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Sebring 1960: Under 1 liter GT Race

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Race number 7 was part of three Turner works entries. This 750 cc car was driven by Fred Woodhead and Harold Krech.

By Willem Oosthoek
All photos taken by Bob Jackson [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

After the Formula Junior support race on Friday morning, March 25, 1960, everybody convened for lunch. On the program for the rest of the day was a 4-hour race for the International Trophy, limited to GT cars under-1-liter. In addition to the four Turners, the entry list showed eight Fiat-Abarths [750 cc], six DB-Panhards [almost 1 liter], six Austin-Healey Sprites [almost 1 liter], and a few oddities, such as a just under 1 liter Ford Anglia for Richard Toland and a 750 cc Saab for Jack Sheppard. Four of the Fiat-Abarths were entered by Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr, son of the former President.

Entered by the Chequered Flag team of England, the #1 Austin-Healey Sprite “Alexander” was assigned to Doug Moore and George Chapman.

Among the six DB-Panhards were these two private entries of Charlie Pettis/George Demetropolis [#12] and Bill Storey/Howard Franklin.

Altogether 28 cars lined up based on engine size for the Le Mans start, with four hours of racing ahead on the regular 5.2-mile road course. What peaked most interest among the spectators was how Stirling Moss would perform in the special-bodied Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite. Moss was supposed to share this works entry with John Sprinzel.

Stirling Moss in action in the works Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite. John Sprinzel never got a change to take the wheel in the 4 Hours.

Master in Le Mans starts, Moss was long gone before the rest of the field began moving, and he needed that advantage. The Team Roosevelt Fiat-Abarths of Ray Cuomo and Paul Richards proved much faster than the Sebring Sprite and they ran 1-2 after 30 minutes, followed by Moss. At the one-hour mark it became an Abarth 1-2-3, with Charles Callahan having passed Moss. One hour later pitstops began and soon two of the Abarths encountered engine problems, which allowed Moss back into second overall behind Richards.

Fred Woodhead in the Turner he shared with Harold Kwech. They would finish 16th overall, behind their two team cars.

Another oddity was this Fiat-Abarth owned by Dave Fawcett who, with the help of Frank Bott, took it to 12th overall.

Closest to the camera is the #6 Turner of William Kravas and Jay Grantham, which finished 11th overall. It is chasing the #1 Sprite of Doug Moore [a DNF] and the private #23 Fiat-Abarth of Brooks Robinson, raced by him with Dave Schack and Marvin Dee [9th overall].

The two Team Roosevelt Fiat-Abarths that controlled the first half of the race, with Ray Cuomo in #21 and Paul Richards in #22. After continuous lead changes between both cars, Cuomo’s co-driver Ray Erickson was forced to retire after 35 laps. Richards drove solo for four hours, completing 57 laps and recording the fastest lap [4:08.5].

There were few position changes during the final hour, with Richards taking the checkered flag before Moss and four DB-Panhards. The top six cars were raced solo. They were:

1. Fiat-Abarth 750 #22 [Paul Richards]
2. Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite #2 [Stirling Moss], one lap down
3. DB-Panhard HBR5 #32 [George Peck], two laps down
4. DB-Panhard HBR5 #11 [Howard Hanna], three laps down
5. DB-Panhard HBR5 #31 [Don Kearney], four laps down
6. DB-Panhard HBR5 #10 [Bill Lowerre], four laps down

Richards won $720 for his efforts, plus another $500 for a class win. Moss received $500 for second place and another $500 for a class win. Peck earned $250 for third place.

On Friday evening Lucky Casner’s CAMORADI USA team held an invitational cocktails and barbecue party at the Tobler Ranch, 15 miles south of Sebring. Some 300 people attended but poor Casner himself could not make it, being stuck in Miami while trying to get two of his new Birdcage Maseratis into the country for Saturday’s race. Things would be hectic.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terrific photo quality. Is this same Bob Jackson who shot the GT350 jumping at Green Valley–and the Jack Ruby photo?

  4. I was born on March 8,1960 (2 weeks before the race) – my dad, Howard Hanna DB, loved Sebring; fourth overall that day.

  5. The Kodachrome shot of #1 sure captures the essence of Sebring , great job Willem.

  6. I raced at Sebring in the late 70’s, in an MG Midget. I believe in G or H Production. I had financed the start of RSR, a Porsche repair shop in St. Petersburg, with Jeff Brooks. The Midget DNF’d, but a schoolteacher from one of the west coast Florida islands, came up and asked if I wanted to drive his Datsun 510, I believe. What a gentleman! I remember going under the bridge full out, and having a 911 blast by me as if I was in reverse ?. Great memories.

  7. Jim, you probably have lots of photos of your dad’s DBs, in addition to inside information about his competition days. Time to do an article on the subject for VeloceToday? We’d love to see one.

  8. I second Willem’s suggestion, Jim. Time for Howard Hannah’s story to be recounted.

  9. I always love to read the stories of this period and the facts like for example CAMORADI USA team held an invitational cocktails and barbecue party at the Tobler Ranch, 15 miles south of Sebring.

    I am playing for quite a while with the idea to write about the 3 Austin Healeys and the P car that raced Sebring 1960. But to be honest at the moment I found it difficult how to start.

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