Ernest Moross
Encyclopedia
Ernest "Ernie" Moross was an early twentieth century press agent and promoter specializing in American motorsports. He was a longtime associate of the first American auto racing superstar, Barney Oldfield
. Moross also obtained distinction as the first Contest Director for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
. He left the Speedway in 1910 to campaign the Fiat
racing team.
when the driver signed on to the Peerless
racing team to drive the infamous "Green Dragon" racer in 1904. He formed the Moross Amusement Company and soon hired another noted promoter, William Pickens
to act as front man for their operation. Moross made arrangements with county fair horse tracks and Pickens would paste broadsides on store fronts, telephone poles and barns to publicize the coming event. They traveled throughout the country attracting crowds full of people that in some cases had never seen an automobile. They were the leaders in the era's entertainment genre called "barnstorming." The events were more frequently staged than not and typically drew strong crowds of the curious. With Moross' help, Oldfield became a grassroots hero.
Moross brokered the deal for Oldfield to purchase the 1909 "Blitzen Benz
," a 200 horsepower, chain drive 21.5 liter machine from the New York Benz Auto Import Company for $6,000 and the trade-in of an older, smaller Benz racer. Oldfield broke the world land speed record on the sands of Ormond-Daytona Beach
at 131.7 MPH on March 16, 1910. Moross and Oldfield remained in contact throughout their lives.
August 17, 1909 and then wrote a feature article about it that appeared in the Indianapolis Star the following day.
Moross was also a key figure in the development of the May 1910 auto race meet at the Speedway, unique in its presentation of such odd events as an obstacle course contest that included wooden ramps and a trip through the Speedway's landmark ditch at the inside of the track's southwest turn.
for staging an unsanctioned match race at Sheepshead Bay against World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Johnson
in October 1911. The team featured the Blitzen Benz, a Knox Automobile
and the Darracq
that won the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup
. Moross Amusement Company arranged for "Wild" Bob Burman
to drive the car at Ormond-Daytona in April 1911, establishing a new record at over 141.73 MPH. The world land speed record was all Moross needed to create a money making exhibition show. Although the car's engine was far too large to meet the technical specifications of the first Indianapolis 500
in May 1911, the car made exhibition runs the morning of the race and set new track records at the quarter mile, half mile, kilometer and mile distances.
After these headline generating achievements, Moross, Burman and the Benz went on tour with a supporting cast of Louis Disbrow
, Billy Knipper
and H.J. Kilpatrick driving a Mercedes
and a 1906 Grand Prix Hotchkiss
. Moross and Burman continued to work together in 1912 and 1913, introducing a new 300 HP "Jumbo" Benz and set a new one mile dirt track record of 75.24 MPH at Brighton Beach
in September.
In 1914 the Moross Amusement Company engaged Californian Teddy Tetzlaff
to campaign the 300 HP Benz, naming it "Blitzen Benz 2." Tetzlaff broke the world land speed record mark by running 142.8 MPH on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
. Moross also obtained distinction as the first Contest Director for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
. He left the Speedway in 1910 to campaign the Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
racing team.
Early career
Like most of the pioneer American auto racers, Ernie Moross began his career racing bicycles on wooden velodromes in the 1890s. While there is no record of Moross enjoying exceptional success as an athlete, he is likely to have developed contacts with other participants, including Oldfield and Carl Graham Fisher who later founded the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909.Work with Oldfield
Moross first began work with Barney OldfieldBarney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
when the driver signed on to the Peerless
Peerless
Peerless was a United States automobile produced by the Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 to 1931. The company was known for building high-quality, precision luxury automobiles. Peerless' factory was located at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland...
racing team to drive the infamous "Green Dragon" racer in 1904. He formed the Moross Amusement Company and soon hired another noted promoter, William Pickens
William Pickens
William Pickens was an African American orator, educator, journalist, and essayist. He was born in Anderson County, South Carolina.-Biography:...
to act as front man for their operation. Moross made arrangements with county fair horse tracks and Pickens would paste broadsides on store fronts, telephone poles and barns to publicize the coming event. They traveled throughout the country attracting crowds full of people that in some cases had never seen an automobile. They were the leaders in the era's entertainment genre called "barnstorming." The events were more frequently staged than not and typically drew strong crowds of the curious. With Moross' help, Oldfield became a grassroots hero.
Moross brokered the deal for Oldfield to purchase the 1909 "Blitzen Benz
Blitzen Benz
In 1909, the Blitzen Benz was built in Mannheim by Benz & Cie. The vehicle was one of six built with a , inline four engine enlarged from the company's Grand Prix racer. The car was modified to improve its aerodynamics. At Brooklands on November 9, 1909, land speed racer Victor Hémery of France...
," a 200 horsepower, chain drive 21.5 liter machine from the New York Benz Auto Import Company for $6,000 and the trade-in of an older, smaller Benz racer. Oldfield broke the world land speed record on the sands of Ormond-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach Road Course
Daytona Beach Road Course was a race track that was instrumental in the formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR. It originally became famous as the location where fifteen world land speed records were set...
at 131.7 MPH on March 16, 1910. Moross and Oldfield remained in contact throughout their lives.
Director of Contests, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Moross worked at the Speedway from 1909-1910. Moross was hired by Carl Fisher as his press agent almost immediately after work began to develop the terrain that would support the Speedway. It was Moross' idea to build a scale model of the track facing Crawfordsville Road so those passing the location could stop and get a feel for the layout. Moross promoted all the Indianapolis Motor Speedway events during 1909 and the first race meet on the newly brick-paved track in 1910. In addition, he was the starter of the first motorized event at the Speedway, the August 1909 motorcycle races. He was also responsible for engineering the first trip around the track by a woman. Journalist Betty Blythe rode "shotgun" with Bob BurmanBob Burman
Bob Burman was an American racecar driver active in the formative years of auto racing.-Biography:He was born on April 23, 1884 in Imlay City, Michigan. He was the winner of the Prest-O-Lite Trophy Race in 1909. He competed at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911...
August 17, 1909 and then wrote a feature article about it that appeared in the Indianapolis Star the following day.
Moross was also a key figure in the development of the May 1910 auto race meet at the Speedway, unique in its presentation of such odd events as an obstacle course contest that included wooden ramps and a trip through the Speedway's landmark ditch at the inside of the track's southwest turn.
Work with Bob Burman and Teddy Tetzlaff
Moross purchased Oldfield's team for $13,500 before the 1911 season and shortly after the driver was suspended by the AAAAmerican Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
for staging an unsanctioned match race at Sheepshead Bay against World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (boxer)
John Arthur Johnson , nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” was an American boxer. At the height of the Jim Crow era, Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion...
in October 1911. The team featured the Blitzen Benz, a Knox Automobile
Knox Automobile
The Knox Automobile Company was a manufacturer of automobiles in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States between 1900 and 1914. Knox also built trucks and farm tractors until 1924.-History:...
and the Darracq
Darracq
Automobiles Darracq S.A. was a French motor vehicle manufacturing company founded in 1896 by Alexandre Darracq.Using part of the substantial profit he had made from selling his Gladiator bicycle factory, Alexandre Darracq began operating from a plant in the Parisian suburb of Suresnes...
that won the 1905 Vanderbilt Cup
Vanderbilt Cup
The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing.-History:An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1904 and first held at a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, New York. The announcement that the race was to be held caused...
. Moross Amusement Company arranged for "Wild" Bob Burman
Bob Burman
Bob Burman was an American racecar driver active in the formative years of auto racing.-Biography:He was born on April 23, 1884 in Imlay City, Michigan. He was the winner of the Prest-O-Lite Trophy Race in 1909. He competed at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911...
to drive the car at Ormond-Daytona in April 1911, establishing a new record at over 141.73 MPH. The world land speed record was all Moross needed to create a money making exhibition show. Although the car's engine was far too large to meet the technical specifications of the first Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
in May 1911, the car made exhibition runs the morning of the race and set new track records at the quarter mile, half mile, kilometer and mile distances.
After these headline generating achievements, Moross, Burman and the Benz went on tour with a supporting cast of Louis Disbrow
Louis Disbrow
Louis Disbrow was an American racecar driver.-Life:Louis Disbrow was born on March 24, 1888 in Indianapolis, Indiana.He died on July 9, 1939 in his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Indy 500 results:-References:...
, Billy Knipper
Billy Knipper
William P. Knipper was an American racecar driver.A hillclimb was held at Dugdale Hill, Rochester, New York, on October 13, 1906. The free-for-all class was won by Billy Knipper in a time of 51.8 sec. -Indy 500 results:- References :...
and H.J. Kilpatrick driving a Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
and a 1906 Grand Prix Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
. Moross and Burman continued to work together in 1912 and 1913, introducing a new 300 HP "Jumbo" Benz and set a new one mile dirt track record of 75.24 MPH at Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
in September.
In 1914 the Moross Amusement Company engaged Californian Teddy Tetzlaff
Teddy Tetzlaff
Teddy Tetzlaff was an American racecar driver active in the formative years of auto racing. He competed in the first four Indianapolis 500s, with a highest finish of second in 1912. He earned the nickname "Terrible" Teddy Tetzlaff due to his rough treatment of his vehicles...
to campaign the 300 HP Benz, naming it "Blitzen Benz 2." Tetzlaff broke the world land speed record mark by running 142.8 MPH on the Bonneville Salt Flats.