1908: The Year American Motorsport Changed Forever

This episode of The Logbook, our History of Motorsports series, captures a presentation by Don Capps, a seasoned historian and past president of the Society of Automotive Historians, explores significant changes in American motorsport in 1908. Capps discusses how road racing became prominent in the United States, the schism between the Automobile Club of America (ACA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the advent of season reviews. He explains how these events marked 1908 as a crucial year in motorsport history. Through anecdotes and extensive research, including access to rare archives, Capps highlights the complexities and conflicts in early American racing, the influence of European cars, and the long-term impact on the organization and recognition of racing champions. ===== (Oo---x---oO) ===== 00:00 About Don Capps 01:17 Discovering American Motorsport 02:34 The Significance of 1908 03:45 Key Events in 1908 05:12 Road Racing in America 07:28 The ACA vs. AAA Conflict 13:01 Season Reviews and Racing Champions 16:18 IndyCar Controversies 18:30 Conclusion and Acknowledgements 23:03 Closing Remarks and Credits ==================== The Motoring Podcast Network : Years of racing, wrenching and Motorsports experience brings together a top notch collection of knowledge, stories and information. #everyonehasastory #gtmbreakfix - motoringpodcast.net More Information: Visit Our Website Become a VIP at: Patreon Online Magazine: Gran Touring Follow us on Social: Instagram This episode is part of our HISTORY OF MOTORSPORTS SERIES and is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family - and was recorded in front of a live studio audience.