May 20th 1899
Jacob German, operator of a taxicab for the Electric Vehicle Company, became the first driver to be arrested for speeding when he was stopped by Bicycle Roundsman Schueller for driving at the speed of 12mph on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. German was booked and held in jail at the East Twenty-second Street station house. He was, of course, not made to hand over his license and registration, as neither item was required until two years later in the State of New York.
May 20th 1961
The Ford Motor Company completed a highly modified stretch Lincoln Continental convertible sedan for the U.S. Secret Service to be used as a presidential limousine. It was modified by Hess & Eisenhardt Company. The limo, later known as the SS-100-X, carried President John F. Kennedy down Elm Street in Dallas, Texas, when he was assassinated in 1963.
May 20th 1971
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart, a NASCAR driver was born in Columbus, Indiana.
May 20th 1973
Jarno Karl Keimo Saarinen, a Finnish Grand Prix motorcycle racer died during the fourth Moto GP season in Monza, Italy. A crash during the 350cc race left an oil slick on the track which the Race officials had failed to clean it properly between races. On the opening lap of the 250cc race, track marshals didn't wave the yellow and red stripe oil flag warning riders of the oil slicked surface. The race leader, Renzo Pasolini fell in front of Saarinen, who was in second place. He couldn't avoid the fallen rider and the resulting crash caused a multiple rider pile up. In all, 14 riders were embroiled in the mayhem that resulted. When the dust cleared, Jarno and Pasolini laid dead with many other riders seriously injured.
Source:
The History Channel
Wikipedia
jfklancer.com
Lincoln SS-100-X
Equatorial Guinea postage stamp of Saarinen
