SVRA Sebring Spring Vintage Classic 26 Feb-03 March

[Mike Bell]

Blooming cold for Florida here as well, so they keep telling me!

Sure Cliff will give the low down on his race, it is Mrs Ryan's Birthday today so he is a bit pre-occupied! We went to the 'Inn on the Lake' for supper last eve and the walls of the bar and restaurant are covered in old pics of cars at Sebring, from 50s onwards. Wonderful stuff.

BTW the Escort in my pic is ex (the) Paul Newman.......

Good luck in the 10K, Iain!

[Mike Bell]

It's all over. But can add racing at Sebring to list of great experiences to remember when past all this 'need for speed' stuff!

Car is on its way back North, Cliff and Melanie are on way to Miami and I'm just off for a Mexican supper. My race was 0945 and just in case the starter problem had come back decided to fire Black Beauty up early. Battery was almost flat! 30 minutes on charge and burst into healthy life but still puzzled over what the issue could be. Anyway, got to pre-grid and all well, so forgotten for moment.

Race was great, few tussles early on but finished up with enough with clear track ahead and behind to set consistent times within 1/2 sec of best. Car was doing all the things expected like power sliding away from 1st gear hairpin and was really great fun to drive. Finished up 11th o/a out of 26 and got class winner medal to bring home. Very chuffed. Leo Voyazides got 2nd in the Cobra Automotive GT350 he was using, behind a monster of a Corvette!

Unfortunately at end of race the Mustang started to develop an issue that may be associated with previous problem, so despite changing some electrical stuff we couldn't make the start of the enduro. Shame but at least Cliff and I had good races- he has a class winner medal to show as well!

Have to thank Cliff for letting me share his car. It is a beast but so much fun.

[Cliff Ryan]

Well we had a good weekend & had over 5 hours of running on track time even without the Enduro.

Mike seemed to get the better practice sessions, as mine kept being red flagged, so Mike suggested we split the last practice session, which should have been his, which meant I got a few more laps in.

I started race one 14 out of 29 & lost a couple of places off the start as I was a bit too cautious. I set about, caught & passed a pack of about 5 cars and made it up to 11th before suffering brain fade and out taking myself into a 90 degree right hander, which allowed a BMW batmobile back past & dropped me back to 12th.

I had a good clean dice with the other cars, each giving the other enough room, whilst racing hard & fast. Was enjoying the Mustang & pleased with my race and looked forward to the Enduro - which was not to be.

Mike had a better start than me & held his own & then set about passing a couple of cars & enjoying Mustang, which although a bit of a beast, is a predictable one so you can enjoy power sliding.

Both of us won our class & did best times of 2:33, although Mike's was faster. He is also the perfect gentleman to share a car with, proving that it can be done with the right people.

Great weekend, over too soon - must start saving for next trip

[Peter Mallett]

Well done to the both of you.

[Al Weyman]

Well done guys

[Al Weyman]

He is also the perfect gentleman to share a car with, proving that it can be done with the right people.

As are you Cliff, it takes two to make it work!

[delta]

Yep brilliant you two.Dont mean it really cus I am very jelious.

[john ruston]

Well done and assume you are on today's flight.
Please take this record cold weather with you as it arrived with you last week!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by delta

Yep brilliant you two.Dont mean it really cus I am very jelious.

You are still young, Iain! Plenty of time.

Just sitting in hotel breakfast room that overlooks 'Hairpin Turn' reflecting. BTW it is only just above freezing outside, but by mid week should be back to normal 70s.

Daytona has wonderful history not dissimilar to some of our circuits. It's an old airfield that proved perfect after WW2 for young and not so young locals to exercise their XK120s, TRs Corvettes etc on, and even now retains more of that feel than most UK circuits that started out the same. A lot of the track surface is still concrete, some of the barriers look far from permanent, and the paddock is a long strip of runway inside the main straight. It has definitely got atmosphere.

I was under impression that vintage racing in USA was less 'competitive' than Europe. Well, I from what I've seen that is a myth. Most in our races seemed to be pushing just has hard as we were, but from this limited experience drivers give each other room, don't barge in where it could result in contact, and basically drive like gentlemen! As we were told at briefing, any contact is investigated and should a particular driver be deemed to have caused it through poor or aggressive driving action is taken. The Thursday testing incident where a very expensive GT350 was totalled confirms this. It was hit from behind by an Audi LMP1 car as it turned into the corner at beginning of straight. The Audi was obviously lapping a hell of a lot quicker, and went straight under the Mustang, flipping it. The driver of the Audi was deemed to be at fault and excluded from the meeting.

The paddock is just the same as any in Europe. There are big teams with suitably big shiny trucks, many mechanics and lots of equipment. Next to them will be a husband and wife team, sleeping in the trailer or motor home, just having a good time. One such pair near us were Terry and Karen Lippincott, running an SCCA E Type. Turned out he used to look after the car for it's previous owner, who sadly had a heart attack during a race and died at the wheel. Terry bought the damaged car and rebuilt it, and now races it himself. He is 70 years old.

Just about to pack ready for airport. Far more stress than driving a 425bhp Mustang that belongs to a good mate!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Well done and assume you are on today's flight.
Please take this record cold weather with you as it arrived with you last week!

And guess what, John. Looks like it is leaving with us..... Good to see you on Friday, and enjoy rest of your winter sunshine!

[Cliff Ryan]

Another pic of Mike in the Mustang, this time just about to go out for his race.

These pics are proof that he was there as he's not shown on the entry list, he didnt show up on the hotel guest list and kept being asked everyday if he was checking out

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

These pics are proof that he was there as he's not shown on the entry list, he didnt show up on the hotel guest list and kept being asked everyday if he was checking out

Yes, that was theme of the weekend! Advantage though, on track, was that any indiscretion would have been Cliff Ryan, not Mike Bell.

Hotel was bit amusing, but due to their inefficiency rather than anything I had done! Even though I wasn't here, checking out they overcharged me 25% so had to get bill redone.....

Thankfully have pics to prove that I raced Sebring!!!

[Colin McKay]

Originally Posted by Cliff Ryan

he didnt show up on the hotel guest list and kept being asked everyday if he was checking out

Some people just can't take a hint

[midgetman]

That's a very apprehensive looking MB!

You'd have thought he would have been "conditioned" to it by then

[Al Weyman]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

You are still young, Iain! Plenty of time.

Just sitting in hotel breakfast room that overlooks 'Hairpin Turn' reflecting. BTW it is only just above freezing outside, but by mid week should be back to normal 70s.

Daytona has wonderful history not dissimilar to some of our circuits. It's an old airfield that proved perfect after WW2 for young and not so young locals to exercise their XK120s, TRs Corvettes etc on, and even now retains more of that feel than most UK circuits that started out the same. A lot of the track surface is still concrete, some of the barriers look far from permanent, and the paddock is a long strip of runway inside the main straight. It has definitely got atmosphere.

Reading your post Mike I cannot help feeling you have made a fofar here and in fact are referring to Sebring as Daytona started with racing on the beach and the main circuit was bespoke built as a banked stadium race circuit.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Reading your post Mike I cannot help feeling you have made a fofar here and in fact are referring to Sebring as Daytona started with racing on the beach and the main circuit was bespoke built as a banked stadium race circuit.

Well spotted Al, I was obviously still half asleep when posted that. I meant SEBRING........



Through security at airport and looking at the big shiny bird hopefully taking me home. On way here went for a 2hr hike in a conservation area on 'the Ridge' which was very different to last 4 days. Almost total silence!

[Cliff Ryan]

That's funny Mike, the hotel also tried to overcharge me by 25% - wonder if they ever make the same error in the customers favour

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by midgetman

That's a very apprehensive looking MB!

Race face, Max....

It's bloody cold at Gatwick!

[Al Weyman]

That'll learn yer to complain about Florida climate!

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

That'll learn yer to complain about Florida climate!

It's now as hot here at 3pm as it was walking up on The Ridge yesterday! BTW 7hrs 50min flight from Orlando to Gatwick. 5hrs on coach from Gatwick to home! Straight through passport control and bag area which was good as 300 on plane, so altogether pretty lucky with all that considering all the horror stories!

Think Young Daniel R has found some pics of Sebring on the web. I'll post a link later, right now the fridge is empty so better do something about it.

[delta]

Welcome home Mike..

[Moosehead]

Good stuff guys

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Moosehead

Good stuff guys

Thanks Moose, you would love that event!

Link to the pics mentioned- they are HERE

Types of cars from top of the tree' starts with LMP1 prototypes that are 'obsolete' along with ALMS protos, then GT3 class Ford GTs, F430s, Corvettes. After that or maybe before are NASCAR cars of various eras, TransAm cars also, then the more normal stuff! There were several Sports 2000s, and Porsches obviously very popular, with many 356, 914 and 911. Brits included Elva, Ginetta, Anglebox, Escort, MGA, and several E Types. Oh, mustn't forget the Italians- some Alfas. a Fiat 128, plus Osca Formula Junior. There were a few open wheelers, and I felt quite homesick at the sight of an Argo JM4 in Anglia Cars livery. They were built a few miles from here and the premises are now used by David Sears SuperNova team.

I'll try and keep awake long enough to post few more pics!

[Mike Bell]

Biggest Rig at the event. They are classed as motorhomes....

[Mike Bell]

A few road and race cars. The #38 Corvette won both of 'our' races.