So, tell me about Florida.......

So, tell me about Florida.......

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5.0ltr

Original Poster:

2,803 posts

206 months

Monday 12th October 2009
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....From a petrol head point of view. Staying near Orlando for 2 weeks,(from Friday) intend to visit Daytona, anything else worth doing? Thanks.

Chris71

21,548 posts

249 months

Monday 12th October 2009
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ears

Sebring might be worth a look, but I'm told they're both pretty dull if it's not a race day.

Might find some inspiration on the later pages of this: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I'm heading over for a couple of days in December, so please let me know if you find anything good!

5.0ltr

Original Poster:

2,803 posts

206 months

Monday 12th October 2009
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Thanks for that Chris, did not find that link on a search. Will update you if I see anything of interest.

Matt Harper

6,770 posts

208 months

Tuesday 13th October 2009
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Run What Ya Brung drag racing at Orlando Speedworld, each Friday (Bithlo - east of Orlando on SR50)
I run my 300 there from time to time and have seen lots of obvious rental cars (Hertz vettes, mainly).
Daytona USA attraction at the speedway - if you are in Daytona, you might also want to try Lollipops - where the strippers outnumber the patrons - and the Iron Horse Saloon on A1A
Nothing going on at Sebring this time of year - and it's nowt special when there's no racing going on.In fact it's downright depressing.
Old Town Cruise in Kissimmee, if you haven't seen it before (gets a bit old of you have).
Dirt track racing (sprint-car series) at New Smyrna Raceway most weekends.
There's a dirt oval at Winter Haven (SW of Orlando, also.

CarsN10s

17 posts

187 months

Tuesday 13th October 2009
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Hope you have a great time in Florida! YHM

belleair302

6,921 posts

214 months

Saturday 17th October 2009
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The Richard Petty Driving School in Orlando may well be worth a look and you will find the Tampa Auto Museum interesting if into classic cars.

Over in Ft Lauderdale there are some wonderful showrooms and Driving down to the Keys is an interesting experience.

What are you looking for in Florida....?

Autocross, Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Exotica, Drag Racing, Auctions, Concourse??

Edited by belleair302 on Saturday 17th October 23:04

Chris71

21,548 posts

249 months

Monday 19th October 2009
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belleair302 said:
The Richard Petty Driving School in Orlando may well be worth a look and you will find the Tampa Auto Museum interesting if into classic cars.
Never realised there was a speedway at Disneyland! Apparently it's $399 for a 'rookie experience':

Website said:
Ready to drive a race car? Your hands are on the wheel, your foot is on the gas, and you're in the driver's seat for 8 laps around the speedway in a 358 cubic inch V-8 NASCAR style racecar that roars with 600 horsepower. Prior to driving, students will go through 2 elements of safety and instruction training, in-car and on-track instruction. After driving like the "King", students will receive a graduation packet that includes a time sheet with a breakdown of each lap driven.
Does sound quite tempting. If I had a bit longer to explore on my own trip I think I'd invest in one of those. Given my trip in December will be the first couple of free days I've had to roam round in the States without any business obligations I think I'm just going to head out and see a bit of the country though. Really looking forward to going back there.

Apologies for the thread hi-jack, but is there anywhere else you'd recommend seeing within a couple of hours of Orlando? The idea is to do a fairly relaxed day trip, dropping the car off that evening.

ETA Looks very touristy, but I found this completely accidentally: http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/drives/flor... (it's not really a petrolhead's idea of driving, but may provide some inspiration!)

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 19th October 16:15

belleair302

6,921 posts

214 months

Monday 19th October 2009
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The Museum at Daytona is well worh a few hours of your time. A three hour drive from Miami but the whole town is motorsport flavoured.

Not more than 100 miles from Orlando so easily driven from either venue.

In Ocala not far from where John Travolta keeps his planes is the Drag Museum...of Don Garlits which is different but filled with the most unusual drag cars ever built...if that's your thing!

Its a shame that you are not in the Florida Panhandle....ie up north. A new Muscle Car museum has opened which looks amazing regarding the collection of cars from the mid 60's through to the mid 70's.

5.0ltr

Original Poster:

2,803 posts

206 months

Wednesday 11th November 2009
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Back home now. Thanks for the ideas, some posted whilst away, but heh ho...Well I went to Daytona beach and drove along the sand at 10mph for $5, but it saved me finding parking and had lunch at a nice bar on the beach. Went to the raceway but it was closed. For the British readers, it is a bit like Blackpool nuff said. Very few cars of interest seen in Florida, but the 8 litre chevvy engine on the air boat made the right noise! And the Kennedy space centre had some even bigger engines, excellant place to visit, do the coach tour to the Mercury/Saturn 5 area. (And the ticket is valid for another days visit which is not advertised and covers entry into the Astronauts museum down the road as well.)

Chris71

21,548 posts

249 months

Thursday 12th November 2009
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Just got my flights booked for my own trip. Apparently the powers that be have arranged for me to have a go at driving round Daytonna, which I'm rather looking forward to. Hoping for something with 8 cylinders and plenty of litres. driving