Saturday 8 December 2007

The Birthplace of Speed

Ormond Beach has been known as The Birthplace of Speed since the first automobile races were held on the compacted sand beach.

On March 28, 1903, Ormond Beach was the site of a thrilling one mile race between pioneer auto builders.
The Hotel Ormond Challenge cup pitted Alexander Winton’s red "Bullet" against Ransom Olds' "Pirate". Winton’s "Bullet" won the race by two tenths of a second, the recorded time was 75 seconds at the mind-numbing speed of 48 mph.

A push start may be required....

Ormond Beach hosts an Antique and Classic car show during the Thanksgiving weekend. Proud car owners from all over Florida congregate in Fortunato Park to discuss spark plugs and to kick tires. (Figuratively speaking of course. If you actually attempted to kick a tire on one of these beauties, you'd be taken away in handcuffs!)

And the owners are just as smartly turned out as the cars.

12 comments:

  1. Wow -- those are some beautiful cars!!!

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  2. Those old-car aficionados are a breed unto themselves, Ex-S! What a fabulous collage of photos!

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  3. more palm trees! you aren't rubbing it in, are you? great photos, though. i love old cars, especially in pictures.

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  4. Beautifule cars! You know, I wonder how the drivers back then would feel sitting at the wheel of todays' fast cars :)

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  5. I was a bit concerned when I saw your post heading!!?? Wasn't sure what you where going to write about!!!!!!
    My uncle drove an identical car to the middle left one same colour and everything it was a 'Morris Traveller'!!!

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  6. Just think of that dog in one of those cars. Do you think his ears would be flying out - or could they even go that fast?

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  7. Im glad I dont have to push to get started,haha.
    What a great post today, really enjoyed thanks.

    Steam post up now.

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  8. Love the period costumes in the last photo. :-)

    Looks like you're still missing Florida.

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  9. What a delightful way to spend some time. I love the old classics. Great pictures and the costumed people are great too.
    To answer your question, I really don't know where to get the glass ball. Knowing the relative who has this one, I would imagine a craft fair or ever a landscape, garden store or speciality shop could have one.
    Good luck in your search.

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  10. This was a fun post! I love those old 48 mile an hour racers..they were really stripped down for speed:)

    Your pictures of the little sand crabs are wonderful too. They're such fascinating little creatures.

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  11. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm had my own little festival of speed the other day....unintentionally ofcourse. Missed the camera van....when I was over the speed limit!

    Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!
    Now the wait for the envelope!

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All comments welcome.... unless your name is Anonymous..