Thread: first 200 mph racer?

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Who was the first Drag Racer to top 200 mph. In what year was this achived and what engine did he use?

It's open to discussion . . .

Chris Karamasines, April 4, 1960, Chrysler, 8.82 at 204.54 mph, Alton Dragway, Alton, IL. (I was there . . . no kidding)

Kent Chatagnier, 1960, Pontiac, Houston TX, 201.78

TV Tommy Ivo says it was Garlits.

I think oficially it was Garlits....
Hey Henry Alton ?????
whats the story on that ain't heard about that joint in ages...

Karamasines never backed up the run, but it was still over 200.

Here's where the distinction lies:

Is a single 200 mph pass counted as first, or does it have to be a backed-up, NHRA-certified record 200 mph pass?

Garlits had the first NHRA-certified, backed up pass on August 2, 1964, at Island Dragway with a 7.78, 201.34.

Dunno about Alton. Haven't been there since the '60s. I went regularly while I was in high school, but never went back after 61. It closed in '72. I think it's a trailer park now.

http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image...10779&z=15&w=2

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Originally posted by Henry Rifle
Dunno about Alton. Haven't been there since the '60s. I went regularly while I was in high school, but never went back after 61. It closed in '72. I think it's a trailer park now.

http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image...10779&z=15&w=2 [/B]

Just wondered what ya was doin in this area,being from Virginia Beach and all, Yeah that place is long gone ya wouldn't recognize Alton now if ya ain't been here in awhile.The Old Godfrey speedway is still runnin,but theres issues about the noise.....

If I'm not mistaken it was Danny Byrds who ran in TA/D field at Texas. He ran a 205.57 with a 6.95et. The engine was a 620 cid pontiac.

HWORRELL

Here's the deal about St. Louis. I was born there in '43. My parents had an apartment on Cabanne just north of Forest Park. I wonder what that neighborhood is like today . . .

When my father enlisted in the Navy, my mother and I moved back to Virden, IL to live with my grandparents until after the war. I grew up in Virden, and lived there until I left for college. My grandmother's sister lived in East St. Louis, and we visited quite often.

I grew up with a 50's and 60's hot rod crowd, and my father owned a Dividend Bonded service station, and later a Texaco station in Virden. We went to the drags in Alton quite often.

I've only been in Virginia for two years.

Chevy 37,

Byrd's digger wasn't the first dragster to top 200. It was the first dragster with carbs to top 200, and that was in 1987.

I found this on the web.

Kent Chatagnier was the first person, in the world, to receive a 200 mph time slip. He ran the 'Kent's Speed Shop' fueler out of Port Arthur, Texas, with a supercharged, fuel burning Pontiac motor. Competing at Houston on June 19 1960, Kent made four runs between 197.36 and 201.78 mph. As the speed was backed up, as called for by the Drag News Standard 1320 rules, that were regarded as the bible in those days, it was recognised as the official A/FD speed record for some months. There was no AA/FD at the time. In 1961 Drag News wiped all the records clean and instituted new rules for setting records. Kent was killed in a light plane crash in Houston on May 12, 2000. He was 67 years old.

Note that it's after Karmesines' run.

Karamasines had the first 200+.
Chatagnier had the first backed-up 200+.
Garlits had the first NHRA certified record 200+.

Hmm, This is a lot of records. Think i can hit 200MPH in an AMC Wagon?

Originally posted by Streets
Drop it off a 400 foot high CLIFF.. hehehe

It should reach terminal velocity @ around 200 ft. HEHEHEHE

You can drop it off the Eifel Tower, or bolt on a 55 gallon drum of nitrous, but the terminal velocity of an AMC wagon ain't never going to be 200 MPH. Some things just aren't meant to be.

Maybe with a JATO rocket to give it that lil' extra it'll break the 200 m.p.h. barrier .

henry Rifle I knew someone would catch that. I should have put in first to use carbs. Good catch.

Oh COMEON! 4-wheel drive makes for a good hookup. Just drop is a 600CI merlin motor, give it a 200HP hit of nitrous and have 4 drag radials around it and it should be able to pull 200 in the quarter. Unless the car shreads itself apart

Originally posted by drg84
Oh COMEON! 4-wheel drive makes for a good hookup. Just drop is a 600CI merlin motor, give it a 200HP hit of nitrous and have 4 drag radials around it and it should be able to pull 200 in the quarter. Unless the car shreads itself apart

Maybe Pro60 wood' let ya' barrow his 707 Donavan. HEHEHE