CCWCF:Photo by–Lisa Crigar
Do you think that EV-dragsters and fuel-dragsters will
compete against each other or do you think they’ll remain separate
classes?
Garlits: No, it’ll be separate. The EV-dragster will be more for
the guy who wants to race but doesn’t have a lot of money. It’ll
be an inexpensive class. We don’t ever want them to go 300
miles an hour though. That’s a problem now for top fuel-dragsters.
They are becoming uninteresting. They don’t even run a
quarter mile anymore. They just run 1000 feet and it just takes 3
and some tenths of a second to do it. It’s not really fun to watch.
If there wasn’t for the big burnout there wouldn’t be anything to
watch! We’d like to keep the EV dragsters well under 250 miles
an hour where they can always have to run a quarter of a mile
and wouldn’t have to be completely rebuilt every run. They just
go. One of my record runs was made when I had one run I didn’t
like and could just go around and around until I got it!
CCWCF: You were instrumental in redesigning the engine
placement on fuel-dragsters. Can you tell me about your involvement
in changing that design?
Garlits: We did it that in my shop. Me and Connie Swingle
ing rockets to deliver bombs… Goddard was just experimenting.
Goddard said to Von Braun, “How can this be? The two
rockets are almost identical!” Von Braun said, (Garlits does a
pretty spot on impression of Von Braun here) “That is because
there is only one way to make a rocket!” That is what we’re
going to see here… there’s only going to be one way to make
for the passengers… A lot of that is dictated by the government
now. You just don’t make a car. There are federal standards. It’s
the same in the NHRA. A lot of the top fuel-dragsters look just
alike, because that’s what the rules say! There is only one way
to have a top fuel-dragster.
CCWCF: I know a while back you set a record with an EV
(electric vehicle) dragster. I saw that the Australians have come
up with a 5000 horsepow—
Garlits: Not that much horsepower, 3000. I went 185.6 (Mph)
on batteries in 7.05 seconds. I’m trying to go 200. I have built
a new car, Swamprat 38 which has only made one shakedown
test-run. We’ve got to get back to the track. It’s ready to go now.
info@classiccarwcf.com 727.469.7004 11
link