Dick Moroso
Richard D. Moroso, commonly called “Dick”, was an American hot rodder, drag racer, and businessman.[1]
Moroso grew up in Old Greenwich CT and started selling speed parts out of his family's basement in the early 1960s under the name Speed Associates. In the mid-1960s, Moroso and then partner Hank Dietrich opened Performance Automotive in Stamford CT.[2][3]
Moroso founded Moroso Performance Products, to supply aftermarket automotive parts to fellow hot rodders, in 1968, the year his son, Rob, was born.[2][3]
He served as son Rob's owner and sponsor for much of his racing career.[2][3]
Driving a 1961 Corvette, Moroso won one NHRA national title, in D/MP (D Modified Production), at the 1966 NHRA Nationals, held at Indianapolis Raceway Park. His winning pass was 13.32 seconds at 103.21 mph (166.10 km/h).[4]
In 1981, Moroso purchased Palm Beach International Raceway, renaming it Moroso Motorsports Park.[5] In 1982, Moroso spent $100,000 to upgrade the facility to host the opening event of the 1983 SCCA Trans Am Series.[6]
In 1996, Moroso considered spending $2 million on a one-mile oval track for stock car racing, but those plans fell through.[7][8]
Moroso died from brain cancer in 1998.[7][8]
Family[edit]
Moroso had a son, Rob,[9] who raced in NASCAR before he was killed while driving at more than twice the blood/alcohol limit in 1990.[10] Dick had other children, Rick, who currently runs the company, and a daughter, Susan.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars (Cartech, 2003), p.185;
- ^ a b c Purkey, Mike (February 25, 1990). "Stock Car Racing`s Next King?: Only 21, `Crown Prince` Rob Moroso Gets Big Buildup". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune, Knight Ridder Newspapers. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "Automotive Entrepreneur Dick Moroso Succumbs to Cancer". Dragracecentral.com. Guilford, Connecticut: Autosales, Inc. November 9, 1998. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ Davis, p.185;
- ^ "Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved Feb 13, 2019.
- ^ "Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved Feb 13, 2019.
- ^ a b "Palm Beach Post - News from The Associated Press". Nl.newsbank.com. May 20, 2002. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Google News Archive Search". google.com. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ^ Lazzarino, Chris. "Nascar Driver Moroso Is Killed In Highway Crash". sun-sentinel.com. Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Through The Lens: Rob Moroso". National Speed Sport News. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
Sources[edit]
- Davis, Larry. Gasser Wars, North Branch, MN: Cartech, 2003, p. 185.
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