We’re in Detroit, and the rain has kept us huddled under the shelter of the Spectre booth awning.
While we waited for the rain to let up, we talked about some of the things we had seen on the trip so far. Everyone agreed that the Garlits museum in Ocala, Fl was one of the highlights of the trip, but while we all enjoyed that stop, everyone had his or her own favorite from amongst the displays.
Here’s some of the Power Tour drivers talking about what really stuck out to them at the Museum of Drag Racing and Classic Cars:
Rick Dobbertin – ” I liked the twin turbo dragster that was in the back room. It’s just such a wild vehicle, and while I wouldn’t have done it that exact way, it shows a lot of innovation. I also really liked the early Swamp Rat, because I once saw Don Garlits demonstrating it in Florida in the 80’s and the throttle stuck and he almost bought the farm, but he saved it and brought it to a stop and wow, it was hairy. Afterwards he just sat there for a few minutes holding the steering wheel. It really was an amazing bit of driving.”
Lance Peltier – “One of the cars which I was excited to see again was the Candies and Hughes funny car parked near the Jungle Jim car in the floppers section. I grew up in Houma, Louisiana and their shop was right near by, they were neighbors. They used to let us watch ‘em work on the cars at the shop when i was about 9, 10. they had all these cars, the Barracudas…it was just cool.”
Mark S. – “It’s just a great thing that Garlits lives where land is relatively cheap, and that he had the space and the foresight to keep everything. There are so many historic racing cars which were sold off to pay bills or make space for the next season’s car, and those are just lost to us now.”
Tom Dillard – “It’s impossible to pick just one car, but seeing all the cars together, and in order of their building, that’s really neat and very informative. It’s impressive to see the transitions and development from one car to the next. They really were ahead of their time in a lot of what they were trying. Sometimes, like with some of the aero experiments, they just didn’t have enough horsepower yet and so the modifications failed, but if you look at modern race cars today, they are using a lot of those ‘failed’ technologies very successfully.”
Mary Dobbertin – “I’m not sure if you got a photo of it, but in the corner of the second room, there’s this little tiny kids racing car, like a jr dragster, but a real race car. The info card said someone built it for his kids when they were six and that they used to campaign it. The car was from New York, which is where Rick and I live. Now that I have so many little kids on my family, I just can’t imagine what the moms of all these racers must have felt each time they went out on the track.”
Brittany Buchannan – “It’s really cool to see all these company names that I recognize, like Edelbrock or Isky or Mickey Thompson. It really gives a sense of the history to see those logos on cars from the 60’s.”
Amir Rosenbaum – “The smell. The smell is amazing, and it changes from car to car. As soon as you walk in, you smell racing history. The smell of oil and rubber and race gas. The older cars smell like wood and leather. The later cars smell like plastic and metal. A blind person could go to that museum and have a totally fulfilling experience.”
Bobbi Frasier – “I don’t know what this says about me, but I really liked the busted top fuel motor in the engine room display. It really gives you an idea of the power and danger of racing engines.”
We can not encourage you strongly enough to make your own visit to the Garlits Museum. It receives no funding from any government or other support, so if we as car people don’t support it, it won’t be around for anyone. Go check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
