Thread: Garlits Back In Drag Racing

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Originally Posted by mooneye777

Can anyone tell me the importance of this day in history, and what followed later on for Don that day. One hint is it was the U.S. Nationals, the clue is also in the 1st picture only, the 2nd is just a Don bonus shot for ya.

Hmmmmm...................I'm seeing images in the mist........1967.....the number 6.........oh, and the name Gillette.

six seconds and he shaved........

Who's got a pic of the great blowover? Can never see that one enough! The coverage in Digger that week was unreal...... The ultimate showman, does the blowover, takes a bow!!!! Now that's class!!!!!

The picture that I remember the most is the clutch explosion.......lost half his foot and still came back for more.......His innovations because of that changed top fuel forever. We all love the old slingshots, but I bet he saved a bunch of lives because of that day.

Met him once....seemed like a regular guy, same with Force....loves to talk to you......Grumpy Jenkins.....that's another story.........but, still a cool innovative guy.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Hmmmmm...................I'm seeing images in the mist........1967.....the number 6.........oh, and the name Gillette.

Good job Bob, Right on the chin hair.

That would be it!!! Thanks Uncle Bob, had to been one of the wildest rides ever in a dragster, even for Garlits!!!!!

I remember him saying in an interview later that he turned the rail off to the side as it stopped because he was afraid the safety crew would block him with their truck. He wanted them to know he was not unconscious and wouldn't roll back through the starting line. (Wouldn't be the first time that has happened).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_hRjnvm3XY

You got the hole shot on my there Uncle Bob.

Garlits ain't the only one who's still got it!!!

"Originally Posted by mooneye777
Can anyone tell me the importance of this day in history, and what followed later on for Don that day. One hint is it was the U.S. Nationals, the clue is also in the 1st picture only, the 2nd is just a Don bonus shot for ya."

For our younger readers....Garlits had never run a six. The Ramchargers had run the quickest time ever, I believe a 6.67. Garlits got through eliminations with a lot of luck, but in the final, he put on some new M&Hs, and ran 6.66 to beat the Ramchargers. Now THAT, boys and girls, is showmanship! :-)

I always have to mention that I stood on the west side of the starting line when he tried to shave the beard.

This "pushy" guy was trying to take pictures over my sholder. A few months later, I saw the back of my head in a Car Craft Magazine photo of the event. (My moment of fame!)

garlits won the 67 us nationals and broke the 7 second barrier and shaved his beard because of a bet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8rGt...ext=1&index=33

I wounder where the name swamp RAT came from? I could be totally wrong but remember hearing rumors of him building cars for others that were set up to lose. But just like John I dont get all the hype of these jokesters.

Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

I wounder where the name swamp RAT came from? I could be totally wrong but remember hearing rumors of him building cars for others that were set up to lose. But just like John I dont get all the hype of these jokesters.

Set up a dragster loose??? Think with the solid rear end bolted directly to the frame about the only way you could "loosen" the car is putting too much air in the tires..... Certainly no Garlits historian, did he run a 4 bar or swingarm dragster?? Saw a few of his cars in action, they were all solid rears?????? Heck, I didn't even know he built cars for others.......who were some of his customers????