Day Trip to Daytona Beach

We started our day by going to AAA for several Florida City Maps....Nice and huge place.

The AAA ladies here were very helpful.

We had a nice drive to Daytona Beach....

Our first destination was the Daytona International Racetrack.   I did not think it would be such a huge place.  When I looked at the brochure, I did not think we would take the tour but once here, we just had to take the tour.   We were both amazed!  It's an awesome place to visit.

Silly me, I was thinking of the Corpus Christi Racetrack. We used to go there as we were growing up.  My Dad used to be the head mechanic for one of the Corpus Christi Race Car Drivers, Mr. John Rollins. As my Dad worked on his car, we would enjoy the race. Mr. Rollins was a well known Race Car Driver. Nice memories.

We got a senior + military discount.  This area is really good about giving military discounts.  The RV Park where we are staying honor those who served by giving a military discount, too.   That is nice.

Manuel stands right outside the entrance.  Dale Earnhardt stands to the right!

 

This was ONE Great Victory Leader!  He had 43 Wins before he died at Daytona. His bronze gloves rest above this plaque.

      

The Pettys are very popular in this area, too.

 

We board the trolley and off we go on our tour of this huge facility.

We are about to enter the two way tunnel....

We walk the grounds.

These guys pay several hundred dollars to ride the race cars....

A couple of the riders with their instructor before they board...

The uniforms worn are to the left, the helmets to the right.

The cars are ready.....

This is such an impressive place!

 

The stadium is about 1 mile long on one side and about half a mile on the other...

A view of the track to the left and the stadium on the right.

The drivers racing by.....they are loud and it was only six cars at a time.  I can only imagine the noise on Race Days.

They almost fly by!

They have a camping world on the grounds of Daytona.

They have about 3 RV Parks on the grounds with full hookups.

Some of the garages....

 

More of the grounds....

We are so glad that we decided to tour this Race Track!

 

For a nice amount of $$$$ Mr. Petty will ride or drive with you.

 

We are sitting on Seat 1, Section N.   Front row seats!!!  That would be awesome in a race.

More of the Stadium....I am so amazed at the size of this stadium.

Some of the cars on display...

This is like a jet race car ...can't remember what it is called.

Daytona International Race Track.....what an awesome place.   Brother, I can imagine what it felt like to be at a race here.   I saw that on your blog.   You were here with your boys!  Dad, would have loved it here, don't you think!  You were his mechanic helper in Corpus!!!  You were so young....Love the memories.

Then we head out to the Daytona Beach.

More to come....