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Stanley Land Speed
Record Centennial
at the Birthplace of Speed 1906-2006
Press Release
Jan. 27, 2006 Wrapup
Contacts:
- Public Information Officer,
City of Ormond Beach, FL (386) 676-3224 pio@ormondbeach.org
- Sue
Davis, President and CEO, Stanley Museum in Kingfield, Maine, (207) 265-2729
suedavis@stanleymuseum.org
www.birthplaceofspeed2006.com –
Official web site
www.ormondbeach.org – City web site,
media information
Thousands cheer as Rocket Racer rides again
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A crowd of more than 5,000 people lined the beach on Jan.
26 to cheer on the descendents of F.E. Stanley and Fred Marriott as they drove
the replica of the Stanley Rocket Racer – a historic re-enactment of the world
land speed record run of 127.659 mph, 100 years ago to the day.
 The
Stanley World Land Speed Record Centennial at The Birthplace of Speed celebrated
Marriott’s 1906 record mile run. The record held for four years, in an era when
records were often falling by the hour. It is considered by many racing fans to
be the most famous world land speed record in history. Pictured: Bob Landry, great grandson of Fred
Marriott, at the controls of the Rocket Racer.
The event was hailed by Sue Davis, President and CEO of the Stanley Museum in
Kingfield, Maine, as the most significant Stanley Steamer celebration ever and
one of the largest gatherings of steam cars anywhere in the world. The event was
presented by the City of Ormond Beach with local racing expert Dan Smith serving
as Event Coordinator.
About 50 steam cars were on hand, along with about a dozen historic pre-1912
gas-powered racers. “The Great Leslie,” the car driven by actor Tony Curtis in
the 1963 movie, “The Great Race,” was also part of the festivities.
Local radio personality and Holly Hill Mayor Roland Via served as the race
announcer, heralding the start of the event as, “The beginning of Speed Weeks -
1906!”
Highlights included runs in the Rocket Racer by Sarah Stanley, great
granddaughter of F.E. Stanley, owner and designer of the Rocket. Brothers Bob
and Steve Landry, great grandsons of driver Fred Marriott, also took run in the
Rocket. Their mother, Virginia Landry, was also on hand, as was Sarah Stanley’s
brother, Christy Stanley. Constance Boudeman, another great granddaughter of F.E.
Stanley, drove her 1906 Stanley Vanderbilt Racer in the event.
The original Rocket Racer was destroyed in a 1907 crash in Ormond Beach that
almost killed Marriott as he was trying to break his own world record. The
Rocket replica was built by Morris P. Frost (1918-1998) in Lake Park, Florida
between 1969 and 1971 at a cost of about $300,000. Frost had owned and restored
two Stanley’s, and had discussed how the Rocket was built with Fred Marriott in
the 1940’s. After it was completed, he donated it to the City of Ormond Beach,
and it has been on display at the Daytona USA exhibit for several years.
Racing celebrities on hand for Thursday’s main event included NASCAR team owner
Jack Roush and drag-racing great “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. Local officials
included Ormond Beach Mayor Fred Costello, City Commissioner Lori Gillooly and
City Manager Isaac Turner.
Orlando-Jacksonville media joined reporters from racing and automobile magazines
from across the U.S. and Europe to cover the event, along with the Speed
Channel’s Dave Despain.
The two days of festivities included the dedication of a historic memorial at
The Birthplace of Speed Park in Ormond Beach, and a public reception at The
Casements the evening before with all the cars on display.
The City of Ormond Beach and the Department of Leisure Services would like to
thank our sponsors: Stanley Museum; Motor Racing Heritage Association; Ormond
Beach Historical Trust; County of Volusia; National Parts Depot, Stella’s by the
Beach, S.R. Perrott Co., Ormond Main Street, Randy's Auto Body, county and many
other individuals and businesses in the museum, automobile and Ormond Beach
communities.
Special thanks to Brent Campbell, who led the effort in getting the Rocket
running, with assistance from Ron Hardwig and Gary Jenurm. Additional support
was provided by officials from The Concours d’ Elegance on Amelia Island, where
the Rocket will be featured on March 10-12.
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