Anniversaries in 2012

[D-Type]

New Year's Eve raises the question of what anniversaries occur in 2012. There don't seem many this year. Here's a few I've found:

100 years ago. 1912 saw Boillot in the Peugeot L76 win the Grand Prix [of the ACF]. The L76 has been described as "the first modern GP car" as it featured a twin overhead camshaft engine designed from the outset as a high revving racing engine in a purpose designed chassis.

75 years ago. 1937 saw saw Berndt Rosemeyer set a lap record at the Avus circuit at 172.75mph which remained the record lap anywhere for about 30 years.

50 years ago. 1962 saw Graham Hill and BRM score the first all-British World Championship. It also saw the last win at Le Mans for a front-engined car.

25 years ago. 1987 saw Nelson Piquet take his third World Championship with team mate Nigel Mansell as runner up. It saw Jaguar break Porsche's stranglehold on the World Endurance Championship while Porsche won Le Mans for the seventh successive time.

Any more, anybody?

[Don Capps]

In July it will be the centennial of the first competition for the Montamarathon Trophy held in conjunction with the Montara Festo in Tacoma, the race being held on the original five-mile road course outside of town.

October will also be the centennial of the William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Cup and the Grand Prize of the Automobile Club of America being held on the Wauwatosa course on the outskirts of Milwaukee, as well as the death of David Bruce-Brown during a practice session.

[D-Type]

Sadly, Easter Monday marks the 50th anniversary of Stirling Moss's career ending crash at Goodwood. Fortunately he survived it.

[BDunnell]

It is the 30th anniversary this year of the death of Gilles Villeneuve. On a more positive note, a 25th anniversary is that of Juha Kankkunen becoming the first driver successfully to defend the World Rally Championship title.

[D28]

Sadly, 2 days ago marked 30 years since the death of Gille Villeneuve. Ferrari commerated the event along with Jacques and the family.Always remembered fondly, R.I.P Gilles.http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/...170/story.html

[D-Type]

While we're still on the sad anniversaries: Today, May 10th, is the 45th anniversary of Lorenzo Bandini's horrific death at Monaco

Does anybody have any happier ones?

[D28]

Sadly, 2 days ago marked 30 years since the death of Gille Villeneuve. Ferrari commerated the event along with Jacques and the family.Always remembered fondly, R.I.P Gilles.Ferrari remembers late Gilles Villeneuve

I mean Gilles Villeneuve, sorry for the mistake.

[FAL]

Does anybody have any happier ones?

Just realised it must be 40 years almost to the day that I first started (and later finished) an International Rally.

[D-Type]

65 years ago today (25th May) Franco Cortese in a Ferrari 125S sports car won the GP of Rome to score the first victory for the marque.