Ok…so I haven’t been posting in awhile – I know. But, I’ve been working a lot in the past month. I got a full-time temporary job at The Gainesville Sun as their sports online/multimedia producer, and I’ve been filming and editing a bunch of videos ever since.
The first video I ever attempted to film and edit was Gatornationals — a four-day event that brings in about 100,000 specators every year. I was so nervous, but determined — for anyone that knows me, I’m head over heels about cars and racing, so i was driven to produce something good. I’d never been to an NHRA event, and apart from the crazy stories of how loud it would be from colleagues, I had NO IDEA what was coming. I was practically going into convulsions when the first two Top Fuel cars flew down the track. Unless you’ve been there, there’s just no way to explain how it feels to be six feet from a 300+ mph car when it launches. Freaking AMAZING. I hope I’ll be able to do it again next year.

Glenn Epps, of Plantation, sports a mohawk at the 2007 Gatornationals Sunday afternoon. Epps said that he’s been coming to the event as often as he could since 1982.

Mike Bell warms up the tires in a burnout before racing in the 2007 Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway Friday afternoon.

Denise Mills, from Orlando, covers her ears as two funny cars blast down the track Friday afternoon during the 2007 Gatornationals. This was Mills’ first time at Gatornationals. Lining the track, the bleachers vibrate from the sheer intensity of the sound resonating from many of the top division class

Drag racer Ashley Force, daughter of 14-time NHRA funny car champion John Force, speaks to members of the media about moving up into the funny car division and competing against her father this year at the 2007 Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway Friday afternoon.

Ashley Force, daughter of funny car driver John Force, screams down the track in her 2006 Ford Mustang in the 2007 Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway on Saturday. Ashley Force ending up with an ET of 4.832 at 306.67 mph in the quarter mile.

Startled by the sound, Jennifer Schooler, of Gainesville, reacts with excitment while Johnny Diamond, of Pensacola, shields his ears from the sound of a funny car roaring down the track.

Jim Head warms up the tires in his 2007 Toyota Solara before racing down the track.

Crew members prepare Mike Ashley’s 2007 Dodge Charger during the funny car division race at Gatornationals Saturday afternoon.

Funny car driver Scott Kalitta does a burnout in his 2007 Toyota Solara before racing at Gatornationals Saturday afternoon. Kalitta ended up finishing with a 4.919 ET at 257.87 mph in the quarter mile.