Ralph Mulford in a Lozier won the seventh Vanderbilt Cup, in the only year it was staged at Savannah, Georgia in a double-header along with the American Grand Prize three days later. An American winner driving an American car, Mulford became an overnight hero. Although facilities at Savannah were hugely improved to accommodate the two events, large crowds caused problems and there were a strong of accidents as spectators spilled onto the course; in one during practice, Jay McNay was killed when he swerved to avoid a wagon.
1977
Ken Tyrrell's announcement that rookie Didier Pironi would be the team's No. 2 driver behind Patrick Depallier was nothing earth-shattering but it was the first time in a decade in the sport that Tyrrell had officially announced a No. 1 and No. 2. Even when Jackie Stewart was winning world titles from the team, he was never publically regarded as the No. 1
1957
Kenny Acheson , who was born on this day in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, entered ten F1 grands prix between 1983 and 1985, but in an underpowered RAM March only qualified three times and finished once, 12th in the 1983 South African GP. After a brief spell with CART, he continued his career in Japan, winning the Japanese Sportscar Championship in 1987, returning to Europe in 1988 to drive for Sauber-Mercedes in the Sportscar World Championship. With Mauro Baldi he finished second at Le Mans before winning at Brands Hatch and Spa. Surprisingly not re-signed by Sauber, he moved to Nissan with little success, before spending seasons with Jaguar and Toyota. He then returned to Japan, this time in GT racing, but in 1996 he was involved in a serious crash at the Daytona 24 Hours, after which he opted to end his racing career.
1975
The FIA unveiled a 17-race schedule for 1976, the most grands prix ever staged in one season. There were two new events, a second US Grand Prix early in the year and then the first Japanese Grand Prix at the end of the season.
