Garlits was the first NHRA driver to bust 200, but back then the NHRA wasn't the only rodeo in town. Lots of other drag racing associations had fast cars too.
I thought the first HOTROD was the Steamliner of Socal. But not sure. They called it the Fastest Hotrod in the early 50's
In the 1960s Hot Rod mag was loaded with Land Speed Record cars. I'm guessing it would be one of them. At least there was official timing.
Yep, a hot rod built by hot rodders rather than a factory or nationally in some cases sponsored land speed car.
There aren't too many old "HOT RODs" that I would want to go more than about 120 MPH in. At least in a traditional sense. Streamliners were the first purpose built speed cars and several have already been mentioned. Even the faster hot rods running on the california dry lakes were so highly modified that they were near streamliner. If you ever push an old AV8 or a duece up above 120 MPH you will be feeling the lack of control at some point, especially with some repro Firestone bias ply tires on there. It's not for the faint at heart.
Frank Lockhart on the sands of Daytona went over 200 in the Stutz Blackhawk in 1928. He was certainly a hot rodder as defined by the description above.
Any car my dad built when he was a kid! At least according to him and after a couple cold ones. Cars, places, and times changed but he was always first and fastest. Man that old dude could spin a yarn. RIP Dad. Sorry guys couldn't resist. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Actually it was between Garlits and another fella (I have to get a 3 or 4 month old hot rod magazine out to remember who it was) one of them had the official timming set and the other had an off brand or some foolishness. Went back through the thread and found this Chris was the fella I was thinking about, the controversy had to do with the clock that was bing used one of them was at a track that used an older timming setup and it was argued that the older setup was not as accurate. They both managed to do the deed at about the same time. YAPP Your dad was alright and a true rodder. That is the true test of a rodder is how well they spin a yarn and how much better the yarn gets either with alcohol of chemical inducment and or age. Some one will say the same about you with time, if you drink with me soon I will start saying it immediatly and you will be in good company. Your dad, my dad, and any number of true rodders out there. I am with you, may your Ol' Man rest in piece.
Even though we are on a "traditional hot rod" forum, you still get answers that are O/T. Fred Willard #13.....would be the true answer on THIS forum........
Interesting read about "the Greek" http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/hrdp_1003_chris_karamesines/viewall.html
In my memory from reading Hot rod back then Big Daddy set all the milestone records back then 175, 200, 250 etc. There was a big controversy about the Florida clocks being wrong until he did it again on a Calif tour.
The first street legal hot rod to officially set a record over 200mph was my old friend Denny Golden in his 31 Model A highboy roadster at Bonneville in 1978. AA/ST-R 200.315 mph, two way average.
Karamesines was first driver to exceed 200 m.p.h. on april 4 1960 clocking 204.54 m.p.h. at Illinois Alton dragway.
I think we need actual written proof, memories aren't what they used to be, you know the older we get the faster we were! Scotty
Ivo claims to be the first in the fives (5.97 @ New Alexandria (Pittsburg)) Mike Snively was credited with the first NHRA "five" at Ontario, CA (5.97) Funny thing was, he lost to Vic Brown's 6.03!
I was gonna mention that name and got beat to it......haven't seen him in about a year, need to see how he's doing! I have a box of parts he gave me about two years ago with some of the old hemi pieces he had laying around! Heck of a guy and always a pleasure chatting with him, amazing stuff for this youngin to hear!
Not quite right - Charlie Glotzbach went 204 at the Chelsea Mile in the test Mule in July of 1969, but this wasn't sanctioned by NASCAR so it doesn't count as a record. (some folks even claim it went 243, but that is highly unlikely and there is nothing but rumour about that.) Buddy Baker did it at Talledega in April 1970 with full NASCAR sanction and timing where they tech'd the car as being "Race Legal" so that is the first lap over 200 during a NASCAR event. Since you guys brought up NASCAR, I'll ass this to the story - Bill Elliot wasn't the first but he is the fastest with the qualifying record still held at 212.809 at Talledaga in 1987. He also holds the second fastest at 210.364, Daytona 1987. Rusty Wallace has the highest average speed in practice at 221 AVG with a 228 Trap at Talledega in 2004 after pulling off the restrictor plate. In 2007 Russ Wicks went 244.9 at Bonneville in a NASCAR Class legal car.
Chris Karamesines ran the first 200+ pass in April 1960 and didn't back it up, already pointed out by sprint347. 2 months later Kent Chatagnier ran over 200 and backed it up for the record. Garlits didn't go 200 until the summer of '64.
I have to agree with Saltracer219, and usmc50lx. Denny and Ogle did infact set the first recorded LSR record with a street rod, in 1978. I still have 2 of the 200mph stickers that Denny gave to me when I was about 12. Qualifying time of 208:81, and 206:31 for the two way average. There is a nice article about it in SRM.
The Jalopy Journal
