Teddy Tetzlaff

His wide-open throttle racing style would variously win a race, blow up his engine or cause him to crash.

• Name — Teddy Tetzlaff • Birth Name — Theodore Herbert Tetzlaff • Born — 5 February 1883 • Birthplace — Orange, California, U.S. • Died — 8 December 1929 • Place of death — Artesia, California, U.S.

Tetzlaff was born in Orange, California, on February 5, 1883.

On March 19, 1911, as Lozier ads claimed, a stock 49 hp model piloted by Tetzlaff set a world record for 100 mi at 1:14:29. In 1914, the Moross Amusement Company of Ernest Moross engaged Tetzlaff to campaign the 300 hp Benz, naming it "Blitzen Benz 2." He broke the world land speed record mark by running 142.85 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats at Salduro, Utah, on August 12.

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.

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.

Actor: • 1913 The Speed Kings • 1919 The Roaring Road • 1920 Double Speed • 1921 Too Much Speed • 1922 Across the Continent • 1929 The Fall of Eve

• Year — Car — Start — Qual — Rank — Finish — Laps — Led — Retired • 1911 — 34 — 30 — — — — — 39 — 20 — 0 — Crash FS • 1912 — 3 — 3 — 84.240 — 6 — 2 — 200 — 2 — Running • 1913 — 27 — 8 — 81.300 — 16 — 17 — 118 — 0 — Drive chain • 1914 — 8 — 2 — 96.360 — 3 — 28 — 33 — 0 — Rocker arm • Totals — 371 — 2 • Starts — 4 • Poles — 0 • Front Row — 2 • Wins — 0 • Top 5 — 1 • Top 10 — 1 • Retired — 3

Teddy Tetzlaff was recorded at birth as Theodore Herbert Tetzlaff. He also worked under the name Teddy Tetzlaff. The authorities additionally record the heading Terrible Tedy Tetzlaff. His recorded language was English.

Teddy Tetzlaff is recorded as actor, engineer and racing automobile driver.