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10 SEBRING HISTORY Sebring International Raceway is America’s oldest road racing circuit. Originating from a World War II military base, it hosted the first 12-hour classic in 1952. Founder Alec Ulmann built Sebring into one of America’s greatest racing traditions, second only to Le Mans in international sports car racing prestige. Below are some historical highlights of Sebring International Raceway. 1942 — Hendricks Field opens near Sebring as an Army Air Force training base. 1946 — Hendricks Field deactivated and becomes Sebring Airport 1950 — Alec Ulmann suggests Sebring Airport site for a sports car road race … Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial race held on December 31 is first racing event ever held at Sebring and the first sports car endurance race held in the U.S. 1952 — First 12 Hours of Sebring race held on March 15. 1953 — The 12 Hours of Sebring is the first event of the new FIA sports car world championship. A Chrysler-powered Cunningham wins, giving America its first international sports car victory. 1954 — Stunning upset as an OSCA co-driven by Stirling Moss wins. 1955 — Jaguar wins controversial race. 1956 — The legendary Fangio gives Ferrari its first Sebring win. 1957 — Fangio wins his second consecutive Sebring race, this time driving for Maserati. 1959 — Sebring hosts first ever Formula One race in the U.S. in December. 1960 — Porsche wins its first major endurance race at Sebring. 1964 — Ferrari wins fourth consecutive Sebring race; Carroll Shelby’s Cobras dominate the GT class. 1965 — First American car to win Sebring in over a decade as Chevrolet Chaparral wins with Hap Sharp and Jim Hall driving. 1966 — Sebring hosts first Trans-Am race … Tragedy strikes as four spectators are killed in an incident at Webster Turn… Dan Gurney’s Ford, leading with two minutes left, stops on course. As he tries to push the car across the finish line, the Miles/Ruby Ford passes him in the final minute. 1967 — Promoter Alec Ulmann announces the race will be moved to a new circuit in West Palm Beach. Two months later he changes his mind … First major change made to the circuit as the Webster Turn is replaced with a chicane. 1968 — Trans-Am race included within the 12-hour race. 1969 — Last “Le Mans start" at Sebring. 1970 — Mario Andretti gives Ferrari a thrilling 22-second victory over actor Steve McQueen and Peter Revson in a Porsche. 1972 — Ulmann announces this will be last Sebring race. 1973 — Sebring revived by John Bishop and Reggie Smith under IMSA sanction. 1974 — Race canceled due to “energy crisis.” Several thousand fans show up anyway to party. 1975 — Race revived with John Greenwood as promoter … BMW records its first Sebring victory.


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