Orange Blossom Tour
March 15-March 19 – – Amelia Island, FL
Join the staff of Classic Motorsports magazine for a classic car tour of old Florida. We want to show you our neighborhood on this reasonably priced, all-inclusive, low-key tour.
Limited to just 30 cars, the drive will start the morning after the Amelia Island Concours and get you to Sebring in time for the annual 12-hour endurance race. Yes, the weather should be perfect. Plus, we live here, so we know the best roads and the secret sights that most Florida tourists drive right by.
We’ll have plenty of car stuff, insider private collection deals, and fellow car fanatics, but man cannot live by cars alone. Okay, some of us can—even so, we’ll also aim to show you the true history and natural beauty of the Sunshine State. Whether you drive a Triumph Spitfire or a Ferrari Testarossa, we want to meet you and show you around.
The tour is priced very reasonably at $2995 per couple if your entry form is received by February 15, 2010. After February 15, 2010, the cost will be $3295 (with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Amelia Island Foundation). This tour is open to everyone.
Our own staff will be your tour guides, and they’ll be driving the project cars you see on the pages of Classic Motorsports every issue. Two expert mechanics and on-site towing are all included so you can rest east and enjoy the trip.
Our host hotel for the Amelia Island Concours weekend which immediately precedes the Tour will be the Hampton Inn in downtown Fernandina Beach. We have personally toured this property—it has just been remodeled and is very lovely. The manager has offered our Tour participants room rates of $239 per night for the weekend for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. With the Concours ending, Sunday night rooms are offered at a killer rate of $99, with suites available for slightly more. Their phone number is (904) 557-2120—ask for the Orange Blossom Tour rate for this additional night.
Remember, our tour starts off on Monday morning and Sunday night’s lodging is optional at your expense. We will be staying at this hotel Sunday night and love their covered parking that appears to be quite secure. If you do want to attend the Amelia Island Concours on your own. Tickets are available at amelaislandconcours.org and are $45 in advance. While the concours itself is Sunday only, they also have some wonderful seminars on Friday and Saturday.
OBT General Outline of Travel
Monday
- Registration at Hampton Inn in downtown Fernandina Beach
- Travel by ferry from Amelia Island
- Tour the Brumos Collection with Hurley Haywood
- Lunch at Barbara Jeans
- Historical sites in St. Augustine (Castillo de San Marcos )
- Drive to Plaza Hotel in Daytona Beach
- Banquet Dinner with Peter Brock
Tuesday
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Parade laps at Daytona International Speedway
- Meet with Living Legends of Auto Racing in South Daytona
- Drive south through Port Orange, Spruce Creek and New Smyrna Beach
- Lunch at a local hideaway
- Look for Manatees at Blue Springs State Park
- Arrive at Mission Inn
- Self-guided dinner in Howey-in-the-Hills
Wednesday
- Head to Ponce de Leon Springs
- Pancake breakfast at Ponce de Leon Springs
- Backroad drive through the park toward Ocala
- Lunch at Dam Diner, a step into Florida’s past
- Attend Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing
- Dinner at Mission Inn in HIH
Thursday
- Breakfast at Mission Inn at Howey-in-the-Hills
- Lunch at Yalaha Bakery
- Tour the Lakeridge Winery in Clermont
- Arrive at Lakeland Terrace
- “Nearly formal” Dinner at Lakeland Terrace. Bill Warner will be our guest speaker.
Friday 3/19
- Breakfast at Lakeland Terrace
- Tour the Fantasy of Flight Museum
- Lunch at a surprise location
- Tour of Bob Tullius’s private hangar and shop in Sebring
- Heacock Insurance sponsored reception at Lakeland Terrace
Make sure to keep an eye on this page for the latest updates; our itinerary is subject to change slightly as the event gets closer. Be ready to have a great time!
Who’s coming on the Orange Blossom Tour?
Jeremy Barnes of Mazda North American Operations will be joining us on the Orange Blossom Tour. Since Mazda is a presenting sponsor for our event, they decided to send Jeremy on the road with a piece of corporate history—an original 1967 Mazda Cosmo.
One of just 343 Series 1 cars built, this example (Ser. # L10A-10220) is owned and maintained by Mazda North America in Irvine, California. Jeremy will be driving the car during the tour, and will be sharing the drive with some members of the media and tour guests as time allows.
Robert Goldman, CEO of Moss Motors, will also be on hand in his supercharged Triumph TR4. He’s eager to demonstrate the reliability and everyday performance possible in a British sports car when equipped with a Moss supercharger setup, so ask him if he’ll let you ride along for a leg of the journey.



