Since 1807 the world has been forever changed by a technological breakthrough. What invention is this? The invention of the automobile. The effect of the automobile has been enormous on daily life in the United States. American society does not just view the car as a pile of sheet metal, but rather as an extension of one's personality through its speed, fuel consumption and the impact of a car. vehicle is. The automobile is an incredible feat and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Americans have loved cars since their first introduction, some of the most popular sports involved racing high-performance cars to the breaking point. One of the most popular is the 24 hour race at Le Mans. This race is held every June and all American automakers compete in a 24-hour road race against each other and those from other countries. This race first started in 1923 and originated in France (“Top 10 Sporting Events”). Another sport that Americans love to watch is NASCAR. In NASCAR they take high-performance race cars and race them on an oval-shaped track. These races are extremely long and tough on both the car and the driver. Millions of people tune in every year to watch the races on TV. These cars have extremely high performance with speeds of 200 mph; these cars include some of the most technologically advanced engines. With the increase in automotive technology, Americans felt the need to compete to see who has the fastest and most durable race car, as well as bragging rights ("Top 10 Sporting Events"). Millions of people also tune in every year to watch NASCAR, which takes place on America's oval-shaped racetracks. While people competed, others felt the need to break records to represent the ego of the big, bad USA. Earth's speed... center of paper... 3.Harding, Anthony. Car facts and features. New York: Sterling Publishing Co 1977. Print.Hediger, Jim. "Railroads and the Automobile Age." Model Railroader 05 1997: 70-7. ProQuest.Web. November 12, 2013. “Images: Cars That Fueled Our Love-Hate Relationship With Fuel.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society. May 24, 2012. Web. November 12, 2013. Quinn, Mary Ellen. "The Automobile: A Chronology of Its Antecedents, Development and Impact." The Book List 94.11 (1998): 934. ProQuest.Web. October 30, 2013. "Top 10 Sports Events." National Geographic. National Geographic Society. October 20, 2012. Web. November 13, 2013. "The environmental impact of automobiles." Environmental Action Spring 1996: 40. ProQuest.Web. October 30, 2013. “Unsafe at Any Speed: The Dangers Engineered by the American Automobile.” American Journal of Public Health 101.2 (2011): 254-6. ProQuest.Web. November 12. 2013.