BLAST FROM THE PAST

Fans at Atlanta's Super Chevy Show were treated to a couple of exhibition passes by "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, driving a copy of Swamp Rat I, the car that started it all for the drag racing legend in 1956.

"I wasn't planning on running it here, but it was a nice crowd and a nice day, so I thought I'd just take it for a spin," Garlits said of the car he recreated and completed late last year. Garlits characterized the 12.77 seconds at 108.93 mph pass he made Saturday afternoon as "real poor," but predicted he would pick up the performance for raceday.

He was right. Leaving again off a traditional flag-waving start, Garlits powered his way to an 11.93 at 119.05 mph.

"It's still not what it should have done, but that was better, much better," said Garlits, obviously still a racer at heart. "I just put a new set of plugs in, but it's got to have some fresh gas. The gas is a little too old in it," he explained, adding the car should be capable of low 11s at more than 125 mph.

Still, nobody else seemed to care, as fans clamored in appreciation of his efforts. Garlits almost sheepishly admitted he's a little surprised at his enduring popularity. "I appreciate them appreciating me," he said.

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