Sebastian Municipal Airport

Built in 1943 as Roseland Field, the airfield was handed to the city of Sebastian for civilian use in 1959. On March 9, 1959 the city council let the Asphalt Angels car club of Fort Pierce hold drag races on the runway, with conditions. The club had to provide restrooms, improve the entrance and provide parking, couldn’t put up permanent buildings or seating, and had to keep two of the four runways open at all times. The club sponsored NHRA-sanctioned races every two weeks at what was then called Sebastian-Roseland Airport, on the second and fourth Sundays, with one of the first on May 17, 1959. By the July 26, 1959 race the field was called Sebastian Municipal Airport, and John McCain of Merritt Island had the top time among 65 racers at 104.408 mph in his 1957 Corvette. In August 1959 races moved to the first and third Sundays, and in January 1960 back to the second and fourth. Racing stopped around October 1960, possibly over liability insurance. The next month the Flying Rebels car club asked the city council about using the airport for a drag strip, and a councilman suggested they see the city clerk about the insurance needed for a lease. No drag racing outside 1959 and 1960 has been found.