| “Gentlemen start your engines” those four | | | | size motorcycling races. In the fall they also have |
| words excite race fans everywhere. We here in | | | | motor bike races, classes that you can sign up to |
| Florida are lucky to have several venues where those | | | | take and exhibition and proto type motorcycles, both |
| words are spoken but none more famously crowd | | | | weeks feature amateur and pro series. |
| pleasing then our own Daytona Speedway. | | | | There are several events throughout the year that |
| Daytona Speedway has many different kinds of | | | | the Daytona International Speedway is known for, |
| races throughout the year for many different kinds | | | | one such event is the Rolex 24. The Rolex 24 is a |
| of race fans. Bike Week and Biketoberfest, held in | | | | race that lasts 24 hours; teams of drivers take shifts |
| the winter and fall respectively, feature mostly | | | | behind the wheel and drive all day and night racing |
| motorcycle races and shows; then in the winter again | | | | towards the finish line, I’ve been its fun. You |
| Speed Week happens and other popular races such | | | | wouldn’t think people would stay for the whole |
| as the Rolex 24 hour race and the Daytona 500 are | | | | race but they do, there are fun things to do around |
| run. | | | | the infield during the race to that helps. |
| Now, NASCAR was born from stock car racing which | | | | Speed Week is another draw to the Speedway |
| was born from boot legging in the Appalachians | | | | it’s the start of the ARCA series and NASCAR |
| during prohibition. Bootleggers, as they were called, | | | | season. There are two events that kick off the |
| needed fast car to outrun the cops as they made | | | | season; first event is the ARCA series Lucas Oil Slick |
| their deliveries, many drivers did their own | | | | Mist 200, a 80 lap 200 mile race. |
| modification to their cars to increase the cars speed | | | | The Budweiser Shootout features top NASCAR |
| and handling. It all started back in 1947 when a | | | | Sprint Cup Series stars racing around the 31-degree |
| gentleman named William France Sr. and some friends | | | | high banks. From there we go onto the biggie, the |
| founded a small organization they called NASCAR. | | | | main event – The Daytona 500. There are two |
| When prohibition ended in 1933 the need for | | | | days of qualifying events for the Daytona 500, the |
| bootleggers dried up but some of these guys came | | | | first is just called Daytona 500 Qualifying where |
| to love the speed and excitement of driving down | | | | qualifying for the front row takes place. The second |
| twisty mountain roads. They continued to work on | | | | is the Gatorade Duel which consists of two 150-mile |
| and improve their cars and by the late 1940’s | | | | qualifying races that determine the starting lineup for |
| the races for bragging rights and money began. | | | | the Daytona 500. |
| These races were held mostly in rural North Carolina | | | | There are also several truck races and events that |
| run using modified street cars. | | | | take place during the week but theses are the main |
| Daytona Beach didn’t sit idly by while all this was | | | | racing events. Then at week after the qualifying |
| going on. In 1903 there was a historic race run | | | | events the Daytona 500 is run. The Daytona 500 is |
| between Ransom Olds and Alexander Winton on the | | | | run for 200 laps, 500 miles on the two and a half a |
| beach here that started it all. Between 1905 and 1935 | | | | mile long track of the Daytona International |
| fifteen speed records were set and the Daytona | | | | Speedway and it’s considered the biggest, |
| Beach road course, as it came to be known, became | | | | richest and most prestigious race of the NASCAR |
| a Mecca for racing enthusiasts. Daytona Beach | | | | series. Touted as “The Great American |
| became known as the place to set world speed | | | | Race” families save of all year and make the |
| records in the 1920s and 1930s, | | | | week their traditional family vacation. Pack those |
| In the 1920s and 1930s, Daytona Beach became | | | | coolers, grab those ear plugs and race on down for |
| known as the place to set world land speed records, | | | | some good old fashion family fun things to do in |
| supplanting France and Belgium as the preferred | | | | Daytona Beach. I’ve been to the infield after |
| location for speed records, with 8 consecutive world | | | | Speed Week and have been amazed by all the things |
| records set between 1927 and 1935, Daytona Beach | | | | left behind, arm chairs, sofas and all sorts of other |
| had become synonymous with fast cars. Daytona is | | | | things, it’s an awesome sight. |
| also one of the best Florida beaches to take a trip | | | | Another fan favorite race is run on the 4th of July |
| with beaches to drive on and plenty of lifeguards and | | | | the Coke Zero 400 this is also a NASCAR Sprint Cup |
| people to watch. | | | | Series race that is run for 160 laps, 400 miles. After |
| These days Daytona still means speed no matter if | | | | the race they normally have fireworks and there are |
| you prefer motorcycles or cars. During Bike Week | | | | fun things for the whole family to do all day. |
| you can enjoy all sorts of weight class and engine | | | | |