| Well, you can but dream. Just shut your eyes then | | | | following than in the UK. |
| imagine this work-a-day tour bus is a super tuned | | | | Now, if Genevieve and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |
| beast powering through the bends, just seconds | | | | excite your fancy take a break in Daytona in |
| ahead of the field. Half a lap to go and the checkered | | | | November. From far and wide the owners of classic |
| flag goes down to the roar of the crowd. Pretty girls | | | | and antique automobiles converge on the Speedway |
| hang the winner's garland around your neck as you | | | | for their annual Turkey Rod Run. Unlike a November |
| take your place on the dais and the crowd cheer. | | | | back home, you would be well advised to wear a pair |
| The setting for this dream? Where else in the | | | | of really strong sunglasses. The glare from the highly |
| Sunshine State but the Daytona International | | | | polished paint work of these wonderful old cars has a |
| Speedway. We ordinary mortals are getting the view | | | | really high lumens factor. Needless to say the thing is |
| the competitors get, at a rather more sedate pace, | | | | to wear the garb of the period, so it's show time for |
| by doing a lap of the two and one half mile course, | | | | cars and crews alike. Many of the makes may not |
| taking in the pits, the control centre and the huge | | | | sound very familiar to we British, which adds to the |
| grandstands which, on race days, accommodate | | | | interest for the fans of what we would refer to as |
| many tens of thousands of fans who wave and | | | | veteran and vintage machines. At the Classic end of |
| cheer as their heroes scorch around the course. | | | | the spectrum Daytona attracts the cars we know all |
| When we visited they were still building their new $18 | | | | too well from the films on the silver screen. |
| million racing attraction Daytona USA which we will | | | | Compared to today's jelly mould cars these |
| write about another time. | | | | testimonials to the American love affair with the |
| A lot of fast wheels have left rubber on the track | | | | motor car make a very real impact on the senses. |
| since the Daytona International Speedway opened in | | | | Who knew or cared if these half acre overweight, |
| 1959 when Lee Petty drove his Oldsmobile to a | | | | shiny, colourful and brash automobiles were |
| photo finish victory in the first Daytona 500. Motor | | | | environmentally friendly or not. Who cared that they |
| racing and its fans had outgrown the old beach | | | | had a massive thirst for petrol when it was a mere |
| setting and needed a more permanent home. The | | | | 12 cents a gallon. The "environment" hadn't been |
| Speedway owes its existence to the activities of | | | | invented then. |
| William B. France who grew up with cars and car | | | | Now, have you ever driven a Go-Kart? You know, |
| racing, and whose dream was to build a track for | | | | those low slung Dinky toys with the little wheels and |
| stock car racing here in Daytona. NASCAR, the | | | | the lawn mower engines. Well actually they've |
| National Association for Stock Car Racing, which he | | | | developed a little since those early days. Go along |
| formed already had a permanent home in Indianapolis. | | | | and see in December. What a wonderful way of filling |
| The stock car racers needed a purpose built track, | | | | those dog days between Christmas and the New |
| and our Bill gave them just that here in Daytona. A | | | | Year. For that's when the Kart Aces show off their |
| two and a half mile D shaped track with 31 degree | | | | skills. Maybe a little slower and certainly a tad smaller |
| banking on the bends. You have to exceed 90mph to | | | | than the Big Boy racers but just as exciting for the |
| climb to the top! Lee Petty in the first Daytona 500 | | | | fans as they whiz around the course at speed. |
| averaged 135.52 mph on his first race here. A little | | | | In between the competitive events and vehicle |
| different to stock car racing in the UK in some | | | | meets, the car manufacturers, engines and |
| farmer's paddock. To attract the world's top racing | | | | transmission makers, tire companies and racing teams |
| drivers a conventional road race track was built that | | | | compete for use of the track to test the latest in |
| twists and winds inside the Stock Car oval track. A | | | | automobile research and development. The |
| real test of the skill, nerve and endurance of both | | | | grandstands are open to the public free, to enable |
| cars and drivers alike, during the many events on the | | | | visitors to maybe catch a glimpse of top drivers |
| racing calendar. | | | | honing their skills on the course. This is where we |
| January sees the first major event of the year with | | | | came in, trundling around in a bus seeing where the |
| the SunBank 24 Hour Race usually on or near the last | | | | aces perform. Most likely it's the nearest you and I |
| weekend. One of the best known by we Europeans, | | | | will ever get to spraying the fizz on the winner's dais, |
| the 24 hour Daytona 500, is held each year in | | | | or even getting the checkered flag. |
| February when it is the centerpiece attraction, but | | | | Whatever your interests, cars, motor cycles or go |
| getting tickets can be difficult. In 1996 they had | | | | karts, new or old, the Daytona International |
| 100,000 bookings on the first day, and they are | | | | Speedway offers each and every year a program of |
| starting a lottery for tickets in 1998. Also in February | | | | events and attractions that draw the crowds in their |
| is the Goody's 300 and the Stock Car 14 day Speed | | | | tens of thousands. Don't go to Daytona without |
| Weeks extravaganza. For the motor cycle fans, your | | | | paying a visit It's been known to convert the most |
| visit to Daytona should be in March. That is when | | | | skeptical into ardent fans. |
| bikers in their thousands flock to this area for Bike | | | | Just a word here fellers. If the light of your life isn't |
| Week. The principal event being the Daytona 200 | | | | exactly nuts about cars, car racing, motor cycle or |
| motor cycle race, held on the first Sunday in the | | | | go kart racing, or even peering at vintage classic or |
| month. The entire week is packed with events for | | | | current cars or bikes, I will admit that you have |
| bikers, attracting famous names and teams from all | | | | something of a problem. How about a deal? Try |
| over the globe. Other attractions include the Harley | | | | sweetening the pill a little. Now it just happens that |
| Davidson Museum and displays of vintage and | | | | only a mile up the road from the International |
| custom bikes. | | | | Speedway there is the Daytona Flea Market. Just |
| A July highlight as part of the annual Independence | | | | watch the eyes light up when you casually mention |
| Day holiday weekend is the Pepsi 400 race. Stock | | | | that a little way along the road there's this forty acre |
| Car Racing US style, the modern equivalent of the no | | | | spread with covered aisles to help keep you cool. It's |
| holds barred chariot racing that delighted and excited | | | | bound to be just teeming with everything the happy |
| the crowds in ancient Rome, has a much larger | | | | shopper could wish for. |