Centennial Road

The Automobile Club of Southern California has been guiding drivers--and influencing the car culture--for nearly 100 years. Among the milestones:

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1900

Club established by 10 car enthusiasts. Above, a group looks at an early three-wheeled car in 1910.

1909

Touring Topics magazine begins publication.

1911

Touring Information Bureau opens.

1914

Club establishes theft bureau.

1924

Club inaugurates Highway Patrol Service to assist motorists, at right.

1925

Free emergency road service offered to all members.

1937

Club recommends limited-access “motorways” to reduce street congestion.

1940

Arroyo Seco Parkway, L.A.’s first such roadway, opens. Today it’s known as the Pasadena Freeway, at right.

1950

Membership tops 300,000, making it largest motor club in world.

1967

Club logs more than 1.5 million requests for roadside assistance.

1970

Modern TripTik introduced.

1975

Membership tops 2 million.

1984

Club supports mandatory seat-belt law.

1998

Club advocates graduated driver’s license for teens.

2000

Membership approaches 5 million.