Art "The Colonel" Malone

Carl Weisinger · 03-29-2013, 08:25 AM

I'm sorry to report that my friend and a friend to many, Art Malone, passed away near 7 am this morning (Friday, March 29, 2013.).

Art has been dealing with heart issues for some time. No other information is available
at this time. Condolences to his family.

My experience with Art is that he was pretty much a "no nonsense" guy. He had a lot of history. I think he was the first to average 180 MPH lap at Daytona. He competed in the Indy 500 and I'm pretty sure he was the first, and perhaps the only, man to blow up his garage with a top fuel car.

rickseeman · 03-29-2013, 09:47 AM

Art Malone was one of the few people I was ever jealous of. In 1984 when he coaxed Big Daddy out of retirement, offered to buy him some parts to go race Indy with, relit the fire in Bigs. Bigs hadn't raced NHRA in many years, drags an old car out of the museam, went to Indy and mopped up the field. Unbelieveable. Only Bigs could do something like that. I wished I was Art Malone to have caused all that.

Carl Weisinger · 03-29-2013, 10:51 AM

Rick,

You are absolutely correct about Art coaxing Don back into the game. Both of them told me the story. But, I believe it may have been Don that told Art he needed him to help him (Don), save Top Fuel.

Don Garlits is fighting his own personal battle as his wife Pat, and his brother ED have
health issues.

Carl Weisinger

ss wannabee · 03-29-2013, 11:05 AM

Believe Art won TF at the 1963 Bakersfield March Meet...and others. Didn't he try a turbine car once...wasn't afraid of experimenting...Also tried other forms of motorsports...(like NASCAR)...as what was mentioned...

Remember the move to "bring-back" Big Daddy. I saw Garlits on (his) 1982 "retirement tour." Art brought him back...

God Bless Art Malone!

Jim Wahl · 03-29-2013, 11:14 AM

Another icon of our sport gone. God speed Art! Jim

.

Stockerstang · 03-29-2013, 11:25 AM

One can take on many things in life however, you cannot take on time...it gets us all eventually. Godspeed Art Malone!

03-29-2013, 08:25 AM	#1
Carl Weisinger Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 98 Likes: 5 Liked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Art "The Colonel" Malone I'm sorry to report that my friend and a friend to many, Art Malone, passed away near 7 am this morning (Friday, March 29, 2013.). Art has been dealing with heart issues for some time. No other information is available at this time. Condolences to his family. My experience with Art is that he was pretty much a "no nonsense" guy. He had a lot of history. I think he was the first to average 180 MPH lap at Daytona. He competed in the Indy 500 and I'm pretty sure he was the first, and perhaps the only, man to blow up his garage with a top fuel car.

03-29-2013, 09:47 AM	#2
rickseeman Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Stuttgart, AR Posts: 125 Likes: 0 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Art "The Colonel" Malone Art Malone was one of the few people I was ever jealous of. In 1984 when he coaxed Big Daddy out of retirement, offered to buy him some parts to go race Indy with, relit the fire in Bigs. Bigs hadn't raced NHRA in many years, drags an old car out of the museam, went to Indy and mopped up the field. Unbelieveable. Only Bigs could do something like that. I wished I was Art Malone to have caused all that.

03-29-2013, 10:51 AM	#3
Carl Weisinger Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 98 Likes: 5 Liked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Art "The Colonel" Malone Rick, You are absolutely correct about Art coaxing Don back into the game. Both of them told me the story. But, I believe it may have been Don that told Art he needed him to help him (Don), save Top Fuel. Don Garlits is fighting his own personal battle as his wife Pat, and his brother ED have health issues. Carl Weisinger

03-29-2013, 11:05 AM	#4
ss wannabee Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 663 Likes: 0 Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Art "The Colonel" Malone Believe Art won TF at the 1963 Bakersfield March Meet...and others. Didn't he try a turbine car once...wasn't afraid of experimenting...Also tried other forms of motorsports...(like NASCAR)...as what was mentioned... Remember the move to "bring-back" Big Daddy. I saw Garlits on (his) 1982 "retirement tour." Art brought him back... God Bless Art Malone!

03-29-2013, 11:14 AM	#5
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,844 Likes: 666 Liked 683 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Art "The Colonel" Malone Another icon of our sport gone. God speed Art! Jim . __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 NHRA D2 National Open Stock Champion 1982 NHRA D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

03-29-2013, 11:25 AM	#6
Stockerstang Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 210 Likes: 0 Liked 20 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Art "The Colonel" Malone One can take on many things in life however, you cannot take on time...it gets us all eventually. Godspeed Art Malone!