Gatornationals from the past...

[jimmyparker]

I raced at the first Gators in 1970 but didn't qualify. If I remember correctly it was the 64 quickest qualifiers off the records. I also ran the first divisional at GV in '69, Bobby Warren and I were in the final of stock at that race.

[Joe Fasano]

Dear Jim, Funny you should mention 1971, I attended also to watch. I think Jerry Stein won stock that year. I attended at least 7 more times in the eighties. I remember one year maybe 1984 I took my nephew Ron who was 17 years old at the time and had never been on a plane. We had to take a puddle jumper prop plane in a bad storm from Jacksonville to Gainsville. I was so glad when we landed for his sake, the race was postponed that year because of all the rain. Forgot to mention I am in South Carolina right now should be there tomorrow to watch, looking foward to 49 years later. Thanks Joe.

[Dan Lattimore]

Originally Posted by jimmyparker

I raced at the first Gators in 1970 but didn't qualify. If I remember correctly it was the 64 quickest qualifiers off the records. I also ran the first divisional at GV in '69, Bobby Warren and I were in the final of stock at that race.

Jimmy ----- What was the outcome ?

[Dan Lattimore]

Originally Posted by Joe Fasano

Dear Jim, Funny you should mention 1971, I attended also to watch. I think Jerry Stein won stock that year. I attended at least 7 more times in the eighties. I remember one year maybe 1984 I took my nephew Ron who was 17 years old at the time and had never been on a plane. We had to take a puddle jumper prop plane in a bad storm from Jacksonville to Gainsville. I was so glad when we landed for his sake, the race was postponed that year because of all the rain. Forgot to mention I am in South Carolina right now should be there tomorrow to watch, looking foward to 49 years later. Thanks Joe.

Joe---I was there in 84 never seen so much rain. The ditches had four or five feet in them.

[Dave Edwards]

I attended in 1973 with my newly built '65 Plymouth hemi, ss/ba, first time out with new car. Raced off national records then and no breakout in final round but if below existing nat record a new one was established. Old record 10.70 or 80 and Butch Leal won with (ss/ba Hemi) with a 10.34! Obsoleted my car...

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Stewart Way

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.

That is way cool! Got to work with Buster that’s awesome!

[jimmyparker]

Danny, it's a long story but in the end I was awarded the win.


Jimmy

[Lyn Smith]

Built my 71 GS Stocker in the fall , winter of 75. Had never raced a NHRA race before but after I received my Permanent number they sent me a entry for the 76 Gators ,so we entered.Quite a learning experience.We had not even weighed the car before we got there. Had only a couple of runs on it.Then it was all out on the index.No dial ins till the next year. After the first run found out we were more than 100lbs lite. Tech guy asked me how I was going to make weight since no ballast was allowed in those days. I told him a little fuel, some floor mats etc. After we got back from the gun store we made the weight ok.lol Did run the index,but lost to Rock Running in the first round. Had fun,and got away from the nasty Illinois winter for a few days.Went every year till the late 80s. Got down to 3 cars one year,and lost on a heads up run. Really got me working on the car so that would not happen again.