Swamp Rat 1 was built in 1956, endlessly modified, but arguably was at its best in the fall of 1958 beating the best of the Californians at Houston and then that December setting a new world record at 180.00 mph. SR I in February of 1959 was at Bakersfield, CA for its last competition run in a naturally aspirated configuration.
This weekend in Milan, Michigan, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits will be the Grand Marshal at a tribute to the long defunct Detroit Dragway, a once famous – or infamous – shrine dedicated to a uniquely American passion. “Sunday, Sunday, Sunday” … “be there or be square.” Well, actually it’s Saturday 17 May, but aficionados of the 1/4 mile know what I’m parodying.
Part of Garlits’ legacy, including the record breaking, “Swamp Rat XXX,” is on view at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, as is his fabulous collection of cars, notable in my view for his pre-war Fords at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag racing in Ocala, Florida.
Garlits began racing in 1950. He took his first major victory in 1955, and famously a NHRA win for Top Fuel at the 1963 Winternationals in Pomona, California. Garlits has won the U.S. NHRA Nationals a record eight times.
Garlits, a fierce competitor remains a class act. Here he is on Shirley Muldowney who woan a record breaking three NHRA Top Fuel world championships in 1977, 1980, and 1982, “Now, if you ask who do I have the most respect for, I’d say Shirley Muldowney. She went against all odds. They didn’t want her to race Top Fuel, the association, the racers, nobody…Just Shirley.”
Milan Dragway gates open for the May 17 event, at 9 am with Time Trials starting at 10 am. For tickets and more information, call 734.439.7368 or email [email protected].
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Garlits was actually one of Shirley’s earliest detractors, but made up for that (somewhat) by signing off on her first competition license.
Check my blog from last week for insight into what Garlits is up to today. Still innovating. I’ve had some dealings with him over the years… Whatever you think of him, you have to respect his efforts to move the sport “forward” (depending on your perspective) in myriad ways. And he isn’t done yet. His current efforts are doubly impressive, given he’s still grieving his late wife and business partner, Pat (who saved his butt countless times).