The drag racing world is mourning the death of Pat Garlits, wife of "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, who passed away Sunday at the age of 79, according to the Leesburg (Fla.) Daily Commercial.Often . "This will give us the opportunity to test new things and theories and give it a shot. During an off weekend his hosts took him around to various racecar museums in England. My wife, Pat, comes out. Aug 19, 1997 at 12:00 am. "Big Daddy" Don Garlits is still going fast at the age of 86. 62Fairlane said: This may be old news, but I just heard about it at the Gators this weekend. Earn up to 5x points when you use your eBay Mastercard®. By PAUL REINHARD and The Morning Call. $199.99 Race Car Driver Born in Florida #9. Photo and video courtesy of NHRA. She found herself sharing some of the spotlight (some say reluctantly) of his fame . The couple met in 1952 and were wed in 1953. "Big Daddy" talks how he became the greatest Top Fuel driver of all time and his many near-death . 90 Year Old Capricorn #7. He earned the money being a professional Race Car Driver. Capricorn Race Car Driver #45. I know a lot of you travel to Florida to visit the Orlando area or make the Daytona pilgrimage on race weekend. "This will give us the opportunity to test new things and theories and give it a shot. In 1971, Don Garlits turned the Top Fuel world around with Swamp Rat 14, his successful rear-engine dragster. There's never been another drag racer quite like Don Garlits, and there's probably never going to ever be anyone like "Big Daddy.". Florida Icon: Clarence Otis Jr. Florida Icon: Christopher Still. 1969 National Dragster Magazine SIGNED by Don Garlits, wife & Linda Vaughn NHRA. She knew what it was, because she was the comptroller [at the Tampa shop . Race Car Driver Born in Florida #9. Don Garlits Popularity . When Garlits built a new dragster he just moved the old one to a shed, or in some cases pushed it to the back of the shop. It . 20. . Capricorn Named Don #9. Also, there is a separate antique automobile museum that features vehicles ranging as far . Wow, I got to see everything I saw in all the hot rod magazines, drag races . When it comes to speak about his personal life, Don Garlits has been married to his high school sweetheart Patricia Bieger since 1954; the couple has two children together. For him, wrangling the 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is a piece of cake. Don Garlits says it costs almost $50,000 a run with current cars. Pat, coined by many as the "first lady of drag racing," stood firmly by her husband's side, through the triumphs and glory to the ultimate of trials, before her sad passing on February 2nd following a long illness. New Port Richey, Florida. www.alsblowers.com - email gpp@alsblowers.com NOTE: Orders/Inquiries cannot be placed through the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing CALLING BY PHONE Direct Dial: from United States and Canada 011 64 9 836-1661 Sunday Thru Thursday 3.00pm to 7.30pm PST 4.00pm to 8.00pm CST - 5.00pm to 9.00pm EST. Don Garlits didn't invent the rear-engine dragster, of course. "Big Daddy" Don Garlits is making a comeback to NHRA competition forthe first time since 2003, driving his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak byMopar into the heat of NHRA Stock eliminations at the Mac Tools U.S.Nationals on Labor Day weekend. From Don Garlits and Als Blower Drives. Posted on March 21, . No more bodywork or paint than necessary. "He's doing okay and has gotten most of his memory back," said Francine Head, a Garlits assistant at the Museum. By Martha Maglone: Last month, February 2015, Don Garlits (83) popped the question to photographer Lisa Crigar, whom he met during a magazine interview in 2014. Displays of dragsters and classic cars. By Sam Logan. For him, wrangling the 840-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Demon is a piece of cake. Florida Icon: Former farmer of the year Lynetta Usher Griner. According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Race Car Driver Don Garlits's net worth is $31 Million at the age of 87 years old. 14 January 1932 in Tampa, Florida), legendary drag racer who won the American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) Championship fourteen times and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Championship three times, and is also known for his work to make drag racing a safer sport.Garlits's father, Edward Garlits, was a Westinghouse engineer in the 1920s. . The drag racing world is mourning the death of Pat Garlits, wife of "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, who passed away Sunday at the age of 79, according to the Leesburg (Fla.) Daily Commercial. "Mickey Bryant and I arrived in Ocala, Fla., in July 2009 to do an in-depth interview with T.C. The Morning Call. 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. In 1976, Garlits made another trip to the U.K. and while there came to the realization that the U.S. needed it's own drag racing museum. During their sixty-plus years of marriage, Pat remained by her husband's side, traveling . Pat, coined by many as the "first lady of drag racing," stood firmly by her husband's side, through the triumphs and glory to the ultimate of trials, before her sad passing on February 2nd following a long illness. memories and possibly new found inspirations, The Don . Don and Pat were married on February 20,1953, when Don was just 21 years of age and his immortal racing career it its infancy. In order to share this growing collection of memorabilia with others, the couple purchased the property off of I-75 and opened the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in 1983. . Chandler brought a new and very unique sponsor concept - the "Giving Car" - to the sport. Don and Pat were married on February 20,1953, when Don was just 21 years of age and his immortal racing career it its infancy. Patricia was born March 27th, 1934 in Covington, Kentucky, to Richard and Vivian Bieger. RACING LEGEND DON GARLITS IS COMING TO L.V. You can go to a drag-racing legend's wedding! Don and his wife, Pat, began their their tribute to drag racing on their own property in Seffner, Florida in 1976. 1,600 horsepower. I was really shocked, to hear about it, since Pat and Don were so close, but hey if thats what makes him happy, go for it. He earned the money being a professional Race Car Driver. Capricorn Race Car Driver #45. So when the Hemi-powered Demon set a new production-car quarter-mile record . Dragster legend Don "Big Daddy" Garlits, at 87, is pursuing the 200 mph mark in the quarter-mile. If you ever travel to Florida to visit the Orlando area or make the Daytona pilgrimage on race weekend you must make a small detour to visit these attractions. Florida Icon: Robert Metzger. Either one of these museums is worth the visit but put the two on one site for one admission price and you have a Legendary Deal! See terms and apply now - for PayPal Credit, opens in a new window or tab. When I saw the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum listed as things to do in Ocala my wife and I raced down there from our campsite. Garlits entered his . A pioneer in the field of drag racing, he perfected the rear-engine Top Fuel dragster, an innovation . It is believed the stroke was . . Often . Only show this user. Well, without getting too cute, a big influence. Don Garlits, the greatest drag racer that the straight-line motorsport has ever known, never operated completely alone. The year was 2003 and Garlits was competing in the Top Fuel . At age 90, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits has thrown down the gauntlet. When Pat Garlits says "really fast," she really means it. Details below. Tag Archives: Don Garlits Don Garlits Remembers His Wife Pat. GARLITS, Don(ald) (b. . In March 1984, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening, and calendar year ticket sales hit 27,000. The fun activities and things to do in Florida continue into the night with the pulsating clubs of South Beach , Orlando and Jacksonville and at concert venues around the state. In 1976, Garlits made another trip to the U.K. and while there came to the realization that the U.S. needed it's own drag racing museum. The new design "was a gigantic change in the sport [because it] was just a much safer and faster race car," said Kenny Bernstein, a two-time NHRA top-fuel champion and now team owner. "Swamp Rat 1. 220 inches out to those front wheels. During their sixty-plus years of marriage, Pat remained by her husband's side, traveling . Don Garlits 2007. But he got to 189.04 mph, enough to break his own record. Associated With. The drag racing world is mourning the death of Pat Garlits, wife of â Big Daddyâ Don Garlits, who passed away Sunday at the age of 79, according to the Leesburg (Fla.) Daily Commercial. Don Garlits suffers stroke - wife in hosptial He got the award when he stopped with his wife, Pat, to run in a quarter-mile race held by a group called the Track Twirlers in March 1953. Under Review. Now, at 54, he is drag racing faster than ever in a sport that . The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Inc. in Ocala, Fla is a must see for all racing enthusiast. The museum is also home to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame which was instituted in 1991. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing - 352.245.8661 . . 93 Spence Road, Henderson, 0612 New Zealand. 1889, Austria-Hungary) lived with their children in company quarters in Trenton, N.J. Helen had one older sister, three younger brothers and three younger sisters. His historic first run in the Drag Pakwill be on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in A/Stock Automatic […] Don Garlits once said he would like just to eat, sleep and chase rabbits—presumably at 270 mph. To quote Don, "In my humble opinion, the Chrysler/Dodge 426 Hemi engine, was/is the best production engine ever manufactured by the automotive industry! He was a public supporter of Ron Paul's bid for the U.S. presidency in 2008. He also would talk about the importance of family: how his wife, Lynn, and daughter, Donna, changed his world and how finding out about his African-American roots opened his eyes to a culture and inheritance he'd always wanted. In 1976 Don and his wife were doing a drag racing exhibition in England. If Don Garlits is called "Big Daddy,'' then what does that make his wife? Under Review. . 1969 National Dragster Magazine from the Don Garlits US NATIONALS WIN. Song information for Don Garlits - Volunteer Corn on AllMusic Since then, Don says the museum averages between 60,000 and 65,000 visitors per . Wow, I got to see everything I saw in all the hot rod magazines, drag races live and on TV, and model cars I built as a kid. "His 2-speed transmission exploded and severed a portion of his right foot—from the middle of his foot to his toes," Tom McEwen explained. ALS BLOWER DRIVES - GARLITS PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS 93 Spence Road, Henderson, 0612, New Zealand. The icon of our sport turned 90 years old Jan. 14, and . Pat Garlits, the wife of drag racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, lost her long battle with Alzheimer's disease today, according to the NHRA via their Twitter page. A friend from Florida mentioned that that museum is always looking for some new/old photos and films. He is from FL. Don Garlits says it costs almost $50,000 a run with current cars. Consequently, Don and his late wife Pat founded the "Big Daddy" Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and in 1984 opened the original 25,000 square foot facility in Ocala, Florida, just off Interstate 75. Lisa told us there are plans to leave in a cloud of Drag Pack Challenger smoke, so it sounds like it's going to be a good party. Open Box, still sealed inside, Unbuilt. Electric versions cost seven cents a run. Twelve-flat in the quarter-mile still means fast today in most people's dictionaries . Don "Big Daddy" Garlits is the most innovative man in drag racing history. He was a public supporter of Ron Paul's bid for the U.S. presidency in 2008. Like many a Don Garlits dragster, Swamp Rat XIII, aka the Wynnscharger, wasn't built to look good or stroke a sponsor's ego--it was built to go fast. The facility was founded by Don Garlits and his wife in 1976 while officially opening its doors in 1984. Don Garlits' front-engine race car career ended at Lion's Dragstrip in 1970. The video was made by the ESPN crew and Gary Gerould serves as the voice on the footage. 90 Year Old Capricorn #7.  Structural Info Source Wikipedia Tags Tags Primary Income source Race Car Driver (profession). It's a bright morning at Gainesville . She took him to the hospital on Sunday. Photo: NHRA/National Dragster. Smith put up the best e.t. This piece is signed by DON GARLITS his deceased wife Patty Garlits and the famous Mrs Hurst Linda Vaughn. NHRA legend came up just short in quest to be first to blast a battery-powered dragster down the quarter-mile at 200 mph. Most of the drag strips in operation today were built for cars . . Don is one of the greatest most down to earth guys you would ever want to meet, and our thoughts and prayers are with them both. 237 144. He is already on the road to recovery and back at work. His wife of more than 60 years, Pat Garlits, died in 2014. The inductees include one of the founding fathers of organized British drag racing, the most dominant campaigner in IHRA Pro Modified competition, one of hot rodding's […] Pro Mod and Funny Car hero . . He and his wife Katharina Guth Lorenz (b. Kaylor then came back the following year in a new '63 Max Wedge and lowered the team's S/S standard to 12.00/120. Last weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida Garlits upped his own current numbers by running 189mph in the specially built dragster. Most Popular #157438. He holds the world record for electric dragsters at 185.6 mph at 7.25 seconds. When I saw the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum listed as things to do in Ocala my wife and I raced down there from our campsite. Ocala - Patricia Louise Bieger Garlits, wife of Legendary Drag Racer, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits for nearly 61 years, left this world and went over to the other side to spend eternity with Jesus. His wife of more than 60 years, Pat Garlits, died in 2014. This will be Garlits'. Florida is a major stop on the concert circuit and acts such as Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Bruce Springsteen make the Sunshine State a destination, too. . They plan to marry 25 July 2015 at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida. The Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum and the Don Garlits Antique Car Museum are fantastic. Sunday Thru Thursday 9.00am - 4.00pm New . Associated With. From countless Top Fuel triumphs, to crashes and breakage, to a clutch explosion that led him to reinvent the dragster, Big Daddy had his wife, Pat, by his side. First as a girlfriend, and then wife to the iconic drag racing superstar, Don Prudhomme. Garlits designed a new Pitman arm and steering box that corrected the over steer problem. Capricorn Named Don #9. By Andrew Wolf February 02, 2014. That has sadly changed. The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing has released the names of the individuals to be inducted into the museum's International Drag Racing Hall of Fame on March 10. The films I sent to them were of Don Garlits in 1959 and Art Malone/Garlits in 1960 at the Bakersfield Smokers March Meet. Consequently, Don and his late wife Pat founded the "Big Daddy" Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and in 1984 opened the original 25,000 square foot facility in Ocala, Florida, just off Interstate 75. Rail jobs with the engine behind the driver were as old as drag racing, more or less. Considered the father of drag racing, he is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. Don Garlits Popularity . "We rushed him to a hospital immediately where he remained for a month. Don's shop was pumping out the rear engine dragster chassis at a tune of one per month at a cost of $1500 each. in the '62 Dart: 12.10 seconds at 116.00 mph. In the 58 years since he turned the drag racing world upside down with an 8.79-second, 176.40-mph run in Brooksville, Florida, behind the wheel of his carbureted, nitro methane-burning "Don's Speed Shop" dragster, Garlits-now 83 years old-has cemented his legacy as the greatest drag racer of all time. YES! Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala: Hours, Address, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing Reviews: 4.5/5 . Big Daddy Don Garlits, also known as the Swamp Rat for his tire-burning emergence from central Florida in the late '50s, has reigned as King of the Hot Rodders for nearly three decades. The worlds best enderle style 'Blower' carburetor scoop for 6-71 8-71 to 10-71 Supercharged engines - Encloses Double Pumper Carburetor, many options. Most Popular #157438. Map, photos, hours and admission fees. Lemons and Don Garlits on the March 8, 1970, Lions Drag Strip incident and the life of the Swamp . The front engine dragster was now a thing of the past. Electric versions cost seven cents a run. By Andrew Wolf February 02, 2014. Maybe . Don Garlits was one of the first to receive the new motor in 1964. We Sit Down and Chat with Don Garlits, 17-Time Champion Who Changed the World of Drag Racing. Hardcore drag racing fans may remember that this quest began a few years ago and this is the second version of an electric dragster he has created to do the job. Plan a trip to this museum. This is the experience you'll get in Don "The Snake" Prudhomme: My Life Beyond the 1320. They were more trouble than they were worth . Fantastic! Incredible NHRA Piece. According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Race Car Driver Don Garlits's net worth is $31 Million at the age of 87 years old. Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. •. So, the question to you is, were there any early Don Garlits drag racing movies being shown from 1959 and 1960? Don long ago we brought you photos from the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum, today we are adding the Don Garlits Antique Car Museum.Either one of these museums is worth the visit but put the two on one site for one admission price and you have a Legendary Deal! Inductees will be honored during the 32nd annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, March 10, at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville, Florida. The dragster was â ¦ Martino, the mother of drag-racing legend Don Garlits, died peacefully Sunday in Ocala surrounded by family. Feb 23, 2012 Don suffered a minor stroke shortly after being told his wife will never come home from the hospital. Revell Don Garlits '74 AA/FD Dragster Model Car Kit. Then, 50 years ago this week, it did something else that changed Top Fuel drag . Located in Ocala. Hall of Fame inventor Norma Alcantar . Pat Garlits, the wife of drag racing legend "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, lost her long battle with Alzheimer's disease today, according to the NHRA via their Twitter page. Mar 16, 2015. Don "Big Daddy" Garlits is the most innovative man in drag racing history.