Ormond Beach in Volusia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Birthplace Of Speed

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 9, 2019

1. Birthplace Of Speed Marker

Inscription. At a time when America had few
paved roads, this hard beach was a
racecourse for automobiles, motorcycles,
and their pioneering builders. The
first sanctioned meet here — from
March 26-28, 1903 — featured time
trials and races for a field including
Alexander Winton’s Bullet, Ransom E.
Olds’ Pirate, and Oscar Hedstrom’s
Indian motorcycle. The racers broke
U.S. and world records, and Ormond
Beach became a favorite venue for
motor sports and automobile testing.
This is the Birthplace of Speed.

Erected by Motor Racing Heritage Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Roads & Vehicles • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is March 26, 1903.

Location. 29° 17.546′ N, 81° 2.366′ W. Marker is in Ormond Beach, Florida, in Volusia County. It can be reached from the intersection of Ocean Shore Boulevard (State Road A1A) and East Granada Boulevard (State Road 40), on the right when traveling north. Marker located within Birthplace Of Speed Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach FL 32176, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker: Ormond Beach’s Longest Held Land Speed Record (a few steps from this marker); Glenn Hammond Curtiss (a few steps from this marker); Beach Racers (within shouting distance of this marker); Ormond Fire House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ormond Garage (approx. 0.3 miles away); Emmons Cottage c. 1885 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans of the Korean War (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans of the Vietnam War (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ormond Beach.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 9, 2019

2. Birthplace Of Speed Marker

Marker Detail: Pirate (L) vs. Bullet (R) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, May 9, 2019

3. Marker Detail: Pirate (L) vs. Bullet (R)

Oscar Hedstrom, March, 1903 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Oscar Hedstrom, March, 1903

Oscar Hedstrom with his prototype Indian Racer in front of the Ormond Hotel.

Entrance to the Birthplace of Speed Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

5. Entrance to the Birthplace of Speed Park

Credits. This page was last revised on April 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 394 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 12, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.