3 Comments on “1960 Florida Swamp Race Video”

1. SteveK March 15, 2017 at 5:39 am

   I used to go to those figure 8 mud races in the late 60s, and by then the place was packed around the track with spectators, and the “Sippy Hole” in front of the Judges’ stand, was so deep the Jeeps would completely submerge out of sight except intake tube and exhaust, or with tires so big and fat they would float. The “buggies” and ‘partial Jeeps’ had gotten built with high HP motors and much faster. That progressed until the “buggies” became missile like air boats with 1000HP on tractor tires and skids and skimmed across the “Sippy Hole” so fast they didn’t even sink and threw up one heck of a mud rooster tail the whole track. Unique!

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2. Joe in Mesa March 15, 2017 at 8:09 am

   I found it interesting that the drivers would stop to get out, step in the mud, get back in and drive off. Must have been some kind of rule or tradition back then. And what was that “jail” cage they were towing? Looked like a fun event back then 🙂

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3. SteveK March 16, 2017 at 4:54 am

   Yes, the rule required ‘ touch the bottom’ then (removed later on) which if only the driver on board, it could be a ‘game changer’ equalizing the field if with difficulties getting going again. I don’t remember seeing the jail trailer in my time. Another tradition for at the end, the overall winner picks up the “Queen of the Swamp” declared during weekday events, and she rides the track in her formal gown and sash, and at the Sippy Hole, gets picked up and dumped into the mud with the driver. The races still go on today at a different track twice a year, March and October, before and after ‘hunting season’. Now that the memory has been stirred up, I might have to try to go see it again for comparison. I can only imagine what the technology improvements are by now…

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