Off the Beaten Path Insider

Brute Force! A tractor digs in at a Florida Flywheelers event in Polk County's Fort Meade. Credit: Stacie & Ken Cook of inzonephoto.com

I thought I knew nearly everything about Florida, but one advantage of being the “Off the Beaten Path” Insider is that people are always telling me about places that are completely new to me. That’s what happened when I heard about the Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club in Fort Meade in south Polk County whose mission is to “promote interest in restoring, preserving and exhibiting antique internal combustion engines, steam engines, antique tractors and autos and other labor saving devices from the by-gone years.”

How long has this been going on? Since 1972 and with nearly 250 acres to work with, the Flywheelers have also put together an incredible antique farm village with 70 buildings (many constructed with lumber milled from their own steam-powered sawmill) that you can visit all year ‘round. Many plan their visits for main events such as Jan. 18-21 and Feb. 22-25 when fans and enthusiasts arrive for tractor and antique flivver (car) parades as well as a flea markets where as many as 1,000 dealers will set up shop. More than 1,500 members gather regularly to take part in tractor pulls, swap parts with other tinkerers, show off restored engines and farm equipment and add to a growing collection of antique engines, and find creative new uses for motors – such as applying the brute force of a massive engine to power a pencil sharpener or churn ice cream.

Pretty cool stuff, and it’s all right here in off the beaten path Florida.

For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, call Florida Flywheelers at 863-285-9121 or visit floridaflywheelers.org