Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Automobile museum in Ocala, Florida.
The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing is an automobile museum in Ocala, Florida, focused entirely on the history of drag racing. It displays dragsters, funny cars, and related equipment from different decades, alongside photographs, trophies, and documents that trace how the sport developed.
Don Garlits opened the museum in 1976 after a long career as a professional drag racer, using his personal collection as the starting point. The collection has grown since then, drawing donations and acquisitions that now cover the sport from its early days through its modern form.
The museum takes its name from Don Garlits, one of the most recognized figures in drag racing history. Walking through the halls, visitors can see trophies, photographs, and personal objects that show how the sport was shaped by the dedication of specific drivers and crews.
The museum is located on a main road in Ocala, with on-site parking that makes it easy to reach by car. A visit typically takes a few hours, as the cars and displays are spread across more than one building.
After an engine explosion during a 1970 race injured his right hand, Don Garlits redesigned his car by moving the engine behind the driver, a layout that became standard across the sport. Several versions of that car, known as the Swamp Rat, are on display at the museum today.
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