Exploring Sebring’s
Urban Legends
You may have heard some of these stories before from
Sebring’s veteran race fans. Some are bizarre, some
are macabre, and all make you say “only at Sebring.”
Every year we update this list we hear about more and
more strange Sebring stories. As best as we can determine,
Revised Edition
By Ken Breslauer
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs drove in the
12 Hours of Sebring.
FICTION
He attended the race in 1980, but he never drove in the
race.
A Ford GT involved in a fatal accident back in
1966 is buried at the track.
FACT
A Ford GT driven by Bob McLean, in which he was killed
during a fi ery accident approaching the hairpin in 1966,
was buried at nearby property. There was very little left
of the car. The remains of an Alfa Romeo also are buried
near the circuit. We’re not telling where.
Yes, this Ford GT40 was buried at Sebring in 1966 following a
terrible accident.
Peanuts comic strip artist Charles Schulz painted
the 1964 Sebring poster.
FICTION
The artist in 1964 was named Shultz, spelled different
than the Peanuts creator.
Jim Morrison, lead singer for the Doors,
attended the Sebring 12 hours.
FACT
By all accounts, Morrison attended the 1962 and/or 1963
race. Remember, he was born in Melbourne Florida and
attended by St Petersburg Junior College and Florida State
University.
The race was once red-fl agged because an
alligator was on the track.
here is the truth:
A child was born in Green Park during the
Sebring 12 hours.
FICTION
We have novidence this ever happened. Remember, we
are talking about a child being born in Green Park, not
conceived. However, children were born at this location
when it was the Hendricks Field military base.
Several cars started the 1955 Sebring 12 Hours
without permission, sneaking on to the track
during the start.
FACT
Six drivers of reserve entries, unhappy they were not
allowed to start, decided to go on the track at the start,
they all did one or two laps and then got off the track.
Even though there was no Sebring race in
1974, devoted fans showed up anyway.
FACT
The actual number of fans who showed up that year is uncertain,
estimated somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000.
The Governor of Florida was once given a tour on
the Sebring circuit while the race was going on.
FACT
In 1950 Sebring promoter Alec Ulmann took Gov. Fuller
Warren on a lap around the track while the race was in
progress!
A serial killer raced in the 12 Hours of Sebring.
FACT
Christopher Wilder, later to be discovered as the “Beauty
Queen” serial killer, drove in the 1983 race. He was killed
by police the following year trying to cross the border
into Canada.
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