Don Garlits | Stories From The 1/4 Mile 

Oh nice. Hoping to get back there soon.

Funny that makes Don a Capricorn if you consider such stuff. Capricorns are noted for making big come backs. Other Capricorns are George Foreman, Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley, Steven Hawking, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, ETC. You can't deny Garlits made a few big comebacks.

I watched the interview he had with his wife what a great interview then two days later I met a lady in the supermarket that looked exactly like his wife I knew that wasn't her I said I told told her about the interview she needs to watch it she'll be surprised.

Wow!!! 91!!! He's a good Christian man!!

On a trip to Orlando. My dad says “we gotta go to Don Garlits museum”. So we go. He’s there and autographed all our T shirts!!! Talk to us like a regular guy. I’m glad he’s doing good after losing his wife. I know that was hard for him.

Me 2 ! Remember Eddie Hill ? One fast man on water or drag strip

Same here! Loved Big Daddy Don Garlits!

Yes. Hot Rod magazines and dragster posters

Me too. I'm 72 and used to live within 70 miles of the Detroit Dragway and Milan Dragway. Saw all of the big names.

Great story and i couldn't agree more about the Museum.

Thanks! More coming

The godfather

What does he do to stay so alert and young he is amazing

ESPN is just Jealous because there Network is Ranked 24th.

The so-called sports infrastructure doesn't care about anything but NASCAR. Wide World of Sports was inclusive with great NHRA coverage.

ESPN is too political to be objective.

@@toomanyhobbies2011 They're just arrogant asses that think that hot rodding, an all American sport, is beneath them.

Delusional cowards he's the man that innovated top fuel , if it wasn't for him top fuel wouldn't be where it is today: " HAILS TO THE CHIEF👍

I had no idea it was his birthday when i released this. Good timing though!

@@MotorHouseChannel I'm absolutely stoked that my first granddaughter was born on his 90th birthday. I'm teaching her to say "Mopar or no car!"

Picking up the latest Hot Rod mag for the cool pictures at $1.25. Great memories.

jungle pam is legendary,i'll never forget her.

@@vannomad6458 I remember Pam flashing Ed McColloch.

@@tsmcbride06 lucky guy!...damn

@@vannomad6458 she was a definite beauty to to the sport, she had a style that was all hers, she'll always be my favorite also and not just for the sexy stuff she wore LOL

Oh wow. Sorry to hear about your brother. Don is an awesome story teller. Id like to go back and get more from him.

Bruce Larson is next on my list to do an ACES talk with. His barn is filled with incredible memorabilia.

@@MotorHouseChannel yeah his barn is neat. I grew up 30 minutes north of dauphin. Maynard Yingst raced sprints in Selinsgrove, my home town. I worked there as a kid in 74. . I have 2 - 1/24 scale sentry olds signed by him at BSD when he was there. Got to chat with hin at 22 gators. Hope to see him and Big at 23 gators. 👍

@@jacksonmehoff4963 Oh very cool. Let me know if there are any others we should do an ACES episode with around there. Thanks for watching!

@@MotorHouseChannel i think 2 that dont get the recognition they deserve at etchells & eppler. First 4. First 300. Etchells is gone tho.

@@jacksonmehoff4963 Ill look into it. Thanks!

He gives tours at the museum. If you ever get a chance to go, take the tour.

I agree

Thank you

He’s another one I’d love to interview.

Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I was there in Phoenix az beeline drag strip way back when my uncle used to drag Jonny loper 40s coupe my uncle xlch sportster betting him 1960-63 most of the time 👌😎

Thank you! Spread the word please.

Interesting point: next time I see JF, I’m gonna ask him to “chat-up” Don Garlits. I’m curious to find out how that goes. 🤔

@@flitetym I did ask him some questions about his competitors and he said they used to travel their rigs together but not much else.

Thank you!

Would be a great question to ask him.

@@MotorHouseChannel Indeed. Both my father and grandfather have passed away so I can't ask them to know if I fully remember the stories correctly. Don looks great for being 90 years old!! Thanks for posting!!!

@@Acalltoservice03 thanks for watching!

I like that

@@MotorHouseChannel I'm glad you like the low cost every man garage fuelly. I'm wondering how much the bottom end of a stock cast iron LS block rods and crank can take without costly damage. But I guess you could make a nitro percentage rule? Also I'm wondering about the old style clutch set up, centrifugal but with the ability for the driver to push down the pedal to lock it up if he decides to add additional engagement. Seem like Gartlits told the story of how the push start rails driver push down the clutch to start the engine. Add a tire rule that let's the driver, ya know drive that barely controllable beast. Even if the car ran 7's or 8's it would be super exciting. Maybe a lot of guys would build them. Nostalgia!

Yeah super personable.

My house mates in Denver had a little boy, his dad always joked his son's first words were Big Daddy, he used to get excited, when we were watching the races and Don was on. He would keep yelling Big Daddy. We took him to the Mile High's all he could ask was Big Daddy going to be there. At the time Don was working with Shirley so we were not sure if he would be there, or be where he could be seen. We were making our way through the pits there was a huge crowd in front of one pit, you guessed it Don and Shirley were out signing autographs. My buddy said it would be neat if we could get one of the promo pictures for his son. I told let's try for better, We were both body builders at the time he had his son in his arms and I just bulled my way through. When we got to the front I yelled "Hey Don see this little man, all he has asked today were you going to be here" Don walked over took the boy from his dad's arms and started talking to him, he looked over and said get a pictured and posed with him in his arms. The boy was in heaven for the next week. When the picture was developed it was an 8x10 framed and set on his dresser, his dad liked to joke his picture was a wallet sized in the dresser drawer!

I met him one time in the 80s. So genuine and down-to-earth.

@troybradley2129 You're absolutely right. I donated all of my antique stuff to Don, including an old 60s FED chassis. I told him I gave $100 bucks for it from some guy in town and didn't know anything about it. He said, I DO!!. I built it. He couldn't get that chassis in his shop fast enough. Then he took my son, grandson and me through everything for 3 hours. Then handed me a $5k tax exemption receipt. Great man!!

Exactly, yet control freak Wally Parks didn't even write one word about Don in his book about Drag racing.

Don is the best great racer and a stand up guy! We got to meet him in early 80s at smokin mokan dragway in Asbury Missouri he gave my wife a signed autograph pic took a picture with her and someone stole them both We was hoping to get to see him again to get another but never have. Happy Birthday Don have a great year. Thanks for sharing this

Sure thing my two uncles saw in missouri back in the sixties they started running belvedeers 413's i believe,, we still have a complete chasis in the back barn,,,

And a partiall sling shot,,,

Thank you. I cant wait to do more with him.

91! He's more there mentally than our politicians.

That man does remember everything

Oh that's cool. I shot him years ago for ESPN and I should have asked for something.

Nice work!

@@MotorHouseChannel thanks!