OLLI at SOU

The Power and the Glory: Auto Racing Up to WWII NEW!

Starting at the end of the 19th century, automobile racing replaced horse racing and bicycle racing, mainly due to the unpredictability and danger of it. Fortunes were made and lost on the track, and automobile companies came and went based on their performance. Constant innovations, year after year, made the cars go faster, rapidly exceeding 100 miles per hour by 1920, but also easier to drive and with increased mileage (although that was not the goal). Women took the wheel as early as 1910 in some interesting events. By 1920, styling and streamlining began, and the automobile became a work of art as well as a functional mode of transportation. We’ll explore the evolution of styling and speed, compare racing in Europe versus the U.S. and look at some of the dominant drivers and designers.

The Power and the Glory: Auto Racing Up to WWII – In-Person
Item Number: W26HIST315A
Dates: 1/8/2026 - 2/5/2026
Times: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Days: Th
Sessions: 5
Maximum Enrollment: 32
Seats Available: 25
Building: Campbell Center
Room: Room D
Instructor: Joe Davis

Starting at the end of the 19th century, automobile racing replaced horse racing and bicycle racing, mainly due to the unpredictability and danger of it. Fortunes were made and lost on the track, and automobile companies came and went based on their performance. Constant innovations, year after year, made the cars go faster, rapidly exceeding 100 miles per hour by 1920, but also easier to drive and with increased mileage (although that was not the goal). Women took the wheel as early as 1910 in some interesting events. By 1920, styling and streamlining began, and the automobile became a work of art as well as a functional mode of transportation. We’ll explore the evolution of styling and speed, compare racing in Europe versus the U.S. and look at some of the dominant drivers and designers.

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