Gatornationals
 

How crazy is it that almost half the Stock Eliminator field (41%) with only grade 8 allowed to enter. I would guess that it will be full after when grade 7 opens up on the 9th.

Knowing that it takes grade points to get into certain races, it would be a little more fair that the local divisional racers get the first crack at the national events in their division. Looking at the entry stats, there is only 1 division 2 entry out of the 25 entries so far. I was a division 1 racer back a long time ago and at that time it wasn't very difficult to get the grade points needed to make any race, but by moving into D2, it's mileage nightmare. Not complaining, it is what it is, just sucks sitting out a race that is almost in my 300 mile backyard.


Casey Miles

248H Stock

Re: Gatornationals
 

Or you could just go get grade points like all the other racers. Just because you live in a curtain div why should you get preferential treatment over other racers that spent time and money to earn grading pionts.

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i think its pretty insane that its this full at 8 grade points. it should definitely fill with 7 no problem... glad i went to 8 last year.... slowest class in so far lol.

Re: Gatornationals
 

In the distant past you had to attend at least one NHRA event just to be sent an entry for a National Event.

You sent that form in and waited to either be accepted or rejected...


I won a national event and the following year did not go to many or maybe any points races. My application was returned rejected.


Its their game.....always has been and nothing new.


With low car quotas, any popular race is gonna be filled quickly by those who have the event credits.....

Re: Gatornationals
 

Nmca

Re: Gatornationals
 

Build or buy a street rod or muscle car . Its cheaper, a lot less work, and car shows are every week (sometimes 3 a week) and mostly no entry fees or grade points required. . The hot rod will hold its value or even go up in value. Just my opinion and you can meet great people who become life long friends. Best move I ever made since Stock turned into what it is now.

P.S. You already have one with exhaust.

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Terry, I doubt that there are more than a handful of forum members with a desire to trade race weekends for the cruising circuit. The track has enough show cars to keep me happy. :D

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Not sure you can compare the 2. I’ve been to a few car shows. Like watching paint dry. Unless you have never raced, then it might be fun.

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Not hard to be #1 qualifier at the lawn chair nationals...

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Casey maybe go win a “world championship”and then no grade points needed
Just saying

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Let me know if you are still racing when you turn 73. Its not the same unless you have someone else doing all the work and loaning you a car.

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Over half full now the day before dropping to grade 7. I can still recall all the post of what's wrong with Stock/SS and it's dying......

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No doubt the 50th Gators is drawing in some folks but recall last year the complaints about being parked over on the road course and “will not go again”. Class racers may retire or NHRA kills the class but until then the show will continue strong. With every class in NHRA scheduled to run (who knows, they may even throw in snowmobiles) plus all the exhibition passes it sure will be a spectacle. Hope the weather cooperates and no way I’ll have enough grade points but will be there nevertheless, don’t want to miss class eliminations and FSS.

BTW, on FB Gainesville has been regularly giving updates on the new concrete pour, looks like it’s about done. Many of us have been clamoring on FB that they pave the gravel road between the road course and way beyond where the tire trucks normally park...we shall see. I’m 200 miles from the track but if they run a T&T or bracket deal either I or else someone else here will post how the track looks.

Re: Gatornationals
 

Charley: I wasn't asking of any kind of special preference, I know how the system works. So for this years schedule of LODR's in D2, I would have to drive 6000 miles to get 6 grade points and wouldn't have enough grade points to get into the Gators. What I was trying to show is that in certain divisions, they have national opens and divisional races where you can go to work that day and still drive to race in a few hours.

It's not all that bad, I live where people vacation, we race year round here.

Casey Miles
248 H Stock

Re: Gatornationals
 

Jim I parked at the road course last year and to be honest I liked it back there but I would not get upset if they put some pavement down on that dirt road! It was good meeting and talking to you last weekend, look forward to seeing you more this year.
I understand the traveling can be long in pur division as much as anyone. Living on the coast in North Carolina has its challenges as far as racing NHRA. For a while the closest race to me was a division 1 race at Dinwiddie but if you're going to do this deal you got to ride. I put over 10k miles on my rig last year and some airline miles also but if you want to get in these "premier" nationals that's what you're going have to do.

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Lol, guess that’s a shot. I’m not 73, guess I won’t know until I get there. BTW I own a car Incase you didn’t know. Do you even have anything to do with racing anymore? When is the last time you were even at a race?
When I turn 73 that will make car shows more fun? Good
to know. Thanks

Re: Gatornationals
 

They will put Stock, Super Stock, Super Street, Super gas and Super Comp on the back road course. If they paved the back dirt road, it may be OK. If not, it was an extremely dirty and bumpy road. The front main pit area will be filled with everything else.

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I raced beginning in 1963 at Aquasco with an old Ford... Raced a 1965 Plymouth 426 Street wedge after the Ford until I was drafted to be cannon fodder in Viet Nam. Came back and raced a 69 Vette in what was F/S back then. Went to super stock when the rule change hit in 1972. Raced again in 1977-78 in a SS/IA Camaro with my own home built engine. No ported heads back then or elect water pump drive nor those "fugly" Kirky seats. Had a free P/G and converter from ATI when Jim was alive. Its the ONLY thing I ever received free.Ken Keir tubbed it and built the 4 link before he opened his chassis shop.. . Was class runner up in 1978 at the Bowling Green Sports Nationals ($40 entry fee !) against one of Bobby Warrens customers named Phil Hardee. Worked for NHRA under Greg X until I got tired of working for the Gestopo. Worked 22 plus years for IHRA at ALL of their National events. Developed and got the Top Stock program going in IHRA with Mike Keener. I guess you were still pooping in your diaper during most of that time. With all the rule changes making things more expensive I quit racing as I had a family to support at that time. . I guess IF someone gave me a free Hemi car and upkeep I would do it again......Naaaaaaaaaa !

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Didn't we have this discussion and year or two ago. And as I recall whe the field closed a lot of racers pulled out and the racers that complained still did not enter. Just sayin

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I have not been to the Gators since the mid 1980's...

It was basically woods and a swamp in the pits back then...….dirt, scrubby grass and maybe some gravel....


Coming from cold NJ and hitting fabulous weather for at least 2 of those trips made it well worth it....


Great memories from those trips !

Re: Gatornationals
 

Thank you for your service. Ignore the crickets.

Re: Gatornationals
 

Casey, I have a 6 grade point and may not get in. It absolutely sucks that they keep lowering the car count and let other classes in. No other way to get in then to got to races. Sorry to hijack the thread


X-Tech
Well, sounds like you were a very seasoned racer. Also worked the IHRA tech for a while. Thank you for your service in Vietnam BTW. The car show thing to me is definitely for the older crowd.

I built 2 cars on my own. won division races, a National event and multiple class wins on my own. Many racers have accomplished more then I have, but I'm proud of what I have accomplished and hold my head high.

You have done nothing with racing in almost 20 years. You are on here all the time telling everybody how the NHRA sucks and tech is a joke. The cars have too many parts in them they shouldn't have. If this is such a bad sport and on the downward spiral why do you hang out on this site and follow it?

You are sort of irrelevant at this point with what you have to offer for the current racing climate other than your sky is falling bit and everything sucks. Don't you have better things to do?

BTW- stick your free car and hemi comments up your azz.

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I respect his service.

The crickets like in your cheering section after your first round victory in class at Indy? Oh sorry, different race.They towed you off the track that race after you ran over your engine program.

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Todd ......🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂👍👍👍👍

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Mooch an AH car (like the Dutch) drag it to Belle Rose March 1st, bring $20Gs (I love Turk) and lets line 'em up. AND you get a grade point. Americas GREAT AGAIN!!! Stephen Hebert 337-499-44 three five stephenontheriver@yahoo.com


PS Go Saints Choppa style

Re: Gatornationals
 

I get Casey’s frustration, but we can’t blame anyone but ourselves like some have said this is one of the bigs so you gotta accept it and you gotta pay to play. BUT What is kinda crappy is they know the car counts will be higher for said race and instead they cut the quota down 10 cars! I remember seeing when the quota used to be 90 and I get Gainesvilles gonna be full but cutting the quota screwed a lot of people and now ya just gotta try and squeak in! So if anyone’s dropping out give me a call! Lol! (727-253-6808)

Re: Gatornationals
 

I believe it was last year that the north was hit by a winter storm and lots of people dropped the weekend before. The Gators were 6 or 7 spots from full when it was all over with so some idiot in California probably thought well it didn't fill up at 70 so let's drop it to 60 or possibly it was cut to make room for Super Street. Either way it sucks to have such a low quota for a race like this but this is the game we play these days so you have to be prepared for it. Daniel I would keep a close eye on it I feel like you can still get in but it may be the last day if you can do something like that.

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I believe its very simple.....


64 cars and under is a 6 round race.

They lay out a schedule to run the early rounds and leave 4 cars for Sunday...2 rounds.....stuck in between the Pros after they have run 2 rounds and then 3....and everyone knows the sportsman are just time filler for the Pro show....


If they set the quotas at 60 cars they should be good since they are leaving 4 spots to accommodate the potential past champion that may enter over and above the quota....


Its a show, not a race.....if you haven't caught on to that yet.....geez......

Re: Gatornationals
 

Rich:. I believe you're right, but NHRA should take into consideration that's the 50 th and there would be a lot of people who would like to participate. I remember racing there till 11 at night, so if it means parking in East bumf..., That's what NHRA could do.

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The Gators entry list for stock shows two #800 cars from out of country, I'm assuming these racers made 7-8 divisionals, now that's racking up some mileage!

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I was wondering when someone was going to comment on this. Evidently, the 800 number racers are allowed to attend races in Sweden that also count for grade points here in the states. NO, they did not attend 7-8 divisional s here in the states...

Re: Gatornationals
 

I agree with you Casey 100%


Last time I was there the place was overflowing with spectators....and we literally could not find anyplace to watch from the entire length of the racetrack...


A lot of D-1 and D-3 cars always made that trip.....100+ cars in every category....


The golden age....

Re: Gatornationals
 

Last Time I Checked. Gainesville National isn’t about US it’s about The Pros.
Nhra if you haven’t noticed doesn’t have Any Help.
We are filler. But we keep going because...... we love to race
Why not race class at divisionals? You get more cars at divisionals anyway
It would be like a Sportsnationals deal ..... You can only hope
We as racers should push this topic. Class it dead with 60 car fields
HP system may help correct the soft combos.
Nhra cash cow is divisionals Why not run class at 1 race per division ?
See how it goes
Nhra could car less about class. It’s about Factory Shoot Out
They are not gonna add to car counts Nhra has been cutting down the last 3 years
It’s getting to the point that your gonna need. A grade 5 or better for most races

Re: Gatornationals
 

From an external, neutral perspective - class eliminations at divisional events seems like a great idea.

Let's be honest. In today's NHRA - where National Event schedules are filled with .90 cars, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Top Fuel Snowmobiles, Diesel Motorcycles, x275 Exhibitions, 11.00/12.00/13.00 Index Cars, Fans vs. Tony Schumacher, Walk the Track, etc... - what is almost always the first thing to get cancelled?

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Tell NHRA you'll pay extra to run class in Stock and SS....

Like double your normal entry...…that should work....

$ talks BS walks.....LOL

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lol..........not worth it at the regular price !

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This is the breakdown of the entrants. Very sad that Div 2 cars are only in the 3rd position with entry's
Div 1- 25 cars
Div 2- 9 cars
Div 3- 13 cars
Div 4- 5 cars
Div 5- 2 cars
Div 6- 1 car
Div 7- 2 cars
Div 8- 3 cars

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While I believe this years Gators are "SPECIAL", I'll say something again that I've said before that could be done for every National, dumbass NHRA ---- accept 80+ entries and qualify for a 64 car field! Win Win Win !!

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I think having class is a sound idea. Division races need more cars and clearly, they want less cars at nationals. I think it could be an add on. Even if it costs an extra 50 bucks if you choose to enter. I may not be the quicker car, but it is fun to go heads up.

Some post negative posts because they haven’t raced for 20-30 years and never will race again. I can’t fix that.
At least the D2 Director is trying different approaches to help sportsman have more choices.

Re: Gatornationals
 

You are right Jim, Rich has tried some different things for D2 racers even went head to head with the brass to get a rule change last year for a rule change to allow racers an extra grade point in Rockingham. Unfortunately he seems to still draw criticism for whatever he does, sooner or later he may get tired of the whining and just let the chips land where they may.