HORSEPOWER & SASS

The first racing helmet was a cooking pot. Motorsport started in the kitchen like everything else.

✗ FAKE
Early racing drivers wore leather caps or simple helmets, and modern helmets developed for impact protection. No cooking pot was the first racing helmet.

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The original tire tread pattern was designed by a waffle iron. Which explains why road trips feel like brunch.The first car horn was banned at night for “being too honest.” Some drivers took that personally.The first car to have airbags also had a confetti mode. Safety, but make it celebratory.The first dashboard was a literal plank of wood. So the term “dashboard” was aggressively honest.Airbags reduce the risk of death in a head-on collision by 30% — your car’s puffiest safety hug.Early car keys were shaped like tiny swords. Because starting your engine should feel like a duel.See all Horsepower & Sass facts →

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The first racing helmet was a cooking pot. Motorsport started in the kitchen like everything else. | SmartAss Facts