This Week in Racing History (October 2-8)

This Week in Racing History
Michael Stucker

October 2
Tom Green drives Walt Arfons' "Wingfoot Express" to a World Land Speed Record of 413.20 mph (1964).

October 3
Twenty year old Roland Leong, in his own "Hawaiian" rail, drives a nitro-fueled dragster for the first time. He fails to deploy the car's parachute at the end of the 1/4-mile at Lions Dragstrip in Long Beach, California, USA, and the car does not stop until it gets to the back of the sand trap at the end of the track. Track manager C.J. "Pappy" Hart tears apart Leong's racing license (1964).

October 4
Terry Labonte drives a Chevrolet to victory in the Holly Farms 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race at North Wilksboro, North Carolina, USA (1987).

October 5
Jochen Rindt, driving a Lotus 49B-Ford, wins his first Grand Prix, the USGP at Watkins Glen, New York (1969).

October 6
Piercarlo Ghinzhani and Paolo Barilla drive a Joest Porsche 956 to victory in the World Sports Prototype Championship race at Fuji, Japan. Factory Porsche teammates Derek Bell and Hans Stuck clinch the driving title (1986).

October 7
Frank Sanchez sets an Pro Stock elapse-time record when he covers the 1/4-mile in 7.294 seconds during the NHRA National event at Baytown, Texas, USA (1988).

October 8
American George Heath, driving a French Panhard, wins the first Vanderbuilt Cup Race, on Long Island in New York, USA (1904).