THE 46TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING TURKEY RUN
Four Days of Fun at Daytona Beach
IF YOU’RE A TRUCK FAN LIVING anywhere close to the southeast corner of the country, you are probably already familiar with the largest car show and swap meet in the Sunshine State. Now in its 47th year, it won’t be long before the legendary Turkey Run celebrates its golden anniversary. Always the largest automotive event in Florida and the largest combined car show and swap meet in the country, this show draws participants from around the country and often from around the world.
Days before the gates at the Daytona International Speedway opened, Car Corral spaces were sold out along with Artisan
Alley and vendor spaces. Swap Meet spaces were rapidly approaching capacity and were packed by Thanksgiving Day. Photos from the observation deck, seven floors up, showed that the track was filled with folks eager to have a fun-filled weekend, while still observing virus protocols. And, with 480 acres of infield, there was plenty of space for guests to safely practice social distancing. Hand washing stations were available in the track restrooms and hand sanitizing stations were everywhere, all plotted on the official map when you arrived. Thoughtful convenience procedures were everywhere like the free shuttles that took you from the parking lot to the infield for your first glimpse of cool custom classic cars and trucks, decked out in every color of the rainbow. Did you find a swap meet part that was too big to carry? Call the vendor dispatch assistance hotline and a free parts hauler would arrive at your location to assist. If navigating the vast acreage of the Daytona infield was a challenge, mobility scooters were available for rent.
Something that’s been true every year and part of the enduring charm of this event is the endless variety, no matter what your automotive preference. If you were looking to trade the old family ride for something new, the selection at the Car Corral was amazing. Got a rebuild project back in the garage? Vendors had everything from light bulbs and crate motors to garage lifts and outbuildings. Looking for a little personal inspiration? The huge collection of cool custom vehicles on display was a limitless source of ideas to help in personalizing your own. Relax and take a break at one of the dozens of food vendors on the midway to restore energy levels for the weekend activities.
One of the traditional events at the show is the Daytona Beach Street Rods charity raffle, this year displaying a 1966 Mustang Coupe, complete with a 289
V-8 and automatic transmission. Proceeds from the raffle have been benefitting area charities for decades. The annual Turkey Run, presented by the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District and sponsored by O’reilly is a Thanksgiving Weekend classic. For more information, visit www.turkeyrun.com.