22 Facts About Charlie Merz

Charles Cleveland Merz was an American racing driver, military officer, engineering entrepreneur, and racing official.

At just 17, Merz demonstrated impressive skill as a race driver when he was hired by Arthur C Newby to drive one of his National Motor Vehicle Company stock cars against some of the top competitors in the United States at a 100-mile race at the Indiana State Fairgrounds one-mile dirt oval on November 4,1905.

Stiff with cold and bloodshot eyes, both Clemens and Charlie Merz warmed themselves with a bonfire and hot coffee when they stopped.

Charlie Merz competed in one Vanderbilt Cup race, the first major race in the United States on October 30,1909.

Charlie Merz ran well in the early going, working his way into third by the halfway point.

Charlie Merz did pick up one victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the track's seventh auto race in August 1909.

Charlie Merz, driving another National, won over Louis Chevrolet in a Buick.

Charlie Merz's victory was met with applause from local fans as both driver and car were from Indianapolis.

Charlie Merz finished second and third in two other handicap events as well.

Charlie Merz was directly involved with another fatal accident when, at 175 miles, the right front tire on his National blew out and sent him through the track's outer fence and into a cluster of spectators.

Charlie Merz was lucky to escape injury as his riding mechanic, Claude Kellum was killed.

At the Speedway's July 1910 meet, Merz drove for Empire, a short-lived Indianapolis automobile company founded by Carl G Fisher.

Charlie Merz drove in two minor sprint races, with a best finish of second.

In September 1910 Charlie Merz was back with National and ran in nine races.

Charlie Merz finished the Indianapolis 500 in the top 10 in three of his four starts.

Charlie Merz was seventh in the first "500" in 1911, again driving for National.

Charlie Merz, driving a Stutz again, was chasing Spencer Wishart in a New Jersey-built Mercer for second place when his engine burst into flames just before starting the last of the race's 200 laps.

Charlie Merz took up the position of engineer for Rayfield Carburetter Company in 1914, and served in France during the First World War in the American Expeditionary Forces, the forerunner of the US Army Air Corps, from 1917 to 1919 reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

In 1927, at age 39, Charlie Merz founded Charlie Merz Engineering and served as its president until his retirement in 1946.

Charlie Merz served as Chief Steward for the Indianapolis 500, the top official of the race, from 1935 to 1939.

Charlie Merz died in his home just outside Indianapolis at age 64 on July 8,1952.

Charlie Merz is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.