Okay, since you asked, we love these tours too but think they are too expensive. You can say you saw it here first, as next week we are announcing the Classic Motorsports Orange Blossom Tour, at about half the price those other guys charge. The website is not active yet, so don't go there.
Join the staff of Classic Motorsports magazine, March 15-19th, 2010 for a classic car tour of old Florida. We want to show you our neighborhood on this reasonably priced, all inclusive, low-key tour of Florida. Limited to just 30 cars, this tour will start the morning after the Ameila Island Concours and get you to Sebring in time for the annual 12 hour endurance race. The weather is perfect here and as we live here, so we know the best roads and the secret places to see that most tourists to our state drive right by.
Sure we’ll have plenty of car stuff, insider private collection deals and car people, but man can not live by cars alone (okay, some of us can), so our aim is to show you the true history and natural beauty of our state as well. Priced accordingly and very reasonably at $2995 per couple (with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Amelia Island Foundation, This tour is open to everyone, whether you drive a Triumph Spitfire or a Ferrari Testarossa, we want to meet you and show you around. Our own staff will be driving the project cars you see on the pages of Classic Motorsports every issue and will be your tour guides. Two expert mechanics, an EMT, substitute cars in case yours breaks, and on site towing are all included so you can rest east and enjoy the trip.
Day 1
From Amelia Island, we’ll head south by Ferry to our first stop at the Brumos Porsche private collection, where famous racing driver, Hurley Haywood will give us a private tour. From there, enjoy a charming lunch on the famous inland waterway and then over to the St. Johns river for some of the prettiest roads in Florida. After a stop in famous St. Augustine we will head to the offices and car collection of Classic Motorsports magazine. Dinner that evening is at the Plaza (right on Daytona Beach), where we will be staying. Our guest speaker will be automotive racing legend; Peter Brock. Dress for the entire tour is casual, but tonight will be retro-night, so bring an outfit that matches the period your car is from.
Day 2
Day 2 starts with a visit with the Legends of Autoracing. This group that will include the likes of Marvin Panch and Ray Fox will tell us all about the start of NASCAR and racing on the beach at Daytona.
After perhaps a little surprise from the World Center of Racing, we head to Ocala and horse farm country. We’ll stop for lunch at one of Classic Motorsports publishers, Tim And Margie Suddard’s favorite “locals only” restaurant and then to the Classic Motorsports test track, where you will be able to see where all our car testing is done and try your hand to see how your car compares. Don’t be surprised if we have a few special cars for you to try out as well. We'll stay at the Ocala Hilton that evening and have dinner with a special guest.
Day 3
We"ll start at the Don Garlits museum, where drag racing legend, Don Garlits, will most likely give us the tour himself. This collection has not only some of the most famous drag racing cars in the world, but a cool collection of other cars as well. Lunch will be at the famous Lakeridge Winery in Clermont Florida. From there we will go to Mount Dora, do some shopping in the famous antique stores which are walking distance from our hotel, the famous old Lakeside Inn. You’ll have some free time this evening to enjoy St. Patricks Day on your own, but many of us will be enjoying a Scotch and a story or two in the famous old bar that evening.
Day 4
Day 4 starts at the fountain of youth. DeLeon Springs is famous for being the legendary fountain of youth that Ponce DeLeon sought. Today it is a state park, famous for its swimming (so don’t forget your suit) and a pancake house that resides in a sugar mill from the 1500s!
We will probably be too stuffed for lunch, but we will make our way through the curviest hill country in Florida back to Mount Dora where we will take a nature boat cruise through Central Florida’s unique freshwater canal system. From there we head south to Lakeland were we will stay at the newly restored and absolutely beautiful Lakeland Terrace Inn.
Day 5
From Lakeland we head to the little known, but absolutely fantastic, Fantasy of Flight museum and air show. This art deco recreation has dozens of amazing antique planes and cars and if the weather is nice, which it always is in Florida in March, you can take a flight in a 1929 Stearman bi-plane.
Lunch will be a surprise and then we really get into the orange blossom country as we head down curvy, hilly Rt. 17A to Sebring where we will end out tour with a look at the private hanger and collection of planes and cars of legendary Group 44 team owner, Bob Tullius.
Full details and entry form at ClassicMotorsports.Net/orange-blossom-tour
Or call Classic Motorsports at: (800) 520-8292