Wanted to share my 2 days of sun, racing and fun with everyone.

First, another side of the story for some ******* the experience or the track:

I'm a bracket racer of 16 years, and one of the reasons I don't go to test and tune as often is the oil downs and breakage. New alert guys, it's a TEST AND TUNE! People are trying new stuff and people break. If you think Gainesville is the only place it happens you are sorely mistaken. Try running Moroso, Orlando or any other track in Florida/Georgia and see what happens. There can be nights when there is less breakage, but the beginning of the year always brings more cars and thus the higher chance for problems. The first Wednesday night TNT in March I made 4 runs and could have made 2-3 more but left at 10 pm after getting the info I needed.

Okay, now about PINKS:

400+ cars, people coming in from all over the country (I saw Texas, Maryland and Virginia plates while checking out the pits), hired help that may not be co-ordinated with each other can mean the chance for mess or Cluster F*** can happen. I went into the event knowing I was paying a mere $5 more than it would cost to spectate to particiapte and make at least 2 runs in a high 11 second car, and yes I knew the chances of getting picked were slim to none (most likely none). I also went in knowing there would be long lines, breakage and delays. But I've never seen that many people at a non-NHRA national event in my life. It was awesome to pull into the water box and see the stands packed with people. During the drivers meeting with Rich Saturday morning, he said if you wanted to do a burnout past the starting line, go ahead! You won't be doing that at a TNT or bracket race, so I figured what the hell and did one on my second time run to the 60 foot mark! Crowd loved it! We had 12 cars in our camp, we grilled, benchraced and had a good time talking to people about our cars. That is what drag racing is all about. Yes running your car is fun, but having a good time with friends and meeting new people from different places and chatting about your rides is also a good time. That made the weekend worth it to me despite the waiting, the lines and the breakage for 3 runs.

We had 2 guys picked from our camp for the 16, and one I was crewing with won round one for $1000! We decided to tow the car back up the save the engine heat since they were hotlapping us within 5-10 minutes of the last run, and when we were towing the car back up the hot car lanes in front of the grandstands, we were having a blast! All those people that came to see not mega dollar top fuel or heads up 7 second cars, but regular racers like you and me. And they cheered and clapped, and we fed off it and loved every minute! Our guy Ryan Brady was hanging out the door clapping and screaming, and I was making a racket on the 4 wheeler, but when will you experience it again? He made it to the final four to lose by .012 I believe. But we had a killer party afterwards in the pits, and I can't wait to see the coverage (was told by a few people not with the network they heard May 17th for the air date).

Just my thoughts, hope others had a great time as well!

Derek

 

Wish i made id up there but decided to attend a car show in longwood.

Where are the pics!!!!!

 

i got pics but they are kind of shitty

i got better and more videos than pics.




this thing did a wheelie all the way down the 1/4 mile in about 7.5s @ about 150mph. it was insane. and he did it twice.

 

One of the other guys from SCFBA.info that I went with got great pics of the final 16. Good Rich hand drop pics. I will post up when he gets them up!

 

I bet that was a amazing experience...I will have to make it to spectate next time the event rolls around close to town or even participate if I can and if the car is fast enough .

Glad to see that you had a great time.

 

Glad you had a good time Derek. There was alot of guys from Orlando that went up there for the event, I tried to sign up but I waited too long.

 

I left when it started raining :/

 

i had a great time, had some issues with the track officials and probably had the ugliest car out there, but hey it was fun

 

It sounds like it was a lot of fun. I wish I had made it down there especially since my friend made it to the final 8, but I had to work both days. I'd like to see more pictures if anyone has any.