The Swamp Buggy Races began in 1949, a formal competition between hunters who, until then, could only brag about how much faster their much-modified Everglades machines were than the next guy’s.

Swamp Buggy Queen Jami Pearl Torrella emerges after being dunked by top winner Tyler Johns Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015 at the Florida Sports Park in Naples, Fla.

Naples, Fla., is home to the "swamp buggy" races, an Everglades tradition that dates back to 1949. Although airboats and cars have long since eliminated the need for swamp buggies, racing the ...

Both cities were influenced by similar early settlement patterns and relied heavily on water travel and trading posts.

Started in 1949 during the first Swamp Buggy Days festival, organizers call the parade the longest running annual event in town. There wasn't a parade last year because paperwork wasn't filed in time.

Swamp Buggy Drive Through the Everglades For this installment of "I'll Try Anything," PM contributor Jeff Wise heads to Florida for a scary but exhilarating ride through the swamp. By Jeff Wise ...

Swamp buggy racing is unlike any other type of off-road racing. The majority of the course is covered in 17-19 inches of water, and there are two “sippi” holes that are 5½ feet in depth.

Some of the buggies had a rough, homemade look to them, but Oates’ $35,000 creations are like Cadillacs for swamp cruising. The vehicles have power steering, automatic transmissions and stereos ...

As the buggies uses and popularity grew, more hunters and farmers started building their own swamp buggy. These builders would gather together and share a few engineering secrets here and there ...