There are few more enjoyable pastimes for a rod or custom enthusiast than spending a weekend at their favorite car show. Certain shows get to be our favorites because of what they offer. Some have great collections of vehicles, others have good swap meets, while still others attract large groups of vendors. Some even have a little bit of all three.
There is one show in Florida, however, that has a lot of all three and has become a legend over the past three decades. The Turkey Run, held during Thanksgiving weekend at the Daytona International Speedway, has been drawing capacity crowds for 32 years because it provides more of what you go to a show for. There are no classes, no judging, and no pressure-just four days of fun.
The Turkey Run always has a huge collection of vehicles; the 2005 event filled the track with more than 5,000 colorful cars. If you were interested in parts for your project vehicle, more than 3,000 merchants were on hand, providing everything you needed and probably a few things you never imagined. From dashboard knobs and manuals to car lifts and outdoor steel buildings, you could find them at the Turkey Run, and most offered a choice of colors. You say it's time to trade the old sheetmetal in your garage? The Car Corral had more than 1,100 vehicles looking to change hands, making the Turkey Run one of the busiest custom car lots in the country. Add the fourth element of camaraderie, and you begin to understand why this show is so popular.
Even though the spectator count exceeded 100,000 people, the event never felt overcrowded and everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy the show. The daily door prize giveaways created even more smiles, with folks taking home some major items. The raffle car, this time a beautiful red '63 Nova, is also an annual highlight. Money raised from the tickets allows the host club, the Daytona Beach Street Rods, to continue its 30-year tradition of supporting Volusia County charities. This year, the children of the Special Olympics were their main focus. Martin Chadsey was glad he made a contribution to the cause since he held the winning ticket and got to drive his new car back to his home in Cromwell, Connecticut.
If you'd like to be part of a three-decade tradition, put the 2006 Daytona Turkey Run on your calendar now. If you're in Florida in the springtime, check out the second-largest show in the state, the annual Spring Daytona Beach Car Show and Swap Meet held March 24-26, 2006. For more information on either show, check out the Web site, www.daytonabeachcarshows.com.