Curtiss Speed Record Marks Miami Springs Centennial
Proceeds from the Nov. 7 motorcycle show at Circle Park will benefit the Fathers against Fentanyl Foundation.
By Zara Ahmed ·
Miami Springs holds its third annual Vintage Motorcycle and Car Show on Nov. 7 at Circle Park.
The event marks the final stop in the city’s yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding. Organizers selected the date to honor Glenn Curtiss, who established the community in 1926. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the intersection of Curtiss Parkway and Westward Drive.
City Councilmember Jorge Santin stated that recognizing Curtiss is long overdue. Santin noted that Curtiss was an inventor and pilot who designed a motorcycle that reached 136 miles an hour in 1908. That speed made him the fastest man on earth at the time. A replica of that specific motorcycle will be displayed at the show.
Money raised from ticket sales and sponsors will go to the Fathers against Fentanyl Foundation. The foundation supports families affected by the opioid crisis. Residents can contact the city office at 305-761-3338 for information on tax-deductible sponsorship opportunities.
This gathering concludes a series of centennial events that began earlier this year. Previous activities included a historical display at Miami International Airport and a jazz performance at the Curtiss Mansion. The city also held a plaque ceremony for senior citizens and a light and drone show at the Miami Springs Golf Course.
In August, the city unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Curtiss and the June Bug Legacy Monument in Town Square. The unveiling drew a large crowd and included a lookalike contest. Carlos Perdomo won the contest, while Tomas Hernandez and Miguel Despian also participated.
Curtiss is known as the Father of U.S. Naval Aviation because the Navy used his Jenny planes and Curtiss flying boats in World War I. He founded the first flying school in Miami and the first Porsche dealership in Florida. He also established the cities of Opa-locka and Hialeah. Born in Hammondsport, New York, in 1878, Curtiss flew his June Bug airplane 5,090 feet on July 4, 1908, at Stony Brook Farm.
Source: Community Newspapers · original report published
