"Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey guys, its good to be back racing again. First race will be the the Baby Gators of course, followed by the national. We got here yesterday in the afternoon, I would guess there was about 50 rigs here. I think they said they will starting pulling us in around 12. Testing starts on Wednesday, so we have few days to setup. There was a few pros testing yesterday, not sure if they will be testing today.

I'll back with a video rolling into Gainesville and getting parked and taking a ride through the pits later today.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey guys, I did find 3 cars out today. I also have a video coming up rolling into Gainesville Raceway and a ride around the pits... stay tuned. Just for fun, can anyone name the drivers of the 3 cars?

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Red Corvette- Adams
Red Camaro- Brenda Grubbs
Other Corvette- McFarland

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Fixed it for ya Pete ….

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

How far is it from where you are parked to the staging lanes? Looked like a long ways.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey Rob the last two years I went (2018, 2019) we parked in the triangle and it wasn’t far at all. Actually it was pretty good. Tex on 2018 was parked pretty far away, I thought the golf cart was gonna loose the track radio station when I’d go out to visit him lol call ya tonight

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Good afternoon all, rigs a slowly rolling in and the pits are starting to fill up. It will be very interesting to see how many cars show up for the Division race. Its another warm day... mid 80's, a little windy with clouds and sun. The local weather forecast for this week looks pretty good except for Saturday. A 40% chance of rain is predicted. How it will effect the pros testing on Sunday is anybody's guess.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Does everyone get to keep their pit spot or will some have to move when the pros and other classes come to town ?

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

The Pros get top billing on the pavement parking so the cars on their
now will have to move. Usually the cars Not entered for the Nationals
get to park on the pavement.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

There's alot of classes for the big gators next weekend hope they find enough room to park everyone.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Theres plenty of pit parking for all the racers entered.
This place is huge.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey guys, testing has been going on for quite awhile, the track looks good. No starting line issues that I could see. Its warm again, 85, partly cloudy. A few shots from todays action.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Ken,
I think you have stolen my job. I was planning on coming this week, but a little medical issue (C) stopped me for now. Hope to see you at Zmax.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey Butch, I'll miss you... is nice to get help for sure, feel better.

We are done testing for the day. I was looking for this weeks schedule, and for the life of me its no where to be found on the NHRA web sites. I hate to bitch, but when you are in the IT game like me, redundancy is a must. Having links to information in multiple places is webmaster 101.

Anyway, I did find it on the D2 facebook page 10 posts down from the 15th of February... as I am typing they have posted tomorrow schedule... here is the link.
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=...39741864818357

Below is the schedule for the rest of the race I think... It could change and probably will.

https://classracer.com/q/bgsch.jpg

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

How many cars did test n tune ?

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

At least 150, lots of cars testing.

Good morning all, its foggy and moist out. We are supposed to start at 9AM with Super Street, but who knows. The weather forecast for today partly cloudy, with temps in the mid 80's. Here are the weather numbers as of 8:30.

Temp 67
Humid 97%
Bar 29.80
DA 1623
Water Grains 98
VP .6657
Winds calm

A few photos from yesterdays testing...

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Thanks for the reports, any Q 1 Stock list yet ? Nothing on live timing yet

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Q1... Stock and Super Stock. Be back later with photos from todays action.

https://classracer.com/q/bgstk.jpg

https://classracer.com/q/bgss.jpg

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Thank you for posting the Q-sheets, Ken! We usually have to wait until the next day to see them up on DRC.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Stock in the lanes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFyJdt9nms8

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Ken, from all of us stuck at home and looking out the window at a snow bank, thank you so much. Your walking in the lanes showcasing Stockers is truly appreciated.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Baby Gators Stock Eliminator Q2 staging lanes and starting line.
https://youtu.be/bRQCpV0dYI8

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Thank you Ken for all you are doing down there, posting sheets and doing videos, and racing your car. Busy guy for sure.

Bobby Fazio thanks for being there also and doing videos.

I have a question about one of the cars there. Car number J218 John Astrab 69 Mustang 428, is that Eric Waldo's old car? Just curious. Heard it was down south, haven't seen that car in a few years. Thanks.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Driving out of the staging lanes into the water for R1 is an awesome feeling.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Yep, that is definitely the car! I have seen pictures where remnants of the old "Eric Waldo" lettering are visible.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Good morning all, today will be a tricky one as we are expecting high winds this afternoon. Gust may hit 30mph. Stock will be out first, with Class starting at 8:30. I will have more photos later today when things settle down and I finish all the editing, but for now enjoy this video of Tim Stickles in is 81 SS/KA Malibu...

Weather number for this morning 7:30...

Temp 65
Humid 97%
Bar 29.62
DA 1580
VP .5965
Water Grains 88
Wind cross 5mph

https://youtu.be/oA6sVA9PQyY

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Good morning. Here is Super Stock Q2 lanes and starting line action.

https://youtu.be/C5ay6v2YavA

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey guys, Stock is running 2nd round Class. We had some down time about halfway through, around 40 minutes. The winds are gusting pretty strong and blowing sand on to the track. We are back running as the winds have died down just a bit.

Final Q sheets...

https://classracer.com/q/bgstk2.jpg

https://classracer.com/q/bgss2.jpg

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey guys... this video is a little self serving, but I need to thank Micro Strategies for making it possible to race. Thanks to Chris Epps for shooting the video.

https://youtu.be/QfRuNw5UjuA

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

How did class eliminations go today ?

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

All went well, but we did finish late having some down time because of the wind.

Good morning everyone, start time is 8:30 with the Juniors, followed by 2nd round Super Street then 1st for Stock. The weather numbers are below, rain is supposed to hit by noon, but who knows.

A quick note... there are 565 plus cars here, what does that say about the state of Drag Racing. Why do we keep coming?

Weather numbers as of 7:40AM

Temp 75
Humid 88%
Bar 29.66
DA 2340
Water Grains 112
VP .7571
Winds calm

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Congratulations to Emily Volkman and Joe Tysinger on their class wins yesterday. Two of the classiest people and families in drag racing. Good luck today. Hope to see you two race for the Wally.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Here's a few more minutes of some random Stock & Super Stock action. Burnouts, launches, and finish line views. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/vlQGXEJfsxE

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Halfway through stock and the rains have come... it was light at first, but its coming down hard now.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Bobby, I love the finish line shots from super stock. You were standing about where I stand for class eliminations. I will be at Firebird Raceway in June. Class is run on Saturday and I will be at 1200 ft. for sights and sounds.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

How about "those sounds" at 1200 feet.
Simply pure symphonies. :) more, more, more.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Where are the JET Track Driers ? maybe its about $$ for fuel or environmental issue ?

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Hey guys, they called Stock back to the lanes around 3:30 to finish first round. The track was not ready, lots of Stockers having traction issues. For my run the starting was okay, but as soon as I clicked it into 2nd gear it was like I was on ice. I went and looked at the live timing and you could see two long black tire marks as I shifted. Super Comp was even worse, as soon as they came off the throttle stop they lost traction. We have been down for at least 2 hours no word on when we run again... the are working on the track.

Re: "Live From" 2023 Baby Gators / Gatornationals
 

Who ever is in charge here is making a huge mistake at putting cars down this track tonight.