Birthplace of Speed

- Siobhan Daly, Leisure Services Special Events, 386-676-3216 daly@ormondbeach.org.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - One of the largest collections of Rolls-Royce automobiles ever seen in the region will highlight the 2007 Birthplace of Speed Centennial on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The cars will include two from England: a 1905 racer and a new experimental coupe prototype. The event will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first Rolls-Royce to race on Ormond Beach when a 20-horsepower racer won the “1907 World International Championship Trophy.” Members of the Rolls Royce Owners Club will be bringing about 50 Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars.

Four days later, the Centennial will also celebrate the legacy of motorcyclist and aviator Glenn Curtiss who set a motorcycle land speed record of 136 mph on Ormond Beach on that day in 1907. The record took place during an unofficial time trial, powered by a V-8 engine mounded on a huge bicycle frame.

The mile run held as the motorcycle world record for an incredible 23 years. Curtiss went on to become an aviation pioneer, “The Father of Naval Aviation,” and the first successful manufacturer of airplanes.

Jan. 20: 12:30 p.m. Rolls-Royce Parade of Honor, on the beach starting at the Cardinal approach and heading south. Free reception (1 to 3 p.m.) and car displays (1 to 5 p.m.) at The Casement, 25 Riverside Drive.

Jan. 24: Free reception with historic Curtiss motorcycles on display that afternoon at The Casements. At 3:30 p.m., there will be a run on the beach with an early 1900s Curtiss motorcycle, at the Cardinal approach, heading south.

2007 Birthplace of Speed Centennial
Celebrating the legacy of the Rolls-Royce and the Curtiss motorcycle record

Free reception (1 to 3 p.m.) and car displays (1 to 5 p.m.) at The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive.

Jan. 24: Free reception with Curtiss motorcycles on display that afternoon at The Casements. At 3:30 p.m., a run on the beach featuring a Curtiss motorcycle.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla - The city-owned replica of the 1906 Stanley Rocket Racer won the “Race Torations Award” for the best re-creation at the March 12 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance classic car show. The original Rocket Racer, driven by Fred Marriott, set a famous world land speed record of 127.7 mph on Ormond Beach in 1906 that held for four years.

An announced crowd of about 20,000 people were on hand for the event, which included 300 cars that ranged from Indy racers to electric hybrids to pre-1900 Stanley Steamers. The eleventh annual event is considered one of the top car shows in the world and raises over $100,000 a year for the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and other charities.

The Rocket Racer, fresh from its run on the sands of Ormond Beach during the Jan. 26 Stanley Centennial at the Birthplace of Speed, was one of the highlights of the Concours, featured prominently on the event web site and other publicity. The event’s founder and Chairman, Bill Warner, arranged for the transport of the Rocket, normally on display at Daytona USA where the car will return later this week.

The original Rocket Racer was destroyed in a 1907 crash on Ormond Beach that almost killed Marriott as he was trying to break his own world record. The Rocket replica was built by Morris P. Frost (1918-1998) in Lake Park, Florida between 1969 and 1971 at a cost of about $300,000. Frost had owned and restored two Stanley’s, and had discussed how the Rocket was built with Marriott in the 1940’s. After it was completed, he donated it to the City of Ormond Beach, and it has been on display at the Daytona USA exhibit for several years.

Driving the Rocket at the Concours during two parade laps were Dan Smith (pictured) and Brent Campbell. Smith, one of the City’s volunteers with the local Motor Racing Heritage Association, has served as race director for the Birthplace of Speed Centennials since 2003. Campbell, a Stanley owner who spends his winters in Palm Bay, volunteered to lead the effort in getting the Rocket in running condition for the Centennial and the Concours event.

Also assisting at the Concours were volunteers Roland Via, Mayor of Holly Hill as well as master of ceremonies and webmaster for the Centennial; and Michael Sanden, who recently retired from the City of Ormond Beach as Coordinator of The Casements.

Partnering with the City to make this year's Centennial and Concours appearance possible were Sue Davis, President and CEO of the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, Maine, and the local Motor Racing Heritage Association, led by President Suzanne Heddy.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A crowd of more than 5,000 people lined the beach on Jan. 26 to cheer on the descendents of F.E. Stanley and Fred Marriott as they drove the replica of the Stanley Rocket Racer – a historic re-enactment of the world land speed record run of 127.659 mph, 100 years ago to the day.

Stanley Rocket replica with Bob Landry, great grandson of Fred Marriott at controls

Stanley Rocket replica with Bob Landry, great grandson of Fred Marriott at controls

The Stanley World Land Speed Record Centennial at The Birthplace of Speed celebrated Marriott’s 1906 record mile run. The record held for four years, in an era when records were often falling by the hour. It is considered by many racing fans to be the most famous world land speed record in history.

The event was hailed by Sue Davis, President and CEO of the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, Maine, as the most significant Stanley Steamer celebration ever and one of the largest gatherings of steam cars anywhere in the world. The event was presented by the City of Ormond Beach with local racing expert Dan Smith serving as Race Director.

About 50 steam cars were on hand, along with about a dozen historic pre-1912 gas-powered racers. “The Great Leslie,” the car driven by actor Tony Curtis in the 1963 movie, “The Great Race,” was also part of the festivities.

Local radio personality and Holly Hill Mayor Roland Via served as the race announcer, heralding the start of the event as, “The beginning of Speed Weeks - 1906!”

Highlights included runs in the Rocket Racer by Sarah Stanley, great granddaughter of F.E. Stanley, owner and designer of the Rocket. Brothers Bob and Steve Landry, great grandsons of driver Fred Marriott, also took run in the Rocket. Their mother, Virginia Landry, was also on hand, as was Sarah Stanley’s brother, Christy Stanley. Constance Boudeman, another great granddaughter of F.E. Stanley, drove her 1906 Stanley Vanderbilt Racer in the event.

The original Rocket Racer was destroyed in a 1907 crash in Ormond Beach that almost killed Marriott as he was trying to break his own world record. The Rocket replica was built by Morris P. Frost (1918-1998) in Lake Park, Florida between 1969 and 1971 at a cost of about $300,000. Frost had owned and restored two Stanley’s, and had discussed how the Rocket was built with Fred Marriott in the 1940’s. After it was completed, he donated it to the City of Ormond Beach, and it has been on display at the Daytona USA exhibit for several years.

Racing celebrities on hand for Thursday’s main event included NASCAR team owner Jack Roush and drag-racing great “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. Local officials included Ormond Beach Mayor Fred Costello, City Commissioner Lori Gillooly and City Manager Isaac Turner.

Orlando-Jacksonville media joined reporters from racing and automobile magazines from across the U.S. and Europe to cover the event, along with the Speed Channel’s Dave Despain.

The two days of festivities included the dedication of a historic memorial at The Birthplace of Speed Park in Ormond Beach, and a public reception at The Casements the evening before with all the cars on display.

The City of Ormond Beach and the Department of Leisure Services would like to thank our sponsors: Stanley Museum; Motor Racing Heritage Association; Ormond Beach Historical Trust; County of Volusia; National Parts Depot, Stella’s by the Beach, S.R. Perrott Co., Ormond Main Street, Randy's Auto Body, county and many other individuals and businesses in the museum, automobile and Ormond Beach communities.

Special thanks to Brent Campbell, who led the effort in getting the Rocket running, with assistance from Ron Hardwig and Gary Jenurm. Additional support was provided by officials from The Concours d’ Elegance on Amelia Island, where the Rocket will be featured on March 10-12.

Pictured above: Bob Landry, great grandson of Fred Marriott, at the controls of the Rocket Racer.

www.birthplaceofspeed2006.com - Official Event Site

Other Links:

www.stanleymuseum.org - Stanley Museum web site.

www.obht.org - Ormond Beach Historical Trust web site.

www.ameliaconcours.org - Concours d' Elegance at Amelia Island, where the Stanley Rocket will be featured after its run in Ormond Beach!

- Joe Radcliffe, APR, City of Ormond Beach, Public Information Officer, (386) 615-7021

Printed in September, 2005, includes background information. For a complete list of cars at the event, owners, specs, etc., please contact Joe Radcliffe at the City of Ormond Beach.