To my mind, the 2002 season would've been a great one for saluting Karamesines' 50 uninterrupted years as a driver!

I've written so much about his racing accomplishments that I have got to be boring the reader. Hell, I'm boring myself. He was the first racer to receive a time-slip over 200-mph, a two-time AHRA World Top Fuel champ, the first in the seven-second zone at a major (non-match race), the list goes on and on.

I will say this for probably what won't be the last time. Chris Karamesines does deserve some special salute. True, he's never won an NHRA national event, but neither had Tom Lee, Scott Weis, or Bob Vandergriff Jr.

So, I don''t know. I think Karamesines was racing a nitro car as early as 1957, maybe 1958. Whaddya say, NHRA gives him his due in 2007 or 2008? Call it The Grecian Formula tour. Whatever, "The Greek" deserves special treatment.

This is from late 1961 or early 1962 at Tampa Dragway.

This photo is of the Greek and his racecar at the Museum of Science and Industry in his hometown of Chicago. (photo by Slatts)

This was the Greek's first NHRA national event at the 1964 NHRA Winternationals. He won this first round of AA/FD eliminations with a 7.90/189.86 against Harry Jackman.

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