06/09/2026
Real deal America legend and hero….
What a great person in our community. When you hear story’s from someone like Jack whether it’s hot rods motorcycle or time in the army. He always commanded your attention
The toughest old guy I have ever encountered… he crashed his motorcycle about 10 feet front of me… as he was rolling (end over end) with the bike on top of him .. he a threw a leg and it up in the air and twisted his right hand hard… and he rumbled out of it in a wheelie… laughing like tigger riding off on the back wheel.
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Jack Moss of Amarillo, Texas enjoyed one of the most remarkable and inspiring careers in motorsports history. Long before he became known as a racer, he faced extraordinary challenges during World War II. After joining the Texas National Guard in 1940 at the age of 16, he was called to active duty following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Captured by Japanese forces on January 11, 1942, Moss spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war, enduring brutal conditions while working on the infamous Burma-Thailand "Death Railway," including projects associated with the Bridge over the River Kwai. Of the soldiers in his unit, known as the "Lost Battalion," 57 percent did not survive. When he was finally released in 1946, Jack made a personal commitment to live life to its fullest.
Following his honorable discharge, Jack married his wife Nellie and raised three children while building a successful future. In 1948, he founded Moss Automotive, combining the mechanical skills he developed in the military with his lifelong passion for automobiles and motorcycles. His introduction to racing came almost by accident when a friend challenged his modified stock car's performance. Determined to prove its potential, Jack took the car to Texas Speedway in Amarillo, where he immediately began collecting trophies and establishing himself as a competitive racer throughout the region.
Never content to limit himself to one discipline, Moss expanded his racing activities to include drag racing, Bonneville land speed competition, midget cars, sprint cars, super modified stock cars, and later off-road motorcycles. His first drag racing creation was the famous Ramblin Ram streamliner dragster, powered by a supercharged small-block Chevrolet engine. In 1950, the car shattered the existing Nebraska state class record of 130 mph with a remarkable run of 149.5 mph. Over the course of his career, Jack personally built more than 30 race cars, including the legendary twin small-block Chevrolet-powered Too Much, a machine that consistently outperformed much of its competition.
Even after decades of success on four wheels, Jack pursued new challenges. Between 1970 and 1983, he competed in off-road Enduro motorcycle events, winning his Texas class championship three consecutive years and earning his final Enduro award in 1982 at the age of 60. He eventually closed Moss Automotive in 1978 and retired from business, but his enthusiasm for motorsports never faded.
Beyond racing and business, Jack made significant contributions to automotive education. He helped organize and teach within the Auto Mechanics Department at Amarillo College, sharing his knowledge with future generations of mechanics and racers. In recognition of his extraordinary life, perseverance, and contributions to motorsports, he was presented with the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award, the prestigious Wally Trophy, at the 2012 NHRA Hot Rod Reunion in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Jack Moss remains remembered not only as an accomplished racer and builder but also as a true example of resilience, determination, and dedication.
