Tri-County Camaros Southwest Florida Chapter

[flyer08]

Lol yea dropping car off this week to get a few new parts added so won't be able to drive it down

[AFCMSGTRET]

The Christmas party was a terrific event!!! Everyone that attended had a blast and nobody left hungry.

Here's a flip-a-gram Jim made:

http://flipagram.com/f/NXHqmjkd54

And some aerial pictures:

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The next club meet will be 1/2 mile shootout (wannagofast.com) 23 - 25 January 2015. Also, block your calendars for 21 February 2015 for an epic Camaro event!

[AFCMSGTRET]

The Christmas party was a terrific event!!! Everyone that attended had a blast and nobody left hungry.

Here's a flip-a-gram Jim made:

http://flipagram.com/f/NXHqmjkd54

And some aerial pictures:

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The next club meet will be the 1/2 mile shootout (wannagofast.com) 23 - 25 January 2015. Also, block your calendars for 21 February 2015 for an epic Camaro event!

[mrvenicess]

Sorry I couldn't make it but the track was calling! Did pretty good too!

[AFCMSGTRET]

Originally Posted by mrvenicess

Sorry I couldn't make it but the track was calling! Did pretty good too!

You were missed, but we were watching the track results on Facebook and were cheering you on. CONGRATULATIONS Entry into the nine second club should be next time, right?

[mrvenicess]

Originally Posted by AFCMSGTRET

You were missed, but we were watching the track results on Facebook and were cheering you on. CONGRATULATIONS Entry into the nine second club should be next time, right?

Thursday test and tune hopefully!

[UF4LIFE102SS]

NEW LG COILOVERS for sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388136

[AFCMSGTRET]

Those that were lucky enough to visit Rick & Kerry's house for the club's third annual Christmas party had a great time as all will surely attest. Thanks again you two for doing such a great job hosting the party and making everyone so happy!


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Our next meet is coming up very quick. We will be going to the half-mile shootout in Ocala (www.wannagofast.com). Here's a brief explanation of the event from the website:

"Florida ½ Mile Private Runway Shootout!! This incredible 2-day event will be held on January 24th and 25th, 2015 at the Beautiful Jumbolair Airport (www.jumbolair.com) located in Ocala FL nestled in the Horse Capital of the World!! Come join us for 2 full days of side-by-side HALF MILE racing at this rare and exclusive location. All of our participants will be given a chance to take their vehicle Top Speed down Jumbolair’s private 7550 ft runway and race door-to-door against the competitor of their choice!! See what it’s finally like to race without the restrictions of speed limits on what is basically your own private proving grounds in Ocala FL!! This event is limited to only 125 cars per day and is sure to sell out quick!! So register today and we promise to make your automotive DREAMS come true!!"

The time to register has passed (slots sold out in less than two hours last November--three of your fellow club members were lucky enough to get reservations) but the weekend will be a lot of fun even if you're not racing. It's an easy four hour drive to Ocala. Matt and Rodney from Florida Speed and Power (FSP) are platinum sponsors of the event and we will have front row seats with them. Some of the fastest cars on the east coast will be thrilling us with speeds in excess of 200 MPH. You may recognize several of the cars running by scrolling through the pictures at https://www.facebook.com/wannagofastllc and https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...0903294&type=1

The following food vendors will be there to keep us well fed: 1. Jr's BBQ 2. Calypso Concessions 3. Newmans Concessions 4. Brusters Ice Cream Ocala 5. PDQ Food Truck and 6. Poppys Food Truck.

I'm not sure if credit cards will be accepted by the vendors, but it's cash only for admission to the event each day: SPECTATORS: Adults: $20/ea (per day) Children 12 and under: $10/ea (per day).

The event address is at:
Jumbolair Airport
1401 NE 77th Street
Ocala FL 34479

We will be staying in Ocala Friday and Saturday nights and there are two host hotels: The Hilton is sold out and the LaQuinta where the Tri-County group will be staying. But as of Saturday morning, 10 January, they had only two rooms left (their phone is 352- 861-1137) (Dustin just told me he's taking one of those). I'm told two other nearby hotels do have rooms available: The Hampton Inn and Country Inn and Suites.

For those wishing to Camarovan from the Fort Myers area we will meet at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant at the intersection of I-75 and Palm Beach Blvd at 11AM on Friday, 23 January. If you'd like to join the group further north, let me know what exit, and your cell number, and I'll let you know the time we'll be passing by.

If you have FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios please bring them as they make for great inexpensive communication between the cars!!! If you don't have the radios, please consider purchasing. Just think, when you're not using them for Camarovans, your kids or grandkids can have fun with them. I bought mine at http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT100...es+midland+gxt, but you can find them even cheaper at several stores including Bass Pro Shop, Walmart, RadioShack, BestBuy, etc.

After the above, we'll stay in town for February, or at least close by Mark your calendars now for Saturday, 21 February 2015. We will be going to the Babcock Ranch in north Lee and south Charlotte Counties. Some of the gang will be camping there overnight. More information will be publicized in early February.

[AFCMSGTRET]

FROM wannagofast.com: HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT! The most legendary Drag Racer of all time....Don Garlits will be attending the Florida 1/2 Mile Shootout at Jumbolair Airport! Don will be on-site and perform an exhibition run is one of his vintage dragsters in addition to signing autographs and selling some incredible "Official" Don Garlits Merchandise.

Big Daddy” Don Garlits Drag Racing Profile
The name “Big Daddy” Don Garlits is synonymous with Drag Racing. In fact, Garlits has been dubbed the “King of the Dragsters,” and could be considered the patriarch of Top Fuel Drag Racing. Don’s high school sweetheart is his wife Pat, however, his first love is the automobile, and his passion is winning. His Swamp Rat series of 34 hand fabricated black racecars carried him to 144 national event wins. Added to his marvelous racing accomplishments is a Florida tourist complex called Garlits Attractions in Ocala, FL. The Drag Racing Museum and Classic Car Collection, 17 World Championship Titles, and numerous racing milestones are all reality because Don first saw them as worthwhile dreams. Garlits’ distinct ability to conceptualize his dreams has allowed him to be master over the end result.
“Big Daddy’s” living legacy and racecar design innovations are so significant that his record breaking Swamp Rat XXX is enshrined in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Don Garlits began racing in 1950 and scored his first major victory in 1955. His first NHRA National event win came in 1963 at the Winternationals in Pomona, CA. Don has won the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals a record 8 times. His four decades of Drag Racing have filled the pages of seven books. Although this list is not exhaustive, the facts below provide a good overview of “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ colorful racing career.
1972 Popular Hot Rod Magazine declared Swamp Rat “The Dragster of the Decade,” 1960-1970.
Voted into Auto Racing All-American Team by the AARWBA -1970,’71,’72,’73,’74,’75,’79,’84,’85,’87
Car Craft Magazines All-Star Team, “Top Fuel Driver of The Year”- 1969,’70,’72,’73,’75,’76,’77,’78,’86
Car Craft Magazines All-Star Team, as “Chassis Builder of the Year,” (Top Fuel) 1970 and 1971
Car Craft Magazines “Man of the Year” - 1969, ’71, ’72, and 1973
Drag News Magazine voted Don as, “Man of the Year” - 1971, 1973, and 1975
American Hot Rod Association (AHRA), “Fuel Driver of the Year” - 1971, ’72, ’73, and 1974
1971 - Presidential Guest at the White House - Also received the Chris Schenkel Award
Founder and President of the Professional Racers Organization (PRO) - 1972, ‘73,’74,’75, and 1976
1973 - Inducted into the Florida Pro Sports Hall of Fame - Race Drivers Hall of Fame, Ontario, CA
1974 - Honorary President of the Cragar 5 -second Club - Motorsports Hall of Fame, Ontario, CA
1975 - Elected to the Goodyear Motorsports Advisory Board - Key to the City of Tampa
1985 - Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega, AL - Received the Sid Collins Award
Received the Keys to the City of Daytona Beach in 1967 - Keys to the City of Las Vegas in 1984
1985 - Chosen by Racers for Christ and NHRA Division 2 as “Person of the Year”
National Hot Rod Association Division 2, “Professional Category Driver of the Year” 1985 and 1986
1989 - Inducted into the National Hot Rod Associations, Southeastern Hall of Fame
1989 - Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame, Novi Michigan
1997 - Inducted into International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega Alabama
1997 - Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame
1999 - Voted Top Ten driver of the Century
1999 - California Cruising Hall of Fame, San Bernardino California
2001 - Returned to the sport, drove Gary Clapshaw's T/F car to 303.37 MPH with an ET of 4.720 Seconds
2001 - Voted the number 1 Drag Racer for the last 50 years by the NHRA
2002 - Took Swamp Rat 34 out of the Museum of Drag Racing, entered it into the NHRA US Nationals and turned a career best of 318.54 MPH in 4.76 Seconds
First Dragster to top 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, 260, and 270 MPH - First to top 200 in the 1/8 mile
17 World Champion Titles, 8 U.S. National Championships, and a total of 144 National Event Wins
These being the highlights, it is no wonder that Chrysler Corporation has continued sponsorship affiliation with Don for over 40 years. Today, Don and Pat make their home on the grounds of the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum. They raised two daughters while traveling all over our nation on tour, and they now have five grandchildren. Don currently coordinates the vehicle restorations for the museum, he is a broadcast commentator for a variety of networks, and he enjoys consulting for some Top Fuel Race Teams. Due to an unquenchable burning desire to win, Don would consider returning to Top Fuel involvement if the right corporate partnership is committed. Technology has driven the cost of fielding a competitive Pro Fuel Team well into the seven-figure range. The hard work ethic and personal determination is what has separated Garlits from his counterparts. His human spirit is larger than life and his purpose keeps him young, pushing him above and beyond. Don Garlits has no comprehension of mediocrity! To prove he could still do it, during the NHRA 2001 US Nationals held during Labor Day in Indianapolis IN, Big Daddy borrowed a Top Fuel car and entered it into this prestigious event. Don qualified the car with a personal best of 303.37 MPH in 4.720 seconds! Then in 2002 he resurrected Swamp Rat 34 from the Museum and updated its equipment. SR-34 ran the US Nationals with a speed of 318.54 MPH in 4.76 seconds.

[slvrsrpnt]

Have a blast at the Ocala airstrip, sounds like a great time.
I'll hook up with you good folks for the Babcock ranch trip.

[reddeadg8]

i was born and raised in Ocala. I might make it down to see the races on Saturday. I have been to Don Garlits Museum more than a few times!

If you're looking for good food and environment I recommend Mojo Grill at 2015 Southwest 17th Street, Ocala, FL 34471

[AFCMSGTRET]

Several club members had a very enjoyable weekend participating, and as spectators, and socializing at the Florida 1/2 Mile Shootout at Jumbolair Airport in Ocala last month.



I wish more of you could have experienced the event and the hotel get-togethers. We were fortunate to witness a new 1/2 mile top speed record being set. Those of us that drove the 1/2 mile can tell you "it don't get no better than that!"



Jim made an excellent "flip a gram" you can enjoy at http://flipagram.com/f/PoNG7BPWa2

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Now it's time for another great club event suggested and planned by your fellow club members. If you are a Camaro enthusiast, and want to be part of a club full of really great people, I can personally guarantee this is an event you don't want to miss.

On Saturday, 21 February 2015, the club will be going to the Babcock Ranch and having fun at the Cecil M. Webb Shooting Range (http://myfwc.com/media/1369627/CecilWebb_brochure.pdf).

The range is located on Tuckers Grade at Rifle Range Road. We will "Camarovan" from the Cracker Barrel Restaurant at the intersection of I-75 and Palm Beach Blvd.

Please be there no later than 8am on Saturday.

If you have FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios please bring them as they make for great inexpensive communication between the cars!!! Several club members already have the radios and if you don't have them yet, please consider purchasing. Just think, when you're not using them for Camarovans, your kids or grandkids can have fun with them. I bought mine at http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT100...es+midland+gxt, but you can find them even cheaper at several stores including Bass Pro Shop, Walmart, RadioShack, BestBuy, etc.

The plan for the day will be socializing and picnicking near the range. Some will also enjoy an overnight camping experience; so you may want to bring your camping gear and everything you'll need to make that fun. For those not planning to spend the night it's suggested you bring a picnic lunch, sunscreen, lawn chairs, portable awnings, drinks, etc.

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Those that have firearms can also enjoy the firing range; so bring what you have with plenty of ammo, ear/eye protection, paper targets, etc., and get ready for some fun!

Your club will also be planning a trip to the Keys for early spring. Please come to the event on the 21st with your ideas and desires!!!

In addition to the above, we will be sending out information soon on possibly another dyno day at Florida Speed and Power in Bradenton in March (nothing firm on that yet) and Pony Wars in Valdosta GA, 17 - 19 April 2015 (more info is posted now at http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=392299).

See you in a few days!

[perfucto]

I am new to the area. Is this the address for the Cracker Barrel you are meeeting at on 2/21?
Cracker Barrel
4260 Boatways Road
FORT MYERS, FL 33905-2754

[AFCMSGTRET]

Originally Posted by perfucto

I am new to the area. Is this the address for the Cracker Barrel you are meeeting at on 2/21?
Cracker Barrel
4260 Boatways Road
FORT MYERS, FL 33905-2754

Yep, that's the one. We'll be in the south parking lot at 8am. Hope to see you then