Video Zen: This Home Movie Footage From The 1974 NHRA Gatornationals Is Spectacular


Video Zen: This Home Movie Footage From The 1974 NHRA Gatornationals Is Spectacular

There’s something about seeing drag races through old home movie footage in the stands that we just cannot get enough of. Yes, it lacks the sound and production value of the TV shows of the era but who the hell cares? This is literally seeing the 1974 NHRA Gatornationals as a paying fan would have seen it in the day. It is funny to see humble little Gainesville Raceway back then as opposed to the aluminum canyon that it is now. The place has just about the largest seating capacity on the tour and it should be wall to wall next weekend for the 2019 Running of the race.

This video is neat because it was shot just four years into the race’s 50 year heritage and we get to see cool cars and big names as they were. The short burnouts that were followed by a brace of strong backed pushing the car back to the starting line, the still wild designs of the era highlighted by Herm Petersen’s bizarre full-bodied “dragster”, a blower explosion in the era before restraints that levels the whole back of a dragster, and a whole lot more.

Love funny cars? You will see every big hitter of the era here. This was one of less than a dozen NHRA national events at that time and the money along with the coverage brought out the big names of the day!

We love this video and we think you will, too. Take a trip back in time and dig the 1974 NHRA Gatornationals at the (then) little ol’ Gainesville Raceway.

Press play to watch home movie footage from the 1974 NHRA Gatornationals


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