A couple of days ago Don Garlits and and the SR-37 Questn team descended on Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida to attempt to break the 200mph (quarter mile) barrier in an all electric, battery powered dragster. This is something that has not been done before and the greatest drag racer who ever lived is trying to add yet another accolade to his already incredible mantle. We had a mole inside the operation who was sending us updates every hour or every time the team made a run. Through those updates (which, we have to brag were the only truly “live” coverage of the event on the interwebs) we learned that the team stepped on the car gradually, eventually running a fastest speed of 184-mph through the traps.

Like in any new car they had some teething issues and “stuff” popped up throughout the day but they persevered. 184-mph is the fastest speed ever achieved in the quarter mile by an electric car and as we reported the other day, Garlits is very happy with the performance of the car, going so far to speak with Brad Hadman who built the dragster to compliment him on his work and how the car was to drive.

While it would have been a storybook deal to set the record on the first trip to the track, that isn’t how this stuff works. The crew will be hitting the strip again soon for another got at it and something tells us that they’ll get there and set the record. For what it is worth, we’re EXTREMELY jealous of Tom Campanelli (who dutifully kept BS nation informed from the track) and the others who skipped out on work and hung out at the track to see Big Daddy make laps. That is truly an experience to cherish. As always, we’ll keep you posted on the next dates the car will hit the track and what the outcome is!

GARLITS AND SR-37 QUEST DRAGSTER TAKE HISTORY TEST AT BRADENTON!

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits and the SR-37 “Quest for 200 MPH on Batteries” Dragster Team traveled to the historic ¼ mile dragstrip at Bradenton Motorsports Park, FL yesterday, April 30, 2014, to shake out the ultimate battery-electric (BEV) digger.  This was the first full run test for Garlits and team.  It was also the first opportunity since SEMA-2013 for the public to see the gleaming SR-37 after the team spent the past several months completing and installing the 2014 powerplant of Lawless Industries 6-pack of GE Motors, Manzanita Micro “Zilla” Controllers, and HighTech Systems LLC lithium polymer (LiPo) battery packs.

Under a muggy cloud cover and with a mid-week crowd near a thousand, Big Daddy and the team proved the SR-37 EV concept and much of the on-board hardware with eight hard launches and six solid runs in their Quest for history.

With 1500 kilowatts of LiPo battery power on tap, Big Daddy was working with more than enough horsepower (2000+) to entertain the crowd.  Garlits and SR-37 ignited the Goodyear Eagle Racing slicks with the first burnout of the fully-completed dragster.  Spectators, many of them diehard fuel fans, were taken aback by the thunderous linear laydown of EV energy and football field long plume of tire smoke.

A first run with a gentle power setting of 30% yielded a 10.90 at 129mph.  Garlits backed that with a run at 50% power for a much improved pass through the traps at 8.75 and 151.

Mid-day run attempts at full power resulted in some circuit-hold issues at full load amps, truly a new lexicon for fans of Big Daddy.  Circuits stabilized, the team sent Garlits back to the line for an afternoon drive.

Big Daddy hit SR-37 hard on the 5^th run and set a new EV ¼ mile drag racing record with a shot of 7.53 at a dramatically increased 178.42 mph.  60’ launches at full power setting were near the one second mark!  The day was getting long but, still energized, Big Daddy took it to the blocks and backed the record run with yet another; a 7.26 at 184.01, nudging closer yet to magic 200 mph goal mark.  Big Daddy and SR-37 “broke out’ with some sanctioning bodies limiting their exhibition ET vehicle rules to quicker than a 7.50,

Garlits and SR-37 hit the sandbox on the final run with a late chute deployment.  Garlits was safe and SR-37 incurred only modest damage to the underside.  SR-37 creator and co-owner Mike Gerry was satisfied with the results.  The former NHRA crew chief stated, “The team will do a teardown like any other dragster and check the motors, drivetrain, and safety equipment.  We all learned a lot!  I think we’ll tinker with the gearing and be looking for more power control to the motors so that we have full current delivery.  We hope we can turn it around soon for another test and record attempt.  We should get 200 next time out and I think we can break into the sixes.”

Conceived as a day of private testing, the event became one for the history books.  It was also a day of significant progress and great learning for the team.  The “Quest for 200 MPH on Batteries” will continue and was invigorated by the long-awaited and much-anticipated test.  Garlits told observers that the car was a lot of fun, sat firmly, had a solid hit and, and pulled very hard.  As for the Quest itself, Big Daddy summed it up, “We didn’t get the 200 but we set a new record.  Our 200 is coming up next!

Please check facebook.com/questfor200mphonbatteries and twitter.com/questfor200 for updates on this exciting EV technology project.

About the “Quest for 200 MPH on Batteries” Dragster:

The Quest Dragster is designed and constructed to be the first battery-electric dragster to exceed 200 mph on a ¼ mile drag strip.  The goal is to accomplish this speed mark in 2014 with the legendary “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. 2014 marks the 50^th anniversary of Garlits’ historic first official 200 mph pass in 1964. The dragster will be powered by a 1500 kilowatt array of lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries producing an equivalent horsepower rating of over 2000 HP.  The Quest dragster has already been launch-tested by “Big Daddy” Don Garlits with early versions of the LiPo battery-power packs and electric motor/controller systems.

The Quest for 200 MPH on Batteries dragster was built by Brad Hadman, created by Mike Gerry, art direction by Kenny Youngblood, car and logo graphics by Eric Reyes, print graphics by Tommy Naccarato, LiPo batteries by HighTech Systems LLC, and GE motors by Lawless Industries.

http://www.garlits.com/batteryCar.html