Daytona Beach

Few names conjure up motor sport imagery as much as Daytona does. Frankly why I’m not sure – its still American banked circuit oval motor racing in cars that are no more stock cars than our V8 Supercars.

The Daytona 500 runs for about 3 1/2 hours (thats miles of course) and they just go around in circles. People pay 100’s of dollars to attend and the one race is all they get for the day. Boring!!! However the circuit, billed as an “international” speedway is gi-normous. It seats 105,000 in the one grandstand – no cover, 100 degree heat beating down on you for 3 1/2 hours – Oh the joy of motorsport…..

you’re seeing just half of the grandstand above….

but these are each way from within the grandstand.

There were a few cars out doing driver training, making a lot of noise but seemingly not a lot of speed. Our guide said they would probably only reach 160 as the cars were detuned (ring any bells Bob and Alex)..

The gallery of historical cars was certainly worth a look….

as well as a couple of bikes for George.

Daytona Beach is a resort city. The beach front runs for miles and is just endless condos and resorts and hotels and apartments….

and I guess there is a need as perhaps 200,00 people cram in for the Daytona 500 and several other events at the speedway throughout the year. It was also very busy during the time we were here over school holidays.

The beach isn’t that good although there were a few nice spots as seen from our hotel..

and we also got a fabulous view of an electrical storm on night one…

(a bolt to the right of the building and sheet lightening over the water – have you ever tried to get shots of lightening? It’s very elusive)

Food as we’ve continued to find is crap and overly expensive and I’ll say no more about the eating habits of Americans than their diets are fat.

Daytona Beach is not a place we would rush back to although there are some very attractive swamps ….

and some interesting history…

When you survey the swampland around this site you do begin to wonder WHY!

We were only here for  3 days and it was enough – we’re not beach babes any more so it didn’t have much to keep us. We did see the lighthouse..

and had lunch in a “diner”.