Drag Racing History The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Story & photos by Phillip Prichard In 1976, “Big Daddy” and his wife, Pat “Big Daddy Don Garlits is considered felt that after 25 years of racing that the the father of drag racing. Drag racing sport of drag racing should have is own began in California around 1949, Garlits museum to house the many cars and tro- began racing in Florida in 1950. Always a phies that he had accumulated, plus honor pioneer in the field of drag-racing, Garlits, the people who have made drag racing the with the help of T.C. Lemons, in 1970 fol- sport it is today. lowing an accident in the Swamp Rat XIII, In 1984, the original 25000 square foot a front engine dragster that resulted in the facility opened in Ocala. The drag racing loss of a portion of his right foot, perfected museum is in one building and Don’s the rear-engine top fuel dragster design. Antique Car Museum in in the other The design is exceptionally safer as it puts building. The drag racing museum today the engine, drive train and rotating or re- has over 50,000 square feet of displays ciprocating parts of the dragster behind the that chronicles the history of the sport of driver. The driver is placed in "clear air" in drag racing. Some 90 race cars can be front of nearly all mechanical components, seen in the Drag Race building; while an thus remaining capable to activate a variety additional 50 vehicles are in the Antique of safety equipment in the event of cata- Car building. Many of the Garlits "Swamp strophic mechanical failures or fire. Garlits Rat" cars are here, but he also turns out to Car, Lloyd Scott’s Bustle Bomb, the AMT Rat VI-B; Chrysler Victory Siren, Smoky was an early promoter of a full-body, be a pack rat with an accumulation of cars Pirahna with its Cyclolac body, Craig Yunick’s 1954 Hudson Hornet Engine fire-resistant suit - complete with socks and and memorabilia from other top names in Breedlove’s Spirit of America, Shirley that won the Daytona 500, 1904 Orient gloves, often branded as Nomex. the sport. Muldowney’s 1980 Attebury Car, plus Buckboard car, a supercharged big block Garlits was the first drag racer to of- As soon as you park, one of the first many other displays including streamliner Chevrolet lawnmower, a 1948 Ford Lim- ficially surpass the 170, 180, 200, 240, displays is a Navy A-7 jet on a pedestal in cars such as the Saltliner which ran at the ousine, may 1930s vintage Fords, 1960s 250, and 270 miles per hour marks in the front of the drag racing building. Garlits Bonneville Salt Flats. vintage Dodges plus many others. quarter mile; he was also the first to top has a long history with the Navy from: The second room houses displays such The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Rac- 200 in the 1/8 mile. All official NHRA re- going to Vietnam in 1971 on a Christmas as “Jungle Jim’ Liberman’s Chevrolet ing is located at 13700 SW 16th Ave, Oc- cords require a "back-up" (speed and tour, being on Navy recruiting posters, and Vega Funny Car, the 1939 Fiat “Fire Fly ala, Florida, just off Exit 341 on Interstate elapsed time within 1% of the record) run racing various Navy aircraft including an II” recreated in memory of Bob Daniels, 75. It is open daily 9 am – 5 pm except for during the course of the particular event A-7 on the USS Lexington. When Cecil John Force’s Funny Car, the Max Wedge Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. It where the record was set to verify the Field was shut down the A-7 display was Dodges built in 1962, the “Pollutionizer” has a self-guided tour that describes the newer, higher level of performance. Garlits given to “Big Daddy” powered by a V-12 Allison engine, Bill history of drag racing. Two – three hours earned seventeen (17) World Champion You enter the museum through a well- “Grumpy” Jenkins Nova, Bruce Larson’s should be devoted to the tour to soak in the Titles: Ten (10) AHRA, Four (4) IHRA and stocked gift shop to purchase the ticket first all fiberglass Chevelle Funny Car, history of drag racing. Three (3) NHRA. He won the prestigious for the tour. Various ticket prices prevail, Barbara Hamilton’s 1937 Willy Coupe, Stop by Don Garlits Museum of Drag U. S. Nationals eight times. He has been regular admission, senior discount, military Shirley Muldowney “Last Pass” Dragster, Racing while you’re in town for the NHRA inducted in numerous halls of fame and has discount plus children’s prices. The drag plus many Don Garlits cars. GATOR NATIONALS March 13-16, won numerous awards during his career. racing museum is divided into three large The engine room houses many Dodge 2014. rooms; the first is the original museum that Hemi engines, blowers, transmissions, etc. housed various drag racing vehicles plus Many have cut aways to show the internal other race cars. Not only are Garlits cars working parts. such as many of the Swamp Rat dragsters The Antique Car Museum is home to are on display, Connie Kallitta’s Bounty 50 vehicles plus a host of other automo- Hunter, Dick Kraf’s The Bug, TV Tommy tive memorabilia. The collection consist of Ivo’s Dragster, Don Prudhomme’s Mattel such rarities as: 1942 Mercury Convertible; Dragster, Wedge Dragster and U.S. Army 1950 Ford Tudor, a 1964½ Ford Mustang, Funny Car, Darrell Alderman’s Dodge “Big Daddy’s” Prize for Top Elimina- Daytona, Chris Kararmines’ Wedge Drag- tor at the NHRA Nationals in his Swamp ster, Tom “Mongoose” McEwens’s Funny JANUARY • 2014 • www.MotorsportAmerica.com • 3.