Teddy Tetzlaff
Theodore Herbert "Teddy" Tetzlaff (February 5, 1883 – December 8, 1929) 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" due to his rough treatment of his vehicles. His wide-open throttle racing style would variously win a race, blow up his engine or cause him to crash. As auto racing strategies evolved from the early "go as fast as you can and see if you can stay on the track," his early  dominance of the sport waned. Biography. Teddy Tetzlaff was born in Orange, California on February 5, 1883. Speed records. On March 19, 1911 as Lozier ads claimed, a stock model piloted by Tetzlaff set a world record for at 1:14:29. In 1914 the Moross Amusement Company of Ernest Moross engaged Tetzlaff to campaign the Benz, naming it "Blitzen Benz 2." He broke the world land speed record mark by running on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Motion pictures. Around 1912 Tetzlaff began appearing as himself in several silent motion pictures produced by comedy pioneer Mack Sennett. He even appeared in one  Sennett film "The Speed Kings" (1913) alongside fellow racing driver Barney Oldfield. He later became an assistant to actor Wallace Reid on Reid's car racing movies. His son Ted Tetzlaff was a noted Hollywood cinematographer. Death. Tetzlaff died in an assisted living facility in Artesia, California on December 8, 1929 as a result of long-term effects of a spinal injury incurred during the 1911 Los Angeles to Phoenix race when his car hit a bump and overturned with Tetzlaff's head striking the ground. Having recovered quickly, he resumed his racing career and was later engaged in the  auto service industry but had to retire as his health deteriorated. Filmography. actor: