Update For March: This month's magazine features the coverage of two great events here in the sunshine state....the 49th Annual Daytona Turkey Run held over Thanksgiving weekend, and the 35th Annual NSRA Southeast Nationals in Tampa. Both of them have been favorites of ours since the day we started doing the magazine back in August of 1994, but unfortunately it looks as if the 2022 NSRA event in Tampa was the last one ever. You can read more about it on pages 14-18 of this issue, but I just wanted to mention it here and say that it will be missed.
The original fall edition of the Daytona Turkey Run was as good as ever, and they are poised to hit their 50th Anniversary this year in November. That's pretty amazing, considering I am only one year older than this now completely iconic event that over the years grew so much that it was moved inside Daytona International Speedway, and fills the infield area with show cars, cars for sale, swap meet vendors, new parts vendors, food vendors, and more.
All of this of course leads me up to now talking about the Spring Daytona Turkey Run, which is coming up this month on March 24th-26th. It will be the 33rd Annual, and it is second in size only to it's cousin held in the fall, with the spring edition being about half the size.....which still makes it pretty darn huge. One thing I mentioned in last month's column that also sets it apart is that the spring show offers owners the chance to drive their car on the legendary track. It happens starting at 2:00pm on Sunday, and is a parade at slow speeds where you cross the banked start/finish line on the front straightaway. A professional photographer takes a picture as you cross, and you can then buy a copy afterwards by going online and ordering it to be delivered to your home. I've done the parade lap several times in my 1967 Chevy Pickup, and bought the picture (as seen above) to hang on my office wall along with the Official Certificate they also give you for participating. It's makes a neat keepsake.
The weather during March is usually outstanding, and some of the best we'll have all year. So I hope in addition to the Spring Daytona Turkey Run we all get a chance to get out to the many other great car shows and cruise-ins around the state. There are plenty of options to choose from by looking at our huge Coming Attractions and Weekly & Monthly Cruises sections. Hopefully my dad and I will see you out there this month at one of them!
As always, we look forward to seeing everyone at the various events and cruise-ins. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones are a great part of this hobby. Take care, stay safe....and we'll see you on the streets!
-Michael B. Kelly