Ormond Beach, Florida is known for many things—beautiful beaches, sunny skies, and slow rolling waves of turquoise blue. But what many visitors to this part of Florida don’t know is that Ormond Beach also holds a unique place in history books. Due to the hard-packed sands and smooth beaches, in 1903 Ormond Beach became a stomping ground for automobile inventors and drivers, and was officially dubbed the “Birthplace of Speed.”

Ormond Beach, Florida became known as the “Birthplace of Speed” in 1903 as the very first automobile speed tournaments were held.
Flickr Daniel Piraino
For a handful of years following, Ormond Beach held various speed trial tournaments, which were some of the most significant marks ever recorded in the U.S.
Ormondbeach.org
Automobile owners and racers brought a variety of vehicles from all over to the globe, running on electric, gasoline, and even steam to race along the beach.
Google Maps
The Ormond Garage was the very first gasoline alley built in 1905 by Henry Flagler, in order to offer assistance to race cars during the races.
Ormondbeach.org

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The Ormond Garage would house the mechanics and the drivers during the speed time trials, while the owners and manufacturers stayed at the more swanky Flagler Ormond Hotel.
Ormondbeach.org
While racing began in 1902 on Ormond Beach, it wasn’t under 1903 when the Winton Bullet won a Challenge Cup by 0.02 of a second, and the beach quickly popped up on the world's radar.
Flickr ATOMIC Hot Links
World records were set at Ormond Beach for the next eight years, before racing officially moved to Indianapolis in 1911.
Flickr Don Harder
While racing on Ormond Beach isn’t much of a thing anymore, residents are still proud to call this area the “Birthplace of Speed.”
Flickr Melissa Johnson

Did you know Ormond Beach, Florida was the birthplace of speed? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section! Or if you have any more information about towns or cities in Florida being the birthplace of something cool, let us know.

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