The starting grid for the 1976 12 Hours of Sebring was led by the Corvette of John Greenwood/Mike Brockman and the BMW of David Hobbs and Benny Parsons. The Greenwood Corvette led the opening 15 laps until they were overtaken by the Hobbs/Parsons BMW. However, both cars would soon suffer misfortunes that would hand the lead over to the Porsches.
Photo: Hal Crocker
The 12-Hours of Sebring remains the oldest established sports car endurance race to be held in the United States, although with a partly glorious, somewhat patchy history.
Always a popular spring break destination, Sebring enjoyed an oftentimes “wild” party atmosphere in the ‘70s-sometimes on a par with Watkins Glen’s infamous “Bog”.
The golden era of the ’50s and ’60s culminated in the unforgettable 1970 Sebring 12-Hour race where the Ferrari 512S of Mario Andretti, Ignazio Giunti and Nino Vacarella just pipped Peter Revson and Steve McQueen in their Porsche 908. The following year saw the Vic Elford-Gerard Larrousse 917 in the winners circle, then in 1972 the formula changed from five to three liters and Mario was back, this time with Jacky Ickx in a Ferrari 312P.
Al Holbert Photo: Hal CrockerMichael Keyser Photo: Hal Crocker
In 1973, the race was no longer a part of the Manufacturers Championship Series, but instead run by IMSA, basically as a GT event as would be the case into the late ’70s, save for 1974 when there was no 12-Hours for the first time in 22 years. Like swallows to Capistrano, many of the college students made the trek to the central Florida circuit anyway, believing perhaps that if they willed it, the event would happen.
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