david gibb travel writer

Florida , USA

About David

After surviving many years as a case-cracking private eye, I’ve spent the past few years on a worldwide odyssey in search of Shangri-La. Bitten by the travel bug traversing Europe as a teenager, my goal is to make Indiana Jones seem like a homebody. I love exploring ancient ruins, deserts and jungles - and adore historical architecture. I’m a connoisseur of cultural relics and tiki bars… an adventurous Florida beach bum who loves to rub elbows with the ghost of Hemingway. Belize, Panama and Morocco rank amongst my favorite destinations so far.

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Daytona International Speedway: How To Arrange A NASCAR Fan’s Dream Vacation

• Activities and Interests
• Daytona Beach
• Destinations
• History and Culture
• United States

Does the sound of roaring thunder zooming mercilessly along steep banks rocket your adrenaline to the stratosphere? Do you prefer the smell of burning rubber to sizzling bacon? Congratulations, gearhead! You’re amongst millions of die-hard NASCAR race fans who share that insatiable lust for speed.

There’s nothing that compares to feeling the thunder of a DAYTONA 500 race live from the stands, sharing the enthusiasm with over 100,000 zealous fans at NASCAR’s most prestigious event. The noise, and the smell — yes, the smell — of speed are only fully appreciated from the seats at stock car racing’s spiritual home.

NASCAR was born here in Daytona Beach , at a rooftop bar just a few blocks from the sandy beach where racers first assembled. Nowadays, world-class Daytona International Speedway , heralded as “the prettiest speedway in the world,” attracts millions of car-racing enthusiasts — including presidents, celebrities, and racing fans just like you!

Ready to make your heart-stopping dreams a reality? Read on, and let’s head to the races!

I was kindly hosted by the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, but all opinions are my own.

Experience Daytona International Speedway 

Let’s go straight for the gusto. This is where it all happens: the speed, the noise…the passion. Here, speed is king, and noise is a welcome by-product. The louder, the better. Adrenaline surges as drivers whiz past the rumbling aluminum stands at speeds of over 200 mph. It’s an exhilarating, thrilling experience, even for those who aren’t fans yet.

All roads in town lead to Daytona International Speedway. In fact, it’s on International Speedway Boulevard (the same road as Daytona Beach International Airport) — so it’s impossible to miss. The stadium’s 101,500 seats rise triumphantly skyward, guiding fans toward its 2.5-mile landmark track. 

Speedway Tours

If you’re not able to make it to one of the Speedway’s big events, consider the next best thing: a guided, 90-minute, behind-the-scenes tour of racing’s mecca.

The tram tour rambles down Pit Road, circling Lake Lloyd (where famous drivers are often seen casting a fishing line!) as you soar along the track’s infield at a whopping speed of 15 mph. During stops, guests climb the 31-degree high bank at Turn 3 — high enough to allow cars to reach incredibly high speeds without — hopefully! — flipping over. (Sadly, this bend claimed the life of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.)

Accessibility: The stadium is very ADA-accessible, with 40 escalators, 17 elevators, and plenty of wheelchair-accessible seats and bathroom facilities, but these banks may seem like Everest even for those without mobility challenges!

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to bring a Sharpie, since visitors are encouraged to scribble their John Hancocks on the Start/Finish line. Some cheeky messages read, “Slow down!” and “You’re going too fast!” (Sorry to burst your bubble, but the line’s repainted every day!)

Participants also venture through NASCAR garages and ascend the spectator stands while learning about the history of the Speedway — from its $2.5 million inception in 1957 to its mind-blowing, $400 million makeover in 2016.

The highlight of the tour is undeniably the opportunity to walk Victory Lane — where each winner celebrates his victory. For fans, it’s a surreal experience following in the footsteps of racing legends.

Tour Upgrade Options

VIP Tours: 2.5-hour VIP Tours (in comfortable buses) are available. These include a visit to the NASCAR Archives and Research Center and Houston Lawing Press Box. Offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m.; advance booking is recommended.

Race Car Ride-Along: For the ultimate thrill-seeking Daytona experience, don’t miss the chance to book a race car ride-along, or, better yet, race around the track yourself until the checkered flag drops!

Visit Daytona International Speedway’s tour page and NASCARracingexperience.com for pricing and booking information.

Pro Tip: Don’t dodge the ticket counter photo booth! All tour tickets include four free digital photos of your experience (although they try to upsell). Sure, they’re photoshopped using a somewhat tacky green-screen background, but it’s a fun memory regardless! 

How To Get DAYTONA 500 Tickets

If you’re anxious to join the 2 million pumped-up fans who converge here for the DAYTONA 500 each February, you had best plan early. Tickets routinely sell out a month in advance, hotels even sooner. The best way to secure tickets is by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or going to the official DAYTONA 500 event page .

The 300 or 400 levels provide better views of the track than lower levels. If it’s last minute and the race is sold out, try secondary sellers like SeatGeek . 

Pro Tip: Upgrade your experience by purchasing Fan Zone passes. These pre-race passes admit you to the Fan Zone area in the infield as well as the pre-race concert.

Other Daytona International Speedway Races

If you’re too late or too broke to score tickets for the big race, or if huge crowds dissuade you, consider other popular races hosted at Daytona. The Bluegreen Vacations Duel 150 qualifying races are held the Thursday before the 500. You’ll get two 150-mile races, featuring every 500 entrant, racing under the lights of Daytona. Night races in August are also very popular and far less congested. The Rolex 24 in January is another consummate fan favorite!

The Motorsports Hall Of Fame Of America

All Speedway tours include admission to the on-site Hall of Fame, home to every form of racing vehicle — stock cars, sports cars, trucks, motorcycles, powerboats, and planes! The building’s packed with tons of racing memorabilia and cup-winning cars — including Richard Petty’s 1972 NASCAR champion STP Charger. You’ll also get an up-close look at the reigning DAYTONA 500 Champion Car — in the same condition it left the track! With photo-ops galore, and plenty of knowledgeable volunteers, you’ll easily spend a couple of hours here!

Pro Tip: Don’t miss the commemorative statues of NASCAR founder, Bill France Sr., his wife and son, and race champ Dale Earnhardt, outside the building or the Champion’s Walk of Fame — featuring handprints, footprints, and cement autographs of past 500 winners. There’s also a wooden bench commemorating racing icon Richard Petty’s, 80 th birthday.

Off The Track: NASCAR Experiences Around Daytona

Streamline hotel.

Want to see — or even stay — where it all began? Then race over to the Streamline Hotel (roughly 10 minutes east). It was at the rooftop bar of this stylish Art Deco boutique hotel, a hangout of celebrities, race car drivers, and gangsters, that Bill France Sr. inked papers creating NASCAR.

The rooftop’s captivating 360-degree view of Daytona Beach stretches from the shores of the Atlantic, where the earliest races were held, to the towering stands of the city’s modern Speedway. Newspaper clippings and black-and-white framed photos cover the walls of the hotel’s NASCAR-themed lobby and rooftop bar, commemorating its historical significance. Ask to see their “Al Capone” safe door for another fun surprise!

Pro Tip: Many NASCAR-related meetings and events are still held here, so keep a sharp eye for visiting drivers and dignitaries! Bar opening hours vary, so call ahead.

Where To Eat

Racing’s north turn.

Long before cars raced around paved oval tracks of the Speedway, tires spun along Daytona’s sandy beach. From 1936 to 1958, cars thrilled and spilled along a 4.1-mile beach road course. They’d exit the beach, turning onto a stretch of the A1A at Ponce Inlet — the current site of Racing’s North Turn , a beachfront restaurant and bar popular with the racing crowd — and for good reason. Besides offering great food with an even better view, the NASCAR-themed décor and wall coverings pay tribute to the location’s unique history. Don’t miss it!

Brickyard Lounge

Be sure to hit up Brickyard Lounge , a classic American-style diner operated by Renny, a racing enthusiast who styled his digs to celebrate his passion. This hidden gem whips up the best sandwiches and burgers in town. It’s a pit stop you shouldn’t miss!

Pro Tip:  Order their ribeye steak sandwich or regret it forever!

4 Rivers Smokehouse

Order the Burnt Ends (chopped brisket and pork) with three country sides and choice of bread at 4 Rivers Smokehouse , across from the Speedway, and eat like a champion. This family-owned barbecue emporium is committed to helping communities through the 4R Foundation and its 4Roots sustainable food initiatives. It’s a win-win!

Ormond Garage

Ormond Garage , a racing-themed craft brewery and eatery, pays tribute to the legendary building of the same name, that, in the days of yesteryear, housed race cars and their drivers and mechanics. Sadly, the original building burned down in 1976; there’s a historical marker at its former site on East Granada Boulevard, where a SunTrust bank now stands.

The Ormond Beach community, just north of Daytona Beach, is known as the “birthplace of speed” and was a gathering point for auto inventors and drivers in the early 1900s.

Pro Tip: When you visit the brewery, be sure to check out the cool mural out back!

Rose Villa Southern Table

Finally, for a truly nostalgic dining experience, head to Rose Villa Southern Table . This cranberry-and-apple-green building, originally home to a circa 1901 hotel (complete with Victorian wallpaper), invokes the charm of a bygone era.

Pro Tips: Order their Bourbon BBQ Pork Chop with goat cheese grits and thank me later. Don’t miss their vintage Bourbon Bar on the second floor, either!

Where To Stay

If you don’t opt for a room at the Streamline, these other Daytona Beach options deserve your consideration.

THE DAYTONA

THE DAYTONA (Autograph Collection), a 144-room luxury hotel, sits conveniently across from the Speedway at ONE DAYTONA (a shopping and dining complex). Racing-themed murals, race cars, and vintage gasoline pumps adorn their lobby as well as the adjacent Blue Flame lounge.

Max Beach Resort

Save some money without sacrificing luxury by driving 10 minutes to Max Beach Resort , a brand-new hotel, originally designed as condos, at Daytona Beach Shores. Large suites offer full kitchens and spectacular views. Enjoy oceanfront dining, too!

David Gibb is a globetrotting travel writer on a worldwide odyssey searching for his perfect retirement paradise. He spent 35 years in the trenches as a case-cracking private investigator and began moonlighting as a professional writer in 2006, authoring two best-selling true crime books. Nowadays, David prefers to write about beaches, sunshine, and other fun stuff. He’s currently living in Florida — when he’s not busy rubbing elbows with the ghost of Hemingway in other exotic locales, that is!

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David Gibb is a retired private detective exploring Europe and Latin America in search of a personal retirement paradise with his wife, Beverly. They’ll be touring Portugal, then they’ll visit Spain, Gibraltar, and even cross the water to Morocco. Then it’s back across the Atlantic to investigate retirement havens in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.

A $905-a-Month Rental in Sintra, Portugal

At the age of 55, feeling emotionally unfulfilled and seeking a more exciting life, Heidi Dezell, walked away from her six-figure job as a national sales executive to travel the world in search of her personal utopia. Her research led her to Portugal and she now lives with her dog, Bailey, in Sintra.

Goodbye Cold Calgary, Hello Warm and Friendly Belize

Let’s head to the WestJet website and book a flight to the first tropical place with direct flights,” Dean Astren suggested to his wife, Kim. Belize, by alphabetical virtue, won this simple contest. And that’s how Dean and Kim found their new home. While it may seem like a strange way to relocate, it wasn’t as spontaneous as it might seem.

“We Built Our Own Magic Kingdom in the Belize Jungle”

We were captivated by the natural jungle here,” says Jeff McConnaughey of his overseas home. “When we first visited, as we walked through the foliage underneath these towering palm trees, we saw toucans perched high above, peregrine falcons soaring across the rushing river, and cute little agoutis scrambling about the forest floor. It was mesmerizing.”

We were captivated by the natural jungle here,” says Jeff McConnaughey of his overseas home. “When we first visited, as we walked through the foliage underneath these towering palm trees, we saw toucans perched high above, peregrine falcons soaring across the rushing river, and cute little agoutis scrambling...

From Unemployment to Early Retirement in the Caribbean

“I’m having the time of my life,” Mike Whalen beams, when I meet him at his restaurant in Ambergris Caye, Belize. “I’m still learning as I go, but what better place to do it than a tropical island? I live and work on ‘Coconut Drive’! How could I possibly have a single, solitary regret?”

From Jobless to a Tropical Island Dream

“I’m having the time of my life,” beams Mike Whalen, from his new restaurant in Ambergris Caye, Belize. “I’m still learning as I go, but what better place to do it than a tropical island? I live and work on ‘Coconut Drive,’ for Pete’s sake! How could I possibly have a single, solitary regret?”

The Verdict: Could We Live in Morocco?

From its majestic snow-peaked mountains to its hot desert sands, lush cedar forests, and miles of serene, palm-fringed Atlantic coastline, Morocco covers the gamut. You can hop aboard the country’s high-speed train in the morning and ride a camel into the desert that evening. Or hop a ferry and visit Spain or Gibraltar for the day.

Exploring Morocco’s “Red City”: An Oasis in the Desert

As we entered Marrakech, its clean, modern thoroughfares and palm-lined streets made it feel as though we were driving through a sanitized suburb of Miami. Our guide, Hamza, welcomed us to the “Red City” (so named because of its proliferation of red clay buildings and ramparts), a cosmopolitan city whose first impressions completely blew our minds.

Our “Marrakech Express”: A Three-Day Trek Through Morocco

We had left Fez earlier that morning, embarking upon a three-day trek to Marrakech, through majestic mountain ranges and enough desert sand to form a million sparkling gold beaches. This was our version of the “Marrakech Express.”

Searching for Paradise in Fez, Morocco

Sometimes you end up finding paradise in the unlikeliest of places. Thanks to Karl, and his tour of the more charming and modernized sections of Fez, Beverley and I had gained a newfound fondness for this ancient capital city. But could we live here?

• ADMIN AREA MY BOOKSHELF MY DASHBOARD MY PROFILE SIGN OUT SIGN IN

by David Gibb ; illustrated by Brizida Magro ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2024

Simple, encouraging, and charming.

The youngest in the family gets some wheels!

“Everyone in my family has a bike,” says the young narrator. “But I don’t.” Dad, a bike enthusiast, has several, including a recumbent one (“If he gets too tired, he even has a bike he can lie down on and take a nap”). When the family goes out cycling together, the narrator has always ridden in a baby seat on Dad’s bike—until now. “I want a bike of my own!” says the child. So Dad gives the little one a hand-me-down tricycle. “It has one…two…three wheels,” observes the protagonist. “I ride it in the yard.” Later, Dad provides a two-wheel, pedal-less balance bike. Our hero practices riding “down the yard…between the bushes…around the cat…and a little bit over the flowers.” When Dad presents a bright red bike with training wheels, “It’s the most beautiful bike I’ve ever seen.” Dad explains that “the little wheels are just until you get the hang of it.” When it’s time to take the training wheels off, the little one experiences the heart-thumping anticipation, exhilaration, and surprise of a solo ride. This straightforward, at times humorous narrative deftly captures a young child’s viewpoint, brought to life by gorgeously textured, collagelike images. This is an engaging and relatable look at how skills are acquired through practice; laudably, Gibb makes clear that learning to ride a bike doesn’t happen overnight. The family is brown-skinned, and everyone wears a helmet while riding.

Pub Date: May 7, 2024

ISBN: 9781536231397

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Candlewick

Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2024

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

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LITTLE BLUE TRUCK'S CHRISTMAS

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 23, 2014

Little Blue’s fans will enjoy the animal sounds and counting opportunities, but it’s the sparkling lights on the truck’s own...

The sturdy Little Blue Truck is back for his third adventure, this time delivering Christmas trees to his band of animal pals.

The truck is decked out for the season with a Christmas wreath that suggests a nose between headlights acting as eyeballs. Little Blue loads up with trees at Toad’s Trees, where five trees are marked with numbered tags. These five trees are counted and arithmetically manipulated in various ways throughout the rhyming story as they are dropped off one by one to Little Blue’s friends. The final tree is reserved for the truck’s own use at his garage home, where he is welcomed back by the tree salestoad in a neatly circular fashion. The last tree is already decorated, and Little Blue gets a surprise along with readers, as tiny lights embedded in the illustrations sparkle for a few seconds when the last page is turned. Though it’s a gimmick, it’s a pleasant surprise, and it fits with the retro atmosphere of the snowy country scenes. The short, rhyming text is accented with colored highlights, red for the animal sounds and bright green for the numerical words in the Christmas-tree countdown.

Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-544-32041-3

Page Count: 24

Publisher: HMH Books

Review Posted Online: Aug. 11, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS | CHILDREN'S TRANSPORTATION

More by Alice Schertle

BOOK REVIEW

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by Jill McElmurry

by Alice Schertle ; illustrated by John Joseph

CARPENTER'S HELPER

by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021

Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.

A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.

Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)

Pub Date: March 16, 2021

ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random

Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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David A. Gibb

About the author.

David A. Gibb is a respected investigative consultant and journalist, who has developed a knack for uncovering the truth. He spent twenty-five years digging for answers as a private investigator - a career that involved many fascinating cases. Gibb is responsible for finding over 4,400 missing people, and has worked undercover in such challenging environments as a religious cult and a satanic organization. He's investigated serious and complex crimes, exposed countless frauds, provided VIP security to the rich and famous, and testified as an expert witness. Prior to becoming a writer, Gibb had also taught in the Law and Security programs at Sheridan College (Brampton and Oakville campuses in Ontario) and at Clarke College (Belleville, Ontario campus). He has been the honored recipient of an Alumni Entrepreneurial Award (2005) from his former alma mater, Seneca College. As a freelance writer, Gibb has been published in national newspapers and magazines, and has been a regular contributor to EMC Newspapers/Shield Media in Belleville, Ontario. He is most recently the author of Camouflaged Killer: The Shocking Double Life of Colonel Russell Williams, to be published by Berkley Books (Penguin Group USA) in September 2011. Gibb is a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada, the Writers' Union of Canada, and Crime Writers of Canada.

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