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
Super Bowl XXXII (Broncos vs. Packers): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXXII, which was held on January 25, 1998, at
Doug Atkins: Strongest Man In Football
He was an imposing figure, whether tracking down opposing quarterbacks or selling caskets. At
Remembering Walter Gretzky: “Canada’s Hockey Dad”
Canada’s population is quickly approaching 38 million people, and if social media is any
Super Bowl XXXI (Patriots vs. Packers): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XXXI, which was held on January 26, 1997, at
Ken Patera – The Great American Weightlifter and Professional Wrestler
If you’re a fan of professional wrestling or weightlifting, you’re probably familiar with the
Guy Chamberlin: The Mysterious Disappearance of the NFL’s Winningest Coach
When his coaching career ended almost 95 years ago, he was so successful that
Willie O’Ree Was 1st – Who Was The NHL’s 2nd Black Player?
We all know that Willie O’Ree was the first black player in the National
Gene Washington: Through the Banks of the Red Cedar
In this episode, I talk to Maya Washington about her book and documentary –