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Don Garlits' Museum of Drag Racing

Ocala, United States of America

Don Garlits' Museum of Drag Racing

Situated in Ocala, Florida, the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing stands as a dedicated tribute to the history and heritage of drag racing in America. Founded in 1984 by the legendary driver Don Garlits himself, the museum serves as a living archive of the sport's evolution, preserving the machines

and memorabilia that defined its most exciting eras. Visitors are welcomed into two main exhibition spaces: the Drag Race building, which houses some 90 racing cars, and the Antique Car building, home to a further 50 vehicles. Among the highlights are several of Garlits' own celebrated "Swamp Rat" cars, which played pivotal roles in his groundbreaking career. The collection also includes cars and memorabilia associated with other notable figures in drag racing history, offering a broader perspective on the sport's community and innovations. Notably, the museum displays two exceptional creations by Dean Moon: the Mooneyes gas dragster and the Moonbeam sports car, both renowned examples of mid‑twentieth‑century American hot‑rod craftsmanship. Through these carefully preserved vehicles and artifacts, the museum provides an immersive journey through the technology, culture, and personalities that shaped drag racing from its grassroots origins to a professionalized spectacle.

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