Swamp Buggy Race.

The engines are howling at 7000 rpm. The stands are packed. The cars explode in the mud, rises to the surface and the crowd disappears behind a 150 yard plume of whipped waters. Former ace Ray Thornton 66 years is making a comeback after 12 years of absence, and the crowd roars. Worldkustoms readers, for whom only the best is enough, must of course meet Ray. by Lars Krantz

Click on the pictures. Bad ass  to explore each screw.

Barefoot, Bobby Williams rolls to start. Pro Mod.

Swamp Buggy Race is probably the craziest I’ve seen.

Weird cars are boats with skis.

 

 

 

Thin, home made bodies with wheels like licorice rolls and a form of competition that’s about not getting water in the distributor. So wacky wonderful.

It is 85 degrees below the clouds. The area smells  swamp, race gasoline and Pulled Pork. National Anthem sung by a local capability, Americans cheering and Sunday can begin.

Down into the muddy water we go. Two V8-equipped amphibians with cigar bodies and spindly tractor tires.

The engines are revving up, flag falls and the cars fly out side by side, round the island in a right turn, comes back side by side while the audience stands up.

First to the winner’s flag wins. No timing. No finish line cameras. No laser. Only a big beautiful  show for the hell of it.

Outer curve, deafening top speed and skidding on the water.

Look at that  …. thing !! Troy Ortega will win the finals today in his  class.  

The classes consist of two or four wheel drive 4, 6 or 8 cylinders and the Jeep class. Pairings done with numbered golf  balls in a soft bag. Worldkustom get access to the depot. Come along.

In the pit we meet father and son Ray and William Thornton from Naples.

Their buggy is a rear wheel drive with five feet high tires, nine inch Ford rear axle and an Power Glide tranny from GM. The gearing is frightful 24.0 1.

The motor is a souped up Mercruiser four cylinder ​​241 ci with Chevy head and 12.5: 1 Chevy Pistons giving 390 horses. Running on 116 octane and revving 7300 rpm through the entire race.

William Thornton is an electrician. You can construct whatever. The hubs in the front he has machined himself.

I rev. 7300 when flooring it, says the son William who have been driving for  the last twelve years. The key is to find a good track, have the skis properly positioned and the courage to hammer it.

His dad Ray started doing this in 1978. In 2002 he became a mechanic for his  son but today he will make a comeback behind the wheel at 66.

The team, which is substantially family, laughs gently.

The cars next are owned by friends and everyone gets around and help each other.

The Cold Duck is called to start.

The son checks the latest things and the father takes place behind the wheel. Throttle on the floor, it’s a car remember, shift lever and brake. The nitro switch is just to tease the competitors.

He runs today tightest race against a sharp bride, Nicki Johnson. The cars are side by side when the experienced senior attacks  on the outside in a monster gassing that gets the audience to roar, and he is in the final.

He wins! The audience loves the show.

Everyone want to congratulate him afterwards.

The winner himself  goes over to the losing car and encourages Nicki.

Another of the cars have caught fire during the race.

Everyone helps to acquire new ignition cables and clear it from extinguishing foam.

 

 

 

A short distance away are the Jeep gang. Drivers are younger and slimmer. Jeeps are older and slimmer. Builds looks like skeleton on wheels.

Lunch on a cardboard plate with a greasy rug in the other hand. Joshua Van Wagner from Clewiston with his  J34 “original Jeep” is a computer guy during the weeks

The mad Jeeps. One is on the way up in the stands. War. They are fun to see for reasons the pictures reveal.

Reaady … steaady …. and

 

go ….   and watch a Swamp Buggy Race, if you get the chance.

The Jeeps storm against the finish line and the winner is the white  . . . ... or oops mabye not. Number 45 seems to be a better submarine

There are the secrets. Everything inside the motor must be  manufactured by Jeep. 4WD of course. Dana30 axles, engine 1934 Jeep with F-head and Holley 600 encapsulated in someone waterproof porridge hardened against the hose.

Lapping plate in the front, the air intake of a sweeper and coolers on the side rear.

The gear levers are fitted with rubber straps not to run to mommy at any situation.

It’s all about  4wd low and first gear. You alert the old fireplace with 6800 rpm throughout the course around.

-It’s possible to rev 8200 before they  explode, says Joshua.

In the break the audience take a lap.

These are known as swamp buggies and looks different in different parts of Florida.

Even further south, they have powerful landing wheels of airplanes that holds much air.

The atmosphere is as usual. So relaxed and very friendly. The main thing is that everyone is happy.  Americans knows how to spend a weekend.

Completed cards. Leroy Andersson, Paul Mourecek and Justin Andersson lost momentum and sunk. Unlike the Jeeps these must stay on the surface. Otherwise: abandon ship, water in oil and nuff said. Chevy small block that  revs 8000 do not dig gravel in bearings.

Franklin specially made race axle with beefy Quick Change.

Ford 460 sounded healthy.

 

FINALS 

 

How did things turn out regarding our  66 year young friend  Ray in the final?

He took the lead from start and …

…passed the opponent on the outside again.  Niiice. See how cool and calm he masters his vehicle.   He rushed to the finish line but suddenly the engine lost power and he ..

… was overtaken.    Good friend and pit neighbor won. Thank you both for a thriller act guys.