Post by killerbee20 on Dec 24, 2008 5:02:52 GMT -5
The First 200 mph pass
There seems to be some controversy as to who ran the first 200 mph pass.
Chris Karamesines is credited with a 8.87 ET at 204.54 MPH at Alton Raceway, Illinois on 24 April 1960. He never ran close to 200 mph for years after that however.
The March 1965 issue of the "Drag Racing" magazine published in England had this to say about the run.
In May, 1960, a Greek by name of Chris Karamensines (sic), was said to have covered the standing quarter mile in 8.87 secs. with a terminal of of 204.546 m.p.h. The strip was at Alton, Illinois and the officials were said to have checked the accuracy of the clocks and remeasured the distance just to make sure all was genuine. At that time Don Garlits was using Giovannoni camshafts and turning times of 8.73 secs. with a terminal speed of 175.78 m.p.h. and few could beat him. As Karamensines was using Iskenderian camshafts, Giovannoni decide to do some investigating and found out that if the timing gear blew a certain fuse, a speed of 204 m.p.h. was recorded irrespective of the actual time of the car. To make sure everybody was aware of this they publicised these facts and added that ". . . when the 200 m.p.h. is finally broken, the driver will receive the credit regardless of the make of cam he is using." By a twist of fate it was Garlits who managed this some four years later, towards the end of 1964. The Giovannoni prediction came true and everybody realised that the Garlits speed was genuine. Unfortunately, Garlits had in the meantime stopped Giovannoni camshafts and changed over to Crower!
Many sources, including the NHRA, refer to Don Garlits run of 7.78 seconds at 201.34 mph set at Island Dragway, New Jersey on August 2 1964 as being the first 200 pass.
It was the first NHRA speed record over 200 mph.
Don had run 200.44 mph in July 1964 at Detroit Dragway, but had not backed it up for the record.
Others make mention of the little known Kent Chatagnier.
He ran the 'Kent's Speed Shop' fueler out of Beaumont, Texas, with a fuel burning Pontiac motor. Competing at Houston on June 19 1960, Kent made four runs between 197.36 and 201.78 mph on the same day. 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 by Drag News as the official AA/FD speed record for some months.
In 1961 Drag News wiped the record clean, as he never went near 200 again, and instituted new rules for setting records.
2% back-up of the record the same day/same track and another 2% back-up the following week at a different track.
There seems to be some controversy as to who ran the first 200 mph pass.
Chris Karamesines is credited with a 8.87 ET at 204.54 MPH at Alton Raceway, Illinois on 24 April 1960. He never ran close to 200 mph for years after that however.
The March 1965 issue of the "Drag Racing" magazine published in England had this to say about the run.
In May, 1960, a Greek by name of Chris Karamensines (sic), was said to have covered the standing quarter mile in 8.87 secs. with a terminal of of 204.546 m.p.h. The strip was at Alton, Illinois and the officials were said to have checked the accuracy of the clocks and remeasured the distance just to make sure all was genuine. At that time Don Garlits was using Giovannoni camshafts and turning times of 8.73 secs. with a terminal speed of 175.78 m.p.h. and few could beat him. As Karamensines was using Iskenderian camshafts, Giovannoni decide to do some investigating and found out that if the timing gear blew a certain fuse, a speed of 204 m.p.h. was recorded irrespective of the actual time of the car. To make sure everybody was aware of this they publicised these facts and added that ". . . when the 200 m.p.h. is finally broken, the driver will receive the credit regardless of the make of cam he is using." By a twist of fate it was Garlits who managed this some four years later, towards the end of 1964. The Giovannoni prediction came true and everybody realised that the Garlits speed was genuine. Unfortunately, Garlits had in the meantime stopped Giovannoni camshafts and changed over to Crower!
Many sources, including the NHRA, refer to Don Garlits run of 7.78 seconds at 201.34 mph set at Island Dragway, New Jersey on August 2 1964 as being the first 200 pass.
It was the first NHRA speed record over 200 mph.
Don had run 200.44 mph in July 1964 at Detroit Dragway, but had not backed it up for the record.
Others make mention of the little known Kent Chatagnier.
He ran the 'Kent's Speed Shop' fueler out of Beaumont, Texas, with a fuel burning Pontiac motor. Competing at Houston on June 19 1960, Kent made four runs between 197.36 and 201.78 mph on the same day. 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 by Drag News as the official AA/FD speed record for some months.
In 1961 Drag News wiped the record clean, as he never went near 200 again, and instituted new rules for setting records.
2% back-up of the record the same day/same track and another 2% back-up the following week at a different track.
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