"Don Garlits suffered a mild stroke on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Garlits family confirmed. One of the moments that will be forever locked into my mind from the 2014 NHRA Gatornationals was when the blow video, which was also part of the ESPN telecast of the race was played during pre-race activities with Don Garlits on stage to see it. They were more trouble than they were worth . He was amazing, and he continues to watch over me in my office every day. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. 28, 2012:A salute to the woman behind and always at the side of "Big Daddy", Don-ning my Garlits-Prudhomme trivia capNov. Im not that. I know that Don will not enjoy life as much with his wife gone, but he will be relieved when she is not suffering any more (if Alzheimers and Dementia patients suffer). Patricia Louise Garlits, aged 79, was widely regarded as the "First Lady" of the drag racing world. This video highlights some of his greatest moments at this. 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The tour was amazing. Im excited to see how it goes.. His career has been active since the mid- 1950s. https://t.co/mHHWXQ5pte pic.twitter.com/shWCEFnUqw, Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team (@ArrowMcLaren) February 21, 2023, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). It doesnt happen overnight. Pat Garlits died this past weekend after an extended illness. The Garlits brothers were a fearsome force in the drag racing world. Since arriving in the fall of 2019 at the former Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, she said she has watched Arrow McLaren grow while maintaining its gritty origins. The two-speed transmission Garlits was developing exploded and took a piece out of his right foot, while the car broke in half in front of the cockpit;[3] he was out for the remainder of the season. It is sad he will lose his wife. All 450 of us walked in every Friday morning and put a . 9, 2014:For years she was by "Big Daddy's" side through thick and thin,and will never be forgotten, Reliving some magical Indy momentsSept. Apart from his successful career as a racer, Don is also recognized as a politician; back in 1994 he was the Republican nominee for Florida`s 5th Congressional District, however, his campaign was unsuccessful, as he lost to Karen Thurman of the Democratic Party. The recruitment pitch to join the Arrow McLaren IndyCar team started with the 21st century social media version of a corporate headhunters cold call. In 2008 he was named as the 23rd top driver of all time, by the ESPN. Required fields are marked *. [19] He supported the Republican candidacy of Ron Paul for President in 2008.[20]. Way back in 1953, they played what they called "paycheck poker" at the American Can, where I worked that winter. He said that Pat was really suffering and it was time for her to go. [2], Garlits returned to Pomona in 1971 with Swamp Rat XIV, a brand new mid-engined, front-cockpit rail, also dubbed the "Swamp Rat I-R" by Hot Rod in the article introducing it to their readers. [10], In 1977, Ed Donovan persuaded Garlits to switch from the 426 hemi he had been using for the last thirteen years to the Donovan 417cuin (6,830cc), offering (in Garlits' words) "an engine deal I couldnt refuse". 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In December 1991 Garlits came out of retirement to race in the Snowbird Nationals, but his comeback was to be short-lived. Over 30,000 people attended the event, the largest attendance at a drag race at that point. Don's old house and shop where he built many of his cars and customer cars is on the market. Date of Birth: Sep 24, 1977 (45 years old) Place of Birth: Venice. Arrow McLaren was known as Schmidt Peterson Motorsports before McLaren Racing gradually became the majority owner in mid-2021. Progress always comes painfully slow, but then when you look back over a larger period of time, youre like, Oh hey, weve done a hell of a lot. . Garlits operates the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing on the grounds of his home in Ocala, Florida. I visited Dons museum on a Sunday one week after Pat passed away. Its been a time of tremendous growth for the team, and most of that growth has come since the end of last season, Ward told NBC Sports as many of the new team members scurried past him with fresh parts and data during a break from preseason testing at The Thermal Club in Southern California last month. Sorry about your wife but Get well (BIG DADDY) and prayers for all the family. There is one way in which Arrow McLarens transformation is noticeable. Net Worth: $100 Million. She was the girl of my dreams, said Don. For many years, Ed Garlits was competitive on the track and cemented his name in the NHRA Southern Division Hall of Fame, International . He gave her comfort and a familiar face until her last breath. Scott said more than 50 percent of applications are trending from outside the United States, which has helped the team to hire from Canada, Australia and England (including Chris Stafford, who left a position as the lead mechanic for the Williams F1 team). Don Garlits was born in Florida, and began drag racing in the mid-1950s in a car he built himself, in his backyard. He complements my strengths very well, and his experience is a good buffer. For our money, Don Garlits--chassis builder, engine builder, tuner, and driver extraordinaire--remains the greatest drag racer of all time. Don Garlits hails from a poor family; he spent his childhood in his hometown, Tampa, where he attended Hillsborough High School. If Don feels about is wife like I do about mine, I feel for him so much, my prayers are with them. The couple would have celebrated their 61st anniversary on Feb. 20. Category: Richest Athletes Race Car Drivers. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021. When you invest in software, you invest in the efficiency of a lot of your people. Racing teams typically face double-digit turnover after the season. This two museums brings you back to the "Good Old Days of Racing" and houses almost 300 cars between both buildings. Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. We. 5 Dallara-Chevrolet. He makes an effort to keep everyone up to date from top to bottom as to where things are, what the current objectives are and whats the future look like. It takes some investment.. I messaged her on Instagram, Hey, I think youre super cool, youre really killing it, and if you ever want to work in IndyCar, let me know, Gundlach told NBC Sports. Ronald Lee Garlits, 78, of Wabash, passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. Copyright 2023 BangShift LLC. I work really well in it, and Im excited to bring her in and experience that. Swamp Rat 14 rides again; the history of one of Top Fuel's most important carsOct. Hes my competitor, but were going to have a really fun time with these cars, Garlits, who operates his own Museum of Drag Racing on his property at Ocala, said. Don Garlits's Net Worth: $31 Million. When it comes to speak about his personal life, Don Garlits has been married to his high school sweetheart Patricia Bieger since 1954; the couple has two children together. The rodding magazines considered the disadvantages of the new dragster design "obvious," and, indeed, Garlits lost in his first outing with the new car, to Gary Cochran at Lions Drag Strip. Ultimately, Huff loosely speaking, a younger, less-swashbuckling, more nonchalant, but equally obsessive version of Garlits beat him to it. Just three years later, Don became a professional drag racer, and since then has been an integral part of the drag racing scene for six decades. I will never forget that day. Weve done a bit of that. I think people start to realize that IndyCar is a pretty fun place to be and not a bad way to go racing, Ward said. With the explosive growth and importance of computer-based simulation in racing, theres as much emphasis on software engineering now as there once was on traditional mechanics. Don had two sons with first wife, Dolores. Gundlach forwarded Hackenbergs contact information to an Arrow McLaren hiring manager, and the match turned out perfect. Were putting the resources behind it but trying to do it in a sustainable way thats good to the people that are working here as well and also just to have fun. He holds the world record for electric dragsters at 185.6 mph at 7.25 seconds. Otherwise, he might have started that match-race challenge with Huff right there. He also maintains his contact with racing by doing commentary on ESPN and Speed Vision at racing events and performance expositions. He was sometimes referred to as the Floridian, before permanently adopting the nickname "Swamp Rat," which also became the name for each new generation of his innovative dragster designs. Our leadership team was just looking for the best, Scott, who also worked at Stanley Black & Decker, told NBC Sports. Honestly, there was already so much talent in the group, and I feel like so much more has been added on which is just going to help us to really get us where we want to be.. This is very sad. Named as the father of drag racing, he won ten American Hot Rod Association Championships, four International Hot Rod Association championships, and also three National Hot Rod Association Championships. RIP Pat, your missed by more than just your family. Fire in the holeFeb. Don and Pat were married on February 20,1953, when Don was just 21 years of age and his immortal racing career it its infancy. The cars were later auctioned at Barrett-Jackson for another charitable quarter-million dollars, Garlits said. Copyright 1996-2023, NHRA. Pat was running the gift shop. Hes just a super-nice guy. We all hope and pray for the best for you and Pat. I saw Don and Pat at the SEMA show a few years ago, she was in a wheel chair but I didn't know the circumstances. Don won the race and then decided that he would leave the little car on fuel for the first time since 1956. . Don Garlits, far left, with his wife Patricia and the rest of the Don's Speed Shop crew at a 1958 race in Texas. Its really exciting to be part of a group that still has ties to everyone being very hungry and ambitious and could do all sorts of roles and do whatever needed to be done. http://www.allmusic.com/song/don-garlits-mt0016254629. Honestly, this team comes from humble beginnings in the IndyCar world. No ones ever going to say weve got everything figured out. In addition to Grace Hackenberg, Gundlach also played a role in the teams acquisition of systems engineer Lizzie Todd, who came from previous roles at Andretti and Penske. Pat Garlits is survived by her husband, daughters and sister, as well as grandchildren Kirsten Capitano Watley, Rodney Donald Garlits, Sarah Lyn Smith, Benjamin Gregory Capitano and Anna Elizabeth Capitano; and great-grandchild Braden Alexander-James Garlits. Don was there and I have a photo with him. It is a fun group. According to Thomas Popes Feb. 2021 article for Competition Plus, Huff happened to see Garlits on TV, saying that Electric vehicles are going to be a part of everyones future, and to go 200 in the quarter is just not possible with the current technology. Huff told Pope, I thought, Thats a bunch of crap. All of that is pretty much not relevant because the true beauty in this piece comes in the form of the words Garlits uses to describe his wife of many decades along with her love and support. UPDATE (23.July 2019): Don failed to reach the 200 mph mark, but did manage to achieve a new electric dragster record, posting a speed of 189.03 mph during his July 20 runs at Palm Beach International Raceway. Don't waste your time dreading it: just pray that you live long enough to enjoy your senior years. In 1970 he suffered a terrifying accident, when his car exploded and parts of the engine tore off a part of his right foot; this incident led to the invention and development of rear-engine drag racing cars. By Andrew Wolf February 02, 2014. [15] He has since had second thoughts. 8, 2012:Drag racing legends Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme have a lot more in common than just their first names, More Garlits and 'Snake'Nov. As I have posted roles throughout this last year, Ive found a large number of youths all around the world thats interested in getting into motorsports. During a recent episode of his Off Track podcast, Rossi noted the Thermal test hit some snags as the IndyCar team learned to communicate with McLarens software systems in England. All the world was a colorful Circus when Bob Gerdes painted race cars, Top Fuel dynasties: Torrence, Schumacher, Dixon, Garlits, Amato, Shirley, Beck, Some top-shelf books that every drag racing history fan should check out, Yeah, but what if? Don Garlits and the couples two daughters, Donna Garlits and GayLyn Capitano, along with Pat Garlits sister Sharon Keppel and granddaughter Anna Capitano were all at Pat Garlits side when she passed away. The photo above is from an earlier release on Hemmings Blog. Those are the nice things that people want out of family who do this.. (A similar design was built that same year by Mickey Thompson.) Were not where we want to be right now, but thats normal. 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