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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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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Manatee Matinee

So as I leave my comfy confines in lush Bonita Springs, Florida, I head south on I-75 to Exit 101. This is where the super slab turns into what is appropriately known as Alligator Alley. But we’ll leave that for another time. Today we’ve loaded up the family and we’re heading out to the Florida Sports Park in Collier County to witness the World Famous Swamp Buggy Races and The Budweiser Fall Classic.

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