Gallery: Mud and Souped-Up Machine Collide at the Swamp Buggy Races

  • The Twitter mascot makes his way through the crowd at the keynote.
    01

    20121104-buggy-006

    *The race drew thousands of fans. If I had a nickel for every man I saw sporting a Florida tattoo, I'd have enough money to buy a case of Natty Ice.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    02

    20121104-buggy-002

    *The national anthem is followed by drivers throwing autographed Frisbees into the audience. Formula 1 should do that.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    03

    20121104-buggy-003

    *The Swamp Buggy Queen Taylor Trew, center, and her court pose for photos with Swampy.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    04

    20121104-buggy-004

    *The racing is real, and the competitors are serious. Races are held every November, January and March. As with NASCAR, drivers compete for points. The driver with the most points at the end of the three-race season wins.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    05

    20121104-buggy-005

    *The buggies are part race car, part tractor and part speedboat. They're loud, powerful, fast and loud.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    06

    20121104-buggy-007

    *Back in the day, prizes included turkeys and shotguns. Now there are trophies. And cash.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    07

    20121104-buggy-009

    *The queen and her court cheer another competitor.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    08

    20121104-buggy-010

    *The weirdest part of a sport with no shortage of weird is the celebratory mud bath. Here race winner (and points leader) Eddie Chesser takes a dip with the queen.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    09

    20121104-buggy-008

    *"I've always wanted to be this," said Swamp Buggy Queen Taylor Trew, greeting her subjects. She's attended the races every year since she was 8.*
  • Swamp Buggy Races
    10

    20121104-buggy-001

    *It isn't really a buggy, and it isn't really a swamp. But that doesn't mean Swamp Buggy Racing isn't awesome. Silly, but awesome.*
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