As mentioned in the “Save the Date” post last month, our Spring Meet will be held on Saturday, April 20 at EG Simmons Regional Conservation Park, 2401 19th Avenue NW, Ruskin, Florida 33570. The meet will be held in Shelter House #12 (aka Sandy Beach Pavilion) and will begin at 11:00
(SEE BELOW FOR DETAILED DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS).
Park on the north end of the large parking lot near Sandy Beach Pavilion. We hope to get a roped off area for our Volvos, but it is not certain. All Volvo enthusiasts are welcome – no club membership required.
Sandy Beach Pavilion is located right on Tampa Bay, next to the park’s white sand beach, and offers views of St. Petersburg and Tampa downtown skylines as well as expansive views of Tampa Bay.
We’ll eat around noon, so bring your own lunch and beverages (no alcohol please). We will have a charcoal grill going (with limited barbeque equipment) if you want to cook something. We will have a 50-50 drawing to help pay for the shelter and other expenses and then talk Volvo for a while.
Around 2:00 PM, we will begin a Poker Run. The Poker Run is short, around 15 miles, and will only take about 45 minutes to complete. The route is in the Tampa suburbs, usually not too congested, will consist of both highways and residential streets, and will end at a local ice cream shop. For safety, each car must have both a driver to drive and a navigator to read the instructions. Each car will pay a $5 fee to enter the Poker Run. You will receive a total of 5 playing cards and the best poker hand (jokers are wild) wins a free 1-year membership to our host, Volvo Sports America and (possibly) part of the entry fee pot (depending on whether event costs are covered from the 50-50.). You can also pay $5 to purchase 1 additional card at the ice cream shop.
If you would enjoy some ice cream, but don’t want to participate in the Poker Run, you can go directly to Kimi’s Ice Cream and Sweets, 143 Harbor Village Lane, Apollo Beach, FL 33572.
In order to prepare the proper number of packages for the Poker Run, please RSVP to FLVCOA.org by April 13 to let me know that you intend to participate in the Poker Run. We are trying something a little different so that we can enjoy our cars during the meet and also show them off around town.
We’re looking forward to a great time.
DETAILED DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS – PLEASE NOTE
NOTE: Depending on your navigation program, 2401 19th Avenue NW, Ruskin, FL may put you at the incorrect location in the Park. Also, Apple Maps consistently changes the NW to NE and places you miles away from the Park. The most reliable method of navigating to EG Simmons Regional Conservation Park is to put that name in your navigation system to drive from your home to the Park. When you reach the intersection of 19th Avenue NW and EG Simmons Parkway, follow the directions below to access the Sandy Beach Pavilion,
DIRECTIONS TO SANDY BEACH PAVILION FROM 19TH AVENUE NW / EG SIMMONS PARKWAY
Head northwest on E G Simmons Pkwy for 0.3 mi
Stop at pay station ($2 per vehicle)
Go around the pay station and traffic circle, then continue north on EG Simmons Parkway
Continue on E G Simmons Pkwy for 0.7 mi
Turn right on roadway, go past boat ramp and drive 0.2 mi
Turn left into parking lot and look for the Volvos.
Walk 300 feet north to Sandy Beach Pavilion (Shelter House #12) – it is located just north of the parking lot adjacent to the beach.
Hosted by VSA (Volvo Sports America): VCOA, the Florida Volvo Community and ALL Volvo owners are welcome.
We’ll have a shelter house close to the beach for the day with fantastic views of Tampa Bay and both Tampa and St. Petersburg skylines in the distance.
More details to follow as plans develop.
Please mark your calendar, we hope to see you there.
Open to all years and Volvo models and Volvo enthusiasts of all ages are welcome. This is a FREE, fun, family friendly event to meet up with other Volvo fans after the long hot summer and/or enjoy all the fun and facilities that Dezerland has to offer.
That includes Arcades, Bowling, Pin Ball Palace, Food and Drink, Karting on the longest indoor track in the country, Automotive Museums, Bond Car Museum, and so much more.
Discount coupons and options for food and Museum will be available at the door, or book a Groupon instead.
Time: 10:30am until you drop! Dezerland doors open at 11:00am but be there early enough to get a good spot!
Place: Dezerland Park Orlando. 5250 International Drive, Orlando FL 32819. www.dezerlandpark.com
Enter the main entrance where you will be directed to a parking spot.
The weather is finally just starting to cool off and it’s time to announce our Fall Meet. Please mark your calendars for Saturday Nov 4th.
This will be a fun, family friendly get together, open to all years and models of Volvos, centrally located in Orlando. Bring what Volvo you drive. It does not have to be in concourse condition. And aren’t they always a project?
We are excited to return to the location that nearly 30 years ago our chapter officially signed up its first 4 members. Needless to say, Dave Montgomery served as our chapter president for nearly that entire time, along with the help of many others.
We welcome Jose Laboy as our incoming leader and look forward to recognizing Dave as well as taking a trip down memory lane.
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2023
Time: 10:00AM till 3:00PM
Location: De Leon Springs Florida State Park, 601 Ponce De Leon Blvd. De Leon Springs FL 32130. Pavillion #1
Parking in front of Pavillion
Fee: Currently $6.00 fee per car to enter the park
Bring your lunch and chair. You can swim in the 72′ waters of historic Ponce De Leon Springs or take a boat ride. Dogs are welcome but must be on a 6ft leash. Plan to arrive early as the park can get busy and closes the gates when full. Check out the park amenities here:
We have been invited back to the Celebration of Cars in Melbourne and as many of our members attend this show the info is posted below. However this is NOT an official FL VCOA meet; we will not be parking together nor any separate awards as in the past. But it is a great show and a chance to see the Muscle Car Museum. Remember that pre-registration is required.
Our Spring Meet IS being planned for April 22nd this year. So please mark your calendars for that.
Our Fall Meet and Track Day at Sebring International Raceway on October 15th would not have been possible without the hard work and persistence of Bill and Tricia Rose. Tricia originally began to explore the possibility of us getting out on the track with Chin Track Days. However, it turned out to be a better option with SCCA, which Bill pushed through and organized to make a reality and an incredible opportunity to drive the track with one’s own favorite Volvo.
There was a car corral set up under the pines on the infield for those that didn’t want to drive the track, and around noon Bill and Tricia graciously hosted lunch at their home just minutes from the Raceway. Lunch was 5-star and plentiful with meats cooked Sous vide (slow in water for a long time) by Jose Laboy and sides and brownies prepared by Tricia. Our crew ate happily and heartily, raving about the meal.
In what was labeled a Track Experience, there were 4 slots during the day for us to take our cars on the track. Bill roared about with the others in his 350Z.
It seems in retrospect that Bill willed himself to keep going and to make this meet happen just so others could enjoy the thrill of driving their cars on the track, as sadly for us all, he passed away just days later in his home.
Bill holds a dear place in the hearts of hundreds of Volvo enthusiasts. With his extensive/superior knowledge of the marque, he expertly repaired and restored our Volvos bringing us so much joy.
With his love of helping others, he freely gave his time to answer questions and give advice to anyone who contacted him. Over the years he and Tricia hosted Volvo meets for both the Southwest FL Volvo Club of America and Florida Volvo Club of America where Bill often gave Volvo repair sessions
He will be greatly missed, and we will cherish our memories of the special times we were able to share with him.
Some of Bill’s particulars:
William Allan Rose, 3/2/1953 to 10/27/2022
Born: Worcester, Mass. Deceased: Sebring, Fl.
Business: Owner and Lead Technician, Auto Clinic of Naples, Inc.-Volvo Specialist-June 1990 to November 2020
Club Affiliations:
Member, Volvo Club of America (Founding Member of Southwest Florida Chapter-1995 to 2002/Florida Chapter 2002-2022)
Associate Member, Volvo Sports America (Founding Member of Central Florida Chapter-2002 to 2022).
Sports Car Club of America-Central Florida Region-1999 to 2022-Competition Racing license 1999 to 2012.
Sponsor of numerous SW FL VCOA local chapter events, FL VCOA State events, VCOA, and VSA National events.
SCCA:
Along with A.C.N. Volvosports Teammate, Steve Alander, built a 1980 Volvo 242 for Improved Touring B. The 242 Volvo was later given to and campaigned by Teammate and Friend, Steve Alander. The 242 (then #17) was totaled in a racing incident in Turn 1 at Sebring International Raceway while being driven by Steve.
*A photograph of the 242 featuring Bill’s daughter, Heather, in front of the original location of the Auto Clinic of Naples, was included in Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. 20th Century Photo Album
Built 1973 Volvo 1800ES for F Production/E Production (dubbed Bluebird#18). Bluebird wascampaigned competitively from 2001 to 2012 by both Bill and his wife, Patricia. Volvo was sold to Gordon Ross of Canada. Bluebird still appears at Car Shows and Driving Events around Canada.
*The 1800ES was included in the Volvo In Motorsports, A History of Volvo Car Corporation 1927-2010, page 73.
**The Evolution of Bluebird article appeared in the January/February 2013 issue of Rolling, the magazine of the Volvo Club of America.
Bill campaigned Bluebird, the 1800ES, at Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Homestead Miami Speedway and Watkins Glen (2001 VSA National Meet-Volvos at the Glen).
Bill Rose and Bluebird #18 at Sebring in 2004
Bill married his wife, Patricia (Tricia) Rose, April 30, 1995 after completing the FL VCOA Timed Distance Speed Rally in his 1973 1800ES (prepped for street at the time) at the Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Fl. The article, Life with the ES, appeared in the July/August 1995 issue of S-E-ES magazine, the magazine of Volvo Sports America.
Our Fall Meet and Track Day at the Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, FL is still on for next Saturday, October 15th. Despite everything! Please read on for updated information.
There will be a car corral under the trees in the infield for those not wishing to run the track and a light lunch will be courteously provided by Jose Laboy and hosted by Bill and Tricia Rose.
The Track Day itself is held under SCCA Track Day rules and all you will need is your safe street car, a valid driver’s license, and an approved helmet.
To register for the Track Day part go to www.motorsportreg.com and click on Events and find the listing for Track Event at Sebring on October 15th and complete the registration. The cost is $145 for the Track and $15 for the Weekend Membership of SCCA. Make sure to familiarize yourself with all the requirements listed on www.motorsportreg.com
Registration for us closes Weds 12th. October.
If not running the track, admission is FREE. However, everyone is still required to sign in and sign waivers to gain access to the facility.
For that reason, we must have your RSVP by Wednesday Oct 12th in order to have your name on a list to check in against at the SCCA Office. Please reply to this email to RSVP and you can just say TRACK or MEET with your name. If you have already RSVP’d, thank you. No need to send again.
ALL ATTENDEES MUST ARRIVE DURING THE OPEN HOURS OF REGISTRATION TO GAIN ADMITTANCE.
Sign-In times for the facility are Friday 4:00pm till 7:00pm and Saturday 7:00am till 11:00am.
Drivers Meeting is at 8:00am Saturday.
Directions: First enter at Gate 3 and head for the SCCA Office where you will sign in to gain access to the facility. Then to Gate 1 for entrance and on down the Midway to meet us at the car corral under the trees in the General Parking section.
Attached is a sample Inspection Checklist to help ready your car for the track.
Feel free to email us with any questions.
IMPORTANT: Even if you are only thinking about doing the Track Day, you should go ahead and register as spaces are limited. You can always cancel if you can’t make it.
