Photo by–Lisa Crigar
and Tom Lemons, we built that car from scratch. It took three
months of testing to get it to go straight. It was a hard thing to
do. In fact, we gave up on it once and the wife got me back on
the program… she got after me and said “You shouldn’t get
back in those cars front engine placement, they’re too dan-
history. Not only did it change top fuel, it changed all of them. If
you go to the drags you don’t see any cars with the guys sitting
in the back.
CCWCF: Back in March you hosted the banquet for the International
Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Can you tell me about that?
Garlits: Well that was our 29th year, coming up on 30 which
is a big deal for us.
CCWCF: And I know your late wife, Pat was instrumental in
much of your career. Am I correct that you have an award that
you bestow each year in her honor?
Garlits: Yeah we have the Pat Garlits award, which is what
you’re talking about. Every year we give the award to a different
woman in the sport who has made some sort of a contribution.
It doesn’t have to be racing.
CCWCF: Who was the winner this year?
Garlits: Lynne Prudhomme. She is one of the ladies that
helped form DRAW, The Drag Racing Association of Women.
DRAW has helped so many of the families of racers that got
hurt or killed.
CCWCF: 144 Open Events, 17 National Championships, is
there anything you think that is left to do in your career or any-
Garlits: I want to go 200 Mph in my electric dragster. That’s
it. If I do that, I’m burnin’ the gloves.
CCWCF: Do you think you’re close to that?
Garlits: I’m real close. I think next time we go to the track I’ll
probably do. This new car is good. It’s light. It went fast the last
time. It went 182 but it was weaving around… so we’ll put a nice
wing on it, with a rudder to keep it straight and I think it’ll stay
good enough to go 200.
Photo by–Lisa Crigar
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