Orlando Speed World Dragway

[Carl Weisinger]

Originally Posted by tommy d

My brother Scott used to race there all the time. He loved that place. Ive' got a picture of him racing my car down there and it makes me smile everytime that I walk by it. R.I.P....Scott Dillman..been like 12 years now,seems like yesterday.

Scott Dillman. What a nice man. The girls at the front gate were all hot and bothered over that handsome devil. He would always make them smile. But, never more than he did when, while waiting in line for the track to open one Saturday, he was fishing in the very small canal by the front gate and fell in. Feeling no need to try and hide it, everyone saw it anyhow, he simply drove up there to buy his tech card with him and his money fully soaked. We miss him too.

I'm going to look the next time I'm at the office, but I think I have the last tech card he ever signed somewhere near my computer.

[SCOTT SST2871]

I raced scott first round the last time he raced the chevy ii at orlando and i still have the yellow "in memory of" letter that carl and diane gave out a couple races later

[James Perrone]

Carl
Ive only been to Orlando afew times ..But it was always a pleasure racing at your track.
Gonna miss that trip ..Good luck in the future James

[jeff coyne]

Carl, as a div1 guy i always enjoyed the dec. and march trips down south. I have my "class winner" licence plate hanging in the "man cave" thanks for the good times..

[Myron Piatek]

I remember the old "tower" on the right side. Almost afraid to go in - more like an old storage shed on stilts! lol They still had handwritten ET slips in 1978. Dropped down a chute, I believe.

Orlando has, what I believe, is an interesting distinction. In 1980, Orlando ET racers won at the Gainesville division ET finals in 3 car classes - Super pro, Pro and either Heavy or Street. I forgot if motorcycle was in there as well but hopefully Carl can refresh my memory. But I'm proud to say that I was in Pro ET, Ann Tillman was in Heavy or Street and a gentleman in a clean, silver '69(?) Camaro was in S/P (forgot his name). So we all got to attend the FIRST NHRA World Championship race for bracket cars in Ontario, CA. at the World Finals. None of us won, but it was fun and kinda cool to be from the same track and among the first to attend NHRA's first try at having ET world champions.

[KEN BUGAJ]

Originally Posted by Carl Weisinger

First of all I want to give a giant "thank you" to everyone that has supported the operation of Orlando Speed World Dragway during the last 25 years.

Because of confidentiality agreements I just can't comment or speculate on the future of the Orlando Speed World property other than to say, at this time, there are no drag strip events on the schedule beyond December of 2012. And, I don't know of any firm offers to buy the property.

There are a few things I can tell you. I personally plan to retire from the active drag strip operation of Orlando Speed World Dragway at the end of 2012.

I am not, nor do I expect to be, the owner or part owner of Lakeland Drag Strip.

While I may go to our home in Oregon for extended periods of time next year, I have no intention of returning there to operate the drag strip at the Jackson County Sports Park.

There is no "serious rift" between myself and the Hart family (owners of Orlando Speed
World and New Smyrna Speedway). They wouldn't own the Speed World property today
if it weren't for me and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to operate Orlando Speed World Dragway for the last 25 years if it weren't for them.


Best to all of you,

Carl Weisinger

PS. I'd love to see any old pictures you may have taken at Central Florida Dragway/Orlando Speed World Dragway between 1966 and 1985.

Carl old Buddy Good Luck and take care, You have well earned the time off !!!
Ken

[SCOTT SST2871]

[QUOTE=Myron Piatek;340679]I remember the old "tower" on the right side. Almost afraid to go in - more like an old storage shed on stilts! lol They still had handwritten ET slips in 1978. Dropped down a chute, I believe.

MYRON THEY STILL HAD THAT TOWER AND CHUTE IN 83' WHEN I STARTED RACING THERE.I STILL HAVE SOME TIME SLIPS

[Myron Piatek]

[QUOTE=SCOTT SST2871;340708]

Originally Posted by Myron Piatek

I remember the old "tower" on the right side. Almost afraid to go in - more like an old storage shed on stilts! lol They still had handwritten ET slips in 1978. Dropped down a chute, I believe.

MYRON THEY STILL HAD THAT TOWER AND CHUTE IN 83' WHEN I STARTED RACING THERE.I STILL HAVE SOME TIME SLIPS

lol I lost track of how long it was before they built the new (current) tower. Of course, they had a 5 amber tree in '78 also. Always enjoyed watching the class cars at the Turkey Trots and when the Mopar Missile showed up.

That's also where they filmed the drag racing scenes from the movie Parenthood with Steve Martin. He wasn't there, but "Oppie" (Ron Howard) was there directing. The Mopar Missile Duster and Hog's Breath Vega were paired up in one clip as well as me and my car in the staging lanes in another scene. Got to be an "extra" for 2 nights. I think they fired up a jet car in the pits for another shot! It was around 1989-'90.

[Joe Pinkston]

That old "tower" on stilts was there in 1986 when I first went there. This also was the last track I raced at that still had a 5 amber tree when the switch was made to the 3 amber tree.




Hey Dan Moore, you're #1.

RIP Mark Graham & WB Hutto

[SCOTT SST2871]

My car was in the lanes also,and i got a thank you letter copy from ron howard