January 2009: New year, new season, same automotive passion

January 4, 10:06 PMOrlando Auto ExaminerMichael Block

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A belated Happy New Year to all followers of the Orlando Auto Examiner, Examiner.com, and all automotive enthusiasts from right here in Orlando to all over the world.

2008 was an unforgettable year for both good and bad reasons. No doubt the economic downturn has caused car people of all walks of life to prioritize their lives, and in many cases, to put their automotive hobby on the back burner.

But the automotive realm is not just a hobby; to millions of people, it is a business, an industry... a way of life. Thus, 2008 was still full of new automotive developments in technology, marketing, and performance. Plus, as always, hundreds of car events, shows, and races took place to demonstrate those new developments.

But 2008 is now just records in the annals of history, and the world must now progress forward, as the automotive world must with it.

So, let's get the 2009 Orlando automotive season on the road, shall we?

Orlando Speed World, offering the thrills of racing to anyone with a car, a helmet, and $15 since 1966, begins its 2009 Street Drags season just a few days away on January 7th. Every Wednesday and Friday, people from all over Central Florida who want to get a few practice runs in to perfect their launching technique, tune their cars for that extra tenth of a second, or who just have an racing itch that needs scratching, come out to the Orlando Speed World. We'll be there to start the 2009 season right... with lots of time slips, trash-talking, and tire smoke.

Remember a few articles back, about the new road course right in the heart of Orlando? Well, it's already having its first event this Saturday on the 10th. This will be an open track day, so no one will 'win' the event per se, or accrue any championship points. But any competition-licensed drivers in Orlando who want to see what the new track is all about will have their chance this weekend. For any drivers who aren't competition-licensed, there will be a basic orientation school happening the very next day, Sunday the 11th. This will get new drivers qualified for future events at the Central Florida Road Course.

The Central Florida SCCA Solo II schedule for 2009 takes us to the Deland Airport for its second autocross event of the season on Sunday the 25th. The Central Florida SCCA region celebrates 50 years of fun and affordable amateur motorsport this year, and the Solo II schedule is as strong as ever with 40 events planned this year. Directions, rules and regulations, and more info about the Deland event and all other Solo II events scheduled for 2009 are available here.

Finally, the last Saturday of every month, a group known as the Orlando Automotive Club has a "Cars and Cafe" meet from 9-11am at the Coffee Café in Lake Mary. Any and all cars and car people are welcome to attend; the environment is relaxed and respectful so that a car guy with a 20-year-old Chevy can make friends, talk shop, and have a good time with car guys with brand-new Ferraris. The 31st of January is the first OAC meet for 2009.

We all know times are tough. 2008 was a year that most of us would like to forget, fiscally at least. But most of the automotive events that happen around Orlando are ones that anyone can participate in for either a very-reasonable expense, or even none at all in some cases. Just because money is tight doesn't mean us car folks can't enjoy our hobby. So come out and join us for what looks to be a promising and exciting automotive year.