I've passed those signs on I-75 a hundred times and a hundred times I said I'd stop someday. This past Saturday, I stopped and I am so glad I did I can't describe it.
If you are or were any kind of drag racing fan, you've heard of Don Garlits. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and the cars in this exhibit brought tears to my eyes. He has everything. Really.
The place was cavernous and dim with lots of spotlights. This makes for great displays, but challenging photography with my little pocket cam, but I tried. Here are some of my favs. I didn't count, but there must be a couple hundred cars in the collection.
One great thing is I was close enough to touch (although I didn't), everything was right there in front of me.
Tons of static displays. Engines, components, etc. I love this stuff.
Garlits must have planned from the 60's to have a museum. It seems like all his cars are here.
There were several of Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen's cars.
As well as several of his nemisis, Don "The Snake" Prudome.
My camera just couldn't capture this row of about 20 rail dragsters. It was awesome.
The one on the left was Pete Robinson's car. He was killed in '71 in a race - I was a freshman in HS. Kinda choked me up. Him and Kalitta (right) used Ford's 427 SOHC engine and I was a fan.
Wow.
A crankshaft driven supercharger.
Supercharged and turbocharged.
Displays like this were great. Again, you could walk right up to it. Dynos from the 50's shelves of parts, etc.
There is so much I didn't get pictures of or am not mentioning here, it's crazy. The Little Red Wagon is there (my picture sucked), Shirley Muldowney's cars, land speed record cars, jet cars, V12 flatheads, and so much more.
I'll stop now. There are more pictures here. The museum is right on I-75 at Ocala, FL (south of Gainsville). Admission was $15 which gives access to the Drag Racing Museum and also a separate antique car museum (which I ignored completely in this report but is extremely nice by itself). I spent a couple hours in there but a more normal person might do it in an hour.
Highest recommendation!
Bonus last picture. There is an old jet fighter on a pole (FL seems to have a lot of those) outside at the parking lot and I saw an opportunity for a picture of my car, so here it is.
If you are or were any kind of drag racing fan, you've heard of Don Garlits. I grew up in the 60's and 70's and the cars in this exhibit brought tears to my eyes. He has everything. Really.
The place was cavernous and dim with lots of spotlights. This makes for great displays, but challenging photography with my little pocket cam, but I tried. Here are some of my favs. I didn't count, but there must be a couple hundred cars in the collection.
One great thing is I was close enough to touch (although I didn't), everything was right there in front of me.
Tons of static displays. Engines, components, etc. I love this stuff.
Garlits must have planned from the 60's to have a museum. It seems like all his cars are here.
There were several of Tom "The Mongoose" McEwen's cars.
As well as several of his nemisis, Don "The Snake" Prudome.
My camera just couldn't capture this row of about 20 rail dragsters. It was awesome.
The one on the left was Pete Robinson's car. He was killed in '71 in a race - I was a freshman in HS. Kinda choked me up. Him and Kalitta (right) used Ford's 427 SOHC engine and I was a fan.
Wow.
A crankshaft driven supercharger.
Supercharged and turbocharged.
Displays like this were great. Again, you could walk right up to it. Dynos from the 50's shelves of parts, etc.
There is so much I didn't get pictures of or am not mentioning here, it's crazy. The Little Red Wagon is there (my picture sucked), Shirley Muldowney's cars, land speed record cars, jet cars, V12 flatheads, and so much more.
I'll stop now. There are more pictures here. The museum is right on I-75 at Ocala, FL (south of Gainsville). Admission was $15 which gives access to the Drag Racing Museum and also a separate antique car museum (which I ignored completely in this report but is extremely nice by itself). I spent a couple hours in there but a more normal person might do it in an hour.
Highest recommendation!
Bonus last picture. There is an old jet fighter on a pole (FL seems to have a lot of those) outside at the parking lot and I saw an opportunity for a picture of my car, so here it is.
