Race Cars

['66GTO]

If any of you get a chance to visit Florida, a great place to see is Don Garlits museum in Ocala. He has all of his swamp rats on display as well as many other famous drag cars from the '60 thru the 90's. If you are lucky, as I was "Big Daddy" himself was there, signing autographs and telling stories.

[72Chero]

did you get his autograph? I've seen him race here a couple times before his retirement. Love that guy...:rolleyes:

[Daffy]

I've been to that museum 4 times starting in 85.. It gets bigger every time. Lots of Classic cars there as well along with his Plain 66 coronet 4 door sedan factory hemi car that was built for the FBI or somebody like that...Great place to go and right off I 75....

['66GTO]

Happy New Year to all, yes Chero I did get his auto graph. I also have seen him race many times, if you recall I used to work for NHRA. Most recently I saw him at the Gator Nationals in Gainesville in 2002, unfortunately he did not qualify.

[72Chero]

I did not know you were in NHRA... I'm still getting to know ya'll. That is cool what did you drive or were you involved in. Daffy too is into racing... he's had some close calls...hitting walls and such. Racing is a very dangerous sport...but still the safest cars around. :D The hubby and I did the racing thing for a few years. He was the engine builder/crew chief for our joint relationship on a race car. It was driven by a friend of ours, Sam. We did it at the local toilet bowl...but still very fun for a while. That is a very time demanding sport. More so if you have problems and blow a motor or worse wreck the car. Still I have great memories and had great times.:rolleyes:

['66GTO]

I worked at a NHRA sanctioned track on Long Island from 1968 to 1978. My drag racing ended after the birth of my first child. I was a regular at the track and heard they were looking for help. I asked the track manager and he hired me on the spot. I worked every responsibility from giving out time slips to announcing. It was a great experience,one that I will never forget. As an employee of a sanctioned track, I had a NHRA ID which gave me entry to any sanctioned track free of charge as well as access to the timing tower. I attended quite a few National events at Englishtown New Jersey as well as Gainsville, FL. and one trip to Indy.
In one of my earlier posts I mentioned that I got to meet Bill Jenkins, Pat Musi, Richie Zul,all who raced pro stock and Dennis Ferrara who won the NHRA pro comp championship in 1970. All of them raced at the track I worked at.

[72Chero]

WOW....sounds like a good time for sure... I guess I missed that post sorry... ;) :eek:

[PaPa Mike]

Saw "Big Daddy" race a time or two myself, Might try to visit his museum next time I visit Florida