1956 Sebring 12 Hours Grand Prix – Race Profile Page Seven
In the racing paddock that Saturday morning many of the drivers, crews and mechanics were hard at work getting ready. Already a few of the factory European teams, including the Corvette contingent, had breakfast set up on folding tables for their people. In those early hours a steady stream of race fans, drivers, crew and race cars made their way into the track from hotels and garages outside the raceway. The Ferrari factory team was headquartered in the Pontiac garage in the heart of Sebring some seven miles from the track while the Aston Martin team had everyone in Avon Park some seventeen miles from the track. It was not unknown for police to escort competitors and cars to the track in order to make the start on time.
Race cars lining up in the paddock to get gas. Both Corvettes were part of the GM factory effort that year. Once the race started gasoline was distributed to the pits in 5-gallon gas cans. Anything left over at the end of the race went to the pit stewards. (BARC Boys photo)
Corvette corral with #7 private car of Ernie Erickson and Chuck Hassan. Car was a DNF after 22 laps. (BARC Boys photo)
This Lotus Mk. IX waits to be gassed up in the paddock. The car was disqualified on lap 60 when after a pit stop the car wouldn’t start. They jacked up the rear of the car and spun the wheels to start the car. For that they were disqualified. (BARC Boys photo)
“Doc” Wyllie, driving a Lotus Mk. IX, was driving his car at high speed on the paddock road trying to clear up an ignition problem at high rpms. His co-driver would be his wife, Peggy. Along with the sounds of Wyllie’s Lotus in the paddock were the sounds of dozens of cars getting warmed up or doing some last-minute tuning.
Getting around the paddock was becoming a challenge on race day due to the crowds. The official paid attendance, announced later in the day, was 25,754. But for some it seemed that most of them were in the paddock making life difficult for all.
Sebring had a history of handing out “all access” passes to many locals and their families. Passes were also distributed to the people who owned or leased warehouses on the race course as a way of compensating them for the use of their warehouse by the racing teams or the loss of business due to the races. End result, a very crowded paddock and pits.
By 9:30 a.m. many of the 59 cars that would actually start the race were on the starting grid with 14 factory entries and at least 10 nations represented. The previous year 80 cars started the race but that number was deemed too unwieldy for 1956 so only 65 entries were accepted. Adding to that crowd of 80 in 1955 were six cars that did not make the cut. Their drivers felt that they should be allowed to race and after the start they entered the course causing great confusion in the timing shack when the six mystery cars passed by. When it was realized what was happening the cars were quickly black flagged off the course. One can only assume that Ulmann and company were ready in 1956 for anyone trying to do a repeat.
Starting second on the grid was this Ferrari 375 Plus of Troy Ruttman and Howard Hively. (Gene Bussian/PCA photo)
The Don Davis, Jr., Robert Gatz Chevrolet Corvette C1 that finished 23rd at Sebring. (Ed Moody Collection)
Last minute attention being paid to the factory Porsche 550 Spyders. (Gene Bussian/PCA photo)
Because they didn’t have qualifying for starting positions in those days the cars were placed on the grid according to engine size with the 5.2 liter Corvette of John Fitch and Walt Hansgen in first position. Next was the 5-liter Ferrari of Troy Ruttman and Howard Hively. In third position was supposed to be the 4.4-liter Ferrari 121 LM of Jim Kimberly and Ed Lunken. The car had thrown a flywheel more than once in practice and a disgusted Kimberly withdrew the car at the last minute. The Ferrari team allowed him to drive with Alfonso de Portago in the factory 857 Monza. Next in line came three 4.3-liter Corvettes then eight 3.4-liter Jaguars and so on. Last on the grid were three tiny 745 cc French-made Deutsch-Bonnets (DB).
Factory Aston Martin in the early morning light. Number 26 was the Moss-Collins car, #27 was the Salvadori-Shelby car and #28 was the Parnell-Brooks car. (Gene Bussian/PCA photo)
The AC Ace of J.H. Dressel and William Woodbury. (Gene Bussian/PCA photo)
The 150S Maserati bunch sits on the start grid before the race. Not one of them made the finish. Note the overloaded viewing platform on the left. (BARC Boys photo)
Thank you Louis for this superb insight into how it was in 1956 with sports car racing at Sebring. I have raced myself on airport circuits, and know how difficult it can be to find the right line through flat, at times featureless corners. But to do it in the dark, well, one can only take off ones hat, to these racedrivers. What a fantastic part of history you have shared with us… MORE Please. Cheers Graham
Thanks Graham for your comments. Even as late as the 70’s the outer reaches of the Sebring track were sometimes pitch dark. I have actually seen drivers miss turns only having to backtrack searching for the course. Fortunately the wide expanse of airport runways saved the driver from going into the woods and high grass and disappearing until morning. Today both Daytona and Sebring have a lot of lighting making it safer for drivers and course workers who might have to go out on the track. However, memories of those dark and cold March nights on turn 11 watching the lights of cars racing down that mile long North/South runway will always be with me.
THE BASTRUP /CHAPMAN ELEVEN STILL EXISTS HERE IN THE UK IT WAS IMPORTED IN BITS DURING 1986 AND IS UNDER LONG TERM RESTORATION. ANDY BRADSHAW WALES UK
Andrew: Pass on a link to the story to the folks who are doing the restoration. They might be interested in the photos of the car. Also, I would like to follow the progress of the restoration and so would the fellow who took the photos. Might make an interesting future article for publication.
I shall keep you informed as i progress with the restoration. regards andrew bradshaw.
If any one is interested in what happened to the eleven later look up Jay sloan. the lotus eleven. the dark ages. page two chassis number 156 the debut car. andy bradshaw
This is Jay Sloane, and these photos are new to me too. Very impressive. The article Andy Bradshaw refers to is at:
http://www.lotuseleven.org/DarkAges2/chassis_156.htm
with a little more information about the Sebring Debut Eleven in my interview of Joe Sheppard at:
http://www.lotuseleven.org/Race%20Success/tampa_hotshoe.htm
I have more information from within the Cunningham team about what happened and it has only needed better photos to be complete, something that now appears to be at hand. Can I please be put in contact with the photographer? I’d like to chat or correspond with him about what he remembers from this event. Thanks.
I had the good fortune of being at the 56 Sebring at age 12. I was already a fan of road racing, but this really set the course of the rest of my life. I can remember a great deal of of what is covered in this wonderful account. D-Jags made a real impression on me as did the Morgans.
Another excellent article with so much insight, making it a classic piece of historic racing journalism greatly enhanced by an incredible photo spread. Great work Lou, look forward to your next one.
Louis, thank you for a very entertaining story filled with fascinating detail and terrific images. As much as is possible with words and pictures decades after the fact, I felt like I was there – fantastic. I have been fortunate to photograph some of these race-cars in contemporary historic racing events but to see and them and hear their stories ‘in-period’ has been a real treat, thank you and keep it coming.
Louis: Just FANTASTIC……….everything…photos…comments……..narrative….episodes……just an overall GREAT JOB !
Thanks Louis! What a terrific piece of racing history preserved thanks to you! Your personal insights and perspective on the 1956 combatants brought the race to life. Excellent story coupled with an incredible array of historic photos!
Well done! Harry Kennison
Louis, an excellent story, with really great photographs and memories….I’ve taken the liberty of sending copy to Sir Stirling.
1970, Mario’s drive was of course really superb, and the finish of Biblical proportions!
In fact, our Gulf Wyer 917K’s were very competitive and led many times, only to be continuously sidelined with problems.
Since Daytona, many changes had been made, including: front rims from 10.5″ to 12″. Rear from 15″ to 17″. Single 120 liter fuel tank. Thicker
windshield. Aeroquip braided steel brake lines. New front hubs (to try and reduce pad “knock-off”).
Three hours before the start, Porsche engineer Helmut Flegl approached John Wyer and John Horsman to tell them to change the front hubs back to the old ones, as in a 20 hour 917K test at Weissach, the new front hubs had failed at 18 hours. There was not time to change.
3 (61 laps) hours after the start, our left front hub broke. It took 30 min. to change.
At lap 84 the top mounted cooling fan came off and disappeared into the crowd! 4 mins 31 seconds lost!
At 10 hours 39 mins our right front upright broke.
And so it went!
Don’t suppose anyone is interested, but here are the average lap times for the 4 Gulf drivers:
917-009: Siffert: 2.38.3 – Redman: 2.37.9 – Kinnunen: 2.44.0
917-013: Rodriguez: 2.41.5 – Kinnunen: 2.39.2 – Siffert: 2.41.7
Kind regards, Brian
Brian Redman
Thanks Brian. Comments from you are always appreciated and thanks for that bit of history concerning the 917’s at Sebring in 1970. I was there and we were kept on our toes until the last seconds. In my mind it was the best Sebring of all. Thanks for making it so.
Another great story from Lou Galanos. I wish I had known about those archives when I did my Portago and Collins books! That is a superb visual account of an important race….evidence that there is still room for a really good Sebring history book Lou!!! Maybe Sebring in the 50s and 60s. That photo of Fangio with the cigarette should be credited to Skip Eveleth I think…he did some great stuff that year. I’m so impressed with the detail…great job.
Ed McDonough
Dear Lou,
Thank you again for this superb story and beautiful images: Christmas came early this year. I will certainly make sure to share this with all our friends too! All should be able to enjoy this vivid account (another great one, though I remain stuck on your epic rendition of the 65 edition as a personal favorite) of racing history. Cannot wait for your next piece and am already holding my breath. Thank you very much.
Simply..wow!!!
Great story Louis! Superbly written, with many interesting little nuggets in it. Love the impressive collection of pictures.
Dave
First Class Louis. Also, thank you to the other commenters who were able to add to it (especially Brian Redman).
Good morning Louis,
Thanks for your nice article with superb photos; many of the details behind the scenes are simply fascinating ! What is not well known is that color pictures in those times were a luxury, I understand that most of them were color transparencies (Kodachromes). My late father knew Fangio and he always referred to him as a true gentleman, he also had a very good hand for cars.
Chester Flynn worked at GM Venezuela in the early 50´s and sparked interest with local drivers to participate in the 1955 Sebring race; he had good contacts with Alec Ulmann and made arrangements for entering the team: Two Mercedes 300Sl – Chester Flynn- Eduardo Muñoz and Pancho Pepe Croquer-Julio Pola – Eliott Dobbins and a Ferrari that had an accident prior to the race. The 300Sl from Flynn-Muñoz arrived 35 general, the other 300Sl DNF.
For the 1956 Sebring race a team from Venezuela was sent to improve the results of the 1955 race. The 1956 team consisted of an Osca MT4 driven by Mauricio Marcotulli and Eduardo Muñoz and a Ferrari 500TR driven by Julio Pola and Enrique Muro. Unfortunately the Osca had a problem with the differential after 15 laps and DNF, and the Ferrari driven by Julio Pola spun into one of the sand embankments and DNF after Julio spent much time trying to dig the car out. The Osca was similar to the car that had won the 1954 Sebring race, driven by Stirling Moss and Bill Lloyd.
You can see more information and pictures of the Venezuelan Teams in this Forum:
1955 Sebring Race: http://www.pasionalavelocidad.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=108
1956 Sebring Race: http://www.pasionalavelocidad.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=842
The Forum is in Spanish, but as one of the co-administrators, we would welcome your comments or any contributions that you want to make.
Hi, Lou. Sebring sure was raw in the early days. My first trip was ’69, and Jim Garner’s Lolas stick in my mind. A friend and I were on the way to Palm Beach, and we hit Sebring in the middle of the night, then left before daylight. I have since rediscovered Sebring, and that’s where I met Lou at the Legends of Motorsports event in 2007. His articles on the early days of racing at Sebring snap everything back into sharp focus, and we’re all wondering if there’s not a Galanos compilation or even a book in the offing… Thanks for the memories, Lou, see you at Sebring. Doug Seeley
Thanks Doug and thanks to all who have made comments. I will be there at Sebring in March and if you didn’t know already the raceway is going to have a 40th anniversary celebration of the very first IMSA Sebring. That was the 1973 Sebring that was won by Peter Gregg and Hurley Haywood in their Brumos Porsche Carrera RSR. Should be fun seeing some of those old cars that raced that year.
Another fantastic article and the pictures are just outstanding and what memories of those wondeful days of racing…Thanks again for your great work…
Jorge Cristobal (427fan)
I was assistant Chief Pit Stewart at the 56 Sebring and briefly in charge of the Italian Pits. The J2X Allard that is shown herein belonged to Tex Asche the Chief Pit Stewart. We drove it from Dallas to Sebring and back. With exception of Sterling Moss and me, most every one else has passed on.
Bill: You might remember Gene Bussian who was the Porsche pit steward during the ’56 race and provided many of the photos for my story. He is still with us and living in Nevada. Send me your email and I will put you in touch with him. You can contact me at: louisgalanos@gmail.com
Terrific article, Friend Jim Kimberly offered to sponsor my 1980 ferrari 512 BBLM # 31589 @ 81 Le Mans.Jim Kimberly and Betty McMahon were to attend race but cancelled at the last minute. Jim was co-Team manager and introduced me to my second X-wife Lin Berlitz Hilton that got pg knowing her only two months. T.I.D.E. pozzi ferrari France, 5th. O.A. IMSA class winner. Last ferrari class winner to finish in top five at Le Mans. Erin Profita, please help save the MIAMI Marine Stadium & old palm beach !
I was at Sebring in 1956. Very nice photos, Louis, bringing fond memories. Sports Car Digest was, and still is, “Top Notch” with excellent race and event coverage, pleasing motorheads everywhere. Thank You.
Good evening,
Recently I managed to find a copy in VHS format of this race, done by Alex Xidias, which I had misplaced, and had it saved in digital format. It was uploaded it in You Tube.
Please take a look here:
http://youtu.be/jKT1Wl9RkjA
Regards,
Eduardo Muñoz
I really enjoyed getting a great insight into the racing during the ’50s. What a great tribute for Fangio staying with his friend at the hospital; I have always thought of him as one of the great of the greatest drivers and humanitarian. I do enjoy the racing history and comments involving sports cars during the ’30s, ’50s, and ’60s. The period was certainly “The Golden Age of Sports Car Racing”. Thanks for the memories.
The gentleman wearing a red polo (image 53), is not A.de Portago.
Correction, pg 9, I took the picture. In the sunglasses, is Ed “Eddie” Crawford, Chicago Region SCCA, talking to Porsche manager “Huschke” von Hanstein. He was to co-drive with Linge or Hermann (not sure which is seen here) in the #42 blue Porsche, which was his own car sponsored by Porsche for this race.
Ray Crawford drove for Corvette.
Correction of correction-Ray Crawford was entered in a Kurtis, not a Corvette.
Correction, pg 2. I took the picture. The person standing to the right of Bob Sweikert is not Masten Gregory. Somebody associated with the Corvette team judging by his T-shirt.
I want to add that Louis Galanos has generously given me credit for a couple of the black and white pictures he used in this classic article. I was fourteen at the time with a Brownie box camera.