'Live From" The Gatornationals

Ken Miele · 02-24-2025, 01:37 PM

Hey guys, we made it to the Gators. I wanted to get this video up yesterday, but better late than never. It rain all night and is still raining although very light. Rumor was that might pull us in today, but I don't see that happening. I am sure the fields are soft. The rest of the week looks great, we just have to get through todays nasty weather.

Justin Graham · 02-24-2025, 03:24 PM

Ken, thank you for this one. Made me miss the Florida I know so well, the serenity of rural roads. Just hearing your GPS announce that you’re turning onto County Road 225, got me giddy, bringing back great memories.

Carguy49 · 02-24-2025, 06:30 PM

Loved the rolling in video Ken, as always.

The commentary about people was spot on, thanks.

Here's what I go by. Be grateful for what you have and what you can do. It could ALL be gone tomorrow.

Thanks for your time and you all have fun these next 2 weekends.

Julie Jordan · 02-24-2025, 08:40 PM

Enjoyed the video, thank you. I'd love to do Gainesville some day, but it's a long tow from the west coast!

Your thoughts on prickly people are on the mark, they are miserable and try to draw everyone down to their level. Thankfully, there are few of them, one of the joys of drag racing is the people. Racing is just something we do, so many more things of importance in our lives. If you're not having fun, you need to pick something else to do. My motto has always been a bad day racing beats a good day at work!

Good luck!

Justin Graham · 02-25-2025, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julie Jordan

Enjoyed the video, thank you. I'd love to do Gainesville some day, but it's a long tow from the west coast!

Your thoughts on prickly people are on the mark, they are miserable and try to draw everyone down to their level. Thankfully, there are few of them, one of the joys of drag racing is the people. Racing is just something we do, so many more things of importance in our lives. If you're not having fun, you need to pick something else to do. My motto has always been a bad day racing beats a good day at work!

Good luck!

I've heard that motto before and it's so true. I'd be absolutely ready and willing to assist on that long tow if the Jordans ever decided to make that haul. Gainesville is on the top of my "Must Do" list before I hang the helmet up.

Ken Miele · 02-25-2025, 10:20 AM

Hey guys, well its a wet morning with light showers. The rain does not want to move out. Last night the radar was clear, and this morning it was back. Forecast calls for it to move out in a few hours, but as I type is still raining.

I can't imaging what the pits look like. No word on parking yet. I would not be surprised if they don't park us today.

I thought the photos below would be cool to post even though its a Super Street car, for me all race cars are cool. This is Joe Castello's 78 Trans Am. You all know him as the NHRA announcer. He also does the in the lanes for the sportsman, I'm sure many of you have met him... I real car guy. His dad bought the Trans Am new in 78. Its so cool to see cars like this with history. The photos do it no justice, it is super clean. I joked with him... saying it would make a great Super Stocker.

Ken Miele · 02-25-2025, 05:02 PM

Just got the word, no parking today. Parking will start tomorrow at 7:30am. The sun has been out since 11am, but there is still standing water in the usual spots as of 4pm.

JP1738 · 02-26-2025, 02:22 PM

Sweet, that means I'm not gonna be late lol. I'll be pulling in the line around midnight tonight if all goes as planned

Ken Miele · 02-26-2025, 08:20 PM

Hey guys, so sorry for the lack of reports. They started parking at 7:50am, and it was a little hectic to say the least. Pit parking was a challenge, many chose the black top, and will move next week. The ground is soft in many spots, I have not heard of anyone getting stuck. The parking crew sure had their hands full today, but by noon everyone was parked. I would say at least 300 rigs were parked today. All in all with the conditions they had to deal with, they did a good job.

I'll be back tomorrow with photos and more video, if I get a good run I will only take the one shot, so I can have time for reports, photos and video. The weather looks great for this week, you couldn't ask for better racing conditions.

Carguy49 · 02-26-2025, 08:43 PM

Nice job on the trip through the pits Ken. Hope you guys and gals have great weather for both weekends.

There is a very cool video on Joe's Trans Am on You Tube. Joe talks with Steve Magnante, good to see him doing well. Maybe someone with more skills than me can post it for everyone to see.

02-24-2025, 01:37 PM	#1
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,819 Likes: 450 Liked 16,180 Times in 1,480 Posts	'Live From" The Gatornationals Hey guys, we made it to the Gators. I wanted to get this video up yesterday, but better late than never. It rain all night and is still raining although very light. Rumor was that might pull us in today, but I don't see that happening. I am sure the fields are soft. The rest of the week looks great, we just have to get through todays nasty weather.

02-24-2025, 03:24 PM	#2
Justin Graham Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Montclair, Ca Posts: 108 Likes: 135 Liked 512 Times in 71 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Ken, thank you for this one. Made me miss the Florida I know so well, the serenity of rural roads. Just hearing your GPS announce that you’re turning onto County Road 225, got me giddy, bringing back great memories. __________________ 7350 Stock Eliminator Quite possibly the only member to REDLIGHT their join date

02-24-2025, 06:30 PM	#3
Carguy49 VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fife, Washington Posts: 1,958 Likes: 2,376 Liked 2,872 Times in 691 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Loved the rolling in video Ken, as always. The commentary about people was spot on, thanks. Here's what I go by. Be grateful for what you have and what you can do. It could ALL be gone tomorrow. Thanks for your time and you all have fun these next 2 weekends. __________________ Ron McDowell - Did Race Every day is a Gift - Enjoy with family and friends.

02-24-2025, 08:40 PM	#4
Julie Jordan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 636 Likes: 90 Liked 500 Times in 91 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Enjoyed the video, thank you. I'd love to do Gainesville some day, but it's a long tow from the west coast! Your thoughts on prickly people are on the mark, they are miserable and try to draw everyone down to their level. Thankfully, there are few of them, one of the joys of drag racing is the people. Racing is just something we do, so many more things of importance in our lives. If you're not having fun, you need to pick something else to do. My motto has always been a bad day racing beats a good day at work! Good luck! __________________ Julie Jordan 7549 STK

02-25-2025, 10:20 AM	#6
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,819 Likes: 450 Liked 16,180 Times in 1,480 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Hey guys, well its a wet morning with light showers. The rain does not want to move out. Last night the radar was clear, and this morning it was back. Forecast calls for it to move out in a few hours, but as I type is still raining. I can't imaging what the pits look like. No word on parking yet. I would not be surprised if they don't park us today. I thought the photos below would be cool to post even though its a Super Street car, for me all race cars are cool. This is Joe Castello's 78 Trans Am. You all know him as the NHRA announcer. He also does the in the lanes for the sportsman, I'm sure many of you have met him... I real car guy. His dad bought the Trans Am new in 78. Its so cool to see cars like this with history. The photos do it no justice, it is super clean. I joked with him... saying it would make a great Super Stocker. Attached Thumbnails

02-25-2025, 05:02 PM	#7
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,819 Likes: 450 Liked 16,180 Times in 1,480 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Just got the word, no parking today. Parking will start tomorrow at 7:30am. The sun has been out since 11am, but there is still standing water in the usual spots as of 4pm.

02-26-2025, 02:22 PM	#8
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 540 Likes: 1,532 Liked 1,129 Times in 316 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Sweet, that means I'm not gonna be late lol. I'll be pulling in the line around midnight tonight if all goes as planned __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

02-26-2025, 08:20 PM	#9
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,819 Likes: 450 Liked 16,180 Times in 1,480 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Hey guys, so sorry for the lack of reports. They started parking at 7:50am, and it was a little hectic to say the least. Pit parking was a challenge, many chose the black top, and will move next week. The ground is soft in many spots, I have not heard of anyone getting stuck. The parking crew sure had their hands full today, but by noon everyone was parked. I would say at least 300 rigs were parked today. All in all with the conditions they had to deal with, they did a good job. I'll be back tomorrow with photos and more video, if I get a good run I will only take the one shot, so I can have time for reports, photos and video. The weather looks great for this week, you couldn't ask for better racing conditions.

02-26-2025, 08:43 PM	#10
Carguy49 VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fife, Washington Posts: 1,958 Likes: 2,376 Liked 2,872 Times in 691 Posts	Re: 'Live From" The Gatornationals Nice job on the trip through the pits Ken. Hope you guys and gals have great weather for both weekends. There is a very cool video on Joe's Trans Am on You Tube. Joe talks with Steve Magnante, good to see him doing well. Maybe someone with more skills than me can post it for everyone to see. __________________ Ron McDowell - Did Race Every day is a Gift - Enjoy with family and friends. Last edited by Carguy49; 02-26-2025 at 08:46 PM.