Gatornationals from the past...

Lyn Smith · 03-14-2019, 03:34 PM

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.

03-14-2019, 03:34 PM	#9
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,199 Likes: 282 Liked 967 Times in 194 Posts	Re: Gatornationals from the past... 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. Last edited by Lyn Smith; 03-14-2019 at 05:11 PM.