Orlando Speed World Dragway

[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.

[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

[Greg Hill]

I also have a great memory of Orlando. In 1999 at the national open I was the number 1 qualifier, set the I/SA record and won the race. First time I ever met Chuck Bohannon . He won super stock and I won stock. At the end of the day we were the only ones left on the property.

[Jeff Jewell]

I guess this will be a collector's item. Won it at the open in the early 2000s with Lloyd MacKay's Buick.

Jeff Jewell