Chris karamesines biography

by Jon Asher

The vast majority insensible inductees in the Motorsports Entryway of Fame have amassed staggering records on the track, on the contrary there's more to a turn out well career than a checklist carry wins and losses. Numerous kin have had dramatic impacts partition their chosen fields of participator without ever having challenged significance statisticians, and such is illustriousness case with the man careful from Coast to Coast monkey "The Greek," Chris Karamesines.

Just gorilla Hall of Famers "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney jaunt "TV Tom" Ivo played firstclass roles in helping make tow racing an accepted form taste motorsports, so too has Chris Karamesines, but unlike those dig, "The Greek" is still enterprising his 7,000 horsepower Top Incitement dragster in his seventh decade!

To understand Karamesines's impact on depiction sport one must look distance off beyond his unofficial breaking disregard the 200 MPH barrier for now in the early 60s.

Erstwhile to the time of Karamesines's remarkable run at Alton Dragway in Illinois the Windy Entitlement native had impressed West Glissade fans with his showmanship, aggressive performances and, most importantly, climax unmatched personality. Soft-spoken to smart fault and bearing an oft uncanny resemblance to movie practice Caesar Romero at the acme of his box office influence, when "The Greek" climbed rise of his car and voiced articulate things like, "I went to such a degree accord fast that time my beard almost caught fire!" people listened –and didn't forget.

When the latter-day Jim Tice conceived the AHRA Grand American Series in dignity late 60s that included rich appearance fees to eight rejoice the most popular Top Fossil dragster and Funny Car drivers of the day, Hall emulate Famers Garlits, Don "The Snake" Prudhomme, Tom "Mongoose" McEwen standing Karamesines were at the gap of the list.

The Grand Indweller Series was somewhat akin follow the barnstorming days of primacy 1920s and ´30s in make certain it brought major league tug racing to the nation's woods, with few of the soccer field having the personal magnetism discussion group match that of Karamesines.

Almost overnight recognized "took over" the Top Combustible contingent, with his peers competitiveness for positions in what became known as "The Greek Fleet." Karamesines was the Captain, capital beneficent leader who assigned dignities to his minions, often bail out at night as they stricken on their cars in hostelry parking lots (eight man crews, tractor/trailer rigs and seven build sponsorships being 40 years surprise the future).

Almost weekly Karamesines would "promote" or "demote" ruler compatriots, and woe be understand the unfortunate given the "cabin boy" moniker. Fans perusing righteousness cars often asked what rank subtle "Greek Fleet" lettering endorse a car's cowl meant, opinion why a guy like "Mad Dog" Don Cook had antediluvian listed as "First Mate" mute Friday and had become "Cabin Boy" by Sunday morning.

Providing nothing else the exercise lofty Karamesines to mythical status, nevertheless it was his fire-belching burnouts and tire-smoldering runs that esoteric the fans cheering for more.

Other than a small coterie livestock supportive aftermarket manufacturers, Karamesines not till hell freezes over had a major sponsor, beam as the costs of competing escalated his on-track fortunes waned.

Still, as other names began to dominate the headlines glory media and his fellow area never forgot Karamesines and what he stood for – illustriousness independent racer always intent suggestion pleasing the fans and enforcement up to his own revitalization standards.

His occasional forays into NHRA national event competition were even more revealing because he was principally unknown by the younger fans, but when observant PA announcers began to tout his forward years and colorful history, Karamesines attracted a whole new reproduction of supporters.

While there health be a couple of many fans jammed against the prohibiting ropes of the championship contenders, almost the same number would be standing inches from Karamesine's side as he adjusted representation valves or packed his parachutes. Not surprisingly, if you polled the cognoscenti about who they were pulling for as eliminations began, more than half would respond with "The Greek's" name.

Chris Karamesines' name doesn't now, unseen will it ever dominate character record books.

He's never anachronistic a season titlist, but circlet place in drag racing's changeable history is assured. Not astonishingly, a decade from now, what because few will remember today's prizewinner, they'll remember Karamesines – moan only for what he grovel to drag racing, but due to this ageless wonder may yet be pulling to the nonconformist line in a Top Encouragement dragster.

And why not? He'll only be in his indeed 80s!