Ivo and Garlits are obviously 2 of the absolute legends of early drag racing. At one time, between the end of '63 and '69, I spent every waking moment at SoCal dragstrips (Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Fontana & Pomona) so I saw them both quite a bit. I can tell you that T.V. Tommy, it was rumored by the early 70's, had gotten really spooked in the seat after a couple of bad crashes. Of course front-engine cars were always just a clutch explosion away from a catastrophic incident.
Island Dragway-----------I was there this past summer 2010--saw him fire up the dragster-saw him in the 60's -againest Ivo when Ivo had the car carrier with the Corvette on top===Lot of memories at Island--
I saw Big Daddy with the #6 Swamp Rat ( Wynn's Jammer then ) at Island Dragway in 1964 when he set the first 200+ mph NHRA record. It was in early August. I was there.
@ThomasDeLello look up a guy named paul venderly... hes from south mississippi, and a good friend of big's. paul went 202 one week b4 big while the two of them were testing for that race!
You know what TS...? In those days you had to go through propper channels to set an NHRA record. Lots of people have claimed lots of things, unless you have a propper system for official records. You had to make a back-up run that was then within 2% of the new record. It's 1% now.
@ThomasDeLello I was there also and took photos of Don with his AA/FD on the scales with George Hurst and Ray Brock from Hot Rod magazine looking on . Years later at the 1985 Summernationals I gave the photos to Don's wife Donna in the pits along with others that she said they will use at his Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala Florida. That weekend was the Northeast Div points race were NHRA records are set and his time of 7.67 201.34 was the first official NHRA record over 200mph.
@jogibajr - That's cool...! Donna is Don and Pat's older daughter of the two. I spent some time talking with her at the museum. I'd love to see those pictures.
They raced at island dragway in new jersey in the 1960s ivo won 2 out of 3 garlits came back and won the summer nationals.[ the song in the video is carls big chance by the beachy boys ]
Ivo and Garlits are obviously 2 of the absolute legends of early drag racing. At one time, between the end of '63 and '69, I spent every waking moment at SoCal dragstrips (Lions, Irwindale, OCIR, Fontana & Pomona) so I saw them both quite a bit. I can tell you that T.V. Tommy, it was rumored by the early 70's, had gotten really spooked in the seat after a couple of bad crashes. Of course front-engine cars were always just a clutch explosion away from a catastrophic incident.
MrRonnieG 8 months ago
that's why they need rear view mirrors lol
goldminer1957 11 months ago
i was there when that happened, it sucked completely for them, but i heard what happened after and laugh on the ground to this day when i remember it
musclecarloverjoeroc 1 year ago
@musclecarloverjoeroc What happened after?
jrsn2cars 1 year ago
@jrsn2cars just big dad giving his take on it and what should happen in choice words, i'll leave it at that
musclecarloverjoeroc 1 year ago
Pork Zartmann's fabulous Willys Coupe at; 3:18 , check it out...!
ThomasDeLello 1 year ago
Island Dragway-----------I was there this past summer 2010--saw him fire up the dragster-saw him in the 60's -againest Ivo when Ivo had the car carrier with the Corvette on top===Lot of memories at Island--
crazypainter56 1 year ago
I saw Big Daddy with the #6 Swamp Rat ( Wynn's Jammer then ) at Island Dragway in 1964 when he set the first 200+ mph NHRA record. It was in early August. I was there.
ThomasDeLello 1 year ago
@ThomasDeLello look up a guy named paul venderly... hes from south mississippi, and a good friend of big's. paul went 202 one week b4 big while the two of them were testing for that race!
ts4864 1 year ago
@ts4864
You know what TS...? In those days you had to go through propper channels to set an NHRA record. Lots of people have claimed lots of things, unless you have a propper system for official records. You had to make a back-up run that was then within 2% of the new record. It's 1% now.
ThomasDeLello 1 year ago
@ThomasDeLello I was there also and took photos of Don with his AA/FD on the scales with George Hurst and Ray Brock from Hot Rod magazine looking on . Years later at the 1985 Summernationals I gave the photos to Don's wife Donna in the pits along with others that she said they will use at his Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala Florida. That weekend was the Northeast Div points race were NHRA records are set and his time of 7.67 201.34 was the first official NHRA record over 200mph.
jogibajr 1 year ago
@jogibajr - That's cool...! Donna is Don and Pat's older daughter of the two. I spent some time talking with her at the museum. I'd love to see those pictures.
ThomasDeLello 1 year ago
When they say "rubbin' is racing," I don't think they meant you were supposed to rub when you drag race!
xyling 1 year ago
THANKS,nuff said
rotativo13 2 years ago
They raced at island dragway in new jersey in the 1960s ivo won 2 out of 3 garlits came back and won the summer nationals.[ the song in the video is carls big chance by the beachy boys ]
spacepatrolman 2 years ago