Editing Gary Gabelich

{{Short description|20th-century American motorsport driver and land speed record holder}}
'''Gary Michael Gabelich''' ([[Croatian language|Croatian]] ''Gabelić''; August 29, 1940 – January 26, 1984) was an American [[motorsport]] driver who set the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] (FIA) [[Land Speed Record]] (LSR) with the [[rocket car]] [[Blue Flame (car)|Blue Flame]] on October 23, 1970,<ref>{{cite web|title=THE LAND SPEED RECORD A Brief History|url=http://www.peterrenn.clara.net/l.s.r.html|publisher=The Splendid Whizzer Association}}</ref>  on a [[dry lake]] bed at [[Bonneville Salt Flats]] near [[Wendover, Utah]].<ref>{{cite web|title=World Land Speed Record|url=http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/world_land_speed_record.htm|publisher=Unique Cars and Parts}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ferguson|first=George|title=The Run Was A Natural Gas|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084271/2/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014132648/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084271/2/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2013|publisher=Sports Illustrated November 09, 1970}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gary Michael Gabelich<ref name="californiabirthindex.org">{{cite web |url=https://californiabirthindex.org/birth/gary_michael_gabelich_born_1940_2222332 |title=Gary Michael Gabelich, Born 08/29/1940 in California |publisher=CaliforniaBirthIndex.org |access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> was born 29 August 1940 and was raised in [[southern California]] and attended [[Long Beach Polytechnic High School]]. He grew up during the height of the Southern California race scene and became friends with many famous racers of the era like [[drag racer]] [[Tom McEwen (drag racer)|Tom McEwen]]. The nearby [[Lions Drag Strip]] was adjacent to Long Beach and he was influenced by the [[NHRA]] drag racing legend [[Big Joe Reath]] of the Reath Automotive [[Speed Shop]] in Long Beach.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rasner|first=Bud|title=Gary Gabelich, The Early Days|url=http://www.draglist.com/artman2/publish/daily_stories/Gary_Gabelich_The_Early_Days.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hotrodhotline.com/say-goodby-joe-reath-june-27-2013|title = Say Goodby to Joe Reath June 27, 2013 &#124; Hotrod Hotline}}</ref> Gabelich married Rae Marie Ramsey (born 1946). She graduated [[Palo Alto High School]] [[Palo Alto, CA]] in 1964 and moved to Long Beach in 1968. Guy Michael Gabelich was born in the early 1980s. She was a flight attendant for United Airlines.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lbbusinessjournal.com/long-beach-business-journal-newswatch/732-15-minutes-with-outgoing-8th-district-councilwoman-rae-gabelich.html |title=15 Minutes with ... Outgoing 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich |access-date=2014-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423040718/http://www.lbbusinessjournal.com/long-beach-business-journal-newswatch/732-15-minutes-with-outgoing-8th-district-councilwoman-rae-gabelich.html |archive-date=2014-04-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paly64.com/class_forum.cfm?currentpage=16|title = Hollywood & Vine Forum}}</ref> 
Gabelich's father was of [[Croatian American]] descent and his mother was [[Mexican Americans|Mexican American]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Gabelich, who traveled a record-setting 622.407 mph in...|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/01/27/Gary-Gabelich-who-traveled-a-record-setting-622407-mph-in/8631444027600/|publisher=United Press International}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Councilmember Gabelich's mother-in-law was 'lady of style and grace, strength and wisdom'|url=http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/?p=12351|publisher=Signal Tribune Newspaper}}</ref>

Gabelich died in January 1984 in a motorcycle crash.  After his widow Rae Marie retired from United Airlines in 2003, she was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 2004, where she served for eight years.

==Career==
Gabelich drove a split window 1960 era Volkswagen delivery van for Vermillion's [[Drug store]] in his younger days. He lived with his parents in the [[Bixby Knolls]] area of [[Long Beach, California]] during this time. He later went to work for [[North American Aviation]] which became [[North American Rockwell]] after a 1967 merger with [[Rockwell-Standard]]. Gabelich started in the mail room and stayed for nine years in various positions from staff assistant before becoming a part-time test subject for [[Project Apollo]] in the years 1968 and 1969. Gabelich served as an Apollo test astronaut in 1968-1969 as stated on the plaque his family dedicated to him in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Gabelich Plaque|url=http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y141/gregwapling/hot-rods-down-under/land-speed-racing-history/gary-gabelich/gary-gabelich-plaque.jpg}}</ref>

Unlike the actual astronauts, he was not flying the capsules, but testing their long-term viability in weightless conditions, their tolerance and performance under conditions of extreme lateral forces and, though they seldom spoke of it on televised moon shots, the toilet facilities.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ames|first=Justin|title=Gary Gabelich {{!}} The Velvet Rocket|url=http://thevelvetrocket.com/2009/06/27/gary-gabelich/|publisher=Blog at WordPress.com June 27th, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20131005114512/http://thevelvetrocket.com/2009/06/27/gary-gabelich/|archivedate=2013-10-05}}</ref>  Gabelich was [[Mercury Seven]] astronaut [[Wally Schirra]]'s exact size and he did a lot of space checkout for him and testing of capsules and equipment before they were man-rated for operational use.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coonce|first=Cole|title=Transcript of interview with Pete & Leah Farnsworth|url=https://infinityoverzero.wordpress.com/tag/pete-farnsworth/|publisher=INFINITY OVER ZERO Blog at WordPress.com November 3, 2008}}</ref>  [[Project Mercury]] ended in the early 1960s and [[Wally Schirra]] went on to become commander of [[Apollo 7]].

===Land speed record===
{{Main|Blue Flame (automobile)}}
[[File:Goodwood2007-121 The Blue Flame.jpg|thumb|''The Blue Flame'' LSR car in a historical vehicle event.]]
Gabelich broke the LSR by achieving average speeds of {{convert|622.407|mi/h|km/h|3|abbr=on}} over a flying mile and {{convert|630.388|mi/h|km/h|3|abbr=on}} over a flying kilometer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Malcolm Campbell |url=http://www.sirmalcolmcampbell.com/sirmail.html |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019101530/http://www.sirmalcolmcampbell.com/sirmail.html |archivedate=2013-10-19 }}</ref>  The thrust used during this attempt was between 13,000 pounds (58,000 newtons) and 15,000 pounds (67,000 newtons).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Blue Flame Record Car|url=http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/262615/the_blue_flame_record_car.html|publisher=Text: Charles Armstrong-Wilson Photos: Richard Keller/American gas association|access-date=2013-10-04|archive-date=2014-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906072955/http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/262615/the_blue_flame_record_car.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> A top speed of approximately {{convert|650|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} was momentarily attained during one run.

The FIA rules dictate that a land speed mark is recognized only after two runs through the FIA measured kilometer and mile courses. The two corresponding speeds are then averaged for the official time and speed. Additionally both runs must be made within one hour.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ferguson|first=George|title=The Run Was A Natural Gas|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084271/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007030331/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084271/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2013|publisher=Sports Illustrated November 09, 1970}}</ref>

Gabelich averaged {{convert|629.412|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on his first run and {{convert|631.367|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on his second run for an average speed of {{convert|630.388|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} establishing a new kilometer FIA LSR.<ref>{{Cite book
  |title=History's Greatest Automotive Mysteries, Myths, and Rumors Revealed
  |author=Matt Stone  |author2=Preston Lerner
  |isbn=978-1610586597
  |year=2012
  |publisher=MotorBooks International
  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CjycAkFr-qAC&pg=PA109
}}</ref> The mile FIA LSR was the first exceeding {{convert|1000|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}} and remained unbeaten until 1983, when [[Richard Noble]] broke it driving [[Thrust 2]]. The faster kilometer FIA LSR remained unbroken for 27 years when [[ThrustSSC]] went [[supersonic]] in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=Set the record; The story of the Blue Flame LSR car - Absolutely awesome historic LSR video|date=2 September 2021|url=http://bangshift.com/videos/set-the-record-the-story-of-the-blue-flame-lsr-car-absolutely-awesome-historic-lsr-video/|publisher=Bangshift.com, August 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Blue Flame Record Car|url=http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/262615/the_blue_flame_record_car.html|publisher=Text: Charles Armstrong-Wilson Photos: Richard Keller/American gas association|access-date=2013-10-04|archive-date=2014-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906072955/http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/262615/the_blue_flame_record_car.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wells|first=Bruce A.|title=The Blue Flame – Natural Gas Rocket Car|date=19 October 2020|url=http://aoghs.org/news/the-blue-flame-natural-gas-rocket-car/|publisher=American Oil & Gas Historical Society Copyright © 2014}}</ref>

===Racing career===

In 1969 Gabelich established a quarter mile [[Drag boat]] record of {{convert|200.44|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} <ref>{{cite web|last=Speed|first=John|title=GARY GABELICH -BIOGRAPHY|url=http://dragboattv.com/gary-gabelich-bio/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234607/http://dragboattv.com/gary-gabelich-bio/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-10-04|publisher=Staff Writer, DragBoatTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bangor Daily News|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19840127&id=eyg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=CeEIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2540,4130331}}</ref> This is not the same as the [[Union Internationale Motonautique]] (UIM) [[Water Speed Record]] (WSR) in which [[Donald Campbell]] broke {{convert|200|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} on 23 July 1955 in the [[Bluebird K7]].

Gabelich was seriously injured in the crash of an experimental 4 wheel drive [[Funny Car]] in 1972<ref>{{cite web|title=Pacififc Ocean Blue {{!}} Tales of LA's Past / Tales of LA Today|url=http://talesofla.tumblr.com/post/37242615821/gary-gabelich-born-1940-san-pedro-california|publisher=talasofla blog}}</ref>  that careened out of control at {{convert|180|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} during a quarter mile run almost severing his left forearm and broke his left leg so severely that more than a year later he still wore a cast.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gerber|first=Dan|title=Fastest Foot In The West|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088130/2/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007061153/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088130/2/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2013|publisher=Sports Illustrated December 17, 1973}}</ref>  This incident ended his racing career and he never raced again, concentrating instead on a new supersonic vehicle.

==After racing==

In the early 1980s he established the "Rocketman Corporation" with Tom Daniel.<ref>{{cite web|title=GARY GABELICH and TOM DANIEL|url=http://www.bluebird-electric.net/gary_gabelich_and_tom_daniel.htm|publisher=Copyright © 2013 Bluebird Marine Systems Limited}}</ref> The objective was to design and build a vehicle capable of reaching speeds in the {{convert|800|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on}} range. This conceptual vehicle was named "American Way"<ref>{{cite web|last=Daniel|first=Tom|title=American Way Land Speed Record Vehicle|url=http://www.tomdaniel.com/td_career/td_articles/rocketman_design/rocketman_home.html|publisher=2007}}</ref>  but the project was cut short by his untimely death in January 1984 in a motorcycle crash.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gabelich, 43, Dies After Accident|newspaper=The New York Times|date=27 January 1984|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/27/sports/gabelich-43-dies-after-accident.html}}</ref>

Gabelich was part of the cast in the 1977 movie ''Joyride to Nowhere'' and he made a documentary, ''One Second from Eternity: The History of the Land Speed Record'' in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gary Gabelich - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0300021/|publisher=Copyright © 1990-2014 IMDb.com, Inc.}}</ref> Gabelich and his family appeared on ''[[Family Feud]]'' with [[Richard Dawson]], where he presented the key to the city of Long Beach, California to Dawson.

In 2008 Gabelich was inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame<ref>{{cite web|title=Photo of Walk of Fame|url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NVIyqlcHzR4/SAlUHhJ8iFI/AAAAAAAACRs/RV65JeODwRY/s400/IMG_1782+-+cropped.JPG|publisher=Blogspot}}</ref> in front of the Convention Center on Pine Avenue. He was represented at the ceremony by his wife Rae,<ref>{{cite web|last=ZumMallen|first=Ryan|title=What Thursday's Racing Inductions Mean For Long Beach|url=http://lbpost.com/news/1058-what-thursday-s-racing-inductions-mean-for-long-beach#.UymMlrVxU_5|publisher=Long Beach Post April 18, 2008 01:24|access-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225456/http://lbpost.com/news/1058-what-thursday-s-racing-inductions-mean-for-long-beach#.UymMlrVxU_5|archive-date=June 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>  a Long Beach City Councilwoman who retired in 2012 after eight years of service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rae Gabelich Will Not Run For Re-Election - Endorses Al Austin|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA7AupMJoBc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/UA7AupMJoBc| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Saltzgaver|first=Harry|title=Gabelich To Step Down; Supports Austin|url=http://www.gazettes.com/news/government/gabelich-to-step-down-supports-austin/article_2b5bb4aa-51cc-11e1-9948-0019bb2963f4.html|publisher=© Copyright 2014, Long Beach Grunion Gazette Newspapers - Tuesday, February 7, 2012 12:39 pm}}</ref>

He was inducted into the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]] in 2016.<ref name=MSHoF>[http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/inductees/gary-gabelich.html Gary Gabelich] at the [[Motorsports Hall of Fame of America]]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Blue Flame (car)|Blue Flame]]
* [[Land speed record]]
* [[Rocket car]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tomdaniel.com/td_career/td_articles/rocketman_design/rocketman_home.html Blue Flame ]
* [http://www.bluebird-electric.net/gary_gabelich.htm Gary Gabelich ]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFVUNoT5wE Break the Record - Blue Flame LSR video ]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gabelich, Gary}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1984 deaths]]
[[Category:Land speed record people]]
[[Category:American people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Mexican descent]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in California]]
[[Category:Long Beach Polytechnic High School alumni]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from California]]