Mary Erickson
Broker Associate
Realty Executives Oceanside
On this week's edition of where the locals go, I'll be talking about the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing.
The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is located at 13700 SW 16th Ave, Ocala, Florida, just off Interstate 75. Opened in 1976, the museum chronicles the history of the sport of drag racing. Don Garlits has been dubbed the “King of the Dragsters,” and could be considered the patriarch of Top Fuel Drag Racing. Don Garlits began racing in 1950 and scored his first major victory in 1955. His first NHRA National event win came in Top Fuel at the 1963 Winter Nationals in Pomona, California. Don has won the prestigious NHRA U.S. nationals a record 8 times. His four decades of Drag Racing have filled the pages of seven books.
Some 90 racing cars can be seen in the Drag Race building and an additional 50 vehicles are in the Antique Car building. The museum is home to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Inductees include Art Arfons, Sydney Allard, Zora Arkus-Duntov, Ray Godman, Raymond Beadle, Shirley Muldowney, Kenny Bernstein, Don Schumacher, and Connie Glen Swingle.
The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and International Drag Racing Hall of Fame is open every day from 9am-5pm. They have just fewer than 300 cars between 2 buildings. The average tour takes 2-3 hours and all pictures are welcome. Spread throughout the two buildings is an amazing collection of hemi engines, flathead engines, rare manifolds, and carburetors that have been restored by Don Garlits himself. Pricing for admission varies, and you can find that information here!
On November 6-7, The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing will be hosting their 34th Annual Show and Swap Meet. The 2021 Event will be a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of 1971 Model Cars with Tim Wellborn. The show is hosted by First Coast AMC, Brat Pack, Mighty Mopars of Orlando, and Mopar Muscle of North Florida. The show will go on as scheduled rain or shine. This year there will be Dry Camping on the museum grounds. These spaces are limited so make sure if this is something you are interested in you reserve your spot as soon as possible. Spectators Parking for the show will be $5.00 per car. A donation from Spectator Parking will go to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post.
If you're interested in buying or selling in the Ocala area, be sure to contact me, Mary Erickson!
Mary Erickson
REALTOR ®
Phone: 386-444-1924
Email: MaryErickson@RealtyExecutives.com
Website: Over55Ocala.com