March 18, 20224 yr So unfortunately I'm still quite a distance from getting back in the real race car. So being relegated to the couch I'm incredibly excited about this weekend! We've got the Sebring 1,000 , F1, MotoGP, SuperCup and all the support series races all weekend. F2 and Moto3 is some of the best racing in the world, especially Moto3. It's like watching a swarm move around the track. Sebring is one of the most incredible places in the world to spectate and drive. Some history on the track: Quote Sebring Raceway occupies the site of Hendricks Army Airfield (a training base for B-17 pilots in operation from 1941 to 1946). After the war, Russian-American aeronautical engineer Alec Ulmann[2] was seeking sites for converting military aircraft to civilian use when he discovered potential in Hendricks' runways and service roads to stage a sports car endurance race similar to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race Ulmann was inspired to somewhat re-create in the United States. Sebring's first race was held on New Year's Eve of 1950, attracting thirty race cars from across North America.[3] The Sam Collier 6 Hour Memorial race was won by Frits Koster and Ralph Deshon in a Crosley Hot Shot that had been driven to the track by Victor Sharpe. Aerial map of Sebring International Raceway The first 12 Hours of Sebring was held on March 15, 1952, shortly growing into a major international race. In 1959, the track hosted the U.S.' first Formula One race (the successor to historic European Grand Prix motor racing), held as that year's installment of the historic United States Grand Prix competition. However poor attendance and high costs relocated the next U.S. Grand Prix to Riverside International Raceway in southern California.[4] Press box For much of Sebring's history, the track followed a 5.2-mile (8.4 km) layout. After a disastrous 1966 12 Hours with five fatalities, the track was widened in parts and also lengthened a total of 50 yards (46 m) for 1967 with the removal of the Webster Turn between the hairpin and the top of the track and replacement with the faster Green Park Chicane, further down the track. This was closer to the hairpin and allowed a flat-out run through a very fast corner to the top of the track and the runway. This was done to move the track off the dangerous Warehouse Straight and the warehouses, hangars and airplanes flanking it; a crash during that 1966 12 Hours involving a privately entered Porsche that went into one of the warehouses (this area was off-limits to non-track personnel) and into a crowd, killing four spectators. The circuit was changed and shortened in 1983 to allow simultaneous use of the track and one of the runways, and major changes in 1987 allowed use of another runway. Further changes in 1991 accommodated expansion of the airport's facilities, allowing the entire track to be used without interfering with normal airport operations and bringing it close to its current configuration. The hairpin was removed in 1997 due to a lack of run-off, and replaced with what became known as the "safety pin". Gendebien Bend was also re-profiled to slow the cars' entry to the Ullman straight.[5] Final Hours of Sebring 2011 The track is currently owned by IMSA Holdings, LLC through its subsidiary Sebring International Raceway, LLC via its purchase of the Panoz MSG in September 2012.[6] It is currently leased by the Sebring International Raceway, LLC, which acquired the facility from Andy Evans in 1997.[7] The track is often recognized for its famous, high-speed "Turn 17",[citation needed] a long, bumpy, fast right hander that can make or break a car's speed down the front straight. The corner can fit up to 3 cars wide. Skip Barber Racing School held numerous programs at the facility, including a scholarship opportunity for young racers. The World Endurance Championship runs a round called the 1000 Miles of Sebring, run concurrently with the famed 12 Hours. This race was first run in 2019, with Toyota Gazoo Racing winning overall. In October 30, 2021 the 1st ever 24 Hours race took place hosted by The World Racing League, a semi-professional endurance championship league, with Will-to-Win Racing (W2W Racing) winning the overall race with a lead of 4 laps over the entire field with their #983 Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. The W2W team is my close friends. Had things been different I would have been part of that team last year. Sebring is just special. The ruts from the B-17's are still in the original concrete. Around the corners it will literally lift the car off the ground and move it a full car width closer to the wall. It's one of the most physical tracks in the world. My friend Steven actually cracked his teeth driving an LMP car around Sebring and my friend Trent broke his ribs. Not hitting anything mind you, just from the repeated beating of the track. Well, I'm off for a day of work and watching the races 🙂 Just thought I'd share what's transpiring this weekend in motorsport and a little history that happens to tie in one of the original WWII B-17 training bases in the US. I will leave with a lap around the track from my view... Sadly my Boxster had nothing for the 911. Turn 17 ~ 2:35 in was all mine though 🙂 He is a 3.6L I'm a 3.4L, he has 12 inch rears I have 10.5... It's a bit like a knife in a gun fight but under braking and through the more technical sections the Boxster actually performs incredibly. He finished P1, me P2 and the next car was some 30 seconds behind us. Edited March 18, 20224 yr by psolk Have a Wonderful Day -Paul Solk
March 18, 20224 yr Was an avid F1 fan until last season. The way the FIA handled that last race was controversial.
March 18, 20224 yr 49 minutes ago, Samaritano said: Was an avid F1 fan until last season. The way the FIA handled that last race was controversial. That would be an understatement. Hopefully with the changes that were made we won't see a repeat performance.
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