Several years ago, Sonny and I decided we wanted to see the Florida Keys. So, we took the motorhome on a relaxed trip from Longmont to the southernmost Key. The trip took two months round trip.
As we were on our way home, and heading north through Florida, I was working on the map charting our next day’s trip. Sonny was looking over my shoulder.
“Oh look! We’re going though Ocala! That’s the home of the Dragster Museum. We simply must stop to see the Dragster Museum.”
“What? A Dragster Museum? You must be kidding!”
“No, I’m not. Don Garlitz is internationally known for his work on dragsters.”
So, we stopped. Five hours later, I knew a whole lot about a subject I didn’t even know existed before then.
Don Garlits, now 91 years old, is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Considered the father of drag racing, he is known as “Big Daddy” to drag racing fans around the world. He has spent his life working on innovative ideas to make the drag racers go faster and with more safety measures.
Garlits was the first drag racer to officially surpass the 170, 180, 200, 240, and 270 mph in the quarter mile. And some of those records were reached when he was in his 80’s. Even though other racers caught up and surpassed him, he achieved his personal best speed an age 71 in the quarter mile with 319.98 mph.
Can you imagine going that fast? In one of those things? I was impressed.
Thought for the day: If you want your dream badly enough, you will plan, organize, reorganize and work, until you get what you want.
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