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Don Garlits' 1971 Rear-engine Dragster
Though many attempts had been made to build a successful rear-engine dragster before the 1971 season, none enjoyed the record of Don Garlits' revolutionary Swamp Rat XIV, with which he won in its debut outing at that year's Winternationals. Garlits decided to attempt a rear-engine design after suffering injuries to his right foot following a clutch explosion on the starting line at Lions Dragstrip in California March 8, 1970. Garlits drove a repaired version of the damaged front-engine car near the end of the season while building the rear-engine entry, which was first tested in December 1970.
 (© 1999 NHRA Photographic Services)
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Garlits qualified 10th for the 32-car field in Pomona. He defeated Jim Dunn in the semi's with a 6.70, then purposely smoked the tires for the fans on a 7.03 bye in the final when opponent Kenny Safford could not make it to the starting line on time.
"Big Daddy" won many events that year, including the Springnationals, Bakersfield March Meet, Olympics of Drag Racing, Popular Hot Rodding Meet, five AHRA national events, and Turkey Trot Nationals, and he was runner-up at the NHRA Nationals and World Finals.