List of days of the year

20 April - World's First Motor Race in 1887

 

On 20 April 1887, Georges Bouton won the world’s 1st motor race on a steam-powered quadricycle, a 'test' organised by French newspaper Le Velocipede

The record books show that on 20 April 1887, Georges Bouton “won the world’s first motor race”. But it was a hollow victory and there was no champagne celebration – because Bouton and his co-driver were the only ones taking part. And, in fact, it wasn’t even a car. It was a steam-powered quadricycle.

The event was a “test” organised by the newspaper Le Velocipede to see if Bouton’s machine, which had boasted speeds of 60kmph, could make the 29-kilometre distance between Neuilly Bridge in Paris and the Bois de Boulogne.

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