August 24: Demise of auto racing predicted on this date in 1905

One hundred and seven years ago on this date -- August 24, 1905 -- Motor Age ran a front-page article predicting the impending demise of auto racing on tracks, asserting: "It was to be expected that sooner or later cars would be constructed too powerful for whirling around corners and that time is evidently here." The paper went on to claim that "men of daring...are too scarce to be allowed to travel at 70 miles an hour on a circular course." Today, of course, 70 mph is lower than the speed limits on most Interstate highways. Luckily for racing fans, the future ain't what it used to be.