This Day in Auto History: 24 MAY

This Day in Auto History: 5.24.1903 Marcel Renault, age 31, and his riding mechanic, Vauthier, are killed during the Paris-Madrid race in a crash near Couhe-Verac, France, with later crashes killing racer E. T. Stead and the riding mechanic Pierre Rodez – after completion of the first leg of the race to Bordeaux, France, officials cancelled the remainder of the event, declared leader Fernand Gabriel driving a Mors to be the winner, and the era of city-to-city races essentially ended 5.24.1926 Automobile safety advocate Dr. J. William Haddon is born in Orange, NJ 5.24.1953 Racer Lamberto Leoni is born in Argenta, Italy 5.24.1966 Racer Ricky Craven is born in Newburgh, ME 5.24.1989 Driving a Mitsubishi Colt GTi-16V at Rattvik, Sweden, stunt driver Bengt Norberg sets world’s records for driving a car on two side wheels for 192.873 miles and 27.842 miles in one hour

Source: Automobile History Day By Day, by Douglas A. Wick