There are large steel gates surrounding the Ben T. Davis Beach off the Courtney Campbell Causeway. These gates were erected in April of last year. Every night at 9 p.m., the gates are locked and shut for the night. Only one arrest was made from 2015 to 2016 and it was the only one recorded.
Other methods
While some racers would show off their rides at night on Davis Beach before the park was closed and the gates were erected, these drivers were showing off their racing skills as much as three nights a week. The only thing they don't enjoy about the stigma surrounding street racing, is that they don't like to be called street racers.
The beach is convenient for people who live as far east as Orlando to as far west as Saint Pete. Closing the beach leaves other ways to park and get ready for the racing to happen.
The loose knit community has around 75 to 200 cars. So while they can't show off and park at Davis Beach, they have found other methods which include public parking lots like Walmart. John Valencia is a self-proclaimed businessman who makes small edible food like empanadas for people who come to the gatherings and watch racers perform and for others to sell their wares. Valencia himself sells his empanadas out of his car to save up for the food truck of his dreams.
"It's a wonderful community," Valencia said to Tampa Bay Times, "There is a lot of love and respect."
Born to race
But while the gates are closed at night, it has not deterred anyone from using the Courtney Campbell Causeway for their racing performances.
There are many cars parked on the side of the road at night and other cars racing up and down the Causeway. The Tampa Police Department has often tried to disperse the groups of people who park along the Causeway at night, antsy for a race, but to no avail.
Tampa and Clearwater Police have teamed up to catch these racers if they get off the bridge once they have done their racing bit.
The bridge is straight and catching someone on the Causeway racing is a lot more difficult. Steve Hagerty, spokesman for the Tampa Police, says that the races still happen on the bridge, but when they disperse or race into the city of Clearwater or Tampa, they are most likely caught and arrested.