THE CREW

Don has been actively competing in NHRA and IHRA competition since 1965.  To list all of the accomplishments in Don’s long and illustrious career would take a separate book, however, listed below are some of Don’s most celebrated wins:

NHRA World Championship

US Nationals

World Finals

IHRA Northern Nationals

NHRA Division III Championship

Popular Hot Rodding Championship (3 Consecutive Years)

Citrus Nationals (4 Times)

Can-Am Nationals

As Don’s record shows, his motivation to win has put him in the winners circle many times.  Even rivals agree that Don is a naturally gifted race car driver.  

Don’s latest endeavor has been the planning, implementing, and laboring over a new chassis and engine combination.  All of Don’s hard work paid off at the car’s first outing, Don won the award for the Best Engineered Car.

Don is very experienced with the ins and outs of business management.  Don worked in engineering at International Harvester for 18 years until their relocation process took the plant to another area.  At which time, he decided not to relocate, and easily made his part-time business venture to a full-time status.

Don’s business is one of the nations foremost authorities on fuel systems for blown alcohol burning engines.  He manufactures a full line of complete fuel injection systems and other race related parts.  He also operates one of the very few flow benches in existence.

Besides being a veteran racer and owning and operating a thriving fuel system business, he is very active in his home town of Monroeville as President of the Town Council, which he has successfully held for the last 5 elected terms.

With Don’s gamut of knowledge, natural skill, and never-ending accomplishments, the Gerardot Racing Enterprise will be one of the top-rated teams going through the upcoming season.

Diana has been Don’s right-and-left hand woman since 1965.  It’s her job to see that when the race team leaves the home base that the race car, tow truck, and trailer are spotless.  She runs countless errands to make sure that the race car and team has its supplies before leaving for the next race. 

Once at the track, there is almost nothing on the race car that she does not know about or how to work on.  From the simplest task of between-round maintenance to a complete engine tear-down, she knows exactly what her jobs are and what has to be done.

Diana is not only a great partner and irreplaceable part of the race team, she is also Don’s lovable wife.

Bill Douglas brings 25 years of experience in drag racing from racing a Z28 Camaro.  Bill became a viable member of the racing crew in 1981.  Bill’s tuning skills, uncanny knowledge of the car’s clutch and his ability to make tremendous amounts of horsepower will vault the car into that 5.5 second range of the qualified field.

Bill was faced with a hard decision of giving up his childhood love of driving race cars, but, with Bill’s refreshing attitude, he has succeeded to the next best thing, being a member of a winning racing team…Don Gerardot’s.

Bill also has been a loyal employee for National Serv-All Corporation working as a heavy truck driver for 11 years.

Continuing his loyalty, Bill has shared 26 years with his wife Lana.  Together they share the commitment of two daughters and a son.

Because of all of Bill’s talents on and off the track, you can see why he is a valuable team-player in the Gerardot Racing Enterprise.

Walt Goldsmith brings an element of calm to the frenetic world of drag racing.  Walt’s duties include helping build the motors prior to the race, and working close to Don at the race tuning the engine and car prior to each round.  Once the car is ready, Walt is there and ready to help start the engine for another winning pass.

Walt is a self-employed machinist and welder by trade.  Walt worked as an engineer with International Harvester from 1965 until 1981.  He then decided to venture out on his own.  Now he successfully owns and operates a highly specialized machine shop.

Walt has been Don’s right-hand man since 1975.  Don will be the first to point out that the Gerardot Racing Team has tremendous advantages due to Walt’s devotion, dedication, and knowledge.