Folks Of Interest Happy Birthday BIG DADDY! (90th)

It's Big's big day! Happy Birthday Big Daddy Don Garlits. Without him T/F probably wouldn't exist today.

 

Met him at NE Dragway in '71
A kind thoughtful man,
cordial to all.

 

I met him at his museum probably 15 years ago. Nice guy.

 

He contributed a lot! How much longer would it have taken for a female driver to have appeared?

 

WoW how time fly's by. I met him once at Fremont. Would love to visit his museum. I think he had Swamp rat I out there and I remember looking at the home made steering wheel which was a piece of bar stock shaped into a butterfly and wrapped with electrical tape for grips. A true pioneer. Happy 90th.

 

Happy birthday to the greatest T/F pilot and pioneer of all time!

 

I seem to remember when the coverage of the 63 Winternationals came Out in Hot Rod, the caption read "The Old Pro is still at it". Little did they know he would would still be winning races for another 35 years or so. When he came out of retirement in 2001, after recovering from detached retina, to drive Gary Clapshaw's Top Fueler at Indy, my nephew Lonny, was the Crew Chief. He qualified, with a run in the 4's @ over 300, a milestone in his long career. Happy Birthday Large Father ! https://www.nhra.com/news/2019/clapshaw-effect-how-don-garlits-finally-made-his-first-300-mph-pass

 

That was in '88, and he brought T.C. Lemmons and the T- Roadster. as well.

 

The first Hot Rod Magazine I ever bought as a 12 year old in 1964 had a BIG feature on his TF car that had just set a record. He's been my drag racing hero ever since.

Lynn

 

Except for the electric swamp rat, but maybe he was on something lol... Happy Birthday Don Garlits

 

We saw him race in Spokane. Of course I was too little to remember but I've seen my Dad's pics. Would be awesome to see his museum and all of the motors and parts.

 

Nope, like he said "there are no rules on electric and I like it that way". Just another pioneering step in a world we can't tell to stand still.

 

Took the bike to Daytona , years ago , rode from Daytona to Ocala , through the National Forest . Went to Don’s place . When I came out he was looking at my old scooter . I ask him if wanted to ride it ? “ Nope couldn’t start it , if you can’t start it you don’t need to be ridin it “ . I told him I had a 32 3 w . He ask if I had noticed his 3 w . Wow ! Does he have a nice one .He was a super nice person , just a bit hard of hearing .

 

Saw Don Garlits and Tommy Ivo at the Worlds Fair race at Pacific Raceway in 63.
For the final run they asked the spectator cars lining the strip to turn on their lights so they could see.
My most memorable Drag Race.

 

Same here. Super nice!!!

 

museum was an experience...especially the bean bandits and all the engines....

 

I Met him in 1972 When I Blew my Spider Gear's in the Rear end
And I Had my Car jacked up & I was Looking at the Rear & I Heard
A Voice say did you use the Moroso Spider's & I said No because
I had a Argument with Him as I Turned around to See who it was
I Hit my Head on the Gas Tank, I said some Stupid thing which I can't
Remember He Said That He Liked my Car the Way it Ran
& We had a Nice Conversation, .
Me & Dick Moroso were always argu about Something.!
But we were Still Good Freinds
alot of My Good Freinds are Passing away
Happy Birthday Don Garlits

Just My 3.5 cents

Live Learn & Die a Fool

 

Happy Birthday, BIG!

 

Happy Birthday to the one and only "Big Daddy"!

 

Big and Tommy had a 2 outa 3 at Puyallup, June 8th and 9th, 1963. I remember it like yesterday, Tommy won, Don went 202 !

 

Happy Birthday DG from Aussie

 

Happy Birthday Big Daddy!

And good to know you can spend your life sniffing burning rubber and nitro and make it to 90!

 

Yes, happy birthday to the man!

He signed my brother’s barely-Hamb-friendly Dart after he drove it from CA to FL. Said he used to have one just like it, except his had a Hemi and he rolled it at about 180.

John

 

Happy Birthday , a true living legend of our hobby .

 

I took this picture of my 40 at his pit back in 95 at Indy when I was his crew chief……..or maybe I just pulled up and grabbed this shot real quick!

 

still a youngster at heart - wishing Big Daddy Don a very happy one

 

Happy birthday to Big Daddy!
"Often imitated, never duplicated"

 

Tri Cities airport back in the 60’s. If aircraft was on the approach an ambulance would block the cross runway with lights on to shut us down. Don showed up on his way to a real event and determined the shut down area was not long enough (you’d end up in the river). Made a half pass and thrilled everyone knowing he took the time for us. Thanks for all you’ve done and Happy Birthday!!!

 

Saw “big” on the speed channel one evening. Talked about getting started racing FLATHEADS. I sent him a letter asking if he had a Flathead license plate—-he asked what I wanted(money) for the license plate. I replied didn’t need money just an autographed pic. He sent me a 8 x 12 autographed pic of him holding the license plate I gifted to him. He had a smile on his face like he had just won the Nationals!!! Very friendly man—-great racer—-congrats on your 90th birthday. My license plate(FLATHD) is in the museum of speed in Ocala,Florida.

 

A big Happy Birthday to an amazing man. I feel blessed to have had the honor to be personally shown around the amazing Museum he has created to showcase our sport/world.