Gator Nationals 2026 (3 Viewers)

[Mike]

One thing I always think is odd.... They showed long lines of cars on the road as the race was underway.

People have different viewpoints, but for me, if I know A) the race begins at 10, B) daylight savings starts today, and C) it's going to be a big crowd with lots of traffic, I'm getting up early to try to get to the track at least an hour before showtime.

If you miss Round 1, you've already missed half the show. There must be a lot of people so disorganized in their thinking that they believe we're going to drive right up to the gate 5 minutes before the race like we're going to the mall.

 

[Ponyhntr]

One thing I always think is odd.... They showed long lines of cars on the road as the race was underway.

People have different viewpoints, but for me, if I know A) the race begins at 10, B) daylight savings starts today, and C) it's going to be a big crowd with lots of traffic, I'm getting up early to try to get to the track at least an hour before showtime.

If you miss Round 1, you've already missed half the show. There must be a lot of people so disorganized in their thinking that they believe we're going to drive right up to the gate 5 minutes before the race like we're going to the mall.

If you try to get to Gainesville only an hour early, you will miss 1st round. That line of cars easily takes an hour to get through. You have to leave the local hotel when it’s still dark in order to get in at a decent time.

 

[mick]

watched one guy's video and he came into track from the north with what seemed like very little traffic. he turned into essentially the north parking area. during the (2) bradenton PRO races, we approached track from the east and turned in at the big helmet entrance on east side,
the traffic jam there was the west side traffic turning into bradenton's west lot.

 

[z28]

watched one guy's video and he came into track from the north with what seemed like very little traffic. he turned into essentially the north parking area. during the (2) bradenton PRO races, we approached track from the east and turned in at the big helmet entrance on east side,
the traffic jam there was the west side traffic turning into bradenton's west lot.

it pays to know your way around.

 

[twostep]

One thing I always think is odd.... They showed long lines of cars on the road as the race was underway.

People have different viewpoints, but for me, if I know A) the race begins at 10, B) daylight savings starts today, and C) it's going to be a big crowd with lots of traffic, I'm getting up early to try to get to the track at least an hour before showtime.

If you miss Round 1, you've already missed half the show. There must be a lot of people so disorganized in their thinking that they believe we're going to drive right up to the gate 5 minutes before the race like we're going to the mall.

15-25% of Americans forgot it's daylight savings day and first-timers to the Gainesville race don't understand how long the line is until they've been there once. They won't forget if they return next year. Finally, if there's a way the track operator could add extra staff to process incoming spectators for this jam-packed opening national event, Sunday morning might have been an excellent time to put them in place.

 

[luxexpress]

Is Gainesville still owned by the NHRA?

 

[Ponyhntr]

Is Gainesville still owned by the NHRA?

Yes

 

[James]

15-25% of Americans forgot it's daylight savings day and first-timers to the Gainesville race don't understand how long the line is until they've been there once. They won't forget if they return next year. Finally, if there's a way the track operator could add extra staff to process incoming spectators for this jam-packed opening national event, Sunday morning might have been an excellent time to put them in place.

The track used to use local high school kids for parking and it was ran well.

Now they use minimal labor ready hires, and it shows.

 

[twostep]

The track used to use local high school kids for parking and it was ran well.

Now they use minimal labor ready hires, and it shows.

 

[DanTheFan]

Getting out is no fun either. I drove up from Tampa for the day a while back and couldn’t get out of the lot for hours so got back very late. After that, Gainesville joined Maple Grove on my skip it list. Very 1960s for figuring out traffic.

 

[My Name]

Quick story, checked out of hotel and drove to track for Sunday at MG. Got a late start. Driving a 82 280zx 5 speed.
To say my left leg was a noodle once parked is an understatement!

 

[twostep]

Quick story, checked out of hotel and drove to track for Sunday at MG. Got a late start. Driving a 82 280zx 5 speed.
To say my left leg was a noodle once parked is an understatement!

I feel your pain. I once bought a Mustang GT 5-speed at the Dallas Auto Auction and got stuck in traffic due to an 18-wheeler rollover for about 2 hours. It had some sort of aftermarket clutch installed that must have had at least 10,000 pounds of spring pressure. Maybe 20,000. Big-time ouch.

 

[T.Smith]

The track used to use local high school kids for parking and it was ran well.

Now they use minimal labor ready hires, and it shows.

I went to a track last year that used local high school kids for parking and ended up with a cracked $1500 carbon fiber splitter.

 

[mick]

have not been to gainseville, but every year see pics and read stories of traffic jams there.
a quick look at google earth says there are 5 entrances into property? i'm not sure what they are doing at the actual entrance gates?
but it seems like they should be able to flow the cars off the county road and into the raceway property, where they can then
take the money and/or buy seats ...... we always talk about what drives the fans away; well if they are turned off before they even
get there stuck in traffic jam due to inefficient traffic flow? are there FL state patrols flowing traffic from FL state road 24 and onto county road 225 heading north to track? and then reverse at end of day? ...... nhra owns the place, so traffic flow falls on them correct?

 

[Butch]

You would think that by now, Gainesville would have it down to get the traffic in and out.

 

[Butch]

I went to a track last year that used local high school kids for parking and ended up with a cracked $1500 carbon fiber splitter.

Tony, it took me one time in my Vette at Norwalk to learn never again. Lol

 

[T.Smith]

Tony, it took me one time in my Vette at Norwalk to learn never again. Lol

The parking attendants at Norwalk in the Red Key lot were nice enough to let me park on some high ground. Thank heavens, because it rains like crazy there in late June. But yeah, I'll never go to that slime hole I went to again without some prearranged parking.

 

[DanTheFan]

For Norwalk, I always use ‘Tom’s Field of Dreams’ directly across from an entrance at end of pits. Yes, it’s a farm field but they’re very accommodating in finding you an appropriate spot if you get there early enough. Easy in/out too…. 20 minutes tops and we’re on the interstate.

 

[GumbyWVU]

For Norwalk, I always use ‘Tom’s Field of Dreams’ directly across from an entrance at end of pits. Yes, it’s a farm field but they’re very accommodating in finding you an appropriate spot if you get there early enough. Easy in/out too…. 20 minutes tops and we’re on the interstate.

Have to agree, we've always been pretty lucky at Norwalk on Sundays after it was over, getting out of there.

I remember once at Columbus, which I thought did a decent job mostly, they had the kids from the Civil Air Patrol "directing" traffic at the end on Sunday. HUUUGE mess. After that, the Eagle Cab Co. (my nickname for the Ohio Highway Patrol based on the decal on the doors) was back and things were smooth.