Moving to Ft. Myers, FL. What's going on PT-wise down there?

[Toadman]

Relocating from NW Indiana to Ft. Myers. DONE with the midwest!! Guess I've been pretty fortunate to be located reasonably close to quite a few tracks and events: Motor State, Heidt's, Road America, Putnam Park... Even if I don't participate, I try to attend as much as I can. So SW Florida people, what's happening down there? I know that I won't be too far from Sebring, but, other than local SCCA autocross, is that it?

[lzdick]

I'm told alligator wrestling is fun...LOL

[06RangerSTX]

I lived there for a short while... Mostly kids with import cars... Autocross has a large following, that is about all I have seen... The area was hit really badly when the economy tanked... I have been trying to move back to the area for quite some time and have not found any "Good" paying jobs.

[jy211]

there's a 1/8 mile track in Immokolee - 45 mins away. There's a 1/4 mile track and road course in West Palm Beach - 2 hours away

I think there's a track in Bradenton. You'll be on the west coast of Florida, maybe someone else can chime in about the area. I'm in Miami.

There's hog hunts, alligator hunts etc. Great fishing fresh or salt water

[BMR Sales]

You've Got Sebring to the NE, Palm Beach International to the East (across Alligator Alley), Homestead to the SE across the Alley, a DragStrip in Bradenton. I know there is a good Auto-X area in Naples. There was a Goodyear Tire Test Track that was just east of Naples that was sold, but I don't who bought it or if there any events there.

You've also got Swamp-Buggy Racing in Naples

You have two Great Museums near you - The Collier Museum in Naples & Muscle Car City just North of Ft Myers

T.C.

[DarkBuddha]

Sorry I'm late to the show here... I'm up in Sarasota, about an hour north of Ft. Myers. The good news is there's a decent, if small, car scene in Ft. Myers, though I can't speak to the p-t scene specifically. To be honest, there are a lot of lawn-chair "cruzen to the oldies" type rides and events down here. That said, you'll be very glad to hear there is an extremely excellent local autocross club that runs monthly events at an old airfield right in Ft. Myers, called Gulf Coast Autcrossers: http://gulfcoastautocrossers.com/

And there are a few facebook groups that are dedicated to the scene in southwest Florida. I semi-organize a decent sized group up in Sarasota, and we have lots of members from down south-ish, so you might join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SRQCDE/

Hopefully if there are enough of us in the area, we can get together periodically.

[NOT A TA]

I'm over on the East coast but have run at the Bradenton dragstrip which is good. Palm Beach International is not far for me with a road course and drag strip, both are good but my Favorite FL track so far is the long course at Sebring. I ran the 1 mile LSRs out at Dade/Collier airport but they haven't been issuing permits for races there the past year or two, dunno if they will again. I've yet to run Homestead or Daytona road courses but they're on my bucket list.

Keep in mind our "season" is kind of opposite of up north. There's lots going on all winter long and you'll see all manner of old cars, exotics, etc. being driven in regular traffic every day all winter.

[BMR Sales]

That said, you'll be very glad to hear there is an extremely excellent local autocross club that runs monthly events at an old airfield right in Ft. Myers, called Gulf Coast Autcrossers: http://gulfcoastautocrossers.com/

.

I don't know why I was thinking that Buckingham Field was in Naples instead of Ft Myers - definitely a good place to A/X

[DarkBuddha]

I've autocrossed with them a few times, and they run efficient and fun events. I ALWAYS enjoy it. They also run a test & tune and novice school on the Saturday before the Sunday points events, which is cheap, fun, and functional.

[DarkBuddha]

I forgot to mention that there is a great cars & coffee event down in Naples, which is about 45 minutes south.

[Toadman]

Thanks so much guys! Looking forward to the longer driving season for sure! The Gulf Coast Autocrossers sounds right up my alley! Although I've told my wife that I'm gonna stay off of the big tracks for awhile, I'm pumped to get out to Sebring! Hope to avoid much that involves alligators...

[ho428]

There's also the Muscle Car Museum in Punta Gorda, they have cruise in's quite often, might be a place to meet people.
NASA runs at Sebring a couple times a year if you wanted to get on track with Hyperdrive, HPDE or Time Trials.

[72'Monte]

The last Sunday of the month the Muscle car museum has a swap meet. I live in ft myers, fl

[chevnut55]

I am moving to hernano beach in a few weeks ,I found the best thing is to go to a car event and get fliers and talk to people with cars like yours.
I talked to pt guys, vette guys, and drag race guys and got some info, but I bet I will get people coming to me once Im driving my cars around.
Can not wait to drive my cars while family and friends are looking out the window at snow.