Racing & Motorsport
December in Racing History
The excitement and energy in the month of December in the world of motorsports and racing. These and other events formed motor racing history in the month of December from across the world.
The Top 50 Motorsport Moments In The Month of December
As the year winds down and December lays a blanket of snow over many a northern track, the world of motorsports often quiets down—but it's far from silent. This month has seen its share of thrilling finales and off-season spectacles, where the passion for racing defies the quiet of winter. In the spirit of reflection and celebration that the end of the year brings, we shift into gear to explore the top 50 moments in motorsports that have set December alight. From surprise victories in the southern hemisphere's summer circuits to the roar of engines on frosty rally stages, these are the stories that have given the final month of the year an adrenaline rush like no other.
AAR Eagle Victory
Dan Gurney drives an AAR Eagle to victory in the USAC Rex Mays 300 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California. Bobby Unser clinches the USAC championship (1968).
McLaren International
Ron Dennis and John Barnard buy out Tyler Alexander, Teddy Mayer, and Creighton Brown to take full control of McLaren International (1982).
The 1:1 Foam Model
The 1:1 foam model, from which the body molds of the first Porsche 956 will be taken, is completed (1981).
Jim Clark Debut
Jim Clark makes his single-seater debut driving a Gemini MkII Formula Junior at Brand Hatch, in Kent, England. Peter Arundell wins the race in an Elva-DKW (1959).
Eventful Florida
David Hobbs, driving a Chevrolet-powered Surtees TS5, wins both heats of the SCCA Formula A Race at Sebring, Florida. Tony Adamowicz wins the season championship (1969).
Graham Hill Wins GP
Graham Hill wins his first Grand Prix driving title when he drives his BRM to victory in the South African GP at East London. BRM also clinches the manufacturer’s title (1962).
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is formed as the Alfa Romeo factory racing team (1929).
Firestone & Shadow
Firestone officially agrees to supply tiny tires to AVS for their Shadow Can-Am racer (1968).
750 Monza Wins
Marquis Alfonso de Portago, driving a Ferrari 750 Monza, wins the Bahamas Automobile Cup (1954).
Porsche 962C
Jackie Ickx and Jochen Mass win the 800Km of Selangor in Sham Alam, Malaysia, driving a Porsche 962C (1985).
Penske's Big Win
Roger Penske drives a Ferrari 250 GTO to victory in the Tourist Trophy race at Nassau in the Bahamas (1962).
Andretti drives the STP
Mario Andretti drives the STP Brawner/Hawk-Ford to victory in the Rex Mays 300 USAC Indy car race at Riverside, California (1969).
Bruce McLaren First GP
Bruce McLaren, driving a Cooper-Climax, wins the first USGP. McLaren, age 22, is the youngest GP winner, up to that time. His teammate, Jack Brabham, clinches his first World Driving Title.
NASCAR Founding
NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, founded by Bill France Sr. (1947). A group of promoters and officials met at the Streamline Hotel to discuss the future of stock car racing.
Montlhéry Track Record
Hellé Nice, driving a Bugatti T35C, sets a Montlhéry track record by averaging 123.057 MPH over 10 kilometers (1929).
The Perfect Gift
Future World Superbike champion Colin Edwards receives his first motorcycle, a Suzuki JR50, as a Christmas present at the age of 3 (1977).
Greenwood Drives a Greenwood
John Greenwood drives a Greenwood Corvette to victory in the IMSA race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, (1974).
Land Speed Record
The first World Land Speed Record is set in Acheres, France, when Compte Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat drives a Jeantaud to a speed of 39.24 mph/62.78 kmh (1898).
F1 Lotus 78 Wing
The F1 Lotus 78 wing car is officially launched (1976).
The Last BRM
The last BRM, the P207 F1 racer, is launched at the Dorchester Hotel in London, England (1976).
Yenko
Production begins on the Yenko Stinger Chevrolet Corvair (1966).
First F1 Sponsor
The International Wool Secretariat announces it will sponsor the 1971 British Grand Prix. First commercial sponsorship of an F1 championship race (1970).
A Water Record
Donald Campbell pilots the Bluebird K7 to a water speed record of 276.33 mph on Lake Dumbleyung in Australia (1964).
For the Kids
Ferrari F1 drivers finish 1-2, with Michael Schumacher ahead of Rubens Barichello, in a charity go-kart race. The event raises $130,000 for the UNESCO “Children in Need” (1999).
NART Ferrari Dino 196 SP
John Fulp wins the Nassau Governor’s Trophy preliminary race driving a NART Ferrari Dino 196 SP (1962).
Dead Heat
Daniel MacKinlay Jr., driving a Spyker, and L. de Dantos, driving a Daracq, finish in a dead-heat in the first documented auto competition in Argentina, a trial from Buenos Aires to Tigre (1906).
Not Guilty
Italian judge Antonio Costanza acquits three track officials and three members of the Williams Grand Prix team of manslaughter (omicido colpose) in the death of Ayrton Senna in an accident during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, Italy (1997).
Whitney Wins
Whitney Straight wins the South African Grand Prix in a Maserati, with his brother 3rd in a Railton. It is the last race in which Whitney will participate. (1934).
The First MKIIIB
Roger Penske takes delivery of a Lola T70 MKIIIB endurance racer (serial number SL76/139), the first MKIIIB to be delivered (1968).
Rand Grand Prix
Doug Van Riet wins the first Rand Grand Prix Handicap at the Earl Howe Circuit outside of Johannesburg, South Africa (1937).
Hobbs On Top x2
David Hobbs, driving a Chevrolet-powered Surtees TS5, wins both heats of the SCCA Formula Continental race at Sebring, Florida. Tony Adamowicz wins the season championship (1969).
Prototype Lancia 037
First prototype Lancia 037 rally car appears (1980). The official launch of the Lancia 037 rally car occurs during the Fiat Competition press conference at Corso Marche in Turin, Italy (1981).
Audi R8 Wins in Oz
Dindo Capello and Allan McNish drive an Audi R8 to victory in the ALMS “Race of Two Thousand Years” in Adelaide, Australia (2000).
Lotus 25 Wins GP
Jim Clark wins the South African Grand Prix at East London driving a Lotus 25 (1963).
Most Startups Fail
Dr. Ferdinand Porsche starts his own company (1930).
A110s Finish 1-2-3
Alpine Renault A110s finish 1-2-3 in the Tour de Corse rally in France, with Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Michel Vial on board the winning car (1973).
Active Suspension
Active suspension is tested for the first time on an F1 car when Dave Scott drives the Lotus 92 at Snetterton, England. Lotus founder Colin Chapman dies the same morning from a heart attack (1982).
Ferrari 375MM Victory
Giuseppi Farina and Pierro Scotti drive a 4.5L Ferrari 375MM to victory in the 12 Hours of Casablanca in Morocco (1953).
Indianapolis
First motor racing meet takes place on the new brick surface at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (1909).
Governor’s Trophy
Stirling Moss, driving an Aston Martin DBR2, wins the Governor’s Trophy race at Nassau in the Bahamas (1959).
Gethin Wins in South Africa
Peter Gethin drives a Chevron B26 to victory in the sports car race at Welkom, South Africa (1972).
A Dynasty Begins
The Audi R8 endurance racer turns a wheel for the first time (1999). It won five Le Mans 24 Hour victories and launched an era of domination.
Lancia Beta Monte Carlo
The Lancia Beta Monte Carlo Group 6 racer is debuted to the press at the Pininfarina factory in Italy (1978).
Final Japanese Win
Stanley Dickens and Kunimitsu Takahashi win the 1000-kilometer race at Suzuka in a Porsche 962. It is the 31st (of 35 races) and final win for the 956/962 in Japanese competition (1989).
About Bloody Time
The USAC Rex Mays 300 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside is won by Mario Andretti. First USAC event to allow female reporters into the pits (1969).
Two Greats Meet
Colin Chapman meets Jim Clark for the first time during a race meeting at Brands Hatch, England. Chapman wins with Clark 2nd, both driving Lotus Elites (1958).
Last Race
Dan Gurney drives Frank Arciero’s Ferrari 375 to victory in the last race ever run at Paramount Sportsman’s Ranch, near Agoura, California. Jim Firestone dies in an accident during the race (1956).
Calling It
Having not raced since August due to a wrist injury, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears announces his retirement from racing (1992).
First Mid-Engined Lotus
Peter Arundell drives an Elva to victory in the Formula Junior race at Brands Hatch, in England. The first mid-engined Lotus, the Lotus 18, makes its race debut with Alan Stacey at the wheel (1959).
First U.S Enduro Race
Ralph Deshon and Fred Koster drive a Crosley Hotshot to victory in the Sam Collier Memorial Grand Prix of Endurance, the first auto race held in Sebring, Florida. It is also the first sports car endurance race held in the United States. (1950).
Controversy
Peter Arundell wins a one-car “race” at Monza, Italy. Journalist Richard von Frankenberg had accused Lotus of using an illegal engine in Arundell’s car in a race there a few months earlier. He challenged them to match their race speed in an “inspected, standard” Lotus 22. Arundell bested his race average by 2.5 mph (1962).
Baldwin Payne Special
Phillip Payne, driving the Baldwin Payne Special, wins the “Sports Cars vs. Hotrods” race at Van Nuys, California (1948).
Porsche 356 for the Win
John von Neumann drives his Porsche 356SL (a 356 coupe he chopped the roof off of) to victory in the under-1,500-cc main event at Torrey Pines, California (1952).
Having all the fun
Future NASCAR great Junior Johnson is released from prison after serving 11 months of a two-year sentence for making illegal whiskey. (1957).
Keke Rosberg
Photo: Maureen Magee
December Motorsport Births
NASCAR great Robert Arthur “Bobby” Allison is born in Florida (1937).
Racer and builder Marion Lee “Mickey” Thompson born in California (1928).
Racecar designer Harry Miller is born (1875).
Wilson Fittipaldi Jr., racer, team owner, brother of World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi and father of Christian Fittipaldi, born in Brazil (1943).
NHRA Top Fuel drag racer Shelly Anderson is born (1965).
Grand Prix and sports car racer Giancarlo Baghetti born (1934).
Kenny Roberts Sr., 3-time and first American 500-cc motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion, born in Modesto, California (1951).
British sports car racer and entrant David Piper is born (1930).
South African car racer Sarel van der Merwe born in Port Elizabeth (1946).
Sports car racer Bob Tullius is born (1936).
Ray Lee Wood, member of NASCAR’s famous Wood Brothers born (1927).
Sport car racer and 24 Hour of Le Mans winner Jurgen Barth born (1947).
Manfred Kremer, one of the founders of Kremer Racing, is born (1939).
Trans-Am competitor Jim Derhaag born (1950).
Drag racer Lori Johns is born (1965).
Indy car crew chief Jim McGee is born (1937).
Formula One champ and DTM team owner Keijo Eric “Keke” Rosberg born in Stockholm, Sweden (1948).
Indy 500 winner Vaso Bill “Vuky” Vukovich Sr. is born (1918).
Hélène Delangle, (raced under Hellé Nice), born in France (1900).
Formula and car racer Howden Ganley is born in New Zealand (1941).
Zora Arkus-Duntov, champion of the Corvette, is born in Belgium (1909).
NASCAR racer Fred Lorenzen born (1934).
Bob Wilke, Offenhauser engine dealer, born in Waukeegan, Illinois (1908).
Canadian open-wheel racer Claude Bourbonnaise born (1966).
NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett born (1932).
Touring car driver Jeff Allam is born in Epsom, England (1954).
Racer Pierre Levegh born as Pierre Bouillon in Paris, France (1905).
Engineer and designer Adrian Newey is born in England (1958).
Land Speed Record setter John Cobb is born in Surrey, England (1899).
Hans Stuck, winner of races for Auto Union is born in Poland (1900).
Touring and sports car racer Manuel Reuter is born in Germany (1961).
World of Outlaws sprint car racer Andy Hillenburg born (1965).
Indy 500 and IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay born in Dallas (1980).
“Ralph” de Palma, Indy 500 and Vanderbilt Cup winner, born in Italy (1882).
Lorenzo Bandini, F1 and sports car racer, is born in Libya (1935)
Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche, son of the founder of the Porsche company and designer of the Porsche 904 and 911, is born (1935).
F1 and sports car racer Michele Alboreto born in Milan, Italy (1956).
Carlo Chiti, one-time engineer for Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, and co-founder of both ATS and Autodelta, born in Pistola, Italy (1924).
Sports car racer Allan McNish is born in Dumfries, Scotland (1969).
Garrie Clifford Cooper, founder of the Elfin racecar company, born in Adelaide, South Australia (1935).
December Motorsport Deaths
Stockcar and Indycar racer Lee Roy Yarbrough dies (1984).
Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, dies of a heart attack (1982).
Ernesto Maserati dies of natural causes (1975).
Wendell Scott, the first African-American NASCAR racer, dies (1990).
Bobby Marshman dies from burns suffered in a testing crash (1964).
Prewar racing great Prince Bira dies of natural causes (1985).
British Land Speed Record holder Sir Malcolm Campbell dies (1948).
John Cooper, builder of first mid-engined F1 and Indy cars, dies (2000).
Del Russo Taylor, first man to enter GTP car in IMSA, dies (1991).
Jim Firestone dies in an accident during a race (1956).
F1-racer Lorenzo Bandini is born (1936).
George Sherrard dies in an accident during practice (1956).
David McKay, Australia’s first professional racing driver, first Australian Touring Car champion (1960), and founder of Australia’s first racing team (Scuderia Veloce), dies (2004).
Jean Rondeau, the only man to win the Le Mans in a car bearing his own name, dies at the age of 39 when street car he is in is hit by a train (1985).
American sports car racer Milt Minter dies from cancer at age 71 (2004).
Andy Granatelli, former CEO of STP and the man who brought turbine cars to Indy, dies at the age of 90 from congestive heart failure (2013).
Walter Hayes dies in Britain, at the age of 76, from lung cancer (2000).
Joseph Cloutier, President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, dies (1989).
Swiss sports car racer Claude Haldi dies at age 75 (2017).
Ak Miller, hot rodder and racer, dies (2005).
Playwright and motorsports journalist Michael Lawrence dies (2020).
Romolo Tavoni, one-time racing director for Ferrari and ATS, dies (2020).
Oscar Koveleski, racer and founder dies at age 88 (2020).
Daytona Rolex 24 Winner and IMSA Champion John Paul Jr. dies (2020).
Aldo Andretti, brother of Mario, father of John dies at age 80 (2020).
German racer and rallyist Eberhard Mahle dies at age 88 (2021).
Midget and Indy Car racer Stan Fox is killed in a road accident (2000).
Lotus head Colin Chapman at the 1977 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach. Two exposures then a smile and Chapman was gone. No smile for the camera.
