By Craig Sparkes
For those of us who grew up with the smell of burning rubber, mixed in with the pungent fumes of Nitromethane and the roar of supercharged Hemi dragsters, there is no name more revered than “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. Named the greatest racer in the first 50 years of the NHRA, Don Garlits is a true living legend. His Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala Florida should be on any car lovers MUST SEE list. I could write a book on the cars and drag racing material in those buildings.
When it was announced that the Quarter Mile Foundation was hosting a dinner for Don Garlits’ 80th birthday on the Saturday of the NHRA Winternationals I had to go! The dinner was actually a “Roast” of the famous “Swamp Rat” by a panel of his contemporaries. These included Ed “Camfather” Iskendarian (a spry 90 years old !), Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, Ed “The Old Master” Pink, Jerry “The King” Ruth, “TV” Tommy Ivo, Dave McClelland (The voice of the NHRA) and Sid Waterman. This was just the panel. In the audience were more drag racing luminaries and hot rod heroes than I’ve ever seen in one place. Miss Linda Vaughn (Ms. Hurst Golden Shifter), sang Happy Birthday to Don (Oh sing that way to me Linda !!) Gene Winfield, John Force, and on and on I could go. There were also drag racing memorabilia and personalized items for a silent auction and really great items for a live auction during the Roast. I could go on and on, but here are the highlights from my perspective:
Prior to the start of the dinner, I met TV Tommy Ivo. Thanks to a very gracious introduction by Lee Schelin, Tommy Ivo had emailed me prior to the event and agreed to meet. I’ve been a fan ever since my cousin Sonny took me to Alton Dragway in Alton Illinois in the summer of 1960 to see Tommy Ivo’s twin engined injected Buick dragster. He ran 180 mph that day for a new gas dragster speed record.! I’ve wanted to meet him ever since. You will not find a more classier gentleman in the sport than TV Tommy — and he’s funny as hell too !! Thank you Tommy for making a 50+ dream happen! Then I met Ed “Isky” Iskendarian and asked for his autograph — I mentioned that I bought my first racing camshaft way back in the day — an Isky E2. He immediately said to me that I must have owned a Y-block Ford V8 — right on Camfather — he’s sharp as a tack !! Don Prudhomme also stopped to say hi and sign my book — another classy guy!!
The Roast was a howl! Don Garlits has a thing for flying saucers and aliens — and his pals never let up on that! TV Tommy Ivo brought the house down again and again with his tales of the tricks and practical jokes he played on Big Daddy. Like filling his “zoomie pipes” with confetti and scaring the pants off Big Daddy when he fired up and blew confetti all over the place !! Or convincing Big Daddy that he had a “wounded engine” (by pouring a can of STP down a header pipe to make it look like a smoking dead cylinder) This caused Don to leave “gently” while Ivo blasted off and won the match race. also, Ed Iskendarian is known to be a “pack rat” and somewhat cheap. We died when he was “tricked” into buying one of the auction items. A great story was told by Ed Pink on how did not help Don at a meet in 1966. Subsequent to that, Don responded. Garlits had bought an Ed Pink engine and burned it up. So he shipped it back — freight collection! Another story was how Don and his crew chief Herb Parks (who was a big tough frightening man) had words and Herb tore off the mirrors on the push truck and stormed off. Don was in his rail being towed back from a run when he spied Herb coming up. In his haste to get out of the rail — he fell over and was run over by his own car! That accident probably saved him a good thumping by a very upset Herb !!
I want to share a very special thanks and mention John Force. John bought many of the items in the live auction for some serious money. All the proceeds were to the Quarter Mile Foundation and John deserves a lot of praise and thanks for his generosity. He is a fine example of the sport. At my dinner table, I met Jeff DeGrandis who is the official Ed “Big Daddy” Roth artist. We all remember the “Rat Fink” shirts and sketches and Jeff will do them all. Check him out at www.dragfink.com . One final thought. As I was leaving the Roast, I met Miss Linda Vaughn in the entrance to the hotel. I told her that she probably had no idea the effect she had on us young 16 year old hot rod guys when she was at the drags. She smiled and said “Oh yes I did” !! Still love you Linda.
I’ve got a few pictures (but they were from the back of the room) but memories to last forever. Don Garlits stayed very late signing autographs for all who asked — a truly great racer.
Happy Birthday Don !!
