Richard D. Moroso (1939-November 7, 1998) was an American
hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimized for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and ma ...
der,
drag racer
Drag racing is a type of motor racing in which automobiles or motorcycles compete, usually two at a time, to be first to cross a set finish line. The race follows a short, straight course from a standing start over a measured distance, most c ...
, and businessman.
Moroso was born in
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle ( ; in ) is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately from Midtow ...
and grew up in
Old Greenwich, Connecticut
Old Greenwich is a coastal village in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 6,611.
The town of Greenwich is one political and taxing body, but consists of several distinct sections or neig ...
. He 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.
Moroso founded Moroso Performance Products, to supply aftermarket automotive parts to fellow hot rodders, in 1968, the year his son, Rob, was born.
He served as son Rob's owner and sponsor for much of his racing career.
Driving a 1961
Corvette
A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper (or " rated") warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloo ...
, Moroso won one
NHRA
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsport sanction ...
national title, in D/MP (D Modified Production), at the 1966
NHRA Nationals
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is a governing body which sets rules in drag racing and hosts events all over the United States and Canada. With over 40,000 drivers in its rosters, the NHRA claims to be the largest motorsport sanctionin ...
, held at
Indianapolis Raceway Park
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (formerly Indianapolis Raceway Park, O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, and Lucas Oil Raceway) is an auto racing facility in Brownsburg, Indiana, about northwest of downtown Indianapolis. It includes a ov ...
. His winning pass was 13.32 seconds at .
In 1981, Moroso purchased
Palm Beach International Raceway
Palm Beach International Raceway (stylized as PBIR and formerly Moroso Motorsports Park) was a motorsports facility located west of Jupiter, Florida. The facility had a quarter-mile drag strip, a road course, 7/10-mile kart track as well as mud ...
, renaming it Moroso Motorsports Park. In 1982, Moroso spent $100,000 to upgrade the facility to host the opening event of the 1983
SCCA
The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) is a non-profit American automobile club and sanctioning body supporting Autocross, Rallycross, High Performance Driver Education, HPDE, Time trial, Time Trial, Road racing, Road Racing, Regularity rally, R ...
Trans Am Series
The Trans-Am Series presented by Pirelli is a sports car racing series held in North America. Founded in 1966, it is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Primarily based in the United States, the series competes on a variety of ...
.
In 1996, Moroso considered spending $2 million on a one-mile oval track for stock car racing, but those plans fell through.
Moroso died from
brain cancer
A brain tumor (sometimes referred to as brain cancer) occurs when a group of cells within the brain turn cancerous and grow out of control, creating a mass. There are two main types of tumors: malignant (cancerous) tumors and benign (non-cance ...
on November 7, 1998 in hospice care.
Family
Moroso had a son,
Rob,
who raced in
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. It is considered to be one of the top ranked motorsports organizations in ...
before he was killed while driving at more than twice the
blood/alcohol limit in 1990.
Dick had other children, Rick, who currently runs the company, and a daughter, Susan.
Notes
Sources
*Davis, Larry. ''Gasser Wars'', North Branch, MN: Cartech, 2003, p. 185.
Dragster drivers
American racing drivers
1998 deaths
Year of birth missing
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