Our $2000 Challenge Presented by CRC Industries always attracts big names–names like Andrew Nelson, who ran a blistering 9.52-second quarter-mile pass in a car built for less than $2000–but this year will be one for the record-books.
To provide a benchmark for the drag racing portion of our three-part competition, Big Daddy Don Garlits, widely known as the father …
Are you berkeleying kidding me, man?! Holy E36 M3.
Good get
(checks calendar and work schedule ...)
How am i the first person to upvote this? This is cool!!
I seem to remember that passengers are allowed on the dragstrip? Right?
DIBS!
Will he be doing the autocross as well?
Seems like there should be a " X seconds per $ over budget " handicap here. My money is on the Nelson bunch dollar for dollar at this venue and I consider Big Daddy a legendary giant in motorsports, a true pioneer that cut a wide swath. What a shootout!
Can he judge concourse too? I mean, he is such an innovator and game changer over the years, it would be cool for him to judge tbe challenge innovation.
Garlits is a busy, busy guy, so I'm not exactly sure how much of his time we'll have outside of those drag passes. But it's still the coolest thing ever that he'll be at the event, right? It's up to you all to convince him to stay for the Concours!
I am working, and won't be able to attend this year. Let me put a plug in for the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing.
It's in Ocala, about a 30-minute drive down I-75 from Gainesville.
Wow. That's the man.
Big Daddy is the nicest man you will ever meet.
30 years ago I was working the front desk at the Clarion (it's now a Marriott or something...) in Ontario, CA, and most of the racers at the Winter Nationals and Winston Finals (bonus points for anyone who remembers what the product was!) stayed at the hotel, and there he was!!!
I asked Big Daddy if I could get an autograph. He said he didn't do autographs, but he'd be happy to chat with me if I had the time. I had one more person to help, and he waited at the end of the desk for me.
Talked with him for about 20 min.
Couldn't tell you anything we talked about, but, to this day, I remember the warmth and friendliness given to a pin head 22 year old by THE Legend in drag racing.
I'll never forget it. Thanks Big Daddy!!!
Please tell him thank you, thank you, thank you from said pin head.
So cool!
Wow, this is super cool.
A big "gain" for Gainesville this year. Having Big Daddy, will certainly draw a lot of interest into the Drag portion of the Challenge. As I am approaching my 7th decade, he was a teenage hero of mine. Happy that he's still at it. Maybe he can be "bribed" into judging at the Concourse.
Now if you could just get Shirley Muldowney...
Wait, if you show up with a Mopar he will sign it?
This is awesome!! Can't wait.
Wow, that is awesome!
jharry3 said:Now if you could just get Shirley Muldowney...
Dude.
Do this. have them race.
I'm not in, but this would be the only way I'd let a pro drive my car at the dragstrip.
Awesome. Already was scheming on how to get the crew to his museum just down the road. I heard that if you put a group together he would come out and do the guide thing in person.
Pete
Of all the berkeleying years for me not to finish my primary car...
Jordan Rimpela said:
Never heard of Don Garlits?
???
Turn in your car guy card. HGTV forum has a great thread about the Brady Bunch renovation.
So excited!
Can we get him to go head-to-head with Andrew Nelson??
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