fletcher beats garlits!
 

that had to be a thrill af a lifetime, even for the winingest sportsman racer in history!
mr garlits was definitley in it to win with a .007 bulb.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

good for him,glad to see someone take out one of the new under rated cars..dont know how big of a win for dan it was though,he has won alot...

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

No disrespect to Don Garlits, but Dan Fletcher has won nearly twice as many national events as Garlits has. Plus most of the National Events Dan has won have been 7 round races. Not 4 round races like Garlits had won in Top Fuel. I'm not trying to take away from Don Garlits accomplishments or the many innovations he has introduced to Drag Racing. We'll just have to see how he does on race day when he has to put a dial on his window.

Ryan Horensky
C/SA 1273

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

it is sad to see someone like him dial in. it is like french kissing your grangma.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

He hasn't run far enough under to qualify anyway, has he?

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I'll bet that Big Daddy has more heads up runs than Fletcher. Big Daddy don't need no shoe polish.....until now that is.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

In Don Garlits defense, back in the 50's 60's and 70's the total national events between NHRA,IHRA,AHRA,UDRA etc. didn't even total one season of NHRA's current (which is 24) national event schedule. You have compaired apples to oranges. It was a completely different time.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I don't know why Big's car didn't run 10.0's like the others but he sure can cut a light when he needs to. Too bad he isn't in the field. I'm sure Don Garlits has rarely qualified lower than 10th and sure not 149th!

In Garlits most active years there weren't very many national events but that hardly meant he raced just a couple times a year. Read his book "Big Daddy". I'm not sure anybody before or since had a race and travel schedule like that where the engine had to be rebuilt inside the trailer going down the road because the 40 hours of straight driving was barely enough time to get to the next race.
24 events wasn't a season, it was more like a month!

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Tom: I am glad to see that someone still remembers what it was like to race in the 60's and 70's. You are correct there were not a lot of national events. NHRA was the game until AHRA came along. But race tracks ran every night. And every SUNDAY!! And you did not only have to be a BIG name the track had to have cars to run. You might race in our area of North Carolina you might race in Georgia on Monday Night and Capital Raceway on Tuesday. I have seen a match race scheduled as you stated. I have also seen engines washed in a bathtub of varsol at the Holiday Inn assembled and raced the next night 10 hours away. I really wish the old man all the best. I really hope that all of this stir does exactly what it is intended to do get some interest in the cars. Let's see a 10 car match race with Mopar, Fords and maybe the Camaro. Might be a crowd pleaser.

By the way, good job Fletcher thats what Big would expect you to do. Go get him no matter who is in the other lane. Ya'll have fun up there.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I think "Big Daddy" deserves all the respect he can get. You got to give the guy a pat on the back to step into stock eliminator, that is as far from where he made his name in drag racing, (top fuel) as apples is to oranges! Fletcher is one serious gun slinger and has definately earned his rank in the sportsman world. I don't think Gartlits, Force, Glidden, The Snake, or any of the top pro drivers would feel comfortable staging beside Fletch or anyone of his caliber, but you got to give him a pat on the back for being there! Sportsman racing needs all the hype and promotion it can get and thank goodness Big Daddy is doing his part! Don Jackson

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

What a shame that 'BIG' didn't make the field. C'mon guys, it would have been the greatest thing for stock elim. in years !!!!!!!!!!!!

What went wrong?? Seems the other '09 challengers ran really well but his is a turd. Ya gotta think that Mopar was in pretty deep but his car is the slowest of the bunch.

Would've loved to been there in the staging lanes for class, a couple of legends shooting the **** and talk'in about ?????????????????? WTF, the old man can not be intimated by your ***, .010 RT ain't good enough LOL. I don't care but that is some funny **** right there !!!!!!!

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

You must be a youngster, you really believe that the best racers the NHRA ever had would be afraid of lining up beside some nobody, sportsman driver that they never heard of? How silly!

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

im sure when big looked into running stock,the people around him told him all about fletch and others.asking respect for big by disrespecting some other fine racers is just nuts man...denny

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I agree with that for the most part . I'm sure Big knows who Dan Fletcher is. He's a CAR guy. I'll bet he reads the ND cover to cover,..not like some of the other fuel queers.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

If I was Don, I would be pissed at Chrysler for not giving me a good tune up. All the other Challengers ran fast.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Big Daddy has to have the most pressure on him of any of the 09 Challenger racers. I talked to him briefly at Cordova the week before and I could see it in his face and hear it in his voice. I wouldn't want to be in his position.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

talked to fletch, not a lot to say about the pre-race conversation, BIG sat in his car the whole time after coming to the lanes last and didn't seem to be very cordial about the whole deal, wonder if he's pissed at Mopar ???

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Wouldn't YOU be???
That's just unacceptable...

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I stopped by Big's pit area after third round qualifying and he was obviously very unhappy with whoever he was getting computer/ wiring/ tune-up input from. I think he's got a fast car if he can get the right help in that area.
And what else can you say about Fletcher, Great racer, Great guy. I have only spoken to him once and he acted like he had known me for years.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Treessavoy, thanks for the compliment about my age. I will be turning 50 in a couple of months and sure as hell don't feel or look like a youngster. The Idea that Garlits does not have a clue or even cares who he will be up against in eliminations is basically calling him an idiot. He did not get where he is by being an idiot.

Denny, If you were refering to my post about giving Garlits the respect he deserves, there was no mention of "at the other racers expense". Did you interpreted my post to say all the stocker guys need to move out of the way and let "big" slide to the front? If so It was not written with that in mind.

I don't worship the nitro racers, and would not walk across the street to watch nitro cars race. I would with certainty take an opportunity to thank the "pioneers" of drag racing for bringing it where it is today! Don Jackson

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

We all have allot respect for Don Garlits he is a innovator in the drag racing world and a icon/legend. Dan Fletcher Is the best sportsman racer I think in my opinion. Dan knows how to run the number every time and if his opponent isn't up to the challenge of running him they will get mad at themselves. Big Daddy should have respect for the sportsman racers in the stock class because it goes the same for them. Dan kick *** this weekend from all the guys in Rochester N.Y.:)

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Big is a *** hole.stopped by his trailer to say hi and he looked at me and walked away.good to see him get his *** kicked.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I was there at Garlits pit also and witnessed a man ask Don for a photo with his young son. Don was in a conversation with another man and appeared to ignore the request, but when Don finished he took the young son over to the car and posed for the picture.
A moment the man and his young son will always remember. Don't be so hard on "BIG".

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

My A/FS Shelby was running really good. I took it to Pomona to lay down a really good number. #1 qualifier shouldn't have been a problem. Especially since I just received the super secret computer straight from MOPAR for that exact purpose. All my qualifying runs were crap. Something like a 14.7 best. I won first round with it still spitin' and sputterin'.
On the return road it finally clicked. "it has to be that super secret part!"
2nd round I had the old computer in. Same 14.7 dial. I knew it was fast, just not that fast. I was all over the breaks and ran a 13.7 @ 72 MPH (30+ MPH scrub). Worst break-out I've ever experienced!

Not my first bad advice from MOPAR but definitely the last. BIG just needs to cut the ties and find somebody that knows what they are doing. He should have the fastest not the slowest Challenger in the country. Too bad.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

He definitely left first!!!!

To bad the car tune up was sh%#

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Let me inform you guys of a little known fact. I spoke with Don at the PRI show in Orlando last year and found out that even with hearing aides, Don is very, deaf! He frequently goes without them. He is far from an A-hole! He is probably pretty good at lip reading by now but he would have to be looking directly at you to know you were speaking to him. I am surprised he can hear at all with all the time he has spent in the seat of a Fueler. Think about it! Shame on you!!! Jim

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Jim is very correct!! I met with him about the same time he is mentioning and I noticed the same reaction. My photo of him is in my albums.

I have the utmost respect for both of the drivers, each one has a different respect so deserved and I wish BOTH the best in their endeavors.

Steve

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Personally I think Don Garlits is a GREAT racer and a GREAT person.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

Fletcher first of all I want to say congratulation on your win. The man goes .007 and you take him out is a good thing. It looks like from the reports on here that most of you had a good time an that is why it is "INDY."

All of the criticisim of Garlits I just can't understand. Since I have been coming on this board and other boards like it, it's alway " we never get any credit", "the association is putting us out", etc. It looks like the old saying "don't come over in our park and start taking over", we're just fine as we are. New things are happening, some new cars are coming out CJ's, hemi Challenger, heaven forbid a hemi, probably new camaros, TV shows organizations, not the NHRA or IHRA are filling the stands with spectators and getting enormous tv time. They are not taking away from Stock and Super Stock Racing, believe me Garlits does not have any plans for coming over and trying to taking over. The man can hardly hear, he can no long run in a fuel car. He wants to race and he chose to go sportsman racing. ESPN's coverage will begin soon of the US National do you not think that there will be some tv coverage of Garlits' run on national tv. Have you looked back at some of your old VHS tapes of past US National coverage and seen how many times they even mention stock and super stock.

If we want to continue to have places to race these types of cars we have to have some way to promote the class and the cars, even if it is some old timer who still wants to race and can click a bulb at .007. If something doesn't happen, how many remember "Modified Production."

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

With Buddy Martin's new Sox & Martin car you just mite see Big getting some help. Big has always done things his way but this is not what he is used too. He will adj and be back, who cares how old he is, I see plenty of old guys still racing and winning.......he aint dead yet.

Re: fletcher beats garlits!
 

I've asked dad if he ever had a desire to get back into a car. He could never braket race. While all his cars had three pedals, to him it had 2, because the brake was never needed till AFTER the finish line. He says he has nothing to gain from running, which I agree with. However, being too young (not born) to watch my dad race, it would be something cool for me to see.