Racing at the 4-17 Southern Speedway - Punta Gorda, Florida
The 4-17 Southern Speedway is an asphalt, 3/8th mile racetrack located in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. The track was built in 1990 by LeRoy Davidson who operated it until 1995. It started off its life playing host to Super Late Models, late models, sprint cars, sportsmen, open wheeled modified, FASTRUCK, FASTKIDS, and several other types of racing. It sported one of the largest fields of late models in the South. The track was featured several times on the cover of Circle Track Magazine as one of the top circle tracks in the South Eastern United States.
2011 Racing at the Old Punta Gorda Speedway in Florida
The Three Palms Speedway was an asphalt, 3/8th mile racetrack located in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. The track was built in 1990 by LeRoy Davidson who operated it until 1995. It started off its life playing host to Super Late Models, late models, sprint cars, sportsmen, open wheeled modified, FASTRUCK, FASTKIDS, and several other types of racing. It sported one of the largest fields of late models in the South. The track was featured several times on the cover of Circle Track Magazine as one of the top circle tracks in the South Eastern United States.
Contents
1 History
2 Current state
3 External links
4 References
History
Glen VanHorn took over the track in 1995 until LeRoy Davidson returned to operate the track in 2002. The wrath of Hurricane Charley in 2004 took its toll on the track, but was rebuilt and reopened in 2005. Bobby Diehl took over the track for the 2007 season. Some improvements where made and many more where planned but never came to light. In 2010 the track changed owners again when Mike Chase and Kevin Williams took over the lease.
In January 2013 the track fell into turmoil when its tenant at the time, Kevin Williams could not come to an agreement with the Punta Gorda Airport on a new lease. They wanted to rise the price of the lease because the airport receives grants from the FAA and in order to get them airport property must be leased at a fair market value. When Williams lease ended and moved out he removed the grandstands and other equipment that he said he brought in but in doing so did a lot of damage to the track.
Current state
In June 2013 the airport agreed to a new lease with Jamie Haase, to take over the track. The track was renamed Three Palms Speedway and was to reopen August 30, 2014. The track is to feature Young Guns 4's, Outlaw 4's, Bombers4. Street Stocks5, Thunder Trucks6, TQ Midgets, 3PS Sprint Cars and Dwarf Cars weekly. Florida United Promoters Series Super Late Models, Pro Trucks, Sportsman, Open Wheel Modifieds, Legends Cars and Tampa Bay Area Racing Association Winged Sprint Cars will also visit the track.
In Sept of 2015 after many broken promises , 10s of thousands in back taxes owed, and months of rent owed the Charlotte County Airport Authority evicted the Haase family.[1] As of Oct 2015 there are still no bleachers, the owners are not responding to many requests to their Facebook page, and their website is no longer working.
Truck Crash at Punta Gorda Charlotte County Speedway
Taken from February, 28, 2009
Cowboy Cadillac crash into tires at the Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL
Spin Out Crash at Punta Gorda Speedway in Charlotte County, Florida
Another crash at the Punta Gorda Speedway involving a Road Warrior Driver on January 12, 2013
Driving on I75 from Fort Myers to Three Palms Speedway - Punta Gorda, FL
Driving from MLK in Fort Myers north into Charlotte County to the Three palms speedway which was called the Punta Gorda Speedway
Driving on I75 from Punta Gorda to Ocala, Florida
Once near Naples at County Road 951 (Exit 101), I-75 makes a sharp turn north resuming its south–north trajectory and gains a third lane each way as it parallels Florida's west coast. At this point, Alligator Alley ends and I-75 is toll free for the rest of its length in Florida. As it continues north, I-75 passes near Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Venice, Sarasota, and Bradenton, before reaching the Tampa Bay Area metropolis consisting of Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Tampa Bay area
I-75 southbound at exit 256 (SR 618) in Brandon
North of Ellenton, I-275 splits from I-75 to serve St. Petersburg and Pinellas County via the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Tampa via the Howard Frankland Bridge. I-75 parallels the eastern shore of Tampa Bay as a bypass route of the Tampa Bay Area, as it passes by the communities of Brandon, Temple Terrace, and New Tampa. Two expressways access downtown Tampa from I-75: the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway (SR 618) and I-4. Within the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area, many interchanges are far more complex than mere diamond, cloverleaf, or even SPUI interchanges. Aside from the large turbine interchange with I-4 (Exit 261), there are interchanges with Fowler Avenue (Exit 265) and Fletcher Avenue/Morris Bridge Road (Exit 266) that contain both loops and flyovers. A flyover ramp was built from southbound Bruce B. Downs Boulevard (Exit 270) to southbound I-75.[5]
Northern Florida
I-75 passing through south Pasco County
At the Hillsborough–Pasco county line (south of SR 56 (Exit 275)), I-275 rejoins I-75 (at Exit 274, southbound only) and I-75 changes into a southwest–northeast trajectory as it passes through Pasco, Hernando, and Sumter Counties where it runs through parts of the Withlacoochee State Forest on its way to the junction with Florida's Turnpike. Widened median segments exist in Northern Pasco County, Hernando County, and in Sumter County north of County Road 476-B (Exit 309). Some of these median segments are actually considered part of the Withlacoochee State Forest itself. The Withlacoochee State Trail runs beneath I-75 between US 98/SR 50 (Exit 301) and the Hernando–Sumter County line, where it also crosses over the Withlacoochee River. All of Interstate 75 from the Georgia border to Tampa, Florida is three lanes, unless closed for construction. This is to accommodate for the immense amount of tourists and vacationers that come to Florida.
The Cross Florida Greenway bridge over I-75
After Florida's Turnpike (accessible from southbound I-75 only), I-75 changes into a general southeast–northwest trajectory, which is sustained to the Georgia state line and beyond. I-75 passes beneath the Cross Florida Greenway, which contains a land bridge built across the highway in 2001 between Exits 341 and 350,[6] before entering the City of Ocala,
Driving from Punta Gorda through North Port to Englewood, FL
Driving from Interstate 75 through Port Charlotte and North Port to Downtown Englewood
Cavin GP/CP Heat The Dirt Track, Punta Gorda FL
Quarter Midget Racing New Smyrna Florida 2019 | Oval Track Visit (2 of 3 Series)
Yo! Join us as we are introduced to Quarter Midget Racing here on the Space Coast of Florida. This is the second vlog in a three part series leading up to the kiddo's trying it out for the first time.
We are very interested in the sport but it takes a lifestyle to get involved and be a real racer!
Driving on US 17 from Punta Gorda to Arcadia, Florida
US 17 begins in downtown Punta Gorda at US 41 (Tamiami Trail). From here, it proceeds east as a pair of one-way streets along Marion and Olympia Avenues. Once outside of the Punta Gorda city limits, the one-way streets rejoin each other becoming a six-lane highway. From here, it is briefly elevated over the Seminole Gulf Railway and city streets before intersecting with Interstate 75 (I-75) in Solana. After a brief jog east, it travels roughly northeast along the Peace River into Desoto County, where it goes through Fort Ogden, Nocatee, and Arcadia. It splits into one-way streets again through Arcadia, where it intersects SR 70. Once out of Arcadia, it continues northeast into Hardee County and the cities of Zolfo Springs (where it crosses the Peace River), and Wauchula. At Fort Meade, it joins with US 98, which follows it northward (westward on US 98) until Bartow. While US 98 goes northwest, US 17 goes northeast.
Driving from Fort Myers to Punta Gorda, Florida on US 41
U.S. Route 41 Business is a former segment of U.S. Route 41 in Downtown Fort Myers and North Fort Myers, Florida. North of State Road 80, it carries the hidden designation State Road 739.
The road begins at the interchange of US 41 and SR 82-867, historically known as the Five Points Interchange. The road briefly overlaps SR 80 along Main and Monroe Streets, where it becomes discontinuous (it once continued east along with SR 80 though downtown along the then-one-way Second and Bay Streets but those streets were turned over to city control in 2006).
Business US 41 resumes along SR 739 at SR 80, where it runs along Park Avenue (northbound) and Fowler Street (southbound) until they reach the Edison Bridge where the two streets merge. After crossing over the Caloosahatchee River BUS 41 enters North Fort Myers where it briefly becomes a six-lane undivided highway only for the divider to return north of Cabanna Avenue. The road heads north, intersecting with State Road 78. Between State Road 78 and Powell Drive, the road becomes a four-lane divided highway for the remainder of the route. The road finally ends at a former wye at US 41.
Thunder Birds AirShow 2014 Punta Gorda
Thunder Birds AirShow 2014 Punta Gorda
Noah Weaver Bandolero Heat Race @ Punta Gorda 012312
Noah Weaver grabs the checkers in the first Bandolero heat race of the season at Punta Gorda Speedway on January 23, 2012.
stevens first TQ race Nov 2010
Tq Midget heat and feature
wallfly60 CapeCoralBMX
BMX racing up close and personal from the Cape Coral, FL track.
Daniel Miller Winged Sprint cars at 417 Speedway 11/23/19
Daniel Miller Winged Sprint cars at 417 Speedway 11/23/19
Direct Flights to Punta Gorda | St. Cloud Regional Airport
Looking for a tropical vacay but don’t want to endure lengthy travel? Flying to Punta Gorda, Florida from STC Airport is your answer! Tropical drinks, sandy beaches, friendly locals – everything you want in a beachy escape but only a nonstop, no-hassle, US flight away!
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4th of July 2017 Laishley Park, Punta Gorda, FL (firework time lapse)
Our CelebrAtion at our favorite park in Florida. Laishley Park has a great view, great food and the best ice cream shop around. At the end I did a time lapse of the firework display
Music credited to NCS
Gully Garage at Three Palms Raceway
Gully Garage headed out to Punta Gorda to get sideways with some fellow drifters from around the state of Florida.
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USA BMX FL State Race; Punta Gorda; 1.22.12; 8 Inter; Main