Hey Larry, got a photo here that needs your knowledge

[stitcherbob]

I recognize you and Garlits, T C lemons, maybe Connie Swingle with the shades, maybe Mickey Thompson helping carrying Don, that's about it.

 

[Mike]

Bill Keyes in the shades behind Garlits

 

[Cliff]

That is Mickey next to Garlits. This was the accident where the trans exploded & cut the car in half. I was there. Never forget that! The guy to the far right might be Steve Montrelli (sp), famous engine builder. Not sure.

 

[sutton]

Bob
I was the first to Don after the explosion after I signaled form the ambulance then I noticed the young gentleman (Tim Ditt) was injured in the east grandstand. There was plenty of help for Don so I ran to the side gate of the grandstand and because the guard that was normally at the side gate had gone to the explosion site (he is pictured above) I ripped the locked gate off and rushed to Tim, his arm was severed and I stuck my thumb on he arm pit and the bleeding stopped. Holding the pressure on too the hospital, I held my thumb there until the doctor tied him off. Don was on the table behind me. He was in the first ambulance. then I returned to Lions and flag started the final round of funny car, because the explosion debris hit the pole in front of me cutting the wires in the pole. Bob I hope that answered any questions you may have about the photo and the timing of that day. and yes that was my backup starter Bill Kee (RIP) in the photo.
Larry Sutton---
PS; I am not in the photo.

 

[Cliff]

I remember that when Larry flag started the F/C final, the clocks had to be started by hand in the tower. Also, I think it was Richard Tharp in the T/F final aganist Garlits. He was given the win. Garlits said some years later that Tharp red lighted, so Garlits was supposed to have been the winner. Trying to remember who was in F/C final. One was Danny Ongais in one of M/T's Mustangs, & I could see him "rolling the lights" a bit. He may have won. So long ago, but things like this stick in your memory. I thought Garlits had been killed, and then saw him taking off his gloves as he was being taken to the ambulance, so knew he was alive. Question. Was Pat Garlits there? I seem to have a memory about her getting into the ambulance w Don.

 

[stitcherbob]

Thanks Larry… I remember the story about the young boy in the stands and wasn’t sure if you made it back to Garlits afterwards because there were two jackets with racing stripes…. One you can’t see their face.

 

[Butch]

I remember Larry talking about meeting up with the guy in the stands a few years later.

 

[J. S.]

To all the hard-core fans out there, I highly recommend the books "Don Garlits R.E.D.", Part 1 and 2, by Mickey Bryant and Todd Hutcheson, published in 2009. I believe these are the definitive books on the last days of the front-engine dragsters, Garlits' famous accident at Lions, and the development of the first Garlits/Swingle/Lemons "front driver car" (as Swingle correctly called it). Lots of comments in the book by our good Nitromater friend Larry Sutton. These 2 books are a great read and leave no stones unturned about this fascinating era in drag racing history. Google around and I'm sure they can still be purchased somewhere.