I know there are some Central Florida members here so I'm posting this to let you know what I've heard.

Track operator Carl Weisinger who holds the lease through 2013 is going to be giving it up at the end of this year. I'm not going to speculate on why there are plenty of rumours out there and I don't know the real story about that. But, what I've heard is Carl owns all the track equipment including the timing equipment and he wants to sell it. He does not want to lease it, so it's going to take someone with a lot of money or their own equipment to come in there. I know the Hart family owns the property and they operate the circle track there which is not doing very good at all.

The bad part is that all that property has been rezoned residential but the track is grandfathered in. If they hold just one race a year it will keep it's grandfathered status but if they don't it reverts to residential and the track will be done.

This info was current as of last weekend. I can't say who gave me this info and I won't but suffice to say it is someone that knows. If anyone else has any other news, please let us know. Orange county has already shut down CFRC the 1/8 mile IHRA track here so it's not looking good. Lakeland, St. Pete, Gainsville, West Palm and Bradenton are all that's left to my knowledge. The three 1/4 mile tracks are at least a 3+ hour drive for me. Lakeland isn't a bad drive but I'm not fond of the rather short shutdown area or the metal guard rails there.

I tried to register on the bullet to post this info but it keeps telling me that the administrator has disabled registration. I thought I had an account there but can't remember what user name or email account I used. I don't think I've ever posted there.

Well dang that stinks, I will always remember the few World Street nationals I attended. Some great memories and awesome racing, hopefully something gets worked out

Yeah it does. I don't know what I'll do if it closes. I don't really have the ambition to drive 3-5 hours to race once or twice a month. No seat time isn't going to help me win any races. Converting my car to a street car isn't practical either. That leaves me with selling the car, truck and trailer and buying a street car to play with. None of that sounds very enticing to me. I don't fish or hunt and I'm not really into any other kind of hobbies or sports.

But, what I've heard is Carl owns all the track equipment including the timing equipment and he wants to sell it. He does not want to lease it, so it's going to take someone with a lot of money or their own equipment to come in there. .


First, little usrd equipment in todays market has anywhere near its original purchase cost value. If he wants only to sell it, it means to me he knows there will not be a track to lease it to and taking the loss is his only option.

Well I will say I spoke with Carl's granddaughter who works in the office a few weeks ago and she said that all the rumors about the land being sold to walmart and zoning issues ect ect are not true.
Land is not for sale and never has been.She also said she was sure the track would be running next year but that is all she said.
I hope that is true I am only 45 minutes from there.

Yeah, it's zoned OK for now but like I said there has to be at least one event a year for them to keep it that way. The surrounding area is zoned residential. Carl's son Randy who had been running the track for decades is gone and his daughter is now running it for the remaining time left. That would be Carl's grandaughter. So what does that tell you?

In 1983 it seemed like the track would be safe forever because it was surrounded by swampland. I couldn't picture the area around it being developed as residential.

Posted by Carl on Classracer:

First of all I want to give a giant "thank you" to everyone that has supported the operation of Orlando Speed World Dragway during the last 25 years.

Because of confidentiality agreements I just can't comment or speculate on the future of the Orlando Speed World property other than to say, at this time, there are no drag strip events on the schedule beyond December of 2012. And, I don't know of any firm offers to buy the property.

There are a few things I can tell you. I personally plan to retire from the active drag strip operation of Orlando Speed World Dragway at the end of 2012.

I am not, nor do I expect to be, the owner or part owner of Lakeland Drag Strip.

While I may go to our home in Oregon for extended periods of time next year, I have no intention of returning there to operate the drag strip at the Jackson County Sports Park.

There is no "serious rift" between myself and the Hart family (owners of Orlando Speed
World and New Smyrna Speedway). They wouldn't own the Speed World property today
if it weren't for me and I wouldn't have had the opportunity to operate Orlando Speed World Dragway for the last 25 years if it weren't for them.


Best to all of you,

Carl Weisinger

PS. I'd love to see any old pictures you may have taken at Central Florida Dragway/Orlando Speed World Dragway between 1966 and 1985.

None of which contradicts anything I posted.

BTW when was that posted?

One is only bound to not comment when there is a deal in place, what that deal is, is what makes this thread interesting.

As I posted on classracer.com, I like the rumor I heard about another track operator taking over Orlando. But, unfortunately, it is just a rumor with no "official" back-up. Of course, I would also like to see it go to IHRA if it stays active.

Maybe someone can talk the Hart family into selling the property for the same price they bought it from Billy Herndon for in 1987, a mere $31,300.
Not bad for 102 acres, a drag strip, a circle track and a MX track.