Miglia road race in Italy (1940).
Eventful German GP
James Hunt, driving a McLaren-Ford, wins the German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring. Niki Lauda suffers life-threatening burns when he crashes his Ferrari (1976).
First Porsche 917 Victory
Jo Siffert and Kurt Ahrens win the World Sports Car Championship Austrian Grand Prix on the Österreichring in Zeltweg, Austria. First victory for a Porsche 917 (1969).
Awesome 16 yr old
16-year old Rea Lentz wins the first Pikes Peak Hill Climb driving a Romano Demon Special powered by a 125-hp Curtiss V8 aircraft engine (1916).
Ayrton Senna 25th Win
Ayrton Senna wins the Belgian GP to score his 25th F1 victory (1990). This was Ayrton Senna's fourth Belgian Grand win.
Mercedes-Benz 1-2-3-4
Karl Kling leads a Mercedes-Benz 1-2-3-4 finish in the Rhineland Cup sports car race on the Nürburgring (1952).
Surtees' First GP Win
John Surtees, driving a Ferrari 156, wins his first Grand Prix, the German at the Nürburgring (1963).
First Win for 158 Alfetta
Emilio Villoresi wins the Copa Ciano Junior in Livorno, Italy. First race win for the Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta (1938).
Took Forever to Finish
After 16,000 kilometers and two months, the Italia of Prince Scipione Borghese, Ettore Guizzardi and Luigi Barzini arrives in Paris, France, to win the Paris-Peking race (1907).
Camaro Trans-Am Win
Driving a Chaparral-entered Chevrolet Camaro, Vic Elford wins the SCCA Trans-Am race at Watkins Glen, New York. Only Camaro Trans-Am win of the year (1970).
Last Pre-WWII Race
The last pre-WWII race of the European Grand Prix Championship, the Swiss Grand Prix, is won by Hermann Lang driving a Mercedes-Benz (1939).
A Woman in GP
Lucy O’Reilly Schell, the only American woman to drive in a Grand Prix, drives a Bugatti to 12th place in the Baule Grand Prix in France (1927).
19th In a Row for McLaren
Peter Gethin scores Team McLaren’s 19th straight Can-Am victory when he wins at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (1970).
The "Golden Sub"
Barney Oldfield drives a streamlined Miller with fully enclosed cockpit, called the “Golden Sub,” to new 1-mile (80 mph), 5-mile (77.2 mph), 25-mile (75.4 mph), and 50-mile (73.5 mph) speed records (1917).
Fangio Wins In Style
Juan Manuel Fangio, driving a Maserati 250F, overcomes a 30-second deficit to go from 3rd to 1st and win the German GP at the Nürburgring. The win gives Fangio his fifth and final World Championship driving title (1957).
Ouch!!!
Stefan Johansson destroys his McLaren but is unhurt after hitting a deer at nearly 180 mph during practice for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Österreichring (1987).
Lauda's Last Dance
Reigning World Champion Niki Lauda wins the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort in a McLaren MP4/2B-TAG. It is Lauda’s last F1 victory (1985).
Schumacher's First
Michael Schumacher makes his F1 debut driving for Jordan (1991). He shows his talent by taking a Jordan and putting the car way ahead of where it should've been, coming 7th overall.
Alan Jones F1 Win
Alan Jones wins the Austrian Grand Prix at the Österreichring in a Shadow DN8. First F1 win for Jones, and the only one for Shadow (1977).
Hans & Auto Union Win
Hans Stuck wins the first Swiss Grand Prix, held at Bremgarten in Berne, driving an Auto Union “P-Wagen” (1934).
345mph Thunderbolt
George Eyston, driving the aero-engined Thunderbolt, sets a new World Land Speed Record of 345.20 mph/555.42 kph (1938).
1-2 for McLaren
Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme finish 1-2 in their Team McLaren M8B-Chevrolets in the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Can-Am race (1969).
Indy Speedway First Race
First motor races held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is paved with crushed stone and tar (1909).
Ford Mustang GTP Debuts
The Ford Mustang GTP debuts at the Road America IMSA race. The car of Klaus Ludwig/Tim Coconis wins, while the car of Bobby Rahal/Geoff Brabham car finishes 3rd. Only front-engined GTP car ever made and only race win (1983).
Sierra Cosworth Homologated
The Ford Sierra RS500 is homologated for Group A touring car racing (1987). The competition version was developed by Aston Martin Tickford, with homologation completed in August 1987, following production of the required 500 units.
Lotus Triumphs In Austria
Elio de Angelis, driving a Lotus 91, wins the Austrian Grand Prix by less than 1/10th of a second over Keke Rosberg in a Williams FW08. First F1 victory for de Angelis and final win for Lotus under the direction of Colin Chapman (1982).
Tourist Trophy Win for Moss
Stirling Moss, in a Ferrari 250 SWB Competizion, wins the Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood, England (1960).
250LM Wins In Australia
Jackie Stewart and Andy Buchanan drive a Ferrari 250LM to victory in the Surfer’s Paradise 12 hour race in Queensland, Australia (1966).
Nine Straight Wins
When Tommy Kendall drives his Mustang to victory at Watkins Glen, New York, he scores his ninth straight SCCA Trans-Am win, breaking Mark Donohue’s record (1997).
During the New Zealand GP meeting at Wigram in 1960, Bruce McLaren drove the Lycoming Special in the feature after his Cooper broke. He finished 4th, but found he’d used up its drum brakes doing so. As his way of saying thanks, upon his return to England, McLaren sent then owner Malcolm Gill a brand-new set of Cooper calipers and discs.August Motorsport Birthdays
Mechanic, McLaren race team coordinator, and author Jo Ramirez is born (1941).
Jaguar Test driver Norman Dewis OBE is born (1920).
Racecar designer Nigel Bennett born in Derby, England (1940).
F1 mechanic and race director Charlie Whiting is born in Sevenoaks, England (1952).
Grand Prix racing driver Achille Varzi is born in Gilliante, Italy (1904).
Frank Raymond Wilton England, rally driver, engineer, CEO of Jaguar, born in England (1911).
F1 team owner Rob Walker born (1917).
NASCAR great Elmo Langley born in Cresswell, North Carolina (1929).
Claude Ballot-Lena, Daytona 24 Hour winner born in Paris, France (1936).
Richie Ginther, who gave Honda their first F1 win, is born in Los Angeles, California (1930).
F1 and CART champion Nigel Mansell born (1953).
Georges Filipinetti, founder of Scuderia Filipinetti, is born (1907).
Rufus “Parnelli” Jones, winner of Indy 500, Baja 1000 and the SCCA Tran-Am born (1933).
Sports car racer Louis Krages, aka “John Winter,” born (1949).
Multiple Le Mans 24-Hour-race winner Frank Biela is born in Neuss, Germany (1964).
Le Mans winner and Can-Am champion Jackie Oliver is born in Essex, England (1942).
F1 racer Gerhard Berger is born in Vienna, Austria (1959).
Keith Duckworth, co-founder Cosworth Engineering born in Lancashire, England (1933).
Vincenzo Lancia, racer and founder of the Lancia company, is born in Fobello, Italy (1881).
Grand Prix and sportscar racer Derek Warwick born in Hampshire, England (1954).
Alfa Romeo and Ferrari driver Ignazio Giunti is born in Rome, Italy (1941).
Sportscar racer John Fitch is born in Indianapolis, Indiana (1917).
Manfred von Brauchitsch, GP driver for Mercedes in the ’30s, born in Germany (1905).
Sportscar racer and rallyist Leo Kinnunen is born (1943).
Bruce McLaren, 2-time Can-Am champion, is born in Auckland, New Zealand (1937).
Future Formula One World Champion Gillian Grace Annis is born (1997).
F1 and sports car team owner Tom Walkinshaw is born (1946).
Gordon Johncock, the ’73 and ’82 Indianapolis 500 winner, is born in Michigan (1936).
August Motorsport Deaths
Jean Behra dies in an accident during the German Grand Prix at Avus (1959).
Jerry Titus dies in an accident during a Trans-Am race at Road America, Wisconsin (1970).
Grand Prix great Tazio Nuvolari dies of lung disease (1953).
Al Bignotti, who worked as a mechanic on six Indianapolis 500 winners, dies (1998).
Fred Offenhauser, of Offy engine fame, dies of natural causes (1973).
Guy Moll dies in a wreck during the Coppa Acerbo road race (1934).
Ken Miles dies in a testing crash at Riverside, California (1965).
Mark Donohue dies from injuries suffered in crash during practice for Austrian GP (1975).
Luigi “Gigi” Villoresi, pre and postwar Grand Prix driver, dies at age 88 (1997).
Gerhard Mitter dies in a testing crash at the Nürburgring in Germany (1969).
Former F1 team owner Ken Tyrrell dies from pancreatic cancer at age of 77, England (2001).
Patrick Depailler dies in a crash during testing at Hockenheim, Germany (1980).
Scuderia Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari dies at age 90 (1988).
Ettore Bugatti dies of natural causes (1947).
Drag racer John Hagen dies in a high-speed crash of his Pro Stock Dodge Omni (1983).
Ernesto “Tito” Brambilla, Italian motorcycle and formula car racer dies at age 86 (2020).
Tim Richmond, NASCAR driver and 1980 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, dies (1989).
Manfred Winkelhock dies from injuries suffered a day earlier in the World Endurance Championship race at Mosport, Ontario, Canada (1985).
Bobby Isaac dies of a heart attack caused by heat exhaustion suffered while driving in a NASCAR Late Model Sportsman event at Hickory, North Carolina (1977).
DeWayne Louis “Tiny” Lund dies in an accident at NASCAR Talledega 500 stock race (1975).
Luigi Chinetti Sr. winner of first post-WWII Le Mans and first U.S Ferrari distributer, dies (1994).
Mark DonohuePhoto: Hal Crocker
