Ernest Putnam Ansterburg was born on October 1, 1891 in Concord, Michigan. He participated in the 1924 Indianapolis 500. He was killed in a crash at Charlotte Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 16, 1924 during a practice lap at the age of 33. He crashed into the upper guardrail during the morning practice of the track's first race. Mechanical investigation showed the accident was caused by a broken front suspension.