Top Fuel drivers in the NHRA
receive over one and a half G's more than the Shuttle Astronauts at
takeoff. Top Fuel drag racers sustain 5.3 G's at the starting line AND
the same after the finish!
The Christmas tree starting
device for drag racing was
invented by W.H. David of Lafayette Louisiana in the late 1950s. The
device is called a Christmas tree because for his prototypes, he used
small, colored glass Christmas tree lights.
Don Garlits was the first drag racer to go 270mph. That car, Swamp Rat XXX, was the first fully enclosed fuel dragster and is in the Smithsonian! Check it out.
Chris Karamesines was the first drag racer to top 200mph, and he did it in 1960, going 204! And furthermore he's the oldest Top Fuel driver in the world at 81 years of age. Check it out.
Yes, we know he probably didn't back it up.
Thanks to Hot Rod Magazine and Cole Coonce
Arizona's first official drag race was in Perryville and was won by Calvin Rice. It was an extension of the rained out first National NHRA event earlier that year (1955). Check it out.
Carl Olson defeated Jeb Allen for Top Fuel in "The Last Drag Race" at Lions Drag Strip. Check it out.
Don Garlits favorite track was Masters Field in Miami Florida. Check it out.
The
NHRA is the largest motorsports association in the world. Check
it out.
