A Moross Contrivance

This Motor Age article is an interesting and somewhat colorful account of a small race meet at the Delmar track in St. Louis, Missouri. The meet was the brainchild of Ernie Moross, who spent several years as Barney Oldfield's manager and later became director of contests at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909. The meet was conducted May 7, 1905 after several days of heavy rains, which made for an extremely muddy track. The events boiled down to handicap contests between Barney Oldfield on his Green Dragon with Earl Kiser and Alonzo Webb in stripped down stock cars. Also, an interested spectator was Colonel Green, an official with the Franklin Automobile Company. This event was organized by Ernie Moross. Considered a promotional success, it attracted 7,000 spectators. Moross used an "auto bus" to drive up and down mainstreet for the better part of two days to promote the event. Also, the night before, the Green Dragon was towed up and down the street as well to introduce the crowd to this awesome chariot of speed. These guys were great.