Chapter Fourteen
The Sebring 12-Hour
Grand Prix
THE SEBRING RACES, BULLETIN # 54 - January 1987
From a speech by Don Hansen presented to
the Sebring Historical Society on October 21, 1986. Donald Hansen was and is the
Medical Coordinator for the Sebring Races.
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The
first race (Dec. 31, 1950) was called the Sam Collier Memorial. There were 28
cars involved and it lasted for 6 hours. The Firemen’s Association was in
charge of the event with Alex Ulmann serving as the
advisor. The winning car was a Crosley.
The
format for the second race (March 8, 1952) was considerably different from the
first. It was now a 12 hour professional event rather than amateur. The winner,
a Frazier-Nash made 145 laps around the 5.2 mile track. (Since
1952, the Sebring Race has been held in March.)
In 1953, the event was sanctioned by
the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile
and was listed as the World Manufacturers Championship. Thus, the Sebring Race
became world renown. A Briggs-Cunningham (with a Chrysler engine) was the
winner averaging 44.9 miles per hour!
There
were 60 entries in 1954 and Stirling Moss drove the
winning car, an Osca. On the very last lap a Lancia blew its engine.
The
start of the Twelve Hours of Sebring was changed from noon to 10 A.M. in 1954.
The race was now truly international in scope with such entries as Jaguars,
Porsches, Renaults, Maseratis, Ferraris, and
Mercedes-Benz. The winning team of Mike Hawthorne and Phil Walters drove a
Jaguar.
In
1956, as the result of tragedy at Le Mans, France, the Automobile Association
of America would no longer sanction Sebring. However, Alex Ulmann
took over with Federation Internationale de l’Automobile approval and the race was held. Twenty-four
out of sixty cars finished and the winner was Juan Fangio
in a Ferrari. Fangio won again in 1957. This time in a Maserati. He later
died in a racing accident.
Improvements
were made for the 1958 race with additions of the big Martini and Rossi
drive-over bridge and the Amoco walkover bridge. American cars were taking a
back seat to their European counterparts. Phil Hill and Peter Collins were
winners in a Ferrari.
In
1959, Phil Hill won again in a Ferrari. During the race, Stirling
Moss ran out of gas twice in a Jaguar. The first Formula One Race, held on Dec.
12th, turned out to be its last.
The
first Porsche win was in 1960 in a car driven by Hans Herman and Oliver Gendebein. An indication of the importance of the Sebring
Race was the presence of Walter Cronkite who was the radio announcer.
The
Ferraris dominated Sebring from 1961 through 1964. Phil Hill made a record 210
laps in 1961. Jo Bonnier and Lucien Bianchi were victorious in 1962. Ferraris
won the first 6 places in 1963 and the first 3 places in 1964.
Chaparral
made its debut in 1962 (and finally won with Jim Hall in 1965). This (1965) was
the “Monsoon Race”. The area was inundated by rain, and water was one foot deep
in the pits. The victory of Chaparral was probably due in part to its better
balance as the cars had to literally push water down the track.
1966
will be remembered as the most tragic in the race’s history. A driver, Bob
McLean, and four spectators lost their lives. Another memory is Gurney pushing
his Ford across the finish line and being disqualified. Fords won the first
three places and the team of Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby,
led the pack. Ford repeated again in 1967 with Andretti
and McLaren the winning drivers.
Europeans
were upset because of recent American successes and therefore, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile
banned the large American engines in 1968.
Porsches finished first and second. Hans Hermann and Jo Siffert drove the first place car.
1969
marked the entrance of several new American cars. They were challenged by
Ferrari and Porsche, but a Ford GT 40 driven by Jackie Icky and Jackie Oliver
won. 1970 had the closest finish of any Sebring Race. Andretti
driving a Ferrari beat out movie star Steve McQueen. A Porsche won in 1971 with
a record 260 laps, but Alfas finished second and third.
The
year 1972 marked the third victory of Andretti, this
time with a Ferrari. This was the last time that the Ulmans
would be in charge. The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile insisted on a number of costly improvements
and the Ulmans did not comply. Thus, Sebring was
removed from the international schedule. Reggie Smith formed the Sebring
Automobile Racing Association and joined a new sanctioning body, The
International Motor Sports Association. The Camel GT Challenge was established
with John Bishop as Director. With the change, much of the international flavor
was lost.
A
Porsche driven by Peter Greg and Hurley Haywood won in 1973 by only completing
226 laps. The energy shortage caused the Daytona and Sebring Races to not be
held in 1974. There was a regrouping and a new style with GT racing as well as
a new generation of drivers. BMW won in 1975.
1976
marked the start of the Porsche reign. Al Holbart’s
Porsche was the winner and Porsche had the first 6 places. Thirteen of the
first fifteen positions were Porsches in 1977. The Porsche 934 Turbo was
introduced in 1977. John Greenwood was out as promoter and many questions were
raised as to whether the race would continue. To fill the void, Charles Mendez
and David Cowart joined to form Sebring Motor Sports International. The rules
were changed and prototypes were out and full bore race cars were in.
Mendez
drove the winning Porsche with Brian Redman in 1978. Also, in 1978, Ford Heacock, III organized the First Vintage and Historical Car
Race. Coca Cola became a sponsor in 1979 and again a Porsche won, this time
driven by Bob Akin. The winning Porsche turbo completed 253 laps in 1980 and
Sebring was beginning to get world publicity again.
1981
had a record 100 entries and Porsche had the first seven places. A Porsche 935
driven by a father and son team, John Paul, Sr. and John Paul, Jr. won in 1982.
Many of the Daytona entries, including the Pauls,
also raced in Sebring in 1982.
Porsches
won again in 1983, 1984, and 1985. The winning driver in 1984, Mauricio DeNarvaez, had finished 75th in 1983. The Sebring Airport Authority whose members are appointed by the Sebring City
Council, took over promotion of the race in 1983. There were a record 107
entries in 1984.
The
Sebring Firemen have been deeply involved in the race since its start. Many
local civic clubs such as the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc. have raised a great
deal of money from the event. The entire community has been affected by the
race. For example, the schools and a number of offices have had a holiday the
Friday before the race. Inspections of cars were held at one time, in down town
Sebring near the Firehouse and what was then Sebring High School. Physicals for
drivers were given at the Sebring Fire Station. In 1972, approximately 300
people had physicals.
There
was a shortage of rooms during the early years of the Sebring Race. The Chamber
of Commerce arranged for rental of houses and rooms. The Hansen family rented
their home to several racers, but after the renters brought an automobile
engine into their home, they decided “never again”.
Weather
(rain and cold), while being a major problem for race participants has helped
in crowd control. The removal of dirt bikes from the area has also reduced
problems for law enforcement. The race has attracted many famous persons such
as Paul Newman, Smothers Brothers, Steve McQueen, Walter Cronkite, Mitch
Miller, Bruce Jenner, and James Garner.
During
the first few years, Sebring had a Le mans type start
which required drivers to run to their parked cars. This was discontinued in
1958 and a rolling start has since been used.
At a race several years ago, an
Italian Photographer who spoke no English, positioned
himself at one of the curves where the public is not allowed. Since he couldn’t
respond to commands (in English) to remove himself, a Deputy was sent to remove
him. During the ensuing scuffle, the photographer bit the Deputy.