The great Los Angeles-to-Phoenix off-road race (more commonly known as "The Cactus Derby") was another of the terrific classics from the sport's early days. In its 1914 edition, track racing legend and barnstormer Barney Oldfield entered the same Stutz racer he had piloted to fifth place in that year's Indianapolis 500.
Carl Fisher was an immensely interesting and compelling figure. His risk tolerance was, at least to me, as a pretty risk-adverse guy, nothing short of amazing. Carl's willingness to role the dice financially is well documented in the three biographical books written about him (the best by Jerry Fisher), the PBS documentary (Mr.