He May Be 53, but Don Garlits Is Big Daddy of Nation’s Drag Strips

Big Daddy Don Garlits, at age 53, is enjoying the most fabulous segment of his drag racing career.

In 1971, the fleet Floridian thought he was finished. He woke up in a hospital after a racing gig in Long Beach to learn part of his right foot had been removed. A clutch explosion had just about sliced his car in half between the engine and driver’s compartment, causing his injury.

“I was infuriated that a car would do that to me,” Garlits recalls telling friends. His toes were amputated and he walks with a limp.

But the indomitable spirit of the trade--where dragsters race down a quarter-mile strip at speeds over 260 m.p.h. and at the finish are slowed by the release of a parachute arrangement from the rear of the car--kept Garlits going.

Since 1962, Garlits has won a record 29 National Hot Rod Association national events in the Top Fuel class. This year, the Ocala, Fla., resident has won 6 of 12 races, two more than any driver in a single season. His string of wins counts up to 8 in his last 14 starts.

Owner of the NHRA record of 266.11 m.p.h. set at Reading, Pa., in August, Garlits believes he can achieve 270 “under the right conditions.” Today’s Fallnationals in Phoenix is a warmup for that plateau.

“That 270 is within my fingertips,” says Garlits. “I hope to do it in the next couple of races. Phoenix is 2,500 feet above sea level and the engine won’t have much power. Conditions at the world finals at Pomona, Calif., however, should be ideal.”

“Big Daddy,” who acquired his nickname because he was the biggest name in drag racing during the 1960s, confesses he is surprised at his current success.

“I retired four years ago,” Garlits says. “I thought I was all through. So I built a drag racing museum in Florida and was content with my memories. But people asked me to come back. Art Malone said ‘Let’s get an engine out of the museum and go racing.’ We tested at Indianapolis and I thought, ‘Heck, the car is fast. Now all we need is a sponsor.”’

He found one and has since written another chapter to his success story.

Garlits said most Top Fuel drivers were delighted at his comeback. He emphasizes the class was in rough shape and there weren’t too many names for the press to headline. Now he includes among his chief rivals Joe Amado, Connie Katila, Bill Mullins and Gary Owens.

For a while there existed a rash of driver injuries and Garlits explains the reason was that cars were running 250 mph on front tires designed for 85 mph on motor bikes. The rubber was disintegrating. He said little attention was paid to the situation until “a whole lot of people got hurt.”

Garlits credits Goodyear with producing a tire that solved the problem.

Last January, Garlits crashed while testing for the NHRA season opener. The car flipped, but he wasn’t hurt.

Which brought him to the question of whether famed woman drag racer Shirley Muldowney would come back when she recovers from near-fatal injuries.

“That’s a tough question,” Garlits said with a chuckle. “Either way I answer I could be wrong. The sport needs her. It’s good for publicity and ladies who want to get into racing.

“However, If she comes back and gets hurt again, I’d feel kind of responsible for suggesting it. It’s her decision. She has to do what she thinks is right. I wouldn’t let anybody convince me if I didn’t feel I was up to it.”

Finally, Garlits said he gets a charge out of drivers kidding him about his age.

“I’m not a grandfather yet, but they’re now calling me ‘Granddaddy.’ They also refer to me as the old man. All in fun, I hope.

“I think they’ll be seeing me around for a long time. Maybe until I’m 60. My contract with SuperShops runs for two more years and they want me to renew for another three years.”