Dago
Nitro Member
For all of you who braved the freezing cold, the long lines, what were some of your Gators highlights this year?
1) Talking with Tommy Johnson Sr. A real likable, personably guy. We chatted for what seemed like 20 minutes. I told him I missed his BS ads in National Dragster. He's got a race trailer security company and is working on a book as well as going to the races.
2) Standing at the top of the grandstands in section L watching the last pro sessions, then ignoring it as I hear a nitro engine cackling below me by the Goodyear trailer. "Big" was firing up Swamp Rat VIII. I forgot about the rest of the Pro Stock session.
3) Side-by-Side 5.40s by Manzo and Tasca! Makes me glad I didn't leave the stands.
4) 5s in AMS Pro Mod! And how about that twin-turbo Firebird. That beast sounded rough but what a top end charge!
5) Burkhart!!!!!!! As Frey says, dial 1-800-Paul-Smith!
6) Michael Gunderson in with "Bodie" tuning and Brandon failing to make the cut. One of Gunderson's crewmembers said John had not seen the car until a week before the race and changed everything around.
7) Greg Anderson skipping 210 and going straight to 211 mph!
8) Final session in Funny Car. Totally brutal!
9) Meeting David Powers. What a class act. Took time from mixing fuel to shake hands with everyone standing at the ropes before the semis. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty pitching in to help the team get to the next round. I still don't understand the whole deal with Valvoline.
10) Shootin' the breeze with Tony Pedregon.
11) Karen Stoffer's win. Man, she chopped the tree down every round.
12) The Racers for Christ service on Sunday. Allen Johnson witnessed before the crowd about his father's heart attack in Phoenix. God was definitely watching over his family because only 1 in 10,000 ever survive a widowmaker. Roy happened to be five miles from the hospital and the cardiologist was 10 minutes away. Sounded like divine intervention to me. Not a dry eye in the house.
1) Talking with Tommy Johnson Sr. A real likable, personably guy. We chatted for what seemed like 20 minutes. I told him I missed his BS ads in National Dragster. He's got a race trailer security company and is working on a book as well as going to the races.
2) Standing at the top of the grandstands in section L watching the last pro sessions, then ignoring it as I hear a nitro engine cackling below me by the Goodyear trailer. "Big" was firing up Swamp Rat VIII. I forgot about the rest of the Pro Stock session.
3) Side-by-Side 5.40s by Manzo and Tasca! Makes me glad I didn't leave the stands.
4) 5s in AMS Pro Mod! And how about that twin-turbo Firebird. That beast sounded rough but what a top end charge!
5) Burkhart!!!!!!! As Frey says, dial 1-800-Paul-Smith!
6) Michael Gunderson in with "Bodie" tuning and Brandon failing to make the cut. One of Gunderson's crewmembers said John had not seen the car until a week before the race and changed everything around.
7) Greg Anderson skipping 210 and going straight to 211 mph!
8) Final session in Funny Car. Totally brutal!
9) Meeting David Powers. What a class act. Took time from mixing fuel to shake hands with everyone standing at the ropes before the semis. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty pitching in to help the team get to the next round. I still don't understand the whole deal with Valvoline.
10) Shootin' the breeze with Tony Pedregon.
11) Karen Stoffer's win. Man, she chopped the tree down every round.
12) The Racers for Christ service on Sunday. Allen Johnson witnessed before the crowd about his father's heart attack in Phoenix. God was definitely watching over his family because only 1 in 10,000 ever survive a widowmaker. Roy happened to be five miles from the hospital and the cardiologist was 10 minutes away. Sounded like divine intervention to me. Not a dry eye in the house.
