Daytona Beach Welcomes Vintage Racers

Vintage stock cars parade on Daytona Beach.  [Joe Jennings Photo]

Daytona Beach, Fla. – In the bygone days, racing at Daytona took place on the beach.  There were all-out speed runs with the likes of Sir Malcolm Campbell and stock car racing on a 4.1- mile course that was half pavement and half sand.  NASCAR raced on the course from 1948 to 1958, but that era ended when the Daytona International Speedway opened.  Regardless, old-time racers, historians and beach goers enjoy reminiscing about the past, and they turn out in large numbers every February to watch a parade of vintage cars take a slow lap on the beach.

The 2014 edition of the parade started and ended at the North Turn Restaurant, a landmark that sits on the north edge of the famed beach course.  The parade represented a cooperative effort among the Volusia County government, the Town of Ponce Inlet and the restaurant owners.

Heading up the parade was Vicki Wood, 94, a one-time record-holder for speed runs.  She rode in an immaculately maintained Ford Thunderbird.  Next in the parade line was a 19353 Ford stock car driven by Humpy Wheeler, the one-time president and general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Said Wheeler, “I saw my first race here as a youngster while sitting in turn 3.  Today is a great day for me, and while driving north on the beach, I had chills up my spine thinking about the great drivers that had raced here, including Ralph Moody, Tim Flock, Fireball Roberts, Cotton Owens and others.”

Wheeler’s promotional and leadership endeavors put the Charlotte Motor Speedway on the national map.  Upon retiring from his CMS executive role, he created Speedway Benefits, a marketing and advertising effort for short-tracks around the country.

Behind Wood and Wheeler came some 30 vintage cars traveling slowly on the beach, and they were greeted by several thousand spectators eager to remember the past.  After the parade ended, the participants were greeted by the crowd, and many racing stories were being told over and over.

The old-timers enjoyed their day in the sun and can’t wait for next year’s joyous activities.

 

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