Ferriswheelianization | Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries The ferries wheel reminds of the iconic Wonder Wheel in Coney Island, New York City. Due to more sophisticated constructions and materials, and because it's yet another way for nations and cities to surpass one another in size (compare it to the competition for the worlds' tallest skyscraper and also to the Washington Monument obelisk), ferries wheels experience an unexpected revival nowadays. To name but a few, the London Eye, the High Roller (Las Vegas), the Star of Nanchang and the Singapore Flyer.

Ferriswheelianization | Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

The ferries wheel reminds of the iconic Wonder Wheel in Coney Island, New York City. Due to more sophisticated constructions and materials, and because it’s yet another way for nations and cities to surpass one another in size (compare it to the competition for the worlds’ tallest skyscraper and also to the Washington Monument obelisk), ferries wheels experience an unexpected revival nowadays. To name but a few, the London Eye, the High Roller (Las Vegas), the Star of Nanchang and the Singapore Flyer.

Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries The International Speedway in Daytona draws the attention onto motorsports (what is a sport anyway?). It is by far the most important car racing track in the US and American manufacturers do not participate in the more European rooted Formula 1, it is there place to show off and market their products (Dominated by Chevrolet and Ford cars, only Toyota entered the NASCAR circus in 2006).

Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

The International Speedway in Daytona draws the attention onto motorsports (what is a sport anyway?). It is by far the most important car racing track in the US and American manufacturers do not participate in the more European rooted Formula 1, it is there place to show off and market their products (Dominated by Chevrolet and Ford cars, only Toyota entered the NASCAR circus in 2006).

Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

Arcade | Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries For a fistful of dollars... Interestingly one of the arcade machines is called Cyclone, just as the legendary wooden roller coaster at Coney Island, NYC.

Arcade | Daytona Beach, Florida | Photo: Matthias Ries

For a fistful of dollars… Interestingly one of the arcade machines is called Cyclone, just as the legendary wooden roller coaster at Coney Island, NYC.

Daytona Beach

29th of May 2015
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Daytona Beach is another multi-layered artifact. It has become a brand by itself and now works as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Motorbikes, wet T-Shirt contests, NASCAR Racing, Hippies and Hipsters, Muscles and Sunglasses, sun burns and skin cancer. It all comes together at Daytona Beach. In the end though, it is just another Beach with a promenade, arcades and beach towel shops. Yet, it’ll remain in our cultural memory not as what it is, but what it was – and every visit let’s us search the soul and spirit of this place, but not the place itself.

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