To preserve the history of drag racing one of the original forms of auto racing known to man through restoration, and preservation of historical vehicles, involvement in research of said history, honoring prominent individuals who were the sports’ pioneers, development of a National Archive and Library, collecting, documentation of state history, educating the general public on the history and progress of all racing and presenting the uniqueness of this sport auto racing.”Our Collection” Nearly 300 vehicles on display and thousands of artifacts. The average tour takes 2-3 hours and all pictures are welcome. OCALA, Fla. – Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, located in Ocala, is a place rich in history, with thousands of artifacts, memorabilia, trophies and many drag racing cars. Today, Don still reside on the grounds of the Don Garlits Drag Museum where he and wife Pat raised two daughters while traveling all over our nation on tour, and they now have 5 grandchildren. Electric dragsters today are among the least expensive vehicles in motorsports, Garlits said. His first car was a 1934 Buick Limited coupe he purchased as soon as he got his first California driver’s license at [...], By "Big Daddy" Don Garlits|2020-10-29T12:01:20-04:00October 29th, 2020|2020 Inductees|, Lee Beard has been referred to as “a crew chief’s crew chief”. The exact medical term for what he had was a T.I.A, or Transient Ischemic Attack, sometimes referred to as a "mild stroke." Copyright 2020 Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing | All Rights Reserved. Once more details are available on who he is dating, we will update this section. The fact is Salt Lake City Utah is a bit off the beaten path when it comes to [...], By "Big Daddy" Don Garlits|2020-10-28T15:53:17-04:00October 28th, 2020|2019 Inductees|, Mike Lewis could be described as a “man for all seasons”. She took him to the hospital on Sunday. First Name Don. Once more details are available on who he is dating, we will update this section. The passing of Don Garlits was affirmed by insideeko through an online life post. He is already on the road to recovery and back at work. CLERMONT, Ind. Back in 2011, Las Vegas-based contractor and car nut Mike Gerry rolled out two mini-dragsters that ran on DieHard batteries so Garlits could race long-time rival Darrell Gwynn, who suffered a racing injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. As a teenager, Larry was very interested in cars of all kinds, how to make them faster, and quicker. Don Garlits Is A Member Of . Sign up. Unlike a major stroke, T.I.A's often resolve themselves and don't result in any long term problems. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is located at 13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala, Florida, just off Interstate 75. It's a really hard decision to make and to say, 'Well, this one is three and this one is two and this one is No. Dubbed Swamp Rat 37, the electric dragster resulted from a gift to a friend. Dragster legend Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, at 87, is pursuing the 200 mph mark in the quarter-mile. Jul 22, 2019. Saved by Dan Petty. JUPITER— Father Time has nothing on the father of drag racing. Spread throughout the two buildings is an amazing collection of hemi engines, flathead engines, rare manifolds, and carburetors that have been restored by Don Garlits himself. Most Popular #117499. The museum is home to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Mac Tools U.S. Nationals Memorable Moments Moment No. The British Drag Racing Hall of Fame is sad to report that Ed Garlits, brother of BDRHoF member Don … Sadly, we have been informed that Ed Garlits, younger brother of "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, has passed away after a long fight with an illness. South Florida in July is not an area of … We will continue to update information on Don Garlits’s parents. United States ; Florida (FL ... Today, their car sat before me. Nhra Drag Racing Auto Racing Top Fuel Dragster Old Race Cars Vintage Race Car Big Daddy Drag Cars Car Humor Hot Cars. Many of the Garlits “Swamp Rat” cars are here, but he also turns out to be a pack rat with an accumulation of cars and memorabilia from other top names in the sport. Some 90 racing cars can be seen in the Drag Race building and an additional 50 vehicles are in the Antique Car building. Race Car Drivers. Don Prudhomme, John Force, and myself, any of the three, you can pick out good reasons why each one should be No. Down through the years, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits has come to … 89 Year Olds. We have just fewer than 300 cars between 2 buildings. Don Garlits’s mother’s name is unknown at this time and his father’s name is under review. Don Garlits is the greatest drag-racer of all time.” Nothing was off-limits for the roasters, from Garlit’s belief in aliens to his failed bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. ... Today. In the antique section I thought the cars were packed a bit tight not allowing for a person to get a good view of the interior. ESPN featured Don Garlits during the 2014 Gatornationals elimination show. In January 1962 he [...], By "Big Daddy" Don Garlits|2020-10-29T11:45:54-04:00October 29th, 2020|2020 Inductees|, Billy Meyer began his racing career at the age of nine in go-karts and as a teen-ager burst onto the auto racing scene making a name for himself as a Funny Car driver. Garlits, who turned 88 on Jan. 14, continues to push the borders of racing performance in Swamp Rat 38, his battery-powered electric dragster. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala: Hours, Address, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Reviews: 4.5/5. Don Garlits Is Getting Married, and You Can Go to the Wedding. Our antique building has one of the largest collections of Ford’s, also included in the collection are muscle cars and rare vintage automobiles. As many of you know by now, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits recently had some medical problems. In 1982, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, always the innovator, experimented with a sideways-mounted nitro engine in his Swamp Rat 27. SANFORD—Don Garlits of Tampa, FL, (the locals mispronounced his name as "Gartlits") got wind of the super fast track conditions and high payoffs at Sanford. Garlits was the first drag racer to officially surpass the 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, and 270 miles per hour marks in the quarter mile. Big Daddy and his girlfriend, Lisa Crigar, got engaged on Valentine’s Day 2015. Chuck prior to joining the museum was in law enforcement for 18 years. Born in Florida. We have fewer than 300 cars between two buildings. His first experience at organized racing came in 1969 at the wheel of a 1969 [...], By "Big Daddy" Don Garlits|2020-10-29T12:00:20-04:00October 29th, 2020|2020 Inductees|, Bob “Bones” Balogh was another of the early sports competitors who has always been a “car nut”. Don Garlits in a Funny Car? Mike was almost born into the world of drag racing, when his grandfather, Alford Stauffer built the famed Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania when Mike was 12 [...], Copyright 2020 Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing | All Rights Reserved. You can purchase a brick in person, during your visit to the museum, or you can download and fill out the form provided by clicking on the button to the right. Don Garlits suffered a mild stroke on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Garlits family confirmed. He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1989 as the sole representative of drag racing. Drag racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits shared his thoughts about his homestate race, the Gatornationals, and his long history, successes, and frustrations at one of NHRA's most storied events. In 2004 he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. Inductees include Art Arfons, Sydney Allard, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Ray Godman, Raymond Beadle, Shirley Muldowney, Kenny Bernstein, and Don Schumacher, Connie Glen Swingle. Don Garlits Net Worth $15 Million. Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas. Capricorn Race Car Driver #33. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame is open every day from 9am-5pm. 1. It’s been almost a half century since Florida native “Big Daddy” Don Garlits revolutionized drag racing by perfecting the rear engine design that today is employed universally by racers like two-time reigning NHRA Top Fuel champion Steve Torrence, one of the favorites in this week’s pandemic-delayed 51st annual Amalie Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. We have just fewer than 300 cars between 2 buildings. The Don Garlits Museum Drag Racing and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame is open every day between 9 AM and 5 PM. Don started his journey into [...], By "Big Daddy" Don Garlits|2020-10-29T12:03:35-04:00October 29th, 2020|2020 Inductees|, Roy learned about cars as a young teenager acquiring his first car, a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner, at the age of 23 years old. Don Garlits: Like I told USA Today, just to be in the final three, as far as I'm concerned, is a great honor. Don Garlits, the 87-year-old drag racing legend, hoped to be the first racer to reach 200 mph in a battery-powered dragster. Capricorn Named Don #7. “He’s doing okay and has gotten most of his memory back,” said Francine Head, a Garlits assistant at the Museum. Chuck joined us in 2017 taking his cousin Donna Garlits place when she retired from the museum. Race Car Driver Born in Florida #7. Log in. The experience got Big Daddy thinking about the future, a place Garlits dwells most of the time. Beard, known for cleanliness, organization, and preparation, was first introduced into the world of drag racing by his high school Industrial Arts teacher, Ed Renck, who also [...], By "Big Daddy" Don Garlits|2020-10-29T11:54:58-04:00October 29th, 2020|2020 Inductees|, Larry Minor has often been called a “gearhead” but it is simply a fact of life for him. Like many famous people and celebrities, Don Garlits keeps his personal life private. Don Garlits Fans Also Viewed . The two raced at the NHRA Gatornationals, buzzing down the track at up to 30 mph. In 1997, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. The Garlits brothers were a fearsome force in the drag racing world. Each brick purchased comes with a certificate to locate your brick placement. The 87-year-old hopes that he … Ron Paul. Opened in 1976, it chronicles the history of the sport of drag racing. 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