CalendarZ

    • English English
    • español español
    • français français
    • português português
    • русский русский
    • العربية العربية
    • 简体中文 简体中文
  • Home
  • Religious Holidays
  • National Holidays
  • Other Days
  • On This Day
  • Tools
    • Date converter
    • Age Calculator
  1. Home
  2. On This Day
  3. August
  4. 4
  5. John Fitch (racing driver)

Births on August 4

1917Aug, 4

John Fitch (racing driver)

John Fitch, American race car driver and engineer (d. 2012)
John Cooper Fitch (August 4, 1917 in Indianapolis, Indiana – October 31, 2012) was an American racing driver and inventor. He was the first American to race automobiles successfully in Europe in the post-war era.

In the course of a driving career which spanned 18 years, Fitch won such notable sports car races as the Gran Premio de Eva Duarte Perón – Sport, 1953 12 Hours of Sebring, 1955 Mille Miglia (production car class), and the 1955 RAC Tourist Trophy, as well as numerous SCCA National Sports Car Championship races. He was also involved in Briggs Cunningham's ambitious Le Mans projects in the early 1950s, and was later a member of the Mercedes-Benz sport car team. He also competed in two World Championship Grands Prix.

After retirement in 1964, Fitch was the manager of Lime Rock circuit, and a former team boss of Chevrolet's Corvette racing team. His biggest legacy is motor sport safety, as well as pioneering work to improve road car safety, and this has helped save countless lives. He had worked on advanced driver safety capsule systems. He was also a track design consultant, as well as inventing many other automotive devices. Even into his 90s, Fitch was still a consultant, and appeared at historic events.

References

  • John Fitch (racing driver)

Choose Another Date

Events on 1917

  • 22Jan

    Woodrow Wilson

    World War I: President Woodrow Wilson of the still-neutral United States calls for "peace without victory" in Europe.
  • 15Mar

    Nicholas II of Russia

    Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicates the Russian throne ending the 304-year Romanov dynasty.
  • 2Apr

    Woodrow Wilson

    World War I: United States President Woodrow Wilson asks the U.S. Congress for a declaration of war on Germany.
  • 5Jun

    Conscription

    World War I: Conscription begins in the United States as "Army registration day".
  • 27Jul

    Battle of Passchendaele

    The Allies reach the Yser Canal at the Battle of Passchendaele.

About CalendarZ

CalendarZ

In addition of showing the dates of significant holidays and events; CalendarZ enables you easily check out the time remaining to a certain date and all other details.

Our Partners

WoWDeals : All Deals in One Place

Quick Navigation

  • Home
  • Upcoming Holidays
  • Religious Holidays
  • National Holidays
  • Other Days
  • Blog
  • Age Calculator
  • On This Day

© 2025 CalendarZ. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us / Privacy Policy

English   |   español   |   français   |   português   |   русский   |   العربية   |   简体中文