July 1st 1913
Carl Fisher, President of Prest-o-lite, formed Lincoln Highway Association with headquarters in Detroit, MI. Henry Joy, President of Packard Motor Cars, came up with the idea of naming the highway after Abraham Lincoln to build coast-to-coast paved road; envisioned improved, hard-surfaced road that would stretch almost 3400 miles from coast to coast, New York to San Francisco, over shortest practical route; promoted road using private, corporate donations; Henry Joy elected as president. Carl Fisher elected vice-president.
July 1st 1948
Achille Varzi, an Italian Grand Prix driver who died during practice runs for the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix during light rain. His car skidded on the wet surface, flipping over and crushing him to death. Varzi's death resulted in the FIA mandating the wearing of crash helmets for racing, which had been optional previously. He used to race for Buggati and Alfa Romeo.
Achille Varzi
Alfa Romeo team drivers, Achille Varzi (4th from left)
