Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Hello,

In 1959 march, Don Garlits came out West to run at the first Bakersfield Smokers March Meet. It was a historic race as the top racers in So Cal were gathered to see other outside of the area racers in this meet. It was the first one in a what was to be a long line of classic March Meets… until it wasn’t.
Photo by Karen White
The results are in the record book and it was a doozy.


With the first event under wraps, the Garlits Group gathered in So Cal to ponder the next appearance in California on this Westcoast swing.

After the devastating defeat at the 1959 Bakersfield Smokers March Meet Number 1, it was back to the drawing board for the East coast wizard. The idea of a Stromberg powered Hemi motor versus the 671 powered hemi motors in the West coast race cars was a little daunting. As great as top speed was recorded with carburetor motors, the writing was on the wall…

So, the story goes, with the help of the local So Cal cam grinder and various engine/drag race car builders giving ideas and helping with the next level of power, Garlits started his West coast tour. It was into the summer of 1959 armed to the teeth with a new motor and of course, more power. The California dragstrips and folks in other touring stops were the first ones to see how much power was shown with a new approach to, "more power is better..."

The whole Don Garlits West Coast Tour in 1959 is best summed up in this excerpt from WDIFL article.
“After a humbling defeat at the first Smoker's Meet (in March of 1959) at Famoso, Don Garlits hastily equipped his "Swamp Rat" dragster with a supercharger and won the next big race at Kingdon two weeks later.” WDIFL

As West Coast drag racers were happy with the results at the March 1959 Smokers Race at Bakersfield, Garlits started to do some changes to be more competitive.

After the new 671 was added, he was off to Kingdon for some racing in Northern California.
KINGDON 1959

“After incurring burns at a race at Chester, SC. in 1959 Don was unable to drive and his friend Art Malone, pictured here with Don, took over the driving. Don also changed over from the 8 carburetor set-up he had used previously, to a Hilborn two-port injector. With the ability to tune the car more accurately performance immediately improved. At one of the first outings with Malone in the seat at Sanford, ME. on August 23, 1959, the car set a new Standard 1320 speed record of 183.66 MPH.” WDIFL
What was the "more power" hidden under wraps?
Garlits in 1959 Bakersfield vs. the months of So Cal information and help in getting a more powerful motor.

From the time he moved up North to race at most of the big dragstrips in California, he was ready and armed to the teeth with the latest So Cal power builds and parts. The team began to set records again and now, he was compatible to race against the best on the Westcoast. A lesson learned about the rebuild with blower spec parts and a hefty 671 on top.

After the March Meet where Don wasn't able to equal the performance of the supercharged Nitro burners he installed a blower and was "loaded for bear" at Kingdon Dragstrip, where he cleaned up on the field.



Jnaki

When he returned in late December of 1959 to So Cal, he was prepped and anxious to race the So Cal race teams, again.


December 1959 Riverside Raceway

Most of the So Cal racers wanted to see and compete against the “king,

 

Obviously, this guy is single!!!

 

That's more like it.....

 

Only @Deuces noticed that,,,,,,,,slackers

 

215" aluminum Buick and Pontiac engine combination.

 

The late Roland Leong ( RIP).

 

Ed Pink ? In the center of the picture.

 

My mate, Eddie Ford with his channelled and Y-block powered 34 Coupe. That coupe and my T-bucket were built by Eddie and I in the workshop attached to the shearing shed on the Ford family farm. Eddie started the Aussie "Custom Rodder" magazine in 1967 and is still producing Restored Cars magazine 57 years later.

 

Here's another one I found.....

 

Yes, it’s Mr. Pink

 

Slackers? Uh, no. It’s been seen here too many times.

 

Harlingen TX