"Live From" Gainesville's Double Header
 

Hello everyone,

Its good to be back racing again, and I will be bringing you reports from the Div 2 points race and the Gatornationals. I have been down here since last Wednesday. We were racing with the NMRA at Bradenton. Ford Performance starts the year off in Bradenton with the Cobra Jet Showdown, and we like to support it.

The first photo is of John Calvert's new 2016 Cobra Jet at the NMRA race. John and I raced in the third round, he sent me packing, but we still had a great time. John's good people, and he will be here next week. I think he decided to stay and run the new NMCA Factory Super Car class.

This year I teamed up with Bongiovanni Racing and will be in the 08 Cobra Jet, but the Shelby wont sit. Jim Morgan, long time friend and the engine builder for my Shelby will be behind the wheel at the Div 1 races.

There is a test session today starting at noon, and again tomorrow. The weather looks good and it should be in the mid 80 all week. Just a few shots of the rigs rolling in and getting parked.

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Testing should start shortly. The cars are starting come out of the trailers, so I grabbed a few shots. Okay folks, here is a little trivia, who is the guy in the last photo on the back window of Joe's car.

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thanks for pictures, I will guess Bill Murray (actor)

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I am guessing Don Corleone

Eric

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Great pictures, Ken!! I would guess Bill Murray, too! I sure wish we were there with ya'll this year, but things just didn't work out. Hopefully we will be ready to go by Atlanta!


Ya'll all have fun and eat up on all that good Florida seafood!


We will be keeping up with you on here!!


Patsy & Larry

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It's Bill Murry! "Keep Calm and Chive On."

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Bill Murry it is, I too thought it might be the god father.

Hey Larry, we do miss you and Patsy, it wont be the same without your reports. I will do my best to keep everyone informed. A few more photos and a video of Eddie Brooks and Sterling Simons testing.

The last photo is possible my new tow vehicle. It does have a few downsides, poor mileage, a little to much heat on the trailer, but the upside is it has a 100,000 lbs. plus towing capacity.

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Yo Ken, thanks for your reporting; it's the next best thing to being there.

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wish i could be there but you are next best thing to being there

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Thanks for the great pictures!

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Until I enlarged the picture it looked like Ted Cruz. I guess my glasses would have helped as well. Have fun and be safe.

RC

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This is a wild site. Live from Phoenix to Live from Gainesvile in just a couple of days.

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Good morning all, its another sunny day with temps going up into the mid 80's. Today we have another test and tune. I will be busy most of the day changing a trans and tuning so I wont have any reports until mid afternoon. I will get more photos of the days happenings, so stay tuned.

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Chris Barnes making the full pull!!! Wagon time Gaffo!!! Good luck!!

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Thats a long way from vashon island wa.

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Go Chris. Wagons of Steel all the way. We are all behind you up here in Washington.

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More photos and a video from today's action. Qualifying starts tomorrow at 9am, starting out with Super Street followed by Stock.

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Great pix Ken.
Wow on Chris Barnes being there.

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Thanks Tom.

Good morning all, it looks to be a another great for weather with temps going up to the mid 80's again. Racing starts at 9am with Super Street then Stock. Here are the weather numbers for this morning.

temp 65
humid 76%
bar 30.00
da 942
wind calm


Be back later.

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Watch the movies, it is not nice to make fun of the Don!

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WOW Barnes is at Gainesville now that a heck of a tow, with these guys you know there will be good story's to go along with the trip. Hope you guys are hitting a couple of races on the way home. Everybody in the northwest is pulling for you guys do us proud. See you at the races. Wish i was there.

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Never fear, Cooter is here! First round of stock qualifying is complete.http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...pszy3nhxst.jpg

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Thanks so much James, I was heading down to get a photo of the stock qualifying. Stock just finished up with 2nd round qualifying. Super Stock will be getting their 2nd shot in about hour.

For anyone interested in the weather numbers for this afternoon's qualifying, here you go. Track has been good for most, and it is warm but nice out. Here is a few shots of the staging lanes and the scales.


temp 86
humd 43%
bar 29.96
da 2450
wind dross head 4-5

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http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psilps9jjm.jpg
Super Stock Q1

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http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...psgyzxpb1a.jpg
Stock after Q2

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Pretty decent air.

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How do you sign up for text notifications for stock. Someone please text me 610-996-8784 I am pitted in another zip code with no announcements or radio reception for the announcements.

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Just a heads-up - Rich Schaefer sent out a text message announcing that all qualifying will be final today, with eliminations starting first thing Saturday.

If you want to know why, just look at the weather radar for the Gulf coast.

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I can't exactly remember but instructions are posted on the back of the registration trailer at the staging lanes.

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Larry is correct, first round starts tomorrow morning because of the weather forecast for Sunday. More photos from today's action. All in all it was a good, there were a few oil downs but racing is still going with Comp and Alcohol to finish up the day.

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More action....

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Really cool pics, Ken!

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http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...pssdteozom.jpg
SS Q2

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Today's action from John DiBartolomeo from Drag Racing Edge http://dragracingedge.com/photos

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Good, morning all, weather for today will be mostly cloudy iand temps in the low 80's, but no rain until tomorrow. First round starts at 9, but anyone that came in this morning will get a time shot. It wont count for qualifying. All new entries will be placed on the bottom of the qualifying sheet.

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Good Morning Ken.


Thank-you for your coverage for all these years.


It is way cool to hear that Jim is going to drive your '67. I have known Jim for almost 50 years, having known and worked for Dickie Estevez for the same amount of time. They raced some of the fastest FE's back in the day and Jim is still on the forefront today. He's been trying to get his '64 A/S Thunderbolt together for a few years. Racing your car may knock the "rust" off his driving.


Also, who's Red and Black Cobra Jet is that in post #31? That car is beautiful.


Thanks again, Tom Brown

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I had to share this with you all. Gary Richard seen in the photo has been on the racing seen for more years then he cares to remember. You can always count on Gary to give you a smile and a polite hello.

I just walked over to his pit to say hello to the crew when Gary walks out of his motorhome with his new make over. We have all seen the glass and big nose gags before, but I could not stop laughing seeing it on Gary's face. Gary has a great sense of humor, and most every race we are at together, he leaves me with something funny to remember. I'm sure someone said this before, but what is life without good memories.

Be back later with more photos and info.

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Tom,

I enjoy doing it and thanks for the kind words. I did not want the Shelby to sit, and Jim was more than glad to have fun with it. I think his name is Alan Rose. The car was built by Watson Racing, a very cool car.

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Is there an audiocast of the race today?