Modern top fuel drag racing would be a radically different sport if not for the brilliance of big daddy don garlits. He told us they were going to do a drag racing display in 2016 and would like to display sr. See more ideas about car humor, drag racing and nhra drag racing. For him, wrangling the 840horsepower dodge challenger srt demon is a piece of cake. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Donald glenn don garlits born january 14, 1932, tampa, florida is an american race car driver and automotive engineer. While garlits didnt take the car for a spin down the quartermile. When he arrived in pomona with his rearengine car in 1971, garlits was 39 and among drag racings top drivers and innovators.
Garlits was the first driver ever to accelerate to 200 mph from a standing start in a quarter mile, and also the first to run 250 mph and 270 mph. He had been the first driver to hit 200 mph in 1964 on the. This is chuck tankos superlong 254inch wheelbase car. Don garlits after losing part of his foot in a racing accident, garlits innovated the rearengine dragster design design. The easytotalkto garlits is probably one of the most influential pioneers in the sport of drag racing. Don garlits museum of drag racing and international drag. She got out of race car sic like she was getting up from the dinner table. An electric welder and gas torch modified an old 1927 ford model t roadster to accept a 1948 mercury block, 39 ford floor shift transmission, and a 48 ford rear. Some 90 racing cars can be seen in the drag race building and an additional 50 vehicles are in the antique car building. Please also tell us as much as you can in the biography wiki below. Don garlits is an american race car driverautomotive engineer. We have just fewer than 300 cars between 2 buildings. Shirley muldowney born june 19, 1940, also known professionally as cha cha and the. Don garlits breaks drag racing 270 mph barrier youtube.
Don garlits is a capricorn and was born in the year of the monkey life. Don garlits clutch explosion drag racing cars, dragsters. The don garlits museum of drag racing is located at 700 sw 16th ave, ocala, florida, just off interstate 75. Kristian wright don garlits is an american race car driver automotive engineer. Find out is don garlits dating anyone right now and who at celebscouples. Donald died on thursday may 14, 2020 and his death was possibly because of natural.
Don garlits was born in tampa on thursday, january 14, 1932 silent generation. The don garlits museum of drag racing and international drag racing hall of fame is open every day from 9am5pm. Garlits won the first organized drag race he entered with the first race car he built. In fact garlits has been dubbed the king of the dragsters, and could be considered the patriarch of top fuel drag racing. Don garlits is a famous people who is best known as a race car driver. Don garlits fueled an explosion in drag racing design. Nhra drag racing drag bike vintage race car us cars sport cars car crash drag cars car humor race day reign of methanol reignofmethanol. He was a public supporter of ron pauls bid for the u. Don was born on january 14, 1932 in tampa, fldon is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a race car driver. Big daddy drag racer don garlits sets electric dragster. Don garlits wiki, biography, net worth, age, family, facts. Don garlits an american race car driver essay driving. The chemistry between the two cocrew chiefs and antron began to gel quickly and they won 6 nhra national events in 2009 and qualified in the number one position seven times.
Garlits was at this race and, according to ong, gave the car a thorough looksee, paying special interest to the frontsteering setup and going as far as removing the nose of the car with. The 88yearold american race car driver has done well thus far. Don garlits is an american race car driver automotive engineer. Don garlits museum of drag racing ocala 2020 all you. Dragracer don garlits broke another record in an allelectric race car. Emcee bob frey said garlitss comments amounted to a milestone. Dragracer don garlits broke another record in an allelectric race car last saturday, july 20, 2019, on the anniversary of the moon landing. Big daddy don garlits gives a fistbump to the driver of the lead car, jim menneto in their 1932 ford speedster just before the start of the 34th annual hemmings motor news great race in. We have started a new museum page that is operated by the museum staff to make it easier to make changes and add information. The demon and don garlits don big daddy garlits is the most innovative man in drag racing history. Don was born on january 14, 1932 in tampa, fl don is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a race car driver. Jun 07, 2016 don garlits museum of drag racing duration. Don garlits race car driver life, age, zodiac birthday.
News top fuel driver of the year and voted to the auto racing allamerican. Dons high school sweetheart is his wife pat, however, his first love is the, automobile and his passion is winning. Feb 05, 2018 the demon and don garlits don big daddy garlits is the most innovative man in drag racing history. He set several speed records, becoming the first person to reach 200mph in the 18th mile. It was 1955, and the nhra safety safari had come to lake city, fla. Influential drag racer who has been inducted into the automotive hall of fame as well as the international motorsports hall of fame. Please write the details of don garlits s obit here. Oct 23, 2017 don garlits is a legend of drag racing and a highly talented race car driver. As impressive as all these honors are, garlits should also be remembered for his pioneering efforts to improve safety and advance race car design. Most of dons money comes from being a race car driver.
The 2009 season found mark sharing crew chief duties on the don schumacher racing top fuel dragster with antron brown as its driver. Drag racing legend big daddy don garlits still as competitive as ever at 87 years old. Jun 20, 2018 big daddy don garlits is still going fast at the age of 86. Big daddy don garlits is the most notable and innovative driver in drag racing history. Please write the details of don garlitss obit here. Donald glenn garlits, better known by his nickname big daddy, was born on the 14th january 1932, in tampa, florida usa, and is probably best known for being not only an automotive engineer, but also a race car driver regarded by some as the father of drag racing who won 17 world championships. Big daddy don garlits still chasing drag racing records, more. Garlits didnt have the only rearengine car at the event. Don garlits is a legend of drag racing and a highly talented race car driver. He built his first drag race car using a modified 1927 ford model. On october 20, 1987, garlit s swamp rat xxx fuel dragster was presented to, and went on permanent display at the smithsonian institution as part of the national museum of american history in.
Big daddy don garlits still chasing drag racing records. Garlits distinct ability to conceptualize his dreams has allowed him to be master over the end result. He is known as big daddy to drag racing fans around the world. Garlits, don drag racing 1989 inductees hall of fame. Don garlits last updated december 22, 2019 garlits in 1987.
Donald glenn don garlits is considered the father of drag racing. He holds the world record for electric dragsters at 185. May 10, 2016 donald glenn don garlits born january 14, 1932, tampa, florida is an american race car driver and automotive engineer. Don garlits was born on january 14, 1932 88 years old. Find highquality don garlits stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. After ww2 ended in the central and western united states. She is the best woman racecar drivernot just drag racing but in any racingto date.
Don garlits born on january 14th, 1932 was an automobileracer who was best known for allegedly making homophobic and racist comments while running for the republican party. Drag racing legend big daddy don garlits still as competitive as. Several names may cross ones mind when they think of drag racers, but one of the first would be big daddy don garlits. Don garlits is a 88 years old race car driver, who was born in january, in the year of the monkey and is a capricorn. Big daddy don garlits is still going fast at the age of 86.
Don garlits is a member of famous race car driver list. A short three years later, the garage and bodyshop owner was racing professionally with the first of 34 race cars he would tag swamp rat. Dons birthstone is garnet and birth flower is carnation. Don was born in 1930s, in the middle of silent generation. Mar 19, 2019 piloting identically prepared toyota camrys, garlits lost to shirley muldowney in the first round of nhras unfinished business racewithinarace. Don garlits was born in florida, and began drag racing in the mid1950s in a car he built. Last january 14, drag racing legend don garlits celebrated his 87th. The name big daddy don garlits is synonymous with drag racing. His wife of more than 60 years, pat garlits, died in 2014. The national hot rod association ranked him first on their list of the top 50 drivers from 1951 to 2000. On july 20, don garlits looks to again make drag racing history.
Don garlits first real drag race car was built under an oak tree at his home in north tampa in 1954. Though no one driver can shape a racing series, this much is certain. Kristian wright don garlits is an american race car driverautomotive engineer. View all hotels near don garlits museum of drag racing on tripadvisor. We celebrate don garlits and his greatest indy moments at this years 60th annual chevrolet performance u. Donald glenn don garlits born january 14, 1932, tampa, florida is an american race car driver and. Star race car driver, don big daddy garlitsphoto measures 7. A driver pairing with the talent and personality of charles and carlos. In 2015, the curator of the harley davison museum in milwaukee, wisconsin visited the don garlits museum and really liked the car.
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