September 7, 1896 – The first automobile race was held on a closed-circuit track. The course was at the Narragansett Trotting Park in Cranston, Rhode Island. The race competition itself was won by a driver named A. H. Whiting interestingly enough in an electric car built by the Riker Electric Vehicle Company.
That company was founded by a man named Andrew Riker who created the Company in Brooklyn in 1888. In 1894 he built his first four-wheel car by putting a pair of Remington bicycles together powered by an electric motor.
That year he also began building an electric racer that competed against gasoline cars and proved that the electric car could defeat a combustion engine in a short-span race. The economy of fueling it and the longevity of how long it would run before recharging were issues that engineers 125 years later are still coping with.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
18 & Counting: The Stars Who Made the Boston Celtics Great
Back in June, the Boston Celtics clinched their 18th NBA Championship, moving ahead of
3 Famous Boxing Matches Believed to Have Been Rigged
Boxing has seen its fair share of controversy over the years. Among the most
The Longest Pass In Super Bowl History (Thru 2024)
It is impossible to avoid getting lost in the pageantry when thinking of the
Memorable Moments: A Look at the History of the Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup has long been a pinnacle of horse racing, bringing together the
The Greatest Phoenix Suns Players of All Time
Since joining the NBA in 1968, the Phoenix Suns have been home to some
The Bell’s of Saint JR (Relating to Jim Ross)
INTRO: Gregorian chant music as Ariel enters a church confession booth. PRIEST and ARIEL:
The NFL’s Forgotten Gold Medalist!
As usual during the staging of the Summer Olympics, numerous stars are born, discovered,
From Underdogs to Champions: The Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI Victory
The New England Patriots victory in Super Bowl XXXVI was a defining moment in