1961 Sebring 12 Hours – Race Profile Page Five
In the Formula Junior event Hansgen again repeated his second place finish this time driving a Cooper. The winning car was a rear-powered Gemini of Charles Kolb and he beat everyone hands down in the 20 lap event run on the 2.2 mile short course. Some notable drivers in this race included Pedro Rodriguez in his “Pepsi-Cola” Cooper and Ronnie Hissom in a Carroll Shelby prepared Lotus-Ford. Racing a Stanguellini was Guida Lollobrigida who some thought was cousin to Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida.
The go-kart race was another story with 60 plus drivers on the grid doing a Le Mans style start to their karts. The mechanics had the twin-engined karts already running with the rear wheels off the ground as the drivers dove into their vehicles. Going past the start/finish, sometimes eight abreast, with clouds of oil smoke following them made an exciting sight for all who witnessed it. As they passed the pits at 75 m.p.h. some of the “…drivers were literally folding themselves up to reduce wind resistance.” It was remarkable that there were no accidents during the event.
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