Discussion
I stayed at the Marriot Courtyard which is right on the freeway. It was clean and comfortable but like a lot of US motels had no bar or restaurant. As it happens it did not matter as it was about 200 yards from the Gainesville Alehouse where a lot of the teams go after the race. There were several other hotels nearby { Barry Sheavils and Gary Page were staying at 1} you should be able to get a map on google, it's about 10 or 12 miles from the track but there were a couple of ways to get there and I never had much of a problem with traffic going early.
I suspect though it will get booked up quickly so I'd try it and the others asap. There are places in Ocala {where the Garlits museum is} but it's a fair way away {50 miles ?}, there was a big expensive looking Hilton on the University campus.
Viewings very good with big grandstands etc, I used the Top Eliminator club which I thought was pretty good value.
Bill
I suspect though it will get booked up quickly so I'd try it and the others asap. There are places in Ocala {where the Garlits museum is} but it's a fair way away {50 miles ?}, there was a big expensive looking Hilton on the University campus.
Viewings very good with big grandstands etc, I used the Top Eliminator club which I thought was pretty good value.
Bill
@funnycar
Sorry for the delay I've been getting ready for the start of our racing season which starts in one week in Bradenton with the division 2 opener. I will be racing in Super Comp at the Gatornationals and will be running my own dragster.
If you go on this link http://www.nhraeventreg.com/ListEventStatus.asp you can see how many cars and bikes have entered, you should keep checking as this changes every Wednesday when the next lower grade point are allowed to enter.
How many will enter the event is hard to say, I know a few of my friend's are going to miss one or two divisional so they can afford to run the Gators. The Gator's is a big deal on the East coast as it's the second biggest event on the circuit. I think that the Pro class will have a strong showing as it's the first big event on the East coast. Also this is where the Pro Mod's will run there first event which I'm really looking forward to should be awesome.
I guess we will have to see, I look forward to seeing you there Tony
Sorry for the delay I've been getting ready for the start of our racing season which starts in one week in Bradenton with the division 2 opener. I will be racing in Super Comp at the Gatornationals and will be running my own dragster.
If you go on this link http://www.nhraeventreg.com/ListEventStatus.asp you can see how many cars and bikes have entered, you should keep checking as this changes every Wednesday when the next lower grade point are allowed to enter.
How many will enter the event is hard to say, I know a few of my friend's are going to miss one or two divisional so they can afford to run the Gators. The Gator's is a big deal on the East coast as it's the second biggest event on the circuit. I think that the Pro class will have a strong showing as it's the first big event on the East coast. Also this is where the Pro Mod's will run there first event which I'm really looking forward to should be awesome.
I guess we will have to see, I look forward to seeing you there Tony
From memory {I was in the Top Eliminator seats right on the startline so I was not that interested} I think you have to pay extra for the pits side grandstand seats but some on the other side are free even on raceday. There is also a standing area in front of the seats on both sides {I would have called it the Paddock in a 1970s football ground} where you can see the cars though it's not steeply terraced {more comfortable but not as good viewing wise as the Pod bank}so it helps if you are tall.
I'm not aware of any competitors area but if there was it would have to be very big {there are over 100 teams in the Pro classes plus literally hundreds of Sportsman entries}. If there are no seats connected to entry if I was you I would book a few seats in advance as it gets very full especially on Saturday and Sunday.
Bill
I'm not aware of any competitors area but if there was it would have to be very big {there are over 100 teams in the Pro classes plus literally hundreds of Sportsman entries}. If there are no seats connected to entry if I was you I would book a few seats in advance as it gets very full especially on Saturday and Sunday.
Bill
WJM said:
I'm not aware of any competitors area but if there was it would have to be very big {there are over 100 teams in the Pro classes plus literally hundreds of Sportsman entries}.Bill
Cannot speak for this year but in the 6 years we raced there, a section of the last grandstand on the pit side was allocated (free entry) for competitors and crew. You had to show the pass that NHRA issue when you sign on to the nice armed security guard or you would not get in. It was on a first come basis but was never fully crowded as people rotated when it was their time to qualify/race.Even if the seats on the LH side are free, with the general admission I would still buy a seat on the RH (pit side) as its a long walk from those stands to the pits and back. By the end of the weekend you will be begging for a seat, and they will be all sold out, possibly by Friday!
Have a great time, its fast there.
Herb
Edited by herb andrews on Friday 5th February 17:07
Were are going to the Gators, and I cant explain how bloody excited I am. Its a proper last minute thing but we booked it all last night, flight, villa, car, Top eliminator tickets, gonna go Garlits museum, space center, speedworld, maybe daytona, been a LONG time dream of mine to go and now we are I am as excited as a kid.
Cant bloody wait.
Cant bloody wait.
There is a shuttle launch currently {they quite often get delayed} set for the 18th of March, you can see it at Gainesville {I saw one on the evening after the meeting finished outside the Alehouse last year} though it would no doubt be much more specacular a bit closer to the Space centre.
Gainesville's main business is as the home of the University of Florida and it's actually by Florida standards quite leafy and pleasant, the Garlits museum {which I thought was good} is about 50 miles away but right on the freeway. I find a lot of Florida quite dull from a countryside point of view but there are lots of tourist things especially in Orlando but also in places like Sarasota where the rich pre war like Ringling, Edison, Ford etc had winter retreats.
Bill
Gainesville's main business is as the home of the University of Florida and it's actually by Florida standards quite leafy and pleasant, the Garlits museum {which I thought was good} is about 50 miles away but right on the freeway. I find a lot of Florida quite dull from a countryside point of view but there are lots of tourist things especially in Orlando but also in places like Sarasota where the rich pre war like Ringling, Edison, Ford etc had winter retreats.
Bill
There is no Divisional race this year in Orlando the week before the Gator's just in case someone was planning a visit there. They will be having the same weekend it in Atlanta. For more info check this link http://www.nhradiv2.com/
WJM said:
There is a shuttle launch currently {they quite often get delayed} set for the 18th of March, you can see it at Gainesville {I saw one on the evening after the meeting finished outside the Alehouse last year} though it would no doubt be much more specacular a bit closer to the Space centre.
Bill
Bearing in mind there are only four or five shuttle launches left to observe, I would put this on the 'not to miss' list.Bill
(edit four spilleng)
Edited by Jon C on Thursday 11th February 15:35
Loads to cram in and so little time.
Land Orlando Wed pm, Kennedy Space Centre Thurs with tour out to launch pad. Hope to get a couple of tickets for the Blue Jays v Houston Friday. Racing Sat & Sun home Monday, phew.
Note that it's street car night at Speedworld on Wed, don't wanna see any of you guys down there abusing your hire cars...
Land Orlando Wed pm, Kennedy Space Centre Thurs with tour out to launch pad. Hope to get a couple of tickets for the Blue Jays v Houston Friday. Racing Sat & Sun home Monday, phew.
Note that it's street car night at Speedworld on Wed, don't wanna see any of you guys down there abusing your hire cars...
When I did my course at Hawley's, I went to a test and tune night at Gainesville. I was soooo tempted to see what my hired Mustang would do, but in the end, I had a sudden rush of common sense and realised that it would be uninsured and that I really couldn't afford to pay for a new one if I binned it...
Edited by Tet on Thursday 11th February 23:53
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