Orlando Speedworld

[carrieanne]

Has anybody done this DH is a motor racing fanatic and would like to see any US racing. How easy is to to get there and is it worth going?

[georgemac]

he may enjoy the simulators at need for speed beside old town on the 192 then - we thought they were good fun.

[purpleprincess]

Weve been looking at the Richard Petty Driving Experience near Magic Kingdom, my OH would love ago at this next year so if anyone has any info I too would like any feed back

[FLGirl-UKNow]

Orlando Speedworld is a place (as my Dad says) for the good ole boys! ;) It is located east on Colonial Drive (also known as 50) as you head towards Cocoa Beach.

I grew up going to the races with my Dad on Friday night. This is where we would go. It is a great place for stock car racing. You will need to have cash as they don't do credit cards. They do have limited food/beverage. I also recommend that you bring a blanket (towels will work) or some type of cushion to sit on. They have bleacher (wood board) seating so it can get a little uncomfortable on the bum after a bit. ;)

I took my DH to this track when we moved over from London and he had a great time. He did have a laugh when he went to the bathroom. The doors were shower curtains!! :erm: Like, I said above.....a place for good 'ole boys! :grin:

The other option is New Smyrna's track which is a bit further to get to and it is the next step up in size and type of racing. There is also a track in Volusia County that is dirt and they race

Orlando Speedworld Schedule (http://www.orlandospeedworld.org/html/schedule.shtml)

New Smyrna Schedule (http://newsmyrnaspeedway.org/html/schedule.shtml)

Volusia Speedway Schedule (http://www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com/schedule.htm)

[FLGirl-UKNow]

This is a picture of a friend of mine at the Volusia Track. They race different types there but these are a favorite to watch:

http://i22.tinypic.com/xbydl4.jpg

[tonio]

this has been good information, thanks people. I will try and go next august, dont know which one yet, but it seems great fun

toni

[Suzie&Stuart]

Yeehaaaa, stockcar racing .......my favourite subject.

Tracks are easy enough to find and yes they are well worth it for any petrolhead.

I have been to Sunshine Raceway [now unfortunately closed] twice, New Smyrna Speedway near Daytona and East Bay Raceway which is near Tampa.
Personally when watching racing in the US, I tend to go for the bigger tracks. Orlando Speedway is quarter mile oval if I remember rightly whereas New Smyrna is half mile oval. I also tend to go to the tar tracks rather than the clay tracks. This is because of the number of cautions that can occur during a race, for instance it took 2 1/2 hours to run a 35 lap sprint car race on the dirt at East Bay, whereas at New Smyrna where the track is tarmac , cautions and race stoppages where at a minimum.
The difference in race surfaces is just my own personal preference, please dont be put off going to a dirt track if that is what you actually want to see.
Another very popular dirt track is Volusia Speedway, again not too far from the Orlando area.

My favourite cars are the Winged Sprints, they are absolutely mindblowingly fast, as are the Open Wheel Modifieds and the Late Model racecars. The pic added on the post by FLGirl-UK Now is a Mini Sprint, same shape as a proper sprint car but smaller and not as powerful. Still good to watch nevertheless.
Some good novelty racing as well. Have seen a brilliant 54 car demolition derby at Sunshine as well as a 21 vehicle school bus race on a figure 8 track.
Contact is not the norm in US racing and the fans do get a bit excited when drivers start nudging and rubbing, but even without the contact like we get here in the UK, its still a great experience.
You will also find you are pretty much the only Brits at the track as, without wanting to cause any offense, stockcar racing in the US is generally a "Redneck" sport and the tracks are normally filled with locals. Another reason I love going to the tracks over there as its just great mixing it with the locals and being involved in something that is totally American. We go to the baseball games as well,lol.
I notice from the OP coundown the trip will be late Oct/Early November. A good time to catch some racing especially with the drier weather at that time of year. The Americans will not race in the wet. I had a trip to Auburndale Raceway planned for last July, but had to cancel that trip out because of wet weather.
Another tip, dont go in shorts and tees at that time of year as most of the tracks are out in the open and the temps can get a bit cool later in the evening.
I find this site chasinracin.com invaluable when finding racing in the US. This link is the Florida part of the site, http://www.chasinracin.com/track-locator/states/fl.shtml just click on the coloured dots as they represent the tracks. Some have sites and some dont, but most of the bigger tracks do.

Any more info , just PM me.

PS, I have done the Richard Petty Ridealongs at both WDW Speedway and at Daytona Speedway.

Stuart

[Suzie&Stuart]

Found these on Youtube, just a taste of what to expect

Sportsmans racing at Orlando Speedworld. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKm5YSlB--I&mode=related&search=

Sprintcars at New Smyrna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNqADK6QADg&mode=related&search=modified%20racing

Open Wheeled Modifieds at New Smyrna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6l_DpDexeU&mode=related&search=modified%20racing


Dirt track racing at Volusia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P597WEffxJM&mode=related&search= I just gotta go here sometime.

Stuart

[FLGirl-UKNow]

If you look at the sprint cars on the You Tube Volusia link that will show you what my friend races. Volusia is a great track and the closest for dirt.

This week at Orlando they have fan racing. It is never a dull moment!! ha!

[tonio]

great info again, thanks everyone


toni

[carrieanne]

Thanks for your info l will have to get DH to read it. l wanted to book Richard Petty's ride along but at the time he didn't seem too keen but things can change in a year.Sorry l did not reply earlier but l have been at work.

[Suzie&Stuart]

Thanks for your info l will have to get DH to read it. l wanted to book Richard Petty's ride along but at the time he didn't seem too keen but things can change in a year.Sorry l did not reply earlier but l have been at work.

Carrieanne, you dont need to book Richard Petty Ridealongs, just turn up at the track. Other driving programmes will no doubt need to be booked in advance.
Ridealongs are daily at WDW. Might be a good idea to do this early one morning when making a visit to MK.
Daytona has chosen days for ridealongs, so you need to check out their schedule carefully.
Dont forget, they wont run in the wet as they dont have the wet weather tyres for it.

Stuart