Sebring International Raceway

USA / Florida / Sebring /
 sports venue, racetrack - dont use
Sebring International Raceway is a road course auto racing facility located in Sebring, Florida. The raceway occupies a portion of Hendricks Field, a former military training base and currently an active airport for private and commercial traffic. Sebring started life as a United States Army Air Forces training base. From 1941 to 1946, pilots learned to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress.

After the war, aeronautical engineer Alec Ullman, seeking sites to restore military aircraft for civilian use, saw potential in Hendricks' runways to stage an sports car endurance race, similar to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Sebring's first race was held on New Year's Eve of 1950. The first 12 Hours of Sebring was held on March 15th, 1952, and would grow to be a major international race. In 1959, the racetrack hosted the first Formula One United States Grand Prix.

For much of Sebring's history, the track followed a 5.38 mile (8.66 km) layout. In 1983, the track was changed to allow simultaneous use of the track and one of the runways. In 1987, more changes allowed use of another runway. Further changes in 1991 accommodated expansion of the airport's facilities, and brought the track close to its current configuration. The entire track could now be used without interfering with normal airport operations.

Sebring Raceway is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States, its first race being run in 1950. Many consider Sebring to be one of the classic race tracks in North American sports car racing, and the 12 Hours of Sebring, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 24 Hours of Le Mans to be the trifecta of sports car racing.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebring_International_Raceway
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   27°27'9"N   81°21'7"W

Comments

  • Photo courtesy of me, taken in January 2008.
  • Second photo courtesy of Florida Photographic Collection. Source - http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c660304.jpg The use of photographs and other materials in the custody of the State Archives of Florida is governed by state law and, in some cases, by the terms of the donation agreement under which the Archives acquired the images. In accordance with the provisions of Section 257.35(6), Florida Statutes, "Any use or reproduction of material deposited with the Florida Photographic Collection shall be allowed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1)(b) and subsection (4), provided that appropriate credit for its use is given."
  • Third photo also part of the Florida Photographic Collection. Source - http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/commerce/c660344.jpg Author - Jim Stokes
This article was last modified 12 years ago