Don &
Record books reveal “only” the on-track accomplishments: 17 combined AHRA, IHRA, and NHRA World Championships; victories in more than 150 major events; national ET and speed records as far back as 1957 at 176 mph, including the first official 200 mph run by top fuel dragster; plus, countless technological innovations. Don successfully developed a rear engine dragster which halted the rash of driver injuries and fatalities that threatened top fuel’s existence in the 1970s. Don formed the Professional Racers Association persuading establish sanctioning bodies to increase winners’ purses by as much as 300%. Don Garlits would return to full time NHRA drag racing in 1984. He would take a four-year-old top fuel dragster, from display in the museum, go to US Nationals and win event. In 1986 Don debuted Swap Rat 30 a streamlined top fuel dragster. Swap Rat 30 was the first top fuel dragster to break 270 mph barrier at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville Florida. Swamp Rat 30 would be the first top fuel dragster to do a complete blowover at the NHRA Summernationals in Englishtown New Jersey. Swamp Rat 30 was the first top fuel dragster enshrined in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. During the 80’s Don Garlits would become the first top fuel driver to win the NHRA US Nationals three years in a row (1984,1985,1986). Don would also be the first top fuel driver to win two consecutive NHRA World Championships (1985 and 1986). Despite all the records and achievements Don and Pat Garlits biggest accomplishment and contribution was the establishment two unique institutions to preserve and honor the sport of drag racing’s rich history. In 1976 the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing was established finding a home in Ocala, Florida in 1984. At the time this was the first and only museum dedicated to the sport of drag racing. The museum originally 27,000 sqaure feet has grown to 54,500 sqaure feet since it opened. In 1991 the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inducted its first twenty legends of the sport. To this date the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame has inducted hundreds of drag racing’s legends. These two institutions will serve to preserve the history of the sport for past, present, and future drag racers and drag racing fans.