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Folks Of Interest Happy Birthday BIG DADDY! (90th)

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Speed Gems, Jan 14, 2022.

  1. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    It's Big's big day! Happy Birthday Big Daddy Don Garlits. Without him T/F probably wouldn't exist today.
    271949494_10160346377221410_7616306627971250964_n.jpg
     
  2. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    Met him at NE Dragway in '71
    A kind thoughtful man,
    cordial to all. :)
     
    raven, Deuces and chryslerfan55 like this.
  3. Roothawg
    Joined: Mar 14, 2001
    Posts: 24,523

    Roothawg
    Member

    I met him at his museum probably 15 years ago. Nice guy.
     
    anthony myrick and Deuces like this.
  4. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,603

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    He contributed a lot! How much longer would it have taken for a female driver to have appeared?
     
    mrquickwhip, Deuces and chryslerfan55 like this.

  5. tomcat11
    Joined: Mar 31, 2010
    Posts: 821

    tomcat11
    Member

    WoW how time fly's by. I met him once at Fremont. Would love to visit his museum. I think he had Swamp rat I out there and I remember looking at the home made steering wheel which was a piece of bar stock shaped into a butterfly and wrapped with electrical tape for grips. A true pioneer. Happy 90th.
     
  6. Happy birthday to the greatest T/F pilot and pioneer of all time!
     
  7. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I seem to remember when the coverage of the 63 Winternationals came Out in Hot Rod, the caption read "The Old Pro is still at it". Little did they know he would would still be winning races for another 35 years or so. When he came out of retirement in 2001, after recovering from detached retina, to drive Gary Clapshaw's Top Fueler at Indy, my nephew Lonny, was the Crew Chief. He qualified, with a run in the 4's @ over 300, a milestone in his long career. Happy Birthday Large Father ! https://www.nhra.com/news/2019/clapshaw-effect-how-don-garlits-finally-made-his-first-300-mph-pass
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2022
  8. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    That was in '88, and he brought T.C. Lemmons and the T- Roadster. as well.
     
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  9. lake_harley
    Joined: Jun 4, 2017
    Posts: 2,159

    lake_harley
    Member

    The first Hot Rod Magazine I ever bought as a 12 year old in 1964 had a BIG feature on his TF car that had just set a record. He's been my drag racing hero ever since.

    Lynn
     
    raven, Deuces and chryslerfan55 like this.
  10. Except for the electric swamp rat, but maybe he was on something lol... Happy Birthday Don Garlits :D
     
    Deuces likes this.
  11. Fitnessguy
    Joined: Sep 28, 2015
    Posts: 2,020

    Fitnessguy
    Member

    We saw him race in Spokane. Of course I was too little to remember but I've seen my Dad's pics. Would be awesome to see his museum and all of the motors and parts.
     
    Deuces likes this.
  12. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,603

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Nope, like he said "there are no rules on electric and I like it that way". Just another pioneering step in a world we can't tell to stand still.
     
    raven, Deuces, 41 GMC K-18 and 4 others like this.
  13. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 3,519

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    Took the bike to Daytona , years ago , rode from Daytona to Ocala , through the National Forest . Went to Don’s place . When I came out he was looking at my old scooter . I ask him if wanted to ride it ? “ Nope couldn’t start it , if you can’t start it you don’t need to be ridin it “ . I told him I had a 32 3 w . He ask if I had noticed his 3 w . Wow ! Does he have a nice one .He was a super nice person , just a bit hard of hearing .
     
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  14. Saw Don Garlits and Tommy Ivo at the Worlds Fair race at Pacific Raceway in 63.
    For the final run they asked the spectator cars lining the strip to turn on their lights so they could see.
    My most memorable Drag Race.
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2022
  15. deucetruck
    Joined: Jan 8, 2010
    Posts: 727

    deucetruck
    Member
    from Missouri

    Same here. Super nice!!!
     
    Deuces likes this.
  16. choptop40
    Joined: Dec 23, 2009
    Posts: 5,114

    choptop40
    Member

    museum was an experience...especially the bean bandits and all the engines....
     
    Deuces likes this.
  17. I Met him in 1972 When I Blew my Spider Gear's in the Rear end
    And I Had my Car jacked up & I was Looking at the Rear & I Heard
    A Voice say did you use the Moroso Spider's & I said No because
    I had a Argument with Him as I Turned around to See who it was
    I Hit my Head on the Gas Tank, I said some Stupid thing which I can't
    Remember He Said That He Liked my Car the Way it Ran
    & We had a Nice Conversation, .
    Me & Dick Moroso were always argu about Something.!
    But we were Still Good Freinds
    alot of My Good Freinds are Passing away
    Happy Birthday Don Garlits

    Just My 3.5 cents

    Live Learn & Die a Fool
     
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  18. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,429

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Happy Birthday, BIG!
     
    Deuces likes this.
  19. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,401

    catdad49
    Member

    Happy Birthday to the one and only "Big Daddy"!
     
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  20. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Big and Tommy had a 2 outa 3 at Puyallup, June 8th and 9th, 1963. I remember it like yesterday, Tommy won, Don went 202 !
     
  21. Lil32
    Joined: Apr 4, 2012
    Posts: 2,598

    Lil32
    Member

    Happy Birthday DG from Aussie
     
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  22. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Happy Birthday Big Daddy!

    And good to know you can spend your life sniffing burning rubber and nitro and make it to 90!
     
    Deuces likes this.
  23. Almostdone
    Joined: Dec 19, 2019
    Posts: 892

    Almostdone
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes, happy birthday to the man!

    He signed my brother’s barely-Hamb-friendly Dart after he drove it from CA to FL. Said he used to have one just like it, except his had a Hemi and he rolled it at about 180.

    John

    3810D4BA-1034-4684-A677-3F6F731AD09D.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2022
  24. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 3,519

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    Happy Birthday , a true living legend of our hobby .
     
  25. I took this picture of my 40 at his pit back in 95 at Indy when I was his crew chief……..or maybe I just pulled up and grabbed this shot real quick! :rolleyes::)

    595F350F-26E4-4D6D-ADDA-3F0CA421D65A.jpeg
     
  26. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    still a youngster at heart - wishing Big Daddy Don a very happy one
     
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  27. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 3,565

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Happy birthday to Big Daddy!
    "Often imitated, never duplicated"
     
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  28. tj
    Joined: Aug 19, 2006
    Posts: 575

    tj
    Member

    Tri Cities airport back in the 60’s. If aircraft was on the approach an ambulance would block the cross runway with lights on to shut us down. Don showed up on his way to a real event and determined the shut down area was not long enough (you’d end up in the river). Made a half pass and thrilled everyone knowing he took the time for us. Thanks for all you’ve done and Happy Birthday!!!
     
  29. Saw “big” on the speed channel one evening. Talked about getting started racing FLATHEADS. I sent him a letter asking if he had a Flathead license plate—-he asked what I wanted(money) for the license plate. I replied didn’t need money just an autographed pic. He sent me a 8 x 12 autographed pic of him holding the license plate I gifted to him. He had a smile on his face like he had just won the Nationals!!! Very friendly man—-great racer—-congrats on your 90th birthday. My license plate(FLATHD) is in the museum of speed in Ocala,Florida. 74E564DB-4B31-4803-862D-1562A8258199.jpeg D7FC92AD-BCE1-44BF-832E-CCEAF21CD154.jpeg
     
  30. Michael Ottavi
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 266

    Michael Ottavi
    Member

    A big Happy Birthday to an amazing man. I feel blessed to have had the honor to be personally shown around the amazing Museum he has created to showcase our sport/world.
     
    427 sleeper and Deuces like this.

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