Cover of Hot Rod magazine, featuring Don Garlits' front engine dragster, Wynn's Jammer

Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is considered the father of drag racing. He is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. A pioneer, with the help of T.C. Lemmons, and after he lost a portion of his foot in a drag racing accident, he perfected the design rear-engine "top fuel" dragster (notable because it put the most explosive parts of the dragster behind the driver) and was an early endorser of a full-body, fire-resistant suit. In 1964, he became the first drag racer to officially surpass 200 miles per hour; he has broken a number of other speed records, surpassing 270 miles per hour in 1986. Cover of Hot Rod magazine, featuring Don Garlits front engine dragster, Wynns Jammer. ... Cover of Hot Rod magazine, featuring Don Garlits front engine dragster, Wynns Jammer. ... Cover of Rodders Handbook magazine, showing front engine dragster Front engine dragster or F.E.D, is now considered and used in nostalgia drag racing. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... Nickname: Cigar City, The Big Guava, T-Town Official website: http://www. ... A Top Fuel dragster, the ultimate in drag racing. ... Clocked Speed = 506 km/h, Kwinana Race Track, W.A., 2005 Top-Fuel Racing refers to a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on 85% nitromethane and about 15% methanol also known as racing alcohol, instead of gasoline. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Drag Racing was a California-based sport. Don Garlits, being from Florida, was the outsider who came in and beat them at their own game. He was sometimes referred to as the Floridian, such was his uniqueness. Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  - Total   - Width   - Length    - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 3rd 158,302 sq mi  410,000 km² 250 miles  402. ...

Garlits was the first driver to win three National Hot Rod Association national titles and three world championships, the last coming at the age of 54. The National Hot Rod Association, known as the NHRA, was founded by Wally Parks in 1951 in the State of California to provide a governing body to organize and promote the sport of drag racing. ...

"Big" was compelled to retire due to separated retinae, a product of the 4g deceleration produced by a Top Fuel Dragster's chutes. Human eye cross-sectional view. ...

Garlits was also known for signing the Contract with America in 1994, making a run for the House of Representatives from his district. He lost after making several controversial remarks in the campaign. He called for "medieval-style prisons", public paddling of juvenile offenders, and denounced homosexuality as an "abomination". House of Representatives is a name used for legislative bodies in many countries. ... The word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings over time. ...

In 1997, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to auto racing either as a driver, owner, developer or engineer. ...