HSR Sebring Classic 12 Hour - (Dec. 1-4, 2016)...

Pistons and Props, vintage racing at its best...

The team on pit road for the festivities.

The Race Format:

Six period correct groups of legendary racecars were featured, each based on performance and age, competing in one-hour sessions, four times each over the race weekend. A three minute pit-stop during each session was mandatory, but a driver change was optional.

The first group would take the green flag Friday afternoon at 1:00 pm. Each group ran 1 race on Friday afternoon, 1 race Saturday afternoon, followed by a night race that evening and the final race for each group was Sunday morning.

As one group would take the checkered flag the next group was on the grid and ready to roll out behind the pace car for their chance to race on the legendary 3.7 mile Sebring Circuit. The time and race laps completed were added together from the 4 races to determine the overall and Class winners of each group. We were in Group A.

Leading up to this exciting event were two days of Practice, Qualifying, and a Night Practice for cars competing in the Classic 21 Hour. The event also included HSR’s signature Sprint Races and Endurance Series and the Masters Historic Racing series.

Groups
Group A (1960-1972)
Group B (1973-1982)
Group C (1983-1993)
Group D (1994-2002)
Group E (2003-2012)
Group F (HSR Cars)

Evolution of road cars to purpose built racing machines
Porsche, Greenwood style Corvettes & turbochargers
Prototype era
WSC, GTS, GTO, GTU, Can-Am, SRP I, SRP II, etc
LMP, IMSA, Grand Am
Cars w/o FIA papers or period history. Non-period correct preparation

Tuesday - Travel & Paddock Setup

We headed down to Sebring (with Keith Corderio driving…TY) on Tuesday, Nov.1st. We checked in at registration about 1:00 pm and proceeded to the paddock area to setup camp. The paddock area was filling up quickly! After the tarp & lights were up and the car was unloaded, we headed over to Sonny’s for supper.

Wednesday - Test Day

The course was foggy when we awoke at the Chateau Elan. Keith picked us up and we headed over to the paddock. The rest of our crew, Michael Hooten and our son, Mark joined us for the Test Day. We only ran the morning test session. Mark grilled hamburgers and we ate lunch at the trailer.

It was a beautiful day. The brakes were still getting hot a little spongy, but the rest of the car was working well. Our co-driver, Kerry Hitt, arrived and the team changed out the brake fluid and bled the brakes again.

The car was checked over and Kerry acquainted himself with the controls. Since Kerry had never driven this car, we decided to put him in the car for tomorrow's morning qualifying session to get familiar with it before driving the night practice session.

Sunset & calm before the event

Early morning sunrise

Early morning in the paddock

Our homebase for the weekend

Thursday - Qualifying & Night Practice

First on the schedule for Thursday was the mandatory Drivers' meeting at 10:00 am. Of course, our 30 minute Qualifying session was immediately after at 10:30. Our great crew warmed the car up while Dave & Kerry attended the meeting.

Since this weekend event was a 4 hour endurance race, we felt it was more important for Kerry to become more familiar and comfortable in the car than setting a land-speed qualifying time.

Kerry did 6 laps with a quick pit stop for a loose rear view mirror, and qualified 12th O/A in field of 27 cars @ 2:34.729. Right where you don’t want to be…mid-pack, but all was good. We were confident that the car was at least a couple seconds faster, as Kerry had not really pushed hard in Qualifying.

Once back in the paddock, the crew got busy prepping the car for the night practice. We took a break for lunch, fired up the grill and cooked bratwurst. Then, it was back to work. The crew bled brakes, re-fueled and checked the car over for loose fittings, leaks and signs of wear. We checked the headlights for our 6:30 pm night practice.

We heated up some spaghetti in the crock pot for and early supper before heading to the false grid. Kerry ran the night practice, as our plans were for him to run the night race on Saturday. The LED headlights were great! The brakes were good and the car handled well. We were ready to race!

The crew warming up the car

The Pistons & Prop decal

Driver, Dave & co-driver, Kerry Hitt

Friday - Afternoon Race 1

At this point, I’d like to point out that the last time our team had been racing was in 2005. While Sue, Mark & Michael have been with the team for many racing years, this was only Keith’s 2nd race. Keith has been a valuable part of the build of the racecar over the past several years but hadn’t experienced many race weekends. Not only were the past three days refresher course for all of us, Sue decided to cross-train the guys on some of her pit road duties. Everyone was doing great!

The HSR sprint races and enduros were Friday morning with our first race of the weekend at 1:00 pm. It would be a 42 minute race with a mandatory three minute pit stop. The pit stop had to be made with at least 10 minutes left in the race.

After an early lunch off the grill, we buckled Dave into the car and sent him to the false grid. Sue headed over to the Chateau Elan to see if she could get some pictures or video from the hotel balcony. The guys were in charge of pit road! (with Sue monitoring on the radio).

Dave started the race in 12th position on the grid and quickly worked his way up several positions. Our goal was to put in consistent “good” laps in this first race, but not to risk the car for position. This was an endurance race. Our main competition in Class was the Ferrari, driven by Jochen Mass and a well turned-out Aston Martin.

Dave came into the pits, as planned, on lap eight. The crew waived him out after a conservative 3 minutes. Of course, as he was pulling out of the pits a full course yellow came out! Bad luck on our timing…or was it???

The Ferrari made its pit stop under yellow, as did many of the teams. Under yellow, Dave let the brakes and tires cool. The green came back out just as the Ferrari came out of the pits.

BUT...Dave made it around the circuit in time to put the Ferrari a lap down! We knew Dave came out in front of the Ferrari, but didn’t realize until later that Dave got the extra lap on it. He held that lap to the end, finishing eighth over-all (down 1 lap from the lead car) and 1st in Class with a lap or more on everyone in Class. It was a good start to the weekend.

The lap comparison chart between Dave and the Ferrari (link below) is interesting.

The rest of the afternoon was spent working on the car for Saturday’s race. We actually got a little time to wander the paddock and talk with friends and other racers. Then we headed back to the Village Inn for an evening meal. We must have been a little rowdy the last time we were there because they put us in the back room this time. We made our plans for the next day. It was going to be a long one with the noon race and the night race. Time to get some rest for everyone.

Going under the walk-over headed for the Hairpin Turn

Going into the Hairpin

Race 1 results

Lap comparision - Vette vs Ferrari

Saturday - Morning Race 2

Saturday morning started out fairly relaxed. The HSR sprint races were up first in the morning with our Race Two slated for high noon. We arrived at the trailer around 9:00 am. The crew was already there getting the car ready. At 10:00 am the vintage aircraft arrived and taxied right by our trailer on the back straight to their display location near Sunset Bend.

Even though this was our 2nd race of the event, HSR held a “starting” ceremony on pit road with a “spectator walk", which began at 11:00 am, so we had to have the car gridded on pit road by that time.

Based on Race One results, we were gridded in the 8th position overall. The Ferrari in 9th and the Aston Marion in 10th, were one row back. It was a fun time with interviews, spectators and picture taking. Just before noon, the national anthem was sung and then, with Kerry in the driver’s seat, the cars rolled off the grid.

Our strategy for Race Two was the same as the first race…pit on lap eight, run good laps and keep the car in one piece. Kerry, being the competitor that he is, wanted to keep that Ferrari a lap down!

About three laps into the race, a full course caution came out so Kerry brought the car in early. The Ferrari came in right behind him. After the mandatory three minutes and the course back to green, Kerry went back out with the Ferrari following right behind.

A few laps later Keith reminded Kerry to turn on the diff pump. As the car went by on the next lap, the headlights were on, so Keith radioed Kerry to turn the lights off. A couple laps later, the lights were turned off, although it was apparent later in the GoPro video that the diff pump never did get turned on...which as it turns out, was a good thing!

Meanwhile, Kerry is having a real battle with the Ferrari! In the pits, we watched as the Ferrari came out of Sunset Bend only to have Kerry pull past him on the pit straight. The two cars kept trading positions for several laps. Finally, Kerry was able to hold the Ferrari off going into Turn One. Now, back in front, about lap 14, Kerry put in his fastest lap, pulled away and held the position to the checkered. It was obvious when Kerry got out of the car that he had a great time!

First in class and 8th overall! Kerry had driven a great race! Take a look at the lap comparison chart between the two. (link below) The two chart lines are almost exactly the same.

Now the crew had five hours to get the car back on track for the 6:00 pm night Race Three.

Dave & Kerry on pit road

The competition...the Ferrari

More competition...the Aston Martin

The crowd on pit road

The grid on pit road

Coming down the front straight

The Gulf GT-40 with our Vette coming down the front straight

Sunset Bend

A close up picture on the front straight

The Ferrari on the front straight

Kerry lifts the front wheel

Race 2 results

Lap comparision - Vette vs Ferrari

You can watch the video of the race on YouTube.

Saturday - Night Race 3

Up to this point the weekend had gone pretty smoothly. We made a few adjustments here and there and the crew was coming together nicely, the car was performing wonderfully and everyone was having fun! But every race event seems to have its challenge. That’s what makes it memorable…right?

The crew went about getting the car ready for the night race…all the usual stuff: refueling, bleeding brakes, checking the fluids and all the fittings, etc, etc. The night track would be cooler, but we decided to send Kerry out on a set of used tires and save our new set for the Sunday morning last race as insurance against a “challenge”. Sue put some chicken wings in the crock pot for after the race.

The sun was setting. Our race was to start at 6:00pm. The crew added a light for the pit area to the supplies in our golf cart. About 5:40pm, we started warming up the car, when one of the crew noticed the voltmeter sitting on 12 volts instead of 14 volts. Further inspection determined the alternator was not working!

They checked the battery, the alternator connections and tapped on it, but no “magic” would make it come back to life. We did not have a spare alternator. Kerry asked “what do you want to do?” The answer was provided by the Team Manager…”Go out and make laps”. “Run until they black flag you or the car quits”.

We buckled Kerry into the car and got him all hooked up. To add to the fluster, it was discovered that Kerry’s ear buds were not working either! We could hear him on the radio, but Kerry could not hear the crew. Replacement ear buds were no better.

With instructions to conserve the battery by not turning on the diff pump and to come into the pits early so we’d have our mandatory pit stop completed, Kerry went to the False Grid. To conserve the battery, Kerry left the lights off as much as possible until they rolled out to race. What luck?! The Ferrari was not on grid for the night race. Now putting in laps was the focus. How long would the car run? Everyone was on pins and needles.

Sue headed over to Sunset Bend to spot, while the crew headed for the pits. The LED headlights were bright and Kerry was making good laps. On lap six, Kerry radioed that he was coming in for the pit stop. The crew tried to make an ear bud change, but that didn’t work. After the mandatory three minutes, Kerry was sent back out. Everything was still working!

Every lap each of us waited to see the car go by and check that the lights were holding up. With about 10 minutes to go in the race, the lights were starting to dim under braking and we were holding our breath! Last lap? No, one more! The lights were just 4 little glowing spots. Because of the dimming headlights, Kerry worked to keep up with the GT-40 on the last lap. It is REALLY dark at Sebring at night! Checkered flag and another 1st in class, 5th over-all! The team was ecstatic!

Now, we needed a new alternator for the 8:00am morning race 4. It was a little after 7:00pm and we had less than 2 hours until the parts stores would close. A call to the engine builder did not turn up a replacement part number. Mark yanked the alternator off the car and then he and Sue went to town in search of an open store.

The only one that was still open in south Sebring was the Advance Auto store. The lady behind the counter was very helpful, but did not have anything in store that matched up. She sent us to the north Sebring store and the salesman there was VERY accommodating. After much online searching, he brought out several alternators for Mark to check out. None were quite right, so he let Mark go behind the counter and look for himself.

Now, I’m going to brag that our son, Mark, has worked in the automotive industry for about 30 years now and he is GOOD! He found and exact match for our alternator and all before closing time!

Upon getting back to the track, where the crew was munching down on chicken wings, Mark set about converting the new alternator to a one wire setup. Back in the car, the alternator worked like a charm! Kerry had his helmet checked by Toto and had a broken wire fixed. Dave’s helmet should work fine in the morning. Kerry had another obligation for Sunday and headed home. I think he was a happy man. We certainly were! He put in two excellent drives!

It was about 10:00pm. The car was back together. We headed to our hotels and sneaked the battery in to get it charged up overnight in our room. We were all tired, but still feeling pretty good about the day and our chances for the morning. One to go!

It's starting to get dark

Our cool paddock lighting

Our Vette on the False Grid

Going into Sunset Bend

Glowing brakes

Cars on the front straight

The Vette's headlights are still going strong

The brakes must be hot!

The LED headlights are now only 4 small dots

Nice exhaust!

Race 3 results

You can watch the video of the race on YouTube.

Sunday - Final Race 4

The best thing about having a great crew is that they get to the track early and start setting up shop. That was REALLY nice Sunday morning! The race would start at 8:00 am, so Dave needed to be on the False Grid by 7:50 am. We got to the track about 7:00 am with the charged battery and the crew was busy uncovering the car and getting ready to warm it up.

With the fully charged battery back in the car, a working alternator and with radio contact restored, Dave headed to the grid. Based on the cumulative results of the previous three races, we were gridded in 6th position over-all, with our class competition, the Aston Martin, in the 7th slot. Having missed the night race, the Ferrari of Jochen Mass & George Tuma, was gridded further back. It was enough laps down to not be a threat to us.

The cars rolled off the grid at 8:00 am sharp and the race start was smooth, with all cars getting through Turn One cleanly. Dave could feel a problem with the left front brake like a jammed piston. Since we started the race with a three lap advantage on the Aston Martin, he let it go ahead and concentrated on his brake issue. Even if we finished second in this race, we would win the combined race weekend.

Dave kept the Aston Martin in sight and as planned, he came in for our pit stop on lap 8. The #18 Aston pitted just ahead of him and after three minutes, it pulled out of the pits. We sent Dave back out after him. A few laps later, the brakes started to feel better and Dave began to close the gap.

Meanwhile, in the pits, Susan recognized that with only 3-4 laps left in the race, Dave could overtake the Aston Martin if he put the throttle down. Just as the crew was ready to radio Dave, the Aston was black flagged for cutting their pit stop short! On the next lap, the Aston Martin came into the pits for a stop and go penalty, just as Dave went by on the main straight.

He had closed the gap and caught the Aston! We were now back in front and only had a lap to go! The checkered flag came out on the next lap with Dave in 6th position over-all and another 1st in class!

What an ending to a great weekend; four 1st Place finishes in Class, and 5th Over-all. Even with the challenges, this was really a fun weekend. The weather was great. We had fun grilling and talking with fellow racers in the paddock. Our evening meals out were a blast. Most of all, for its first real contest, the car performed beyond our expectations. We won, not only 1 race, but all four!