Daytona Beach Turkey Run Notice

[Itoldyouso]

Last year when I got home from Daytona I posted a comment that I thought the days of the Turkey Run were numbered. You could feel that it was just "different" and we have been going since 1982 or 83. Some locals told us that the residents were putting up a stink about it, and the police were responding to those complaints.

Bel Aire Plaza is being very short sighted. Yes, for 4 nights the plaza is filled with hot rods, but the stores and shops there benefit for 4 days of increased business from the people who jam the nearby hotels just to stay close to the plaza. You had to wait in line at any of the restaurants or stores in it because of all the foot traffic.

I know in my heart Turkey Run is going to go the way of Paso Robles in California..........it may still exist, but not in the same way it has for so many years. There is a new Chief of Police in town, and he is a real b*** buster. He was featured on a tv program I watched, and it said he is a tough NY cop who made his mark by cleaning up some town out west (in Kansas maybe) and then Daytona hired him away to do the same there. He is total no nonsense, and by the book.

We too are staying at the La Playa, and I will talk to the Kids tonight to see if they want to move our reservations to a hotel closer to the track. Another indicator that Turkey Run is slowing down is that we were able to get reservations at the La Playa as late as last week, and in previous years you had to book a year in advance.

This is truly sad, and I agree with Mopar34 that no burnouts were ever witnessed by me at the Plaza. Yes, some people did goose their cars a little, but the burnouts were happening way down the street and encouraged by specators at one hotel. The plaza was just some place neat to park and see lots of cars at one place.

The locals also told us the police are trying to do away with things like Spring Break, Bike Week, and the Turkey Run, to satisfy the year round residents. If that happens, Daytona's economy will nosedive. I know how much money we pour into it every year with food, lodging, gas, etc, and we are just one of the many thousands who go there. Sadly, it is a perfect location for his sort of event because there are so many other things to do while you are there.

Thank you for posting this valuable info.......................


Don