Hot Rods Garlits Drag Racing museum

While on a family vacation, we were driving home and decided to stop by the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. The place is awesome and completely loaded down with eye candy. I don't think they could get another car in the building. I've watched some videos on YouTube, but didn't get a full under standing of the quality and quantity of the collection until I walked through it. It's not just cars, but also racing and hot rod memorabilia. It so awesome to see under the same roof.
Here are some pics

 

Jeezus!

 

WoW!.....

 

Looks like somewhere to add to the list, great photos!

Looking at Moonbeam, I sold some wire wheels just before Christmas, guy came to pick them up and we got chatting, he does vapour blasting amongst other things so I got his business card, “Allard Motor Company”, turns out it was Sidney Allard’s grandson.

 

I could be there for Days! Thanks for the tour, Carp.

 

The evolution of drag racing under one roof! Definitely on my to do list next time I am in Florida. Thanks for sharing!

 

Thank You pigIRON63.
I spent near half a day there. ( 20 years back )It was packed then.
Looks to be more crowded now.
In his book he tells of being a little kid (5?). His Pops needed a load of bricks moved from the front lawn to the back. So he asked Don to see could he pull ten bricks in his 'lil wagon. that worked, so try 20.
Every day for more than a week or so, Don pulled that wagon increasing the load 'til they had to get new wheels for it.
When I shook his hand, while visiting the museum, his grip showed me what it takes to be a winner.

 

Been there several times and each time I saw something new, if you go there plan to have plenty of time because there's so much to see

 

GREAT PICTURES, pig iron thanks for sharing. In 2017 I offered my MG to the museum and they said they would take it, we were still racing it at that time so I figured I would wait. Then when we decided to donate it in 2022 they were full I can see that now. That is some place.

Pat

 

Thanks for these awesome photos always wanted to go here. Don literally sacrificed limbs and his life every single time for the development and progression of Drag racing. All his innovation and trails and testing his ideas and fabrication. The sport would be completely different with out big daddy especially top fuel no question about that

 

Thank you for posting. I have been there twice and will probably go again. He has an amazing amount of flathead stuff as well as all the hemi goodies. I happened to be there on a Sat. and he was wondering around in his shop holding a yard sale. I bought a copy of his book which he signed for me. Very nice guy. He was 83 at the time and told me he had just renewed his NHRA license.

 

Wow! Great coverage! I went many years ago, now it looks like the car count has tripled compared to,then.

 

AMAZING pictures. I was there 20 plus years ago. Glad to see it is still intact. Thanks for sharing your visit!!!

 

That place rules and I plan to return someday soon.

 

Great coverage pigIRON63!!!! I was there in January. Best money you'll ever spend for a ticket to a "museum".
You can easily spend a day in the Drag Racing museum, and also tour his car collection in an adjacent building. Both are outstanding!!!! Lots of stuff to spend money on in the gift shop as well.

 

Excellent - Thanks

 

dupl.

 

That's crazy my friend is there today and sent me this picture of a car that's from Cape Cod,Ma.

 

Some pictures from the engine room

 

Damn!.... What a gold mine...

 

Now we're talking!

 

Big daddy wins I think he's got the most toys!!! amazing pictures Thanx for sharing them! We saw the Swamp Rat in the museum of Natural History in D.C. quite a few years ago it was cool got to rub the slicks for some good JuJu! Lol

 

My wife and I were walking an antique shop in Florida early this year and Don and his wife were in there looking around too! I asked him if that was really him and he couldn't have been more gracious,his wife took a picture of the three of us together and said if we call ahead Don would give us a personal tour.Unfortunately my wife has some pretty bad back problems and there was no way she would be able to do it..we were there probably 8 years ago and it took us a few hours then,I know if he was there to tell us about everything it would have been at least twice that. He's 92 and walking around like a 50 year old.Amazing guy

 

I got to visit the museum in the mid 90’s. There was a set of double doors you went through after you took care of tickets. Just inside the doors was the Little Red Wagon standing on its back wheels. There were also stands to help hold up the front end. Everything there was totally cool. Big Al, the 34 sedan with the Allison V12 aircraft, was in one corner of the room.

I need to go back

 

Thanks for posting. My parents live nearby and I’ve been there a few times. One of my brothers drove his slightly OT Dodge Dart with 4.11 gears all the way from CA; Don came out to look at it and signed the inner fender. Pretty cool of him to take the time.

John

 

Excellent photos,I visited there once while on my way farther south a few years back.
Sensory overload at it’s finest. Thanks for sharing.