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| Don Garlits' 2010 Schedule |
"Big Daddy" Don Garlits' thoughts on "Fixing the NHRA" The man voted as the greatest drag racer in the National Hot Rod Association’s first 50 years has plenty of ideas on how to fix the sport he dominated for nearly four decades. At 77, ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits still spends most of his days tinkering with race cars and antiques in his garage outside the Drag Racing Hall of Fame in Ocala, Fla. If given the opportunity, he’s more than ready to tinker with the NHRA’s current rules. The NHRA, he says, is in trouble, and he’s right. Quality entries are down, attendance is down at tracks, and there isn’t a whole lot of money being made. Garlits blames the rising expenses, which have priced many teams and drivers out of the sport.
“A lot of us got into drag racing because it was affordable,” he said Wednesday. “Now you have teams that have a $3 million or $5 million budget, where they can just outspend everyone else. They’re the teams that are holding change up. We could easily make the tires smaller and lower the wing and run a lot slower, but they don’t want any part of that.”
Garlits’ biggest problem is that the races themselves have gotten too short. Races were shortened for safety concerns last year from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet. That shortened the races from about five seconds — still too fast by Garlits’ account — to about 3.5 seconds. The races are too short; three-and-a-half seconds is just not long enough to keep the fans interested,” he said. “Then you have the cars blow engines every race, and then you have to wait another 10 minutes between races to get the oil cleaned up. It’s a bad show.”
Garlits’ ideas are simple and harsh. Make the rear wing smaller and lower it to take away downforce. Have Goodyear build smaller racing tires to take away grip. Disqualify any team that blows an engine and drops oil on the track. The engines right now, if they’d cut them back to about 1,000 or 1,500 horsepower, they would run forever,” he said. “And the problem about slowing the cars down would be solved. It would also bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. The competition would be a lot closer, and that’s what’s going to bring the fans back.” Florida Mopar Ass'n
PRESS RELEASE The Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala Florida has acquired the historical race car, Mad Dog
For more information please contact; Don Garlits
Friday, August 27, 2010 For immediate release:
The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame sponsored by Lucas Oil Products, based at DonGarlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, Florida has announced the induction to the Hall of Fame for the year 2011. The list of six inductees is as follows:
The popular Lucas Oil Induction Banquet ceremony will take place at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center on Thursday, March10, 2011 during the NHRA Gator Nationals. A cocktail reception starts at 6:00 PM with dinner served at 7:00PM.
Be certain to reserve your table early. Corporate Table sponsorship includes seating for ten, listing in the program, and a copy of the annual DVD, at a cost of $1000. Additional seating is available at $100 each for each ticket.
Ticket details and additional information are available on our web www.garlits.com or by calling - 352 245- 8661 / 877- 271-3278 or fax 352 245 6895 or email Garlits@mfi.net or comptroller@garlits.com
Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Inc. 13700 SW 16th Ave Ocala, FL 34473
Rats & Rods Show with Big Daddy Don Garlits It was a great show and the weather was beautiful!!! Don Garlits
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14th – Done-Big Daddy’s 78th Birthday 21st – Done- Meeting with Florida Mopar Club for 2010 Meet February; 2nd – Done- NHRA Conference call with Shirley Muldowney and Kenny Bernstein 11 – 14th – Done- NHRA 50th Winternationals, Pomona CA 20th – Done- Bay Area Corvette Club, Museum Grounds 20th – 57th Done- Wedding Anniversary, Don & Pat March; 10th – Done-Take display car to Gatornationals, morning 10th – Done-Cacklefest on Museum Grounds, evening 11th – Done-20th Annual Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet, Gainesville Hilton 12th – Done-Top Fuel Qualifying @ Gatornationals 13th - Done- Amelia Island “Concurs D’ Elegance” car show 14 - Done- NHRA Gatornationals - display a Swamp Rat & Top Fuel Finals 20th – Done- Rats and Rods with Big Daddy Car Show on Museum grounds 26th – Done- thru 28 – Daytona Spring car show, Daytona Speedway, Daytona Beach FL April - Rest (sure, "Big", we believe ya') May; 14, 15 & 16 – Buick Show, Bowling Green KY, 19th Done - Speak at the Villages NH Club June 17 – 20 Done - NHRA Hot rod Reunion/Bowling Green KY, display/cackle Swamp Rat, DOGS June 26 – July 4th - vacation August; 14 & 15 – Done - Island Dragway 50th Anniversary, Great Meadows NJ, DOGS 21 & 22 – Done - Blue Suede Cruise Show, Norwalk DW, Norwalk OH, DOGS September; 2nd thru 6th – NHRA US Nationals, Finals, DOGS October; 7th through the 10th – "Big Daddy's" RV Show @ Museum Grounds 23rd (Saturday only) –Rats & Rods with "Big Daddy" @ Museum Grounds November; 6 & 7 - Annual “Mopars with Big Daddy” on Museum grounds 26, 27 & 28 – Turkey Rod Run, Daytona Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL. December; 4th - 10th Annual Toys for Kids Cruise-in (to benfit Interfaith Charity) “The Twilight Cruisers” / on Museum grounds |
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Revised
August 29, 2010
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IV, driven by world famous Art Malone in 1961 to become the first person over 180 miles per hour on a closed course. The actual speed was; 181.561 MPH. The car, build and owned by Bob Osiecki of Charlotte NC, won the $10,000.00 prize, posted by NASCAR President and Founder, Bill France. Mr. France posted the prize for anyone that exceeded 180 MPH at the World famous Daytona Speedway. On August 28th, 1961, Art Malone, a fearless young man, 25 years of age, climbed into the cockpit of the Mad Dog IV, a Curtis Race Car with wings, powered by a Blown Dodge 450 CID wedge engine and 
traveled around the 2.5 mile Daytona Speedway in a lap that was timed at 49.57 seconds for an average speed of; 181.561 MPH! Bill France personally presented the check to Bob and Art for an amazing feat, back in 1961. The car has been displayed for many years at different museums, but this is the last stop as we have acquired the vehicle from it's owner Tom Osiecki, Bob's son, as Bob Osiecki has since passed away. The NASCAR fans will be happy to learn that the Drag Racing Museum has purchased the car for permanent display here in Florida.
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