2012 NHRA Gatornationals

It's been a while since I have posted to this blog. So, I thought I would catch up a little. Back in March I snuck away from the insanity of Spring Break and headed over to Gainesville for the NHRA Gatornationals drag race. Before this race, I had only been to one other professional level race event and that was the ARCA race in Talladega I blogged about in an earlier post. Although I enjoyed the ARCA race, NHRA pro drag racing was AWESOME!

I watched the Comp cars race early the first morning at the track. These guys and ladies seem to have a great deal of fun racing in a national event. Each run was exciting because you didn't know who was going to win. Many times until the last second when the "win light" came on in the winners lane at the end of the track. Had as much fun watching them as I did the pros. But, when the pros got to the line, you knew things were really serious.

Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles were super fast! Never saw a motorcycle scream past at 190+ before!

Then the nitro burning dragsters and funny cars came to the line. For weeks before my trip I had read everything I could online about the races. What I would need to bring, what to expect the weather to be, those kind of things. One of the items mentioned most was ear plugs. So, I heeded the recommendations of those that have "been there done that". I stuck a pair of ear plugs in my backpack with my water, snacks and jacket. Now, back to the nitro cars. As the first pair came to the line and started the engines I noticed everyone around me getting out their ear plugs and muffs. So, I took the cue and pulled mine out of my pack and put them in. I figured these folks seemed to know more than I did at that point. The dragsters did their burnouts. Not too bad. A little loud. But, bearable. I waited with great anticipation for the cars to launch off the line for the first time. When they did - BOOM! I was completely caught off guard by the sound and the feeling those cars emit. I know I had a shocked/scared look on my face. I could feel it and after that first run was over I even laughed at myself because of it. That was the loudest thing I had ever heard! You can actually feel every time each one of the 16 cylinders (two cars) fire. It feels like bombs exploding in rapid succession over and over. These cars burn nitromethane fuel at approximately 15 gallons per run. The engines make 8000 horsepower. Yes, that is 3 zeros behind that 8. AND they are capable of speeds over 320 miles an hour in 1000 feet! Made our Toyota Corolla seem like a tricycle going back to the motel.

I saw many of the drivers and cars I have watched for years on TV. I'm not much of an autograph hound. So, I just lurked in the crowds and took some photos.

Comp cars on the starting line

Pro Mods

Morgan Lucas signing autographs

Top Fuel burnout!

Funny cars

This is one of several Nostalgia Gassers that made a few demo runs. These guys were great! Not only were they fast. But, the burnouts were long and smoky!

In the staging lanes waiting their turn on the track.

In the Nitro pits

One of the Gassers in the pits

Courtney Force's Funny Car on display in the midway area

John Force's Funny Car in the midway

Big Daddy Don Garlits was signing his books and taking pictures with fans. He is 80 years old and at this race he ran a 9.98 second quarter mile in a new Dodge! Big Daddy indeed.

This a view from the fence line near the finish line for the nitro cars.

Antron Brown, one of my favorite drivers, signing autographs

Needless to say, I am hooked on NHRA drag racing. I've watched it on TV since I knew what drag racing was. But, seeing it in person is an entirely different experience. Looking forward to the next trip to the Gatornationals! I promise to take more photos and post them sooner. Hope you enjoyed.

Flightline at Tyndall Air Force Base

I love aircraft of all types. From radio controlled models to the largest monster planes flying around the world. Anytime I have the opportunity to get up close to an airplane or helicopter I go for it. Such was the case when my buddy Gabe asked if I'd like a tour of the flightline at Tyndall Air force Base. Gabe is in the USAF and maintains the F-15s. Of course I said "Heck yeah!" I did not take these photos. They were taken for me by an Air Force member with a photo pass. This means he had permission to take photos and knew what he could and what he had better not take photos of.

 Gabe and me standing next to an F-15 on the flightline.

 Yep, that's me sitting in the F-15. This is not a display model in a museum somewhere. This is an active, fire it up and fly it off to battle USAF F-15! I found it very interesting that the cockpit of these jets are rather small. I'm not a big guy - five foot six and well, never mind. You get the idea. I was fairly comfortable sitting there for a minute or two. But, fighter pilots work in that space for hours at a time. My hat's off to them.

Thanks to Gabe for the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of the flightline. I learned a lot that day and had a great time. Did I mention I sat in the cockpit of an F-15?

Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

I have always been interested in motorsports. Drag racing in particiular. Growing up, I would watch the races on TV with my Dad. Some of the big name drivers I remember watching are Don "The Snake" Pruhdomme, Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowny, Tom "Mongoose" McEwen and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits. I had the opportunity to visit Big Daddy's museum this summer during a trip to Gainesville. The museum is actually located 45 miles further south in Ocala. His museum is literaly chocked full of historical drag race cars, racing memorabilia, classic hot rods and antique vehicles. I saw cars that were driven by the legends of the sport.

Don Garlits

Notice the enigine in this dragster. It's mounted sideways! Big Daddy called it the "Sidewinder".

 This is the cockpit of one the slingshot dragsters. Yes, that's the rear axle and transmission between your legs!

 This is a Streamliner dragster. Cool body and paint scheme!

Don "The Snake" Prudhomme

 Yes, this is a pink dragster. It's Shirley Muldowny's 1980 race car.

 Roy Hill's Pro Stock race car.

 Tom "Mongoose" McEwen and Don Prudhomme had a bit of a friendly rivalry going. Hence the Snake verses the Mongoose.

 I don't remember Jim Liberman from the races. He was a little before my time, I think. But, I do remember the plastic model kits of his car. I may have even built one many moons ago.

 Yep, this a lawn mower powered by a blown, nitro burning hemi!

The rest of these photos are other cars I found rather interesting for one reason or another. This yellow hot rod is one of my favorites among the old school drag cars. Check out the flat head!

 This 1936(?) Packard is my favorite of the classic cars Big Daddy has on display in the Antique/Classic car building of the museum.

 There are many more cars than I could put in this blog. In fact, I'm sure I missed some while I was there! If you are a car nut or just remotely interested in them you should visit Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, FL. Plan to spend a couple of hours  looking around. There's a lot to see there.

Kennedy Space Center

As a follow up to my last post about the "Then and Now Tour" of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, I'll show you some photos from my trip to Kennedy Space Center. I took a business trip to Orlando last year and since I was in the area I visited the Space Center.

I arrived a little early that morning. In fact, they were not even open yet! So, I sat in the car and waited. The rockets in the Rocket Garden were towering over the trees and buildings. I could see their noses from the parking lot. I couldn't wait to go in and get a closer look!

At the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Rocket Garden you are able to get up close to rockets and replicas of rockets that made space exploration history. There was a Mercury/Redstone, Mercury/Atlas, a Saturn 1b and several others.

Very tight quarters for three men to share on their trip to and from the Moon.

If you go to KSC, take the bus tour! If you don't you will miss most of the exhibits.

Here are some of my photos from the tour that stopped at the Saturn V building, the International Space Station Center and several more areas of interest.



This is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) from four miles away!




Launch Complex 39A - Where the Space Shuttles were launched.



Alan Shepard's 1968 Corvette

Five first stage engines of the Saturn V rocket

This is a bad photo of the Saturn V. But, I wanted to show just how big this monster is!

Lunar Module

This is in the International Space Station Center. The workers here are preparing these modules to go to the ISS.

I suppose some, if not all, of these modules may be in space by now!

Shuttle Explorer - a mock up of a Space Shuttle

Space Mirror Astronaut Memorial