“Big Daddy” Don Garlits will be racing at the Blue Suede Cruise. More than 2,000 cars are expected at the event, Ohio's largest cruise-in.
Norwalk, OH (PRWEB) July 27, 2006 -- “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, a legendary name in drag racing, will drive his vintage Swamp Rat dragster at the fifth annual PPG Blue Suede Cruise Presented by Cruisin’ Times magazine at Norwalk Raceway Park.
The three-day Blue Suede Cruise will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 28-30. It features a car show for 1972 and older cars, a rock ’n’ roll concert, a swap meet, and nostalgia drag racing with Garlits as the main attraction. Garlits will also be on hand throughout the weekend for autographs and pictures.
Garlits’ drag racing career spanned more than four decades, with 144 national event victories and 17 World Champion titles to his credit. His first major victory was in 1955. Norwalk Raceway president Bill Bader, Jr., said, “‘Big Daddy’ is the reason drag racing has grown to one of the nation’s largest spectator sports today. We’re thrilled to be able to bring this living legend to the Blue Suede Cruise.”
The PPG Blue Suede Cruise Presented by Cruisin’ Times magazine will begin this Friday, July 28 at 8:00 a.m. A Saturday night rock ’n’ roll show begins at 7:00 p.m., with Bill Haley’s Comets as the headliner, featuring acts The Coasters and Tommy Vale and the Torpedoes. Bill Haley and the Comets’ big hit, Rock Around the Clock, was the first number one rock ’n’ roll song in the Billboard charts, in 1955—the same year as Garlits’ first major drag racing win.
Saturday will also include a neon parade of lights, a hot rod flamethrowing contest, and a family fireworks show.
Saturday tickets are $15 for adults, kids ages six to twelve are $5, and kids five and under are free. There is no extra charge for the concert. Adult weekend passes are $30. Admission tickets are good for all day, anywhere on the park. Separate admission charges apply for car or swap meet entries.
Norwalk Raceway is located five miles east of Norwalk, Ohio, just minutes south of Exit 118 (U.S. 250) off Interstate 80, at the intersections of State Routes 18 and 601.
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