The Winternats is a competitive on-road gas powered radio controlled car race attended by racers from around the world.

It is held annually in Fort Myers, Florida at the Lee County Civic Center, usually in the month of February.

This event is sanctioned by the Radio Operated Auto Racing, or ROAR of North America and Canada.

The club had a temporary track that was striped and sealed on the side of a Levitz Furniture store parking lot.

From that idea of a "BIG" race the club started a monthly newsletter that was mailed out nationally.

The club decided to capitalize on the great weather and the Annual King Orange Jamboree, a long-standing Miami tradition at that time.

January, 1972 the first Annual King Orange Winternationals was to be held in sunny South Florida!

It was all 2WD 1/8 scale pan cars (made by Delta, Associated, Marker Machine) powered by K&B or OPS .21 engines.

The race really started to become well known around the world when top European drivers and IFMAR representatives began to attend.

Before the 2005 event new asphalt was laid, due to damage by Hurricane Charley, and for the first time Mike Swauger and Michael Salven were able to complete 26 laps during qualifying.

In 2008, live scoring over the internet was added, to allow people from around the world to view the races in real time.

In 2009, live video coverage and audio of the race announcers was added to the site without a fee.

Severe penalties from the officials for breaking this rule include reprimands, loss of fuel bottle or being sent home.

Qualifiers are four minutes long using the IFMAR start with up to ten drivers racing on their own clock.

A free barbecue prepared by Jim on Friday night after the lower mains, consisting of smoked pork and chicken as well as all the fixings, is a unique feature only provided at this event.

Silver bullets and the Red Cup racing team can trace its origins to the long days and nights of a Winternats week.