the 204 car

The shot heard ‘round the world. That’s what comes to mind for many when you mention the Greek’s ChiZler, or “The 204 Car,” that’s splashed across these pages. In a time of experimentation, nitro, and no limits, reaching 200 miles per hour in the quarter mile was thought to be impossible by the number crunchers of the day. Dragsters barely knocked on the door of 180mph, at what was thought to be the stratosphere, until April 4th, 1960, the day the 200mph barrier was shattered by a relatively unknown gentleman at a track in Alton, Illinois.

His name is Chris Karamesines, and even though he is 76 years old, he still owns and drives a top fuel dragster for fun. I said, he’s seventy-six years old and still drives a top fuel dragster, in case you thought I mumbled. They called him “The Greek,” or the “Galloping Greek” but these days’ people respectfully refer to him as “The Golden Greek.” His 200mph feat would stand unbroken for several years after that day.

Read the rest of this article in ISSUE 8: PETE HARRIS' CREAMSICLE