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Rex Stevens in the Speed Sort roadster. (Jeff
Burk photo)
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| Bud Barnes in the Barnes & Gladstone "Michigander"
pushing down track to start the show. (Jeff Burk photo) |
Bud Barnes and Bob Gladstone's "Michigander", a real (not
a modern recreation) front-motored fuel dragster and Rex Stevens in
the Speed Sport roadster (complete with original body) pulled out onto
the top end of the track and were push-started by their tow vehicles.
For newcomers that means that the cars were pushed up track, fired,
and then turned around by hand in the starting line area, and then aimed
down track. A flag start, and the two warriors were sent down course,
billowing tire smoke.
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Jump forward to Saturday night at about 11 p.m. and the
last pair of cars are readied in the staging lanes for the final heat
of two meetings. "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Chris "the Golden Greek"
Karamesines in their 2002 Top Fuelers are suiting up for competition;
two drivers who were super competitive and dominant when Barnes and
the Speed Sport car were contemporary.
Garlits and "the Greek" staged as they had for what Garlits
said were "countless" times, and as had happened a lot in the past,
Garlits took the win, 5.142/217.88 to a smoked-in 11.52/85.24. A few
hours earlier, the pair had met up with Garlits again taking the win,
5.182/275.17 to another smokey 7.55/111.95.
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