Swamp Buggy Winter Classic Time Trials
Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009
Time: 12:30 pm
Location: Florida Sports Park Naples
One of the most unique motorsports events on the planet!
ABC Sports Announcer, Jim McKay, first brought the world's attention to the Swamp Buggy Races on ABC's Wide World of Sports.
Remember?
What's so unique about it?
Well, they race the cars in swamp water filled race course.
The track is a figure eight style affectionately called the Mile O' Mud by race fans.
There are two Sippy holes on the track. In the Sippy holes, the ground drops precipitously. A real treat is to see the Jeep class chug through the Sippy hole, sometimes with only the very top of the buggies visible above the water line!
Why is the Sippy hole called the Sippy hole? According to local legend, a driver in the early days of Swamp Buggy racing named Sippy Morris (a name he was given because he hailed from Mississippi) was known to just about always get stuck in the track's signature depression. Thus, the legend lives on!
The first races started to take place around 1943, featuring a dozen or so local hunters racing only for the pride of finishing ahead of their neighbors. The competitive nature of Collier pioneers soon began to expand, more and more hunters got involved, and by the late forties, 30 to 40 would-be racers would gather the week before hunting season to race for the valued prize, usually a new shotgun donated by local merchants.
There are several classes of races from modified jeeps to prototype, custom-built race buggies with hundreds of horse power.
Swamp Buggy racing is a family event and the race facility has parking, rest rooms, concessions, grand stands, etc. for the fans enjoyment.
Each weekend event is usually preceded by a Swamp Buggy Parade in downtown Naples. Adding to the fun a Swamp Buggy Queen is appointed and is one of the local high school girls on her way to the Miss Universe title.
As part of her many perks being Queen the driver that wins the overall competition not only gets a kiss from the Queen but also gets to jump into the Sippy Hole with her to climax the weekend festivities!
The Time Trials serve as the qualifying event for Sunday's Big Race! Tickets are $6.00 (includes parking) for persons 13 and older.
Children 12 and younger are free!
Gates open at 10:30 am and the trials begin at 12:30 pm.
Advance tickets for the Sunday Winter Classic must be purchased on or before January 24, 2009.
Event is held rain or shine - sorry, no refunds!
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