‘Florida Road Trip’ visits Ocala/Marion County

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits poses inside his Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing and Antique Car Museum south of Ocala on Jan. 23, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Now in its eighth season, “Florida Road Trip” is WUCF’s original series showcasing the stories, cities and culture that define the Sunshine State. From steamboat towns to space labs, the series connects audiences to Florida’s past and present, one road trip at a time.

The newest offering in the “Florida Road Trip” series, “Where History Meets Horsepower,” hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Scott Fais, “uncovers the many layers of Ocala, from Fort King’s frontier days to Silver Springs’ legendary glass-bottom boats, the global reputation of horse farms and the World Equestrian Center, and the high-octane legacy of drag racing icon Don Garlits,” notes the news release.

Featured interviews include “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, historian Lela Kerley, outdoor/historical resource program coordinator Andy Warrener, glass-bottom boats Capt. William Cosby, Brock Sheridan with “Florida Horse” magazine and Mason Jordan and Leah Tong with the World Equestrian Center.

The show will air at 3 p.m. Nov. 1 on WUFT. Stream the episode for free the day after broadcast or see it early with a WUCF Passport. WUCF is an Orlando-based company. WUFT is based in Gainesville.

To learn more, go to floridaroadtrip.org

Glass-bottom boats are shown at the dock in the main spring at Silver Springs State Park. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]