SWAMP BUGGY RACING

Probably not what you think

What Is Swamp Buggy Racing

While visiting Naples, FL., for an unrelated event later in the week, I noticed a Swamp Buggy Racing this weekend sign. That piqued my interest; this sounded like it would be something fun. And it got me wondering what in the world was a Swamp Buggy; I need to go and check these out.

Walking up to where this was going to be happening, I heard this loud dragster-type thing coming from the swamp area. At that point, I was getting anxious to get in and see what this was about; upon entering, I saw this monster of a vehicle the likes of which I'd never seen before, large, loud, and crazy looking. I knew this was going to be a great day.

Hunters built Swamp Buggies that predated airboats as a way to get around while hunting in the Florida swamps in the '40s. So what do guys do when they got together with these contraptions that they built (think cars' the hotrod culture, and street racing of the '50s and '60s). The builders want to see who's created the fastest one, so that's what they did. They called it Swamp Buggy Racing. In the late '40s, Swamp Buggy Racing took a foothold and became an official race event in Naples, FL. They have been racing these exotic-looking vehicles in Naples, FL over 70 years.

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What are Sippi Holes...

The 1-mile swamp course is about 18" deep with a couple of areas they call "sippi" holes that are over 5' deep. One of the race classes are the Jeep class, when these modified Jeeps with large skinny wheels hit these "sippi" holes they become submerged in the swamp water with not much more than the drivers head showing. It's a sight to see, as these Jeeps go through these deep hole areas.

RACE CLASSES

Jeep
Air Cooled - VW and Motorcycle engines
4 Cylinder
Stock V8
Pro-Mod - think dragsters of the swamp

Pro Mods can be up to 1000hp can get up to 70-80 mph

The race season consists of 3 races a year on the 1st full weekend in Nov, Jan, and the season's final race in March. Catch one of the races; you won't be disappointed if you happen to be in southwest Florida during the race weekend.

I don't know why Swamp Buggy Racing hasn't caught on in other places, as these are the craziest-looking vehicles that are a blast to watch.