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
Sports History On This Day: May 30
May 30, 1955 – Sadness gripped the large Indianapolis 500 crowd during the big race.
Australian Football League (AFL) Passion at Its Best: Inside a Lions Game
Brisbane Lions games offer an electrifying live experience filled with energy, tradition, and community
Sports History On This Day: May 29
May 29, 1971 – Happy birthday to Al Unser Sr.! The driver gave himself a
Sports History On This Day: May 28
May 28, 1957 – Major League Baseball’s National League executives approved the move of two
Sports History On This Day: May 27
May 27, 1968 – Football’s legendary player, owner, and founding NFL member George Halas retired
Sports History On This Day: May 26
May 26, 1974 – The words “Gentlemen start your engines,” was declared for the first
Sports History On This Day: May 25
May 25, 1919 – There are hidden talents to many of the athletes we celebrate
Indy 500 Race Day: On The Grid
In this episode, Tim Coffeen will take you inside the garage as an Indy