1950s in motorsport

none February 2010 This article documents the status of motorsports in the 1950s. United States Due to the rising popularity of stock car racing, the new Strictly Stock Series is established as the Grand National. The series becomes phenomenally popular, and attracts numerous domestic manufacturers. The Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Thunderbird become the first true American sports cars. Late in the decade, the Corvette would adopt a V8 engine and become heavily competitive in endurance racing. The Indianapolis 500 is added to the new grand prix schedule. It is later replaced with a United States Grand Prix in 1959.http://www.f1pulse.com/racecard/United_States_Grand_Prix_1959/423B/race_card_archive.aspx Race card archive 2010-02-09 2010-02-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20100211111616/http://f1pulse.com/racecard/United_States_Grand_Prix_1959/423B/race_card_archive.aspx dead Racing legend Phil Hill debuts in 1958.http://www.f1pulse.com/drivers/PHill/403C3A/drivers_profile.aspx Drivers Profile 2010-02-09 2011-07-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20110710215357/http://www.f1pulse.com/drivers/PHill/403C3A/drivers_profile.aspx dead The SCCA National Sports Car Championship was first contested in 1951, America's first championship for sports cars. The Twelve Hours of Sebring is first held NASCAR legend Richard Petty debuts Debut of racing legend A. J. Foyt in IndyCar The Hudson Hornet is dominant in NASCAR The National Hot Rod Association is founded as a professional organization for drag racing Daytona International Speedway opens Riverside International Raceway opens. It will last until the 1980s when it will close Laguna Seca Raceway opens The original Daytona Beach Road Course closes Europe Grand prix racing returns after World War II temporarily halts automobile production. The new grand prix series is known as Formula One. The debut of racing legend Stirling Moss.http://www.f1pulse.com/drivers/SMoss/413B3D/drivers_profile.aspx Driver profile. Stirling Moss 2010-02-09 2010-02-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20100212111205/http://f1pulse.com/drivers/SMoss/413B3D/drivers_profile.aspx dead The establishment of the World Sports Car Championship, composed mainly of endurance races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The beginnings of the British Saloon Car Championship, now the British Touring Car Championship. The Mille Miglia is last held after thirty years. The Portuguese Grand Prix debuts in 1958 The Dutch Grand Prix is first held in 1955 The Spanish Grand Prix is first held in 1951 The Porsche 550 Spyder and Porsche 356 are introduced, competitive in motorsport The Maserati Birdcage is introduced as a competitive racing prototype The Jaguar D-Type is introduced as a competitive racecar The Lotus Eleven is introduced for motorsport The original Mini debuts. It is competitive in touring car racing. The original Volkswagen Beetle debuts, becoming competitive in touring car racing The Triumph TR is introduced The MG A is introduced Dino is introduced as a brand of Ferrari Juan Manuel Fangio wins a then-record five Formula One drivers championships, driving for Alfa Romeo Australia The rise of famous racer and race car builder Jack Brabham. South America The Carrera Panamericana is held from 1950 to 1954 The Argentine Grand Prix debuts in 1953 as the first F1 race in South America Africa The Moroccan Grand Prix, the first F1 race to be held in Africa, is held in 1958 See also 1940s in motorsport 1960s in motorsport References