Filed under: Etc., Safety, First Drive
Nearly 100 cars sink in Daytona Beach sand
Those of us who live in the Snow Belt know what it's like to have Mother Nature not let go of your vehicle. There's just no dislodging a car under its own power when the tires dig in and make ruts in the white stuff. Although snow isn't a problem for drivers in Florida, the sands at Daytona Beach are causing headaches for a large number of Floridians. On Sunday, there were nearly 100 vehicles stuck on the beach, and officers suggest that these conditions will not be improving any time soon. According to Daytona Beach patrol Captain Tim Cunningham, "I have not seen it this bad in my lifetime. Right now, the sand is like powder. It is just months and months of no rain." The worst time to drive on the beach is just before high tide. We don't imagine that you want your car stuck in the sand with high tide approaching. With this in mind, may we politely suggest parking a bit further away and walking? Thanks for the tip, everyone![Source: Tampa Bay News 10]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Soccer Mom 3:33PM (6/02/2008)
It looks like these guys on the picture vigorously pushing Mustang into the ocean.
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Ken Stamper 3:38PM (6/02/2008)
Maybe they just realized they bought a brand-new car with a live axle.
Steve 3:51PM (6/02/2008)
Does the green shirt guy really have arms 4 feet long?
Mark 3:56PM (6/02/2008)
Dont worry boys, there is a Toyota Tundra coming in to rescue the stuck Ford.
johnny 4:03PM (6/02/2008)
I guess pictures do say a thousand words.
Lets see:
1- Useless Mustang V6 on a beach. Most likely a rental and the guys are turists.
2- Yes it appears the green guy has huge arms
3- Tundra to the rescue
4- A guy minding his business and making a sand castle right next to them
5- Nobody seems to be inside the Mustang and the lights being off Im guessing the cars off
6- Even though a hundred cars are stuck, there is none in site and all the bystanders are doing their own thing
....
Sleighboy 4:04PM (6/02/2008)
They are likely pushing their car towards the wetter more compacted sand. When you're driving a car not equipped for sand travel on a beach that is where you should stay, not go off into the dry powder. That is usually why they get stuck on beaches, people who do not live near beaches do not realize this and get stuck...often.
Natural Selection 7:34PM (6/02/2008)
Any car can drive in the sand, powder or wet. All you need to do is let air out of the tires and don't spin your wheels.
Torrent 7:58PM (6/02/2008)
Damn that guy in the green shirt has Gorilla-Reach (inside joke). I bet his arms scrape the floor when he walks.
Randy 9:40AM (6/03/2008)
Too bad that Tundra's axle will fall off pulling anything! I'd wait for the F-Series to show up! :)
nate_687 4:24PM (6/03/2008)
Yeah i've been down there several times and its a very common thing for cars to get stuck.. But not 100 in a day, crazy i'm actually going down there in about 3 weeks so i'll get to see this first-hand.
Richie 10:53PM (6/03/2008)
Funny the guy with the Mustang avatar is making fun of the Toyota.
Matt 3:37PM (6/02/2008)
What kind of moron would take a V6 Mustang on the sand anyway??
Heck...why would anyone drive in the sand in the first place?
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geo.stewart 3:48PM (6/02/2008)
I thought you werent supposed to drive on the beach at daytona, except for emergency vehicles?
jordan 6:21PM (6/02/2008)
Have you ever driven in the sand? It's a blast just to ride. Unfortunately, most places are being shut down for "wildlife preservation areas."
Until you've tried it, don't knock it.
Rottingham 11:31PM (6/03/2008)
You can drive on Daytona, kinda sucks when your not the one in the car and moron tourist are gawking and not watching where they're going.
Shoulda seen the tidal wave that knocked into the cars about 12-15 years ago there, every single one was full of sand and soaking wet.
Dan 3:38PM (6/02/2008)
It's called "shovel." Just dig down till you get to the nice wet sand, and then go... seriously people it's not THAT hard.
Silly Floridans not being prepared, lol.
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Cobra 9:57PM (6/03/2008)
Most likely a tourist. Year round residents know where to drive on the beach and what kind of sand to drive on. Apparently, this driver pulled too far up on the soft sand.
Frank 3:40PM (6/02/2008)
I live in daytona beach. U would be suprised how stupid people are. Example: One lady saw a 4x4 F150 almost get stuck in the sand, so what does she do: drives right behind the Jeep in her fwd Hyundai Accent - and then she just pressed the gas as hard as she could sand flying everywhere, needless to say she had a hard time finding people to pull her out.
The people who get stuck almost always shoulda seen it coming.
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Corey W. 3:46PM (6/02/2008)
Please tell me dufus 1 and 2 did not try to drive on a beach with a Mustang!! (Autoblog picture)
I wonder how many 4 wheel or AWD cars got stuck?!? I'm sure it can happen, I just never seen all 4 wheels digging at the same time.
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Judy Zik 8:12PM (6/02/2008)
It is quite possible to drive a 2wd vehicle on the beach. Back in 1999 when we were in Daytona with our old Mazda MX6 we parked on the beach without any problems. It is a good idea if you are going to sunbathe because Daytona tends to be full of vehicles driving up and down the beach so parking yours beside you keeps you from being run over.
The problem here is the conditions. If it hasn't rained for awhile the sand get's too dry and then you have problems.