This Day in Auto History: 9.7.1896 A Riker Electric Trap driven by Andrew L. Riker and C. H. Whiting wins the first closed-course automobile race in United States at the Rhode Island State Fair in Narragansett Park 9.7.1910 Racer Lee Wallard is born in Schenectady, NY 9.7.1915 Willaim A. Besserdich is awarded a patent for his Steering Mechanism, a design used on most 4-wheel-drive vehicles 9.7.1939 Racer Donnie Joseph Allison is born in Miami, FL 9.7.1951 Racer Rad Dougall is born in South Africa

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