Entry into Orlando Speedworld Fanzone Stands - the stands offer a fantastic view of the entire track.
We got ourselves all polished up, got the car set up and ready to go racing at Orlando Speedworld
Check out the reading glasses carefully positioned over the sunglasses!!! We're on the road to Orlando, hamming it up, having fun on the way. It's raining very hard, but we don't care too much. We're on vacation.
Stopping for a food/rest break. It's a 22 hour drive from here to there. Our Thursday start time meant we missed the big northern US snow storm.
Fed, rested and ready to get back up on the road Mike, Mandy and Jeremy put up with the intrepid photographer recording our amazing trip south.
Sometimes the photographer is in the photo!!! Mandy wanted to show evidence I was actually there on the trip. We'd just stopped for the night and are now ready to continue our journey. Jeremy, as usual, offering comic relief. Note the flip flops - they lasted 2 days then got replaced with winter boots. Yup, the Canadians got a little chilled down there in Florida.
Early morning light on a toy hauler. This hauler is a typical example of what we saw at the track. We met the driver; he lives in Ohio; his job is to drive the hauler from track to track. Amazing job. That's me standing arms wide open in front of the hauler - huge thing, just huge - not me, the hauler!!!
We're here at Orlando Speedworld, water and power hooked up!!! Our first day at the track. Notice Mandy's flip flops, bare legs - that didn't last long. The temps were typically below 54 degrees.
A Canadian person just needs to wear flips flops outside in February. Mine were soon traded for insulated winter boots. Not only was the air cold, so was the ground. The sun shone for 3 of the 5 days of racing.
We parked just off the track exit - zip off the track, pull a quick left to our pit. The pit area is all paved. Nice spot for the Capital City Speedway truck!!!
Jeremy and Miranda's Capital City Speedway truck was well represented at the entry/exit point of the track. See those clouds - yes, it got wet and colder.
Jeremy, with his very special brand of humour, setting the tone for Mike's run on the track. We're ready, the track is fast, the day cold. The finicky shifter that we'd had to fix is now working better.
Last minute checklist and out you go buddy.
View of the pit area around the corner from where we were parked. Keep going, turn right and you're in the lineup for the track.
Mike going out to test not only the track but his car. Take this pit road to get round to the track entrance.
Lined up at the track entry ready to run Qualifying laps.
Kevin's 55 car on the right, we're in the 59 car just a few behind Kevin. There were about 23 Masters running, 4 or 5 from Canada, some from Nova Scotia, us from Capital City.
Rob Sugrue and Kevin's pit area. They were just across the pit area from our spot. They'd pull out, turn one corner and be in the track lineup.
Now there's the way to do it. Stand back and let the Pit Crew do their thing!!! Kevin, in the red t-shirt looks on as his crew gets the 55 race ready.
Peter and Rob putting the final touches to the very fast 55. Kevin actually ran in front of Clay Hair's 29 car for a few laps!!! Fast - you betcha it was a fast track.
It may look sunny and warm, but it was cold and windy. The track entry/exit can be seen in the bottom right. We got wind burned, blown three ways to Sunday by the wind, but loved our week of racing.
That toy hauler is for 12 year old Grey who runs the 08 Young Lions Legend. He loves it. At 12 he's small enough that his race seat is up on a platform. The young, small drivers sit up straight in the race seat, lots of lead on the bottom to counter balance and make up the minimum weight.
Jeremy and Mandy discuss racing with 12 year old Young Lion race car driver, #08 Grey. He'd got into the wall and came away with a damaged front right. His car Sponsorship includes two crew and lots of spare parts, so young Grey was back on the track in no time.
Sometimes a driver just needs a little siesta!!!
Down came the rain washing out the race day. We got rained out twice.
When it rains, the best thing to do is just hunker down, eat, laugh and get on with the business of enjoying life at the track.
Wet, nasty cold weather. Rain days meant running two days in one - intense but fun. The racers never missed a chance to race - two in one is a lot of racing with two 30 lap Features, but that's why we came all the way here - to get seat time!!!
See, we did this photo as a gag - Mandy is dressed the way we thought we'd be dressed in Florida - tank top and shorts. I'm dressed the way we were dressed in Florida - winter coat, hoodie, winter gloves, insulated winter boots, two pairs of pants, three shirts!!!
Clay Hair's #29 car and hauler on the far right. Clay's the National Champ - he ran the fastest time at the track. The man can drive.
Lots of racers at the Winternationals. 23 Masters in total showed up to have fun racing, as well as almost the same number in the Semi-Pro, Pro and Young Lions classes.
Big haulers, lots of cars, a very successful week.
Young Lions line up in front of a toy hauler prior to entering the track for their Qualifying laps. The best Qualifying lap time places them for the Feature laps.
Kevin at the front, Rob just behind, Mike behind Rob.
The Canadians - 55 Kevin Foisy, 21 Rob Sugrue, 59 Mike Madore
After the rain, the Legends were asked to run the track to try and dry it enough to race. I counted about 80 cars in total.
Corner three/four.
Straight just before corner one.
Corner one/two
Straight on to Corner three/four
Straight into corner three. The wet just runs across the track. You can see water trails across the track and damp at the bottom of the walls.
Yes, that's Mandy in a winter jacket, mitts scarf. Jeremy got into his race suit to stay a little warmer.
LIneups for qualifying. Scott thought he'd be in sunny warm Florida so brought summer cutoffs!!!
We met some young novice drivers. This young lad had old tires, no number on the car but a whole lot of heart. Put a good car under him, and you'd have a strong competitor.
Jeremy helping get the Legends car running, numbered and race ready. They had some car problems that we were able to help them figure out.
Mandy and Mike hamming it up at the movies. When the rain came down in buckets we did what came naturally - went out to play in the rain. The nearest playground was the movie theater - we picked 3D Avatar complete with 3D glasses!!!!
Mandy and Sandi having a good old giggle. Yes, we are in our winter clothes. Did I mention the temp was very cold!!! We didn't care, the movie was great.
A little moisture.
Yeah, the track is wet under a leaden sky. Good thing is - all the cars came out to run the track to get it dry enough for racing. The configuration of the track construction means water collects on the banked corners then runs down and over the track surface.
Notice the water - the track suffered from the rained soaked into the ground leaching out on to the track surface.
Damp and dangerous conditions. We finally got the track dry enough for racing. Just at this corner, though, a bit of water seeped out. One Legend driver was just touching the brake when he hit that little bit of water . The car ended up in the wall. Driver was OK.
All Legends were called out to drive around the track in an attempt to dry it out enough for racing. With 80 cars running we managed to do it, just.
Peter Foisy dressed for Florida.
Young Lion, Grey ready for his Feature event.
What a pretty sight - sun's out and it's time to go racing. Red and white car is Kevin Foisy #55, behind him in the black Legend is Rob Sugrue #21, then the aqua and white car of Mike Madore #59.
Entry point. Exit it the same place but the cars all go off to the left. Our pit is just off the exit point.
Staging the cars for the Qualifier.
A word to the wise and we're all set to go racing.
The strategy of qualifying - we didn't actually get to qualify with Clay Hair in the 29 car. It was fun lining up and thinking about the possibility of running with the fastest car on the track!!!
The Orlando Speedway racing is done and it's time for us to join 100,000 of our closest friends at the Daytona 500!!!
Winter clothes still needed. The day was awfully cold and windy. But, you know what, we didn't care. We were at the Daytona 500 and ready to enjoy it all.
Monstrously huge place. We had great seats just off Corner 1 - the notorious corner. A piece of pavement 17 x 12 x 2 came out of the track between Corner 1 and 2 just below the wall where the NA of the word Daytona is written. 2 1/2 hour delay needed to repair the track and complete the 208 lap race in double overtime.
Mandy and Jeremy at Daytona 500. Yes, the smiles are genuine - we had a good time being part of the Great Race.
It's a big track, huge infield. Terrific venue.
I'm a #9 Kasey Kahne fan - he started in the 4 position, got wrecked in lap 197. #1 car of Jamie McMurray won, Dale Jr. a close second - still not sure how Dale Jr. got from 18th to 2nd. The deep growly sound of the car engines as they race in front of the stands toward Corner 1 really pulls you into the race. Nothing like seeing it live!!!
We have one day left in Florida. Universal Studios playground. No better way to spend a day than on the rides!!!!
Fear Fall - what a rush.
Incredible Hulk roller coaster - it winds around upside down, loops and all imaginable motions all in one roller coaster.
Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster. - there's people in there and they're upside down!!!
What else would two playful boyos do after a day on the roller coaster when there's water and children to play with!!! Water cannons mounted above and below were just too much fun to pass up.
Yup, we got 'em.
See Jeremy, if you hide, you can get them really, really wet!!!!
Yeah, and in the process of getting them wet, we get wet!!! What fun.
Mike and Jeremy playing in the water. They're still trying to better the guys below, also armed with water guns aimed at the upper deck where Jeremy and Mike found these wonderful water guns. You can hide, but you still get wet!!!
Jump, Mike, we can get them from this angle. Mike and Jeremy play water sports - what fun can two boyos have on the last day in Florida!!
Harry Potter section under construction in Feb 2010. Next time we visit Universal, perhaps Hogwarts and the Harry Potter section will be complete..... Oh, boy, can't wait.
