One of the first times out, if not the very first, of the car that came to be called Pure Hell. The A/HR class designation on the car was for Hot Roadster, which eventually became Fuel Altered.
Dover dragstrip, I remember seeing that Merc. I don't remember the name but I thought it was cool. Flag starter I think, so pretty early. Pat
A friend of mine talked about going to Green Valley for a big meet years ago. He said when they got there the whole place was under water and there was no way to race. They were all standing around the gate talking and a GMC with "Here comes trouble" painted on the front pulled up and Garlits got out and walked up to where they were. Someone handed Mr.Garlits 1000.00, he climbed back in the truck and headed back to Florida.
Larry I don't doubt that your friend told you that, it's just I have never seen Garlets use a GMC carryall/truck. I've only seen him with Dodge trucks. That does not mean I can't be wrong. Pat
TRUE STORY: I was an engineer at Ford R&E doing dyno testing on V8s. We used to do dyno testing with pans like that on the dyno to eliminate windage losses. One night I got a call from a newly hired dyno tech on the midnight shift who was getting one of our prototypes ready to fire up. He inquired, "How much oil should the engine hold? I put 23 quarts in it and the level is still not up to 'full' on the dipstick." Thereafter the engine was always jokingly referred to as "Ol' Number 23".
Garlits drove that GMC Carryall pretty early on, that dragster looks like the Swamp Rat 1B, he went to the drag chute after he put a blower on the car. A number of reasons come to mind for him to use a GMC like that, it was a good travel vehicle if he took his family, Dodge offered nothing like it and it wasn’t until Dodge gave him a sponsorship that he switched to Dodge pickups. The Green Valley story sounds typical, he had a guarantee that paid even if the race didn’t go off as scheduled. Don was known to request payment in cash, and he preferred gold coin if possible.
''Garlits received a concussion in a Houston parking lot when a jack slipped out from under his GMC Carry-All, pinning his head under the front suspension. Not long afterwards, Connie Swingle saved his life when the same GMC plunged into a murky ditch at 2 am, on the road between a Sat. date in Columbia and a Sunday date in Savannah." Page 100, "High Performance", Rob't C. Post
Considering Oldsmobile only had two engines that year, a 6cyl and the 303 V8 2bl.....the 303ci would be a High Performance item.
Thanks Fordor and 302 for the history lesson. I was only 12 when introduced to drag racing and went to the track in 62-63 with the MG I own. When I saw Garlits it was always a black car and I don't recall any flames, also I think the cars I saw where blown. It's been a long time. Pat
Not to cause trouble - but Dodge did offer the Tradesman in window and panel versions along with a Power Wagon 4 wheel drive in the mid-50's up into the late 60's but what was said - he didn't have the sponsorship by Dodge until after he had gotten going.
Yes, I had looked online for a comparable Mopar truck but couldn’t fine one until I did another l search. So I stand corrected, there were windowed Tradesman’s built, but I guess Don wasn’t particularly brand loyal, at least not until he got the sponsorship. The Power Wagon seems like a non issue, very rough riding and there was no need for 4WD. The GMC Carryall was no luxury vehicle either, but far better for cross country travel. photo credit to allpar.com
Pat: I was also at Dover during the 63 and 64 years and I also remember seeing Don Garlits, and he had an all black dragster with no flames at that point in time. On those early days, I would have been standing on the spectator side of the track. Jim Hill
1959 December Riverside Raceway So Cal Hello, Don Garlits had come West to the First Annual Bakersfield Smokers March Meet in March of 1959. He had the carburetor version of his Hemi motor. But, was lost in the first round. Then as history presents itself, the Westcoast tour of California presented a new look and more power for his drag racing group. Now, in Northern California, he started to set some records and was gaining respect from the knowledge he gained in talking to the Westcoast engine builders and manufacturers. He was impressive and with the last drag race of 1959 coming up in So Cal, he now had a competitive racer and obviously more power. When we heard that Don Garlits was coming to Riverside Raceway with the Swamp Rat, my brother and I were excited like a late Christmas present. The holiday was past, but the late December drag meet was a surprise for all of us on the Westcoast. Garlits showing at the 1959 Bakersfield March Meet was nothing to write home about. But, there was a change in the build and functioning of his new supercharged motor. What is the secret under the cover? We knew of his exploits, but as Westcoast drag race folks, the Eastcoast bravado on top speed and low e.t. times were just writing on the wall. We wanted to see actual proof for the popular Eastcoast racer. He did not forget the last time he was in So Cal. But, the black FED had some great looking flames on the body. Jnaki Then months later in March of 1960, he wanted to show everyone he now had something to prove from his showing at last year’s March Meet. This time with Art Malone doing the driving. The same black paint and goldish flames were ever present again. Garlits Chronicles 59-60 So Cal from 0:00 to :43 on the film. The rest of the film is his brother, Ed, at Lion’s Dragstrip in 1960.
The Jalopy Journal
