ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – When you think of car racing, Daytona Beach probably comes to mind.
However, another city in Volusia County, Ormond Beach, lays claim to being the birthplace of speed. This historic location is where the land speed record was first set.
Walking along Ormond Beach, one might not realize the rich history lying beneath the seashells and soft sand. More than 120 years ago, in 1903, this beach served as a racecourse for automobiles at a time when America had few paved roads.
[COME WATCH US: WKMG-TV to broadcast live from Ormond Beach on Wednesday, Feb. 19]
Dan Smith from the Motor Racing Heritage Association in Ormond Beach explains that the beach was ideal for racing due to its gentle slope and unique quartzite sand, which packed beautifully. Unlike other beaches made of crushed shells that would damage tires, Ormond Beach’s sand provided a perfect racing surface.
At the turn of the century, miles of paved roads were nonexistent. Around 1900, more than 200 inventors across North America sought to create the first successful automobile, but they needed a place to test their creations. For many, Ormond Beach was the ideal location.
Henry Flagler, owner of the nearby Ormond Hotel, offered a winter vacation spot for wealthy friends like Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, the Vanderbilts, and John Rockefeller to showcase their expensive and fast automobiles.
The first race in Volusia County featured two cars, and today, visitors can experience a piece of this storied past at a replica of the original Ormond Garage. This garage, built by Henry Flagler, allowed his millionaire friends to store and repair their racecars.
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Barney Oldfield, one of the most famous race drivers of the early days, set numerous records on Ormond Beach. When people refer to it as the “birthplace of speed,” they mean the world land speed record. Sixteen major records were set here, with the first reaching 60 miles per hour.
The following year, Vanderbilt set a record at 92 miles per hour, and by 1906, a steam car reached 126 miles per hour, astonishing everyone.
This legacy lasted until 1958 when Big Bill France of NASCAR fame took over. France realized the need for a speedway to prevent people from sneaking in to watch races for free. And as they say, the rest is history.
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