Gatornationals from the past...

jmcarter · 03-13-2019, 08:26 AM

Trivia I suppose but the Gators is indeed a special race. The 50th being celebrated this week is going to have a lot of hoopla (legends in Toyotas? Really NHRA?). I first attended in 1971, driving my little Plymouth all day from Murray, KY to get there and pulled into town late at night at a small two bay gas station (the norm of course 'back in the day'). It appeared to be closed (it was 3AM) but inside was the Mopar Missile and they were crawling all over it. Always known for their hard work that one image has stuck with me all these years. Lots of memories from the Nationals going back to 1967 but my first Gators will always be memorable.

Anyone else with a special Gators memory?

Rich Biebel · 03-13-2019, 10:28 AM

Went as a crew person around 1984. I Drove the tow suburban a lot on the trip down from NJ. Cold up here.....

The weather was fantastic every day. Low 80's, low humidity and you could not ask for a better week of weather.We managed to get to the 4th or 5th round in S/G.

I was standing behind the starting line numerous times watching every category......Pro Stock and Super Stock especially.....I was standing right next to the Grump for some runs out there in Pro Stock....I kept getting as close as I could to the action absorbing it all.....

I was rooting for the red SS/HA Camaro of Wise and Meredith. A very fast car back then...It was doing great wheelstands and went deep in eliminations.....He did not win though......

It was a very memorable event and the group I was with almost left me there !

I was sun drenched and I did not want to leave.....they were rolling thru the pits and I was hanging out watching as long as I could...…

We had a great time...….as we always did.....

I've been there about 3 times and once the weather turned very bad...….Nothing ever matched that first time there.....loved it...

Stewart Way · 03-13-2019, 12:11 PM

The 1970 Gators was the first race I worked with Buster Couch on his starting line crew. Lot of great memories at the Gators and the other events back then. Think we got $40 for the race. Wish I knew about sun screen and ear plugs back then.

L78 Nova · 03-13-2019, 01:51 PM

My only time to Gainesville was 1992 ? to watch Bernstein break 300.
Remember it was C C Cold out all week.

Timetraveler · 03-13-2019, 02:15 PM

Who remembers 2003 when we raced at Orlando?

stock1080 · 03-13-2019, 02:54 PM

2003 Orlando, I was there in my I/S Camaro. Lost in the semi's. Has a great time. Great people. 2006 was the last one I raced at. My favorite class win. tks jeff

Frito · 03-13-2019, 03:31 PM

1976, traveled in a convoy with Bud & Dewey Cook. Stopped at Barnett's and followed Bagwell on down to the Chrysler test at Bradenton. Lost in class to Sherwood Allen. It was a fun trip even on the way back home for some young KIDS from West Virginia. I have some pics but can't get them to reduce to post.

BRETV · 03-13-2019, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timetraveler

Who remembers 2003 when we raced at Orlando?

I remember, won class, but not the same in Orlando as it would have been in Gainesville.

Bret Velde
2003 ??

Jim Wahl · 03-13-2019, 04:53 PM

Anybody else remember not being allowed to stay in the track at night? You had to leave and come back the next day. Jim

.

Billy Nees · 03-13-2019, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timetraveler

Who remembers 2003 when we raced at Orlando?

i remember it VERY well Bill.

03-13-2019, 08:26 AM	#1
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,118 Likes: 1,970 Liked 2,678 Times in 850 Posts	Gatornationals from the past... Trivia I suppose but the Gators is indeed a special race. The 50th being celebrated this week is going to have a lot of hoopla (legends in Toyotas? Really NHRA?). I first attended in 1971, driving my little Plymouth all day from Murray, KY to get there and pulled into town late at night at a small two bay gas station (the norm of course 'back in the day'). It appeared to be closed (it was 3AM) but inside was the Mopar Missile and they were crawling all over it. Always known for their hard work that one image has stuck with me all these years. Lots of memories from the Nationals going back to 1967 but my first Gators will always be memorable. Anyone else with a special Gators memory? __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock

03-13-2019, 10:28 AM	#2
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... Went as a crew person around 1984. I Drove the tow suburban a lot on the trip down from NJ. Cold up here..... The weather was fantastic every day. Low 80's, low humidity and you could not ask for a better week of weather.We managed to get to the 4th or 5th round in S/G. I was standing behind the starting line numerous times watching every category......Pro Stock and Super Stock especially.....I was standing right next to the Grump for some runs out there in Pro Stock....I kept getting as close as I could to the action absorbing it all..... I was rooting for the red SS/HA Camaro of Wise and Meredith. A very fast car back then...It was doing great wheelstands and went deep in eliminations.....He did not win though...... It was a very memorable event and the group I was with almost left me there ! I was sun drenched and I did not want to leave.....they were rolling thru the pits and I was hanging out watching as long as I could...… We had a great time...….as we always did..... I've been there about 3 times and once the weather turned very bad...….Nothing ever matched that first time there.....loved it... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479

03-13-2019, 12:11 PM	#3
Stewart Way Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 475 Likes: 15 Liked 70 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... The 1970 Gators was the first race I worked with Buster Couch on his starting line crew. Lot of great memories at the Gators and the other events back then. Think we got $40 for the race. Wish I knew about sun screen and ear plugs back then. __________________ Stewart Way 2424 SS

03-13-2019, 01:51 PM	#4
L78 Nova Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 87 Likes: 192 Liked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... My only time to Gainesville was 1992 ? to watch Bernstein break 300. Remember it was C C Cold out all week.

03-13-2019, 02:15 PM	#5
Timetraveler Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 103 Likes: 79 Liked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... Who remembers 2003 when we raced at Orlando?

03-13-2019, 02:54 PM	#6
stock1080 Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: malden,ma Posts: 228 Likes: 225 Liked 81 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... 2003 Orlando, I was there in my I/S Camaro. Lost in the semi's. Has a great time. Great people. 2006 was the last one I raced at. My favorite class win. tks jeff

03-13-2019, 03:31 PM	#7
Frito Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 445 Likes: 130 Liked 116 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... 1976, traveled in a convoy with Bud & Dewey Cook. Stopped at Barnett's and followed Bagwell on down to the Chrysler test at Bradenton. Lost in class to Sherwood Allen. It was a fun trip even on the way back home for some young KIDS from West Virginia. I have some pics but can't get them to reduce to post. __________________ Last edited by Frito; 03-13-2019 at 03:38 PM.

03-13-2019, 04:53 PM	#9
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,841 Likes: 626 Liked 672 Times in 121 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... Anybody else remember not being allowed to stay in the track at night? You had to leave and come back the next day. Jim . __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association. SSSSA Forum Moderator