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Yes he is. I met him at the Nats a couple years ago. We chatted for a half hour about cars mostly but got sidetracked about other stuff. He is a great guy! Get him started about electric race cars and he will talk for hours. LOL
I ran into him by accident at the US Nationals at Indy way back when. I was leaning against an enclosed trailer taking advantage of the shade and he came walking around the corner of the trailer. Looked right at me, smiled and said "How we doing today?". We visited for a few minutes. Seemed in no rush at all, but I'm sure he was plenty busy at that time. Sure made a lasting impression on me.
I had a fascinating afternoon with him years ago
I was in Florida for a couple of days but had an afternoon to kill so we went to his museum
It was a great place and my brother and I enjoyed it
Just as we were leaving we ran into him
He stopped and spoke to us
When he found out I was a bracket racer his eyes lit up and he said "Come with me you have to see this"
We got a personal tour of his work shop at the museum
at the time he was working on Swamp Rat 32. (the first one with the rear tail that looked like an airplane)
He was so excited he showed us all of the new innovations he was developing
It was an amazing afternoon with a legend
One I will never forget
When Radir Pie Crust Slicks first came out, Big had the on his '62 Dodge N/SS car. I wanted to run them on our's to be more nostalgic. I called the museum and left him a message. Next morning, I was brushing my teeth and my wife said, "Don Garlits is on the phone for you"! Great conversation. Great guy!
Went to the Winter Nationals in Pomona in 2012 - 1st time. Walked through the gate and there was a small sun shade, a table and a Swamp Rat with Big Daddy standing there. I freaked a bit and my 2 buddies just laughed at me. Went to the table to meet "the man" and he had copies of "Don Garlits and his Cars" there. Asked the girl at the counter if I could buy one and she said just give the $20. to Don - oh yeah, and speak up 'cause he's hard of hearing. Met "Big" and handed him the money which he just stuck in his pocket and then shook my hand - best moment ever! Asked if I could have a picture with him & he gladly obliged - a true gentleman! Oh yeah, and he signed my copy of his book. Picture & book are still proudly displayed in my home - what a guy!
Oops, forgot the picture! Oh, and they also celebrated his 80th Birthday by having him pulled down the strip, in the Swamp Rat, behind his old Suburban
Had several good encounters with big name racers but never had any encounters with Don. My worst was with Don Prudhomme....totally ignored me and won't say anymore about that. Oh well. Eddie and Ercie were probably the nicest out there. Got to talk to John Force one day when he was way out back sitting on some steps to someone's trailer with his head down when my wife and I walked up on him. Asked him if he was OK and that got the conversation started. No one else around and he opened up somewhat. Sure miss going to the National Events.......
I sent away in the mail for a copy of Big's book, Close Calls, back in the mid-'80s (that's how we bought things like that in those days). When it came in the mail, it was autographed - without asking. I still have it. Great book, by the way. It has all of the stories of the times he'd cheated death to that point.
His museum is a must see. We went to it the Monday after the 2009 Gatornationals. It wasn't super busy, but there he was walking around totally approachable. We had seen him at the race the day before and got pictures of our daughter with him. At the museum we said hi, but I couldn't even come up with anything intelligent to converse with him about. Even then, at age 46, I was kind of star struck by they greatest drag racer of all time. LOL The museum is incredible - I can just imagine all the great stuff he has in the other buildings most people don't get to get into.
I had a couple encounters. Like everyone else's encounters? That he always has the time to engage. My 2nd was an email exchange attempting to track down the origin and history of an old pro stocker. He took the time to look thru some of his documentation of the suspected time period, but was unable to find a match. Time seems to go slower for him. Perhaps all the time saved living in the world of 6 seconds?