22:
59:, an innovation motivated by the loss of part of his foot in a dragster accident. This design was notably safer since it put most of the fuel processing and rotating parts of the dragster behind the driver. The driver was placed in front of nearly all the mechanical components, thus protecting him and allowing him to activate a variety of safety equipment in the event of catastrophic mechanical failure or a fire. Garlits was an early promoter of the full-body, fire-resistant
464:. Mr. Garlits lost in first-round competition with his Summit Racing-Mono Winged Dragster, clocking in with a 0.064 reaction time, a personal best 4.737 elapsed time, and 307.44 mph, second only to Brandon Bernstein's (son of racing legend Kenny Bernstein) Budweiser/Lucas Oil Dragster 0.079 reaction time, a 4.615 elapsed time, at 321.42 miles per hour. The difference at the finish line was only 122 thousandths of a second.
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482:'s fatal crash and numerous other engine explosions and resultant fires, occurring in the last 300 feet of the quarter mile, Garlits declared "I am 100 percent in favor of it", regarding NHRA's proposal to trim the race distance for Top Fuel and Funny Car from the traditional quarter-mile to 1,000 feet, also suggesting that he would support a ban on rev limiters and a return to a 70/30
99:
449:. He announced for four seasons, from 1988 through the end of 1991. In December 1991 Garlits came out of retirement to race in the Snowbird Nationals, but his comeback was to be short-lived. "Big Daddy" retired again before the end of the 1992 season because of a detached retina, a product of the 4g deceleration produced by a Top Fuel Dragster's braking parachutes.
291:, Garlits said this of the incident: "In 1970, the transmission exploded in my dragster on the final run, and it cut my foot off and cut the car in two. That’s when I drew up plans for what I thought would be a championship rear-engine car. I would go out to the shop in Seffner on my wheelchair, saw stuff out on the band saw and make the parts."
217:, in the central and western United States, many air force bases and landing fields were decommissioned. These abandoned runways were perfect for drag racing. Don Garlits's first drag race car was built under an oak tree at his home in North Tampa in 1954. He used an arc welder and a cutting torch to modify an old 1927
221:
Roadster. To this roadster he added a 1948 Mercury engine block, a 1939 Ford floor shift transmission, and a 1948 Ford differential and axle. That early T-Bucket's quarter mile performance was 13.5 seconds, at a top speed of 93 mph. It was this successful, formative roadster that would become
286:
slingshot rail dragster, when the vehicle suffered a catastrophic failure. The two-speed transmission
Garlits was developing exploded and took a piece out of his right foot, while the car broke in half in front of the cockpit; he was out for the remainder of the season. In an interview by
242:
in 1955. Don
Garlits, being from Florida, was something of an outsider. He was sometimes referred to as the Floridian, before permanently adopting the nickname "Swamp Rat," which also became the name for each new generation of his innovative dragster designs.
254:", to show that the times he was setting were as legitimate as those set by the west coast racers. Over 30,000 people attended the event, the largest attendance at a drag race at that point. His presence helped to grow the sport of
460:. At the age of 71 years, 5 months and 19 days he qualified 16th, setting a personal best speed in the quarter mile with a time of 4.788 seconds at 319.98 mph. Garlits had reached 323.04 earlier in the year at the 2003
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in the article introducing it to their readers. The rodding magazines considered the disadvantages of the new dragster design "obvious," and, indeed, Garlits lost in his first outing with the new car, to
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Garlits was the first drag racer to officially surpass the 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, and 270 mile-per-hour marks in the quarter mile; he was also the first to top 200 mph (320 km/h) in the
437:
at the AHRA World Finals in
Spokane, Washington. He received several injuries from the resulting crash. Though none were life-threatening, he temporarily retired from active driving and became a
512:. In July 2019 at age 87, he set a new quarter-mile record of 189.03 mph (304.21 km/h) with Swamp Rat 38, a 1,500 lb dragster with a battery-powered 800 hp electric motor.
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the basis for his first rail-job dragster. He cut off the body panels, moved the engine back, and installed the seat behind the drive axle. (A similar design was built that same year by
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262:, Tony Nancy, Dante Duce and other racers, to participate in the first International Drag Festival, a six-event series that did much to promote the sport of drag racing in the UK.
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museum in
Washington, DC. In true Garlits style, during the press conference submission and placement ceremony, the dragster was fired up on the Smithsonian "porch."
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688:
Taylor, Thom. "Tony Nancy Gas
Dragster", "Roger Lindwall Re-Entry", and "Kent Fuller Sidewinder III", in "Beauty Beyond the Twilight Zone", pp.34, 38, and 42.
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Garlits resumed his career briefly in 1998, and again in 2003. His last qualifying race was in May 2003 at the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, 23rd annual
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Garlits's accident was like many in the 1960s, and his new design followed several other pioneer designers of rear-engined dragsters, including
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234:(12.1 seconds, 108 mph). Three years later, he became a professional drag racer. The first national drag racing meet, sponsored by the
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championships, a total of 17. He was age 54 when he won the last. He won a total of 144 national events. On
October 20, 1987, his dragster
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In May 2014 at age 82, Garlits set a 184 mph (296 km/h) speed record with Swamp Rat 37, a 2,000 hp battery-powered
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475:. He can also be seen from time to time on ESPN and Speed Vision doing commentary at racing events and performance expositions.
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beyond its
California base. In 1964, after winning the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis, Garlits traveled to England, with TV
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80: mi (0.20 km). He has been inducted into several Halls of Fame and has won many awards during his career.
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In 2014, he was inducted into the
British Drag Racing Hall of Fame as its Overseas Member induction for that year.
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In
September 2009, Garlits returned to the quarter mile, racing a specially prepared 2009 Dodge Challenger in the
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and
Bakersfield), and was a runner-up at Lions, all in the new car. A change so momentous had not happened since
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52:" to drag racing fans around the world. A pioneer in the field of drag racing, he perfected the rear-engine
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417 cu in (6,830 cc), offering (in Garlits' words) "an engine deal I couldn’t refuse".
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became so successful that in 1971, Garlits won two of his next three Top Fuel Eliminator titles (the
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slingshot rail dragster in 1954. Rear engine dragsters have since become mainstream in drag racing.
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On the National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers, 1951–2000, Don Garlits was ranked No.1.
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226:.) This was the legendary slingshot dragster with which Big Daddy would win the first
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editor. "Remembering dragster pioneer Dode Martin", written February 9, 2018, at
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At 82 Years Old, Don Garlits Sets 184-mph EV Dragster Record, Guns for 200 mph Next
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44:) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Considered the father of
29:
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He is a mentor of current NHRA Top Fuel racer and fellow Ocala, Florida resident,
339:, a brand new mid-engined, front-cockpit rail, also dubbed the "Swamp Rat I-R" by
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from 1969. He was aided in the construction of his new car by T. C. Lemons and
1054:
Listen to a live radio interview with Don Gartlits on Nostalgic Radio and Cars
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Garlits took a brief hiatus, returning to NHRA Top Fuel full-time in 1984.
619:"How a T-Bucket Became Key to "Big Daddy" Don Garlits Drag Racing Success"
478:
Always at the forefront of driver safety, in the wake of Funny Car driver
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53:
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Garlits has won ten American Hot Rod Association championships, four
1049:
Information on Don Garlits and the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
757:""Big Daddy" and his "Swamp Rat XIV" - National Street Machine Club"
1008:"Kinser, Mansell, Garlits, Lauda, and Muldowney set high standards"
417:, the sport's only successful streamlined fueler, was enshrined in
1044:
National Hot Rod Association Top 50 Drivers article of Don Garlits
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In 2008, he was inducted into the inaugural hall of fame class at
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28:
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On July 20, Don Garlits looks to (again) make drag racing history
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for the US Fuel and Gas Championships, later to be named the "
137:
from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
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Don Garlits Induction in the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame
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National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
886:"Don Garlits Museum Ocala, FL - Schedule News & Events"
1038:
785:
Ganahl, Pat. "Winter Heat: '87 NHRA Wnternationals", in
975:"Big Daddy Don Garlits endorses Ron Paul for President"
527:
In 1994, Garlits was the Republican Party nominee for
378:
he had been using for the last thirteen years to the
569:in 1989 as the sole representative of drag racing.
363:moved the seat behind the rear axle to create the
599:ranked him 23rd on their top drivers of all-time.
1089:International Motorsports Hall of Fame inductees
456:NHRA Southern Nationals presented by Pontiac in
63:driving suit, complete with socks, gloves, and
916:"NHRA U.S. NATIONALS - BME SPORTSMAN NOTEBOOK"
505:, losing to Dan Fletcher in the first round.
8:
726:Front to back: The rear-engine transition (
535:. He supported the Republican candidacy of
230:race he entered, the NHRA Safety Safari in
839:"Detached retina forces Garlits to retire"
130:about living persons that is unsourced or
490:ratio. He has since had second thoughts.
201:Learn how and when to remove this message
531:. He was defeated by incumbent Democrat
335:Garlits returned to Pomona in 1971 with
20:
676:"Florida Icon: Don 'Big Daddy' Garlits"
609:
646:
644:
560:International Motorsports Hall of Fame
734:) - Phil Burgess, NHRA, February 2015
374:persuaded Garlits to switch from the
7:
759:. September 29, 2007. Archived from
529:Florida's 5th Congressional District
331:The first modern "back-motor digger"
996:Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
892:. November 27, 2009. Archived from
581:was inducted into and enshrined at
567:Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
419:National Museum of American History
1099:Racing drivers from Tampa, Florida
977:. January 21, 2008. Archived from
558:In 1997, he was inducted into the
16:NHRA champion, drag racing pioneer
14:
575:In 1987, Garlits' record-setting
551:In 2004 he was inducted into the
469:Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
429:Retirement and post-racing career
405:International Hot Rod Association
1094:Sportspeople from Ocala, Florida
617:T-Bucket John (April 10, 2010).
97:
845:. June 5, 1992. Archived from
705:(retrieved September 19, 2018)
471:on the grounds of his home in
1:
776:(retrieved November 24, 2018)
590:Gateway International Raceway
246:In 1959, Garlits traveled to
238:was held on an airfield near
433:In 1987, Garlits suffered a
409:National Hot Rod Association
317:, and Kent Fuller's fueller
266:Accident leads to innovation
236:National Hot Rod Association
108:biography of a living person
583:The Smithsonian Institution
135:must be removed immediately
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503:Indianapolis Raceway Park
407:championships, and three
665:(retrieved May 24, 2017)
40:(born January 14, 1932,
653:(retrieved May 24, 2017
565:He was inducted in the
553:Automotive Hall of Fame
539:for President in 2008.
454:Summit Racing Equipment
389:Further accomplishments
248:Bakersfield, California
763:on September 29, 2007.
746:, 12/86, p.29 sidebar.
441:for NHRA telecasts on
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274:, Garlits was driving
122:Please help by adding
34:
26:
872:July 7, 2011, at the
523:Political affiliation
467:Garlits operates the
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365:Panorama City Special
348:at Lions Drag Strip.
270:On March 8, 1970, at
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24:
1039:Garlits Auto Museums
981:on January 21, 2008.
931:- Davey G. Johnson,
128:Contentious material
38:Donald Glenn Garlits
962:The Washington Post
896:on January 16, 2010
849:on November 5, 2005
585:in Washington, D.C.
25:Don Garlits in 2007
678:. October 3, 2012.
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278:, also called the
232:Lake City, Florida
106:This section of a
48:, he is known as "
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843:National Dragster
789:, May 1987, p.88.
699:National Dragster
517:Josh Hart (racer)
439:color commentator
311:'s 1966 Top Fuel
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111:needs additional
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1084:Dragster drivers
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458:Atlanta, Georgia
272:Lions Drag Strip
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1016:. May 17, 2008
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933:Car and Driver
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825:"World Finals"
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462:Gatornationals
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421:, a branch of
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325:Connie Swingle
320:Sidewinder III
309:Roger Lindwall
276:Swamp Rat XIII
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240:Great Bend, KS
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132:poorly sourced
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146:Find sources:
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1104:NHRA drivers
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979:the original
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898:. Retrieved
894:the original
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851:. Retrieved
847:the original
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807:. Retrieved
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761:the original
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631:. Retrieved
627:the original
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484:nitromethane
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117:verification
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37:
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1074:1932 births
992:Don Garlits
960:Balz, Dan,
900:January 16,
890:Garlits.com
510:EV dragster
307:from 1963,
296:Steve Swaja
256:drag racing
46:drag racing
1068:Categories
604:References
372:Ed Donovan
357:Winternats
252:March Meet
191:April 2020
161:newspapers
89:Early days
595:In 2008,
370:In 1977,
351:However,
260:Tommy Ivo
113:citations
65:balaclava
50:Big Daddy
949:Hemmings
870:Archived
774:NHRA.com
703:NHRA.com
651:NHRA.com
537:Ron Paul
488:methanol
435:blowover
376:426 hemi
314:Re-Entry
139:libelous
57:dragster
54:Top Fuel
1020:May 19,
994:at the
809:May 29,
787:Hot Rod
744:Hot Rod
715:Hot Rod
633:July 4,
501:at the
380:Donovan
341:Hot Rod
304:Wedge I
175:scholar
75:⁄
732:Part 2
728:Part 1
543:Awards
300:AA/Gas
213:After
177:
170:
163:
156:
148:
84:Career
495:Stock
182:JSTOR
168:books
61:Nomex
1022:2008
1013:ESPN
902:2010
855:2008
811:2020
635:2020
597:ESPN
445:and
282:, a
228:NHRA
154:news
115:for
486:to
447:NBC
443:TNN
298:'s
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