Sebring Race For Compact Sedans
From his book "The Sebring Story" by Alec Ulmann, he wrote about the inaugural United States Grand Prix at Sebring, Fl. on Dec.12, 1959, which he organized. He also promoted a supporting race at this event featuring American and Europeon compact sedans run on the full Sebring 5.2 mile course per FIA engine displacement classes for standard production 1959 sedans entered.
Three 250 CID V8 195 hp Studebaker Larks were entered by Ed Lane of Miami and prepared by stock car racing legends Holman and Moody. Driving these Larks were NASCAR greats Curtis Turner, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts and Ralph Moody. Other teams consisted of the factory Jaguar sedan from Briggs Cunningham, 3 Corvairs under the direction of Corvette Wizard Zora Arkus-Duntov, Ford Falcons, Volvo,Hillman, Plymouth Valiant, Renault, Saab, Sunbeam and VW.
A Lark was timed at 138 mph on the back straight - 5 mph faster than the Jags, whose disk brakes provided superior braking. At race end, 23 of the 27 starters were running after the 2 hours. Cunningham's Factory Jag sedan won the race by a lap over Curtis Turner's Studebaker Lark. This race served as inspiration for the later successful SCCA Trans-Am series.
Way to go Studebaker Larks.
From his book "The Sebring Story" by Alec Ulmann, he wrote about the inaugural United States Grand Prix at Sebring, Fl. on Dec.12, 1959, which he organized. He also promoted a supporting race at this event featuring American and Europeon compact sedans run on the full Sebring 5.2 mile course per FIA engine displacement classes for standard production 1959 sedans entered.
Three 250 CID V8 195 hp Studebaker Larks were entered by Ed Lane of Miami and prepared by stock car racing legends Holman and Moody. Driving these Larks were NASCAR greats Curtis Turner, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts and Ralph Moody. Other teams consisted of the factory Jaguar sedan from Briggs Cunningham, 3 Corvairs under the direction of Corvette Wizard Zora Arkus-Duntov, Ford Falcons, Volvo,Hillman, Plymouth Valiant, Renault, Saab, Sunbeam and VW.
A Lark was timed at 138 mph on the back straight - 5 mph faster than the Jags, whose disk brakes provided superior braking. At race end, 23 of the 27 starters were running after the 2 hours. Cunningham's Factory Jag sedan won the race by a lap over Curtis Turner's Studebaker Lark. This race served as inspiration for the later successful SCCA Trans-Am series.
Way to go Studebaker Larks.
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