Elderly Florida man [85] allegedly street racing, caught driving 110 mph in 45 mph zone: Deputies

Fox35 Orlando ^ | 6/17/2026 | Camille Sarabia

[simpson96]

LEESBURG, Fla. - An elderly Florida man was arrested for allegedly street racing in Lake County, deputies said.

When confronted with the accusation, William Bosworth, 85, responded that he was just "having a little ride in my favorite car."

Now, Bosworth faces two charges for driving in a vehicle race and dangerous excessive speeding.

A Lake County Sheriff's Office deputy spotted two vehicles appearing to be street racing on U.S. Highway 27 and County Road 33 in Leesburg around 11:40 p.m., June 12. A radar showed a red corvette traveling at 125 miles per hour and a gray sports car traveling at 110 miles per hour – both in a 45 miles per hour zone.

After activating his emergency lights, the deputy pulled over Bosworth – the driver of the gray sports car – an arrest affidavit said.

The interaction between the deputy and the elderly driver was captured on body camera footage.

When the deputy addressed Bosworth's alleged street racing, Bosworth responded, "No, that guy, he swerved at me." Bosworth continued to explain he was driving 110 mph "only because he swerved at me. I wanted to get away from him before we caused a problem."

Bosworth went on to deny he was street racing with the other driver, saying he was "out having a little ride in my favorite car."

Bosworth complied with the deputy's commands to get out of the car, and he was placed in handcuffs. He was arrested for excessive speeding and street racing.

[Dr. Sivana]

I think almost every car made until the mid 1980s could do at least 120, even If a 10% downgrade was required for some.

Dropping the Vega, Pinto, and the six cylinder cars, mostly. But you have to go before the 1970s emission, NOT The 80s. They were doing crazy (bad) things to pass emissions and later CAFE, like feeding exhaust back into the system and lean burn, not to mention the catalytic converters. When I replaced my 1965 Chrysler 300 distributor with the official Chrysler electric distributor (no more points), I definitely lost low end power.

But of cars from that era that I have driven the '72 Impala, '65 Chrysler 300, 107- Olds 98, 1973 Buick Regal, yeah they could do 120 (though I never did!).

The 1979 Dodge Diplomat Wagon (318 ci), 1974 Chevy Malibu (250 ci), various Slant-six Darts (1966-1976), not so much. Mechanically speaking, a 1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue is almost identical to the 1979 Diplomat (M body). The 1966 Dart might get up to 120 mph on a flat road with no head wind, but it might take a few minutes.

[Dr. Sivana]

Looking good for 85! If the Corvette was a C8, it should have cleaned his clock. If it is an older one, nogt so sure.

[Dr. Sivana]

Short version: the pre‑C8 Corvette would win a 2‑mile straight‑line race against a Nissan 370Z, and it wouldn’t be close.

Here’s why, in simple terms:

Power:

Pre‑C8 Corvette (C6/C7 V8): roughly 400–460 hp.

Nissan 370Z V6: about 330–350 hp.

Acceleration (stock, typical tests):

Corvette: around 4.0 s 0–60 mph, low‑12s quarter mile at ~115–120 mph.

370Z: around 5.0 s 0–60 mph, mid‑13s quarter mile at ~105 mph.

Top speed:

Corvette: roughly 180+ mph depending on model.

370Z: about 155 mph.

Over two miles, you’re well past quarter‑mile differences and into top‑speed and sustained acceleration territory. The Corvette pulls ahead early, keeps building a bigger gap, and then walks away once both cars are near their top speeds.

So unless the Corvette driver massively lifts or the 370Z is heavily modified, the pre‑C8 Corvette wins that 2‑mile drag every time.

[combat_boots]

The so called SUV I was driving rattled like the bolts were flying off.

[roadcat]

We’ve all done that.

I stopped racing maybe 15 - 20 years ago, now in my mid-70s. A couple decades ago was in a group of car club members driving from Santa Barbara to San Francisco on Hwy 101 in the central valley. We all had vintage convertible roadsters, old but fast. A friend challenged me to a race, and we took off. At about 100mph our other friends were calling us on our CB radios that a CHP cop was behind us, and we began slowing to 85mph or so as the cop pulled along side of us. He looked at us, smiled, and gave a thumbs up, then went ahead. Whew, escaped getting tickets! A mile up ahead he pulled over an ordinary sedan for speeding. WTH? Probably would have went to 130mph or so if not for the cop. BTW, I won the race although it ended early, attributed it to recently rebuilding the engine myself.

[TermLimits4All]

I had an 07 Lexus. I would set the cruise at 126mph on I-80 from Salt Lake City to Wendover Nevada, until I got busted😩 which was many prior trips through the west desert.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I am in Germany a lot for business. Take the overnight ferry from Sweden.

Driving 155 mph there is not a big deal anymore. Most decent sedans are speed limited to that 155.

But you still have to look in your rear view mirror a lot because the Porsches, Corvettes, McLarens, and the like will sneak up on you quickly. They are often doing 40 mph faster.

But I enjoy traffic light to traffic light sprints better. I can actually win them here in the states.

[SaveFerris]

I get 3.14 but the number just
keeps on going forever ♾️

[Gil4]

Trying to escape from someone who was behaving in a threatening manner isn’t quite the same as racing.

My father-in-law isn’t completely in the clear - he might have been in the Corvette.

[doorgunner69]

“150 MPH” in a Datsun 240z?? With 150 hp?

I call BS
You might squeak 125 out of one.

[doorgunner69]

“which would TOW that ‘Vette faster than it is capable of itself.”

Maybe if it was a 70 - 80’s disco era Corvette.

Let me guess, you own a datsun/neesan?

[Keyhopper]

((((snickering)))))

[Mogger]

“150 MPH” in a Datsun 240z?? With 150 hp?

I call BS

I have no idea how many HP it had, but it wasn't floored.

I bought it from an engineer on Guam who had never driven it over 35 MPH. This was before I knew about Amsoil, so I bought a lesser carb and engine cleaner to get the carbon out of it.

I made the mistake of shutting it off and carbon chunks stuck the exhaust valves open.

When I tore it down I found flat top pistons.

Cleaned it up, ported and polished it, cced the head, balanced the pistons and connecting rods.

Later, when I replaced the clutch, I found it had a 6 bolt crank.

I balanced the carbs for air flow.

[Don W]

Nope. A Ford, a Chev, and a Suzuki. Oh, and an Amazonas, a Honda, and a Yamaha. Looking at a Victory an Indian, and a Harley right now.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

You only live once.

It is a shame he didn’t do this last year. Florida now has draconian punishment for driving 65 miles over the posted speed limit. The Super Speeder law is very strict. He may be due for 30 days in jail for this.