Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, Flagler Beach, Florida
But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.
It was supposed to be sunny and upper 60’s today. It never even got close. And on top of that, it was super windy!
We made the short drive to Daytona for two reasons – Blaine was anxious to tour the Speedway, and his parents are staying in a timeshare condo near the track.
On the way, we knew from the Park Ranger talk we listened to the other day, there was the only World War II Coastal Watchtower left, so we stopped to check that out. There’s not really any parking, except alongside the road and we were glad to have a Jeep because the sand was fairly deep.
There’s the view – although they would’ve been up higher.
You’re not allowed up in the actual tower.
Daytona Beach is 23 miles long, and at low tide, 500 feet wide; all of it hard-packed, flat sand. Because of that, they let you drive on the beach for a fee.
Note the sign . . .
The town of Daytona
Construction right beside Blaine’s parent’s timeshare property.
It’s $20. We were considering driving because it would be fun to drive the Jeep on a beach, but there are better ways for us to spend $20.
Like on a tour of the Daytona International Speedway. 😊
The Speedway is on the other side of the bridge.
There it is! On the left.
We think this is a “city limits” sign.
This is the man behind the Speedway
Here he is with his wife.
Terry (that’s with a ‘y’ 😊) regaled us with a lot of information on our tour, but we can’t remember most of it, so here’s what I found on Wikipedia. Hopefully, it’s accurate. There’s no information on the official Daytona website. Guess they want you to take the tour. 😊
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, USCC, SCCA, and Motocross. The track features multiple layouts including the primary 2.5-mile (4.0 km) high-speed tri-oval, a 3.56-mile (5.73 km) sports car course, a 2.95-mile (4.75 km) motorcycle course, and a 1,320-foot (400 m) karting and motorcycle flat-track. The track’s 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. The speedway is owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation.
The track was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder William “Bill” France, Sr. to host racing that was held at the former Daytona Beach Road Course. His banked design permitted higher speeds and gave fans a better view of the cars. Lights were installed around the track in 1998, and today it is the third-largest single lit outdoor sports facility. The speedway has been renovated three times, with the infield renovated in 2004 and the track repaved in 1978 and 2010.
On January 22, 2013, the track unveiled artist depictions of a renovated speedway. On July 5, 2013, ground was broken on the project that removed backstretch seating and completely redevelop the frontstretch seating. The renovation to the speedway was constructed by Design-Builder Barton Malow Company in partnership with Rossetti Architects. The project, named “Daytona Rising”, was completed in January 2016, and cost US $400 million, placing emphasis on improving fan experience with five expanded and redesigned fan entrances (called “injectors”), as well as wider and more comfortable seating with more restrooms and concession stands. After the renovations were completed, the track’s grandstands include 101,000 permanent seats with the ability to increase permanent seating to 125,000. The project was finished before the start of Speedweeks in 2016.
That’s what we tooled around in.
Waaaaay over on the top-side of the picture is the opposite end of the track.
It’s 1 1/4 miles away!
I thought the seats here were pretty cool. Since they’re different colors, it looks like people are sitting in the stands all the time. : )
That’s Terry – with a ‘y’ : )
Since there was nothing going on today (245 days out of the year there is), we were able to drive around part of the track.
We were able to get out and experience the banking on the track, but not the 31 degree bank on the turns.
They take a bunch of pictures of you when you buy your tour tickets (like at amusement parks, etc.), but then you get here, and they’ll use your phone/camera and take pictures of you.
So my question is . . . why buy the other pictures?
This is the media room where they can watch and comment on the race to their various affiliates.
Where they plug in.
We watched a short video about all the races they have here, and also famous people telling the Daytona 500 drivers to start their engines.
That’s where the drivers sit for interviews.
Back out on the track, we saw some work going on as they prepare for the
Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
This is not a NASCAR race, but instead it’s IMSA cars.
You may remember them as we visited an IMSA track while they were holding some practice runs last year in Sebring, Florida.
This is one of the original tunnels.
Until the 2014 remodel, it was the only way on and off the track for trucks, motorhomes, etc.
I don’t think we could’ve fit ours in there!
Now we’re out of the tram and heading inside the stadium through the “Toyota Gate”.
There’s a lot of steps!
But that’s okay, it warmed me up a bit!
Men at work.
There was supposed to be the NASCAR championship winning car here, but for some reason (unknown to Terry), it was missing.
A view from the stands
Not quite a cool as the seat picture I took at Bristol, but still pretty cool, I think. : )
So happy to be here!
An example of various track banks.
They were getting ready to practice tire changes.
After the track tour, we were allowed to view the museum, which also contained some interesting things.
This year’s Daytona 500 winning car.
The driver was Austin Dillon.
This is an example of the 31 degree banking on the track – presumably for all those days when you can’t go out on the track.
This model of car, the Hudson Hornet, won many more times than any other when the races were held on the beach.
Apparently it went good in sand when others got stuck or overheated. : )
There’s more in here than just cars.
It’s called a Motorsports museum.
We don’t have a picture, but there was even an airplane in here and some info on Howard Hughes and the airplane races.
Pictures of them building the Speedway the year Blaine and I were born. : )
That’s a good picture of the original “track” – down the beach, around the hairpin turn, down the road (A1A), around another hairpin and back again.
I can’t remember how many times they went around, but for some reason, I’m thinking four?
It was a step up from the very first race in 1903, when they raced on the beach only.
Remember, this race had to be scheduled during low tide. : )
We were shocked at how early men were driving over 200mph!
Look at the ruts!
This picture was taken in 1936 and is the first organized stock car race).
We thought this was pretty funny!
Wouldn’t fly nowadays though. Too many people Google. : )
This is a dragster.
Note the Christian symbols on it.
This car had a 164″ wheelbase, weighed in at 10, 640 pounds, had horsepower of 2,300 and a top speed of 201mph!
You can’t tell from the picture, but this thing’s a behemoth!
We were there long enough for me to warm up. I got cold riding around on that open-air tram with no coat! I dressed for upper sixties and sunny. That does not include a coat.
I don’t know how he does it, but Blaine seems to always know how long things will take. He told his mom we’d be there around 1:00pm. It was 1:02 when we got back in the Jeep! A short 5-minute drive and up the elevator and we were in their timeshare place.
The view from their balcony.
We just made a quick run out there. It was waaay too cold and windy to enjoy!
Those pools down there? They’re at the neighboring hotel. It’s where Ron and Joan will have to go if they want to enjoy an outdoor pool or hot tub.
Their’s is being worked on.
This is their’s.
Here’s the view from their living/dining room!
Awesome ‘possum!
We spent about five hours visiting. Blaine and I brought dinner to heat up and Blaine even baked a key lime pie from scratch to share. He’s getting so domestic! Soon, I’ll be kicked to the curb.
He also ran out to get new batteries for their car key fobs. I stayed in. No way was I walking around town in the freezing cold again. Plus, I wanted to visit with Joan! He took a couple of pictures while he was out, though.
Pretty sunset!
But as lovely as the visit was, it set my recuperation back. All the talking inflamed my throat/vocal chords again. So now it’ll be back to salt water gargles, rounds of ibuprofen, ricolas and no talking. Sheesh! I have a really hard time with that ‘no talking’ part.