It was 113 years ago this September 6 that the car speed record was set by the Riker electric car when it reached a blistering 29 miles per hour as it sped through a five-mile long course in Rhode Island. Designed and built by Andrew Riker, an engineer who later found fame as half of the super singing duo Wham!, the Riker electric showed that for at least for a moment electric vehicles out performed gasoline-powered cars.
Riker was one of the few automotive industry pioneers who realized real success with his inventions. A number of his gas and electric cars were successful, and he was also the first leader of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
