Chris Karamesines
Call him the “Crazy Greek”, the “Golden Greek”, or simply “The Greek”. For nearly forty years these nicknames symbolize one of the most colorful and popular characters in drag racing history. In the days of the front engine tire smoking fuelers, there was no one more fun to watch. As early as 1960, he had established a reputation as a fearless driver. In the days before guardrails he could veer off the strip, get back in the groove and often still beat his opponent. Sideways at 180 or powering out of a wheelstand in one of his famous “Chizlers”, it was all the same to the Greek. His first major victory came at the 1959 AHRA Nationals in Great Bend Kansas. Along with Don Garlits and Tommy Ivo, he pioneered the concept of the touring professional drag racer. On April 24, 1960, Chris stood the drag racing world on its ear when he was credited with a 204.54 mph pass at Alton, Illinois. Controversial to be sure, coming years before consistent 200 mph times, nonetheless it cemented the Greek’s name in history. Drag racing rose to a new level of recognition when the 204 mph Chizler was enshrined in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry for many years before moving to its permanent home at the Museum of Drag Racing. In the 1960s and 70s Karamesines was known as the Admiral of the “Greek Fleet”, a loosely knit group of such colorful touring racers as John Weibe, Bob Creitz, Don Cook, and Jim Nicoll. After over 30 years of match racing and running IHRA and AHRA races, Karamesines actively pursued the 1990 NHRA Winston Point chase. Two runner-up finishes, that year, proved he still had the drive to win.