Teddy Tetzlaff
Teddy Tetzlaff ( Herbert Theodore Tetzlaff, born February 5, 1883 in Los Angeles, † December 8, 1929 in Artesia, California ) was an American race car driver in the pioneering days of American auto racing. Tetzlaff also appeared as an actor in the race films of the silent era.
Career
The trained auto mechanic Tetzlaff Among others I from 1911 to 1914 in the first four races of the oldest still existing car race in the world, the 500 miles of Indianapolis, Indy 500 shortly His best result was in 1912 the second place. His nickname "Terrible" Teddy Tetzlaff ( the Terrible Teddy Tetzlaff ) established to win the race with the alternatives, bring the machine to bursting or flying off the track in his full-throttle racing style.
The latter variant describes a race report like this: "Teddy Tetzlaff ... led the field of 16 riders. Tetzlaff confirmed his reputation as a lead foot without nerves by heading the field out of Los Angeles, in San Diego hurled from the track and his car wrapped around a Telephonmast. "
Highlight of his racing career was the second place in the AAA National Championship in 1912. He won with a Fiat S 61, the Santa Monica free-for -all, in July in Tacoma, Washington, the 200 miles "heavy car event" with 2h 54 min 31 sec and a day later the 250- mile free-for - ave a few days before the race in Tacoma Tetzlaff had been kidnapped in Tacoma for the purpose of extorting ransom, but was freed.
1911 Teddy Tetzlaff reached 78.7 miles / h average speed with his Fiat in Santa Monica a world record among all races and racers, which was also in 1912 and 1913 not exceeded. For comparison: in 1913 reached Earl Cooper with a pipe on the then fastest American course in Corona 74.63 miles / h, world Bablot Paul was the fastest with a Delage at Le Mans with 77 miles / h
Teddy Tetzlaff also support as an expert planning and preparation of long-distance races for event organizers.
Tetzlaff and the film
1912 Tetzlaff began to play themselves in silent films of comedy pioneer Mack Sennett. The film The Speed Kings by director Wilfried Lucas, in which he appeared with the racing colleagues Earl Cooper and Barney Oldfield is known. Later, he supported the actor Wallace Reid in his racing films. Tetzlaffs son Ted Tetzlaff was a well-known cameraman in Hollywood who later also directed.
Speed records
- On March 19, 1910 announced an advertising brochure of the Lozier Motor Company that was a standard model 51 with 51 bhp ( 37.5 kW), driven by Teddy Tetzlaff, a world record for the 100 miles ( 161 km) situated in 1:14:29 hours would ..
- In the first motor rally in 1914 accelerated in the Bonneville Salt Flats Teddy Tetzlaff his Blitzen- Benz to 228 km / h according to other sources of 229.85 km / h
Filmography
Texts
According to the Catalogue of copyright entries: Pamphlets, leaflets ..., Volume 10, Issue 2
- Teddy Tetzlaff: Ignorance costs millions each year car ists, 8692-8698
- Teddy Tetzlaff: tells readers of Evening herald all about automotives, 8692-8698