Buggy Go Bye-Bye

Click on image to view the complete Budweiser Shootout gallery by John Thawley2009/2010 Season Draws To A Close and The Godfather of Swamp Buggy Retires

The World Famous Naples Swamp Buggies wrapped up their 2009/2010 season March 5~6 crowning Eddie Chesser as the Budweiser Shootout Champion. Running in front of yet another packed house at the Florida Sports Park, the buggies put on a fantastic display of wheel-to-wheel racing. No one in the stands went home disappointed.

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2010 Naples Cars On 5th

Click on image to view the full gallery of Cars On Fifth by John ThawleyNaples Cars on 5th… a great show presented in a great venue. Cars On Fifth is an annual event that takes place on 5th Avenue in downtown Naples. The show, hosted by the Ferrari Club of Naples, is a terrific eclectic mix of Ferraris, exotics, muscle cars and cruisers. Nearly 400 cars line 5th Avenue just blocks from the beach and Gulf of Mexico. And it just keeps getting better each year.

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Mud In My Blood? Maybe

[VIEW GALLERY]Since moving to Florida, I’ve missed one scheduled Swamp Buggy race… five out of six.

I have to tell you, it just fascinates me on so many different levels. I keep trying to assess what it is that makes this form of motorsport so intriguing to me. Sure, it’s got all the basics… noise, speed, horsepower and all the human passion that comes along with racing. But I see that at every race I shoot. There are lots of forms of racing out there… so what makes this show so unique?

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Kickin' It Old School Down At The Swamp

Tyler Johns Takes The Win! photo by John Thawley [GALLERY HERE] Let’s see… I’ve lived in Florida for a little less than 20 months now. In that time, I’ve yet to replace the recreational outlets I enjoyed in Michigan. No pro basketball team here… haven’t gotten around to check out the symphony yet… life is just different.

But in less than 20 months, I’ve taken in three of a possible four scheduled World Famous Naples Swamp Buggy Races. I don’t how to explain it, but after a year of bouncing around the countryside following the high-speed circus known as the American Le Mans Series, there’s something “salt-of-the-earth” about hanging out in the swamp.

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