1960 12 Hours of Sebring

The Tenth Annual Sebring International Grand Prix of Endurance for the Amoco Trophy took place on 26 March 1960, on the Sebring International Raceway, (Florida, United States). It was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. This was also the second round of the F.I.A. GT Cup.

Sebring International Raceway in 1952-1966
Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder

Report

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Entry

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A massive total of 89 racing cars were registered for this event, of which 72 arrived for practice. Only these, 65 qualified for, and started the race. There was controversy surrounding the entry. The event promoter, Alec Ulmann had signed a deal with Amoco whereby they would be the fuel suppliers for the race. This prohibited any entrant from using any other brand of fuel.[1][2]

This resulted in the works Ferrari and Porsche teams boycotting the event, as they had their own exclusive fuel arrangements with Shell Oil and British Petroleum (BP) respectively.[1][2] However, these teams would still be represented in Florida. For Ferrari, their sent cars to Luigi Chinetti, who entered the cars under the North American Racing Team (NART) banner and thereby as a private entry and not bound by any agreement between Scuderia Ferrari and Shell.[2] As for Porsche, they ‘leased’ two of their new RS 60 Spyders to the works driver, Jo Bonnier. Together with a number of Porsche drivers and mechanics who just happened to be holidaying in Florida at that time, volunteered they services to Bonnier for the event.[2]

There was also controversy when the F.I.A. made last minute rules changes concerning the luggage compartments and windscreens on the Grand Touring (GT) cars. The FIA ruled that these cars should be racing closer the factory specifications than some actually where. This caused some problems for the smaller cars like the Oscas.[2]

Qualifying

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As was the normal for Sebring and because there was no qualifying sessions to set the grid, the starting positions were decided according to engine size with the 5.0 litre Chevrolet Corvette C1 of Briggs Cunningham and John Fitch being given first place.[3]

Race

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Most of the 50,000 spectators expected Stirling Moss to win the race in his ”Birdcage” Maserati Tipo 61, provided the car lasted the distance.[2] Of the 65 cars that qualified, many looked strange due to the hasty modifications placed on them with the new F.I.A. regulations.[2]

Moss had a bad start due to his Maserati having problems starting and pulled away in 23rd place, but by the second lap, the Englishman was up the second behind the early leader, the Ferrari of Pete Lovely.[2] He would pass Lovely on the next lap.[2]

On lap five, a tragic accident occurred at the hairpin. The Lotus Elite being driven by Jim Hughes suffered a brake failure and headed for the escape road, only to found a photographer standing here, complete with tripod. Hughes tried to avoid him, but rolled his little Lotus, striking the photographer and killing them both.[2]

At the end of the first hour, Moss, partnered by Dan Gurney were leading from another Birdcage T61 of Walt Hansgen and Ed Crawford. The first of the NART Ferraris was in third, driven by Richie Ginther and Chuck Daigh.[2] By the start of the ‘lunch’ hour, the Ferrari had moved into second.[2]

On lap 84, the Porsche of Graham Hill parked up with a rod through the engine block,[4] while around the same time, the Ginther/Daigh Ferrari pitted with steam pouring from under the bonnet. Shortly after, the T61 of Crawford ran wide at the hairpin and got struck in the sandbank. Crawford proceeded to dig his car free using his hands, taking almost two hours to do so.[2] Despite their problems, the Ginther/Daigh Ferarri was still in second at the halfway point, albeit lapping 3 mph slower than Moss/Gurney. Now in third was the little Porsche of Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien.[2]

After completing 123 laps, the Ginther/Daigh Ferrari was withdrawn as it was leaking water and oil.[4] Just 13 laps later, and the leaders were also out, retiring with transmission failure.[4] With 3½ hours to run, the Herrmann/Gendebien Porsche found itself firmly in the lead with another Porsche in second, being piloted by Bob Holbert and Roy Schechter.[2]

 
Trophy presentation with Jack Nethercutt II, Pete Lovely, and J.B. Nethercutt

After 12 hours of racing, the Bonnier entered Porsche of Herrmann and Gendebien, won ahead of the similar Brumos Porsche of Holbert and Schechter. Car number 42, took an impressive victory, completing 196 laps, covering 1,019.2 miles after 12 hours of racing, averaging a speed of 84.927 mph. Second place went to the second Porsche, albeit nine lap adrift. The podium was complete by the Ferrari of Lovely and Jack Nethercutt who were a further lap behind.[5][4]

Official Classification

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Class Winners are in Bold text.

Pos No Class Driver Entrant Chassis Laps Reason Out
1st 42 S1.6   Hans Herrmann   Olivier Gendebien Joakim Bonnier Porsche 718 RS60 12hr 00:03.030, 196
2nd 44 S1.6   Bob Holbert   Roy Schechter Brumos Porsche Car Corp. Porsche 718 RS60 187
3rd 8 S3.0   Pete Lovely   Jack Nethercutt Jack Nethercutt Ferrari 250 TR 59/60 186
4th 10 S3.0   Ed Hugus   Augie Pabst North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 GT SWB 185
5th 17 S3.0   George Reed   Alan Connell, Jnr. RRR Motors Ferrari 250 GT California 185
6th 12 S3.0   Bill Sturgis   Fritz D'Orey William Sturgis Ferrari 250 GT SWB 183
7th 11 S3.0   George Arents   William Kimberly North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 GT SWB 183
8th 16 GT3.0   Carlo Maria Abate
  Fabrizio Serena
  Giorgio Scarlatti Scuderia Serenissima Ferrari 250 GT California LWB 179
9th 72 GT1.6   Dick Dungan   Joe Sheppard Camoradi USA Porsche 356A Carrera 177
10th 14 S3.0   Robert Publicker
  Dean McCarthy
  George Constantine Robert Publicker Ferrari 250 GT California LWB 174
11th 80 GT1.6   Jan Bootz   Carel Godin de Beaufort Count Karel de Beaufort Porsche 356A Carrera 172
12th 63 S850   John Bentley   John Gordon Automobili Osca USA Osca S750 170
DNF 24 S3.0   Luke Stear   Dave Causey Dave Casuey Maserati Tipo 61 169 Gearbox
13th 47 S1.6   George Koehne   Rees Makins Automobili Osca USA Osca MT4 1500 169
14th 31 GT2.0   Max Goldman   Ralph Burbin S.H. Arnolt Inc. Arnolt Bolide 169
15th 20 GT3.0   Gilbert Geitner   Lew Spencer British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 3000 167
16th 6 GT5.0   Bill Fritts   Chuck Hall RRR Motors Chevrolet Corvette C1 167
17th 58 S1.15   Charles Vögele   Peter Ashdown Charles Vögele Lola-Climax Mk.1 167
18th 54 GT1.3   Fred van Beuren
  Adolfo Velásquez
  Javier Velásquez Frederico van Beuren Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 166
19th 50 GT1.3   Tom O'Brien   Don Horn Louis Comito Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 166
20th 36 GT2.0   Bud Hulsey   Harry Washburn A.C. Cars Ltd. AC Ace 166
21st 34 GT2.0   Mike Rothschild   Bob Grossman A.C. Cars Ltd. AC Ace 166
22nd 33 GT2.0   James Johnston
  William Bradley
  Bud Seaverns S. H. Arnolt Inc Arnolt Boldie 165
23rd 65 S850   David Cunnigham   John Fulp Luigi Chinetti Motors Osca S750 152
24th 39 GT1.6   Fred Hayes   Ed Leavens British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam 160
25th 55 GT1.3   Charles Evans
  Jay Chamberlain
  Sam Weiss Lotus Cars USA Lotus Elite 158
26th 3 GT5.0   Fred Gamble
  Bill Wuestfhoff
  Jim Jeffords Camoradi USA Chevrolet Corvette C1 157
27th 48 GT1.3   William Milliken, Jr.   Cameron Argetsinger Cameron Argetsinger Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 156
28th 77 GT2.0   Tony O'Sullivan
  Jef Stevens
  Peter Procter Tony O'Sullivan AC Ace 151
DNF 25 S3.0   Walt Hansgen   Ed Crawford Jaguar Distributors of New York Maserati Tipo 61 149 Differential
29th 40 GT1.6   Jack Flaherty   Jim Parkinson British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam 148
30th 51 GT1.3   Louis Comito
  Bob Richardson
  Ross Durant, Jr. Ross Durant, Jr. Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 143
31st 52 GT1.3   Chuck Kessinger
  Ken Gardner
  Stephen A. McClellan, Jr. Dr. Ray Martinez Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 143
32nd 4 GT5.0   Jim Jeffords   Fred Gamble Camoradi USA Chevrolet Corvette C1 143
33rd 18 GT3.0   Peter Riley   Jack Sears British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 3000 141
34th 26 S3.0   Duncan Black   Charlemagne Tower Charlemagne Tower Daimler SP250 137
DNF 23 S3.0   Stirling Moss   Dan Gurney Camoradi USA Maserati Tipo 61 136 Transmission failure
NC 5 GT5.0   Delmo Johnson   Dave Morgan Johnson Chevrolet Co. Chevrolet Corvette C1 134
DNF 46 S1.6   Pedro von Döry
  Anton von Döry
  Roberto Miéres Anton von Döry Porsche 718 RSK 133 Broken cam follower
NC 37 S1.6   John Masterson
  Norman Babcock
  Dean Patterson Elva Distributors USA Elva-Climax Courier 131
NC 60 S1.15   Ed Costley   Pete Harrison Edgar M. Costley Elva-Climax Mk IV 131
DNF 28 S2.0   Ricardo Rodríguez   Pedro Rodríguez North American Racing Team Dino 196 S 126 Clutch failure
DNF 7 S3.0   Chuck Daigh   Richie Ginther North American Racing Team Ferrari 250 TR 59/60 123 Water & oil leak
NC 66 S850   Ray Cuomo   Paul Richards Roosevelt Automobiles Fiat-Abarth 750S 115
NC 32 GT2.0   Tom Payne   Robert Gary S. H. Arnolt Inc Arnolt Boldie 99
NC 68 S1.6   Charles Wallace
  Charlie Kolb
  William Horton Elva Distributors USA Elva-Climax Courier 92
DNF 43 S1.6   Graham Hill   Jo Bonnier Joakim Bonnier Porsche 718 RS 60 87 Engine
DNF 53 GT1.3   Ralph Troiano
  George Waltman
  Art Swanson Racing Associates of New England Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 70 Axle
NC 61 S1.0   John Sprinzel   John Lumkin Donald Healey, Ltd. Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite 62
DNF 35 GT2.0   Bob Mazzi
  Frank Schroeder
  Fred Moore A. C. Car Ltd AC Ace 61 Left rear wheel
DNF 30 GT2.0   Ike Williamson   James Forno Morgan Motors Ltd. Morgan Plus 4 60 Broken front hub
DNF 57 GT1.3   Frank Bott   Phil Forno Lotus Cars USA Lotus Elite 57 Accident
DNF 19 GT3.0   John Colgate   Fred Spross British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 300 54 Accident
DNF 2 GT5.0   Dick Thompson   Fred Windridge Jaguar Distributors of New York Chevrolet Corvette C1 41 Engine
DNF 64 S850   Denise McCluggage   Pinkie Windridge Camoradi USA Osca S187 34 Oil loss => bearing jammed
DNF 41 GT1.6   John Cuevas   Ulf Norinder Quiver Enterprises Porsche 356A Carrera GT GS Speedster 33 Broken crankshaft
DNF 15 GT3.0   Gianni Balzarini   Carlo Maria Abate Scuderia Serenissima Ferrari 250 GT 28
DNF 1 GT5.0   Briggs Cunningham   John Fitch Jaguar Distributors of New York Chevrolet Corvette C1 27 Rear hub => accident
DNF 67 S850   Victor Lukens   Fred Haynes Racemasters Bandini GT 27 Radiator damaged
DNF 27 S2.0   Hap Sharp   Jim Hall Hap Sharp Cooper-Maserati Monaco T49 26 Broken piston
DNF 49 GT1.3   Charlie Rainville   Jake Kaplan Jake Kaplan Alfa Romeo Giuletta Veloce 16 Broken connection rod
DNF 56 GT1.3   Jim Hughes   Sam Weiss Lotus Cars USA Lotus Elite 5 Fatal accident
(Hughes)
DNF 38 GT1.6   Colin Escott   Ted Lund British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam 3 Broken valve
DNF 22 S3.0   Carroll Shelby   Masten Gregory Camoradi USA Maserati Tipo 61 3 Engine
DNF 46 S1.6   Ernie Erickson   Don Sesslar Carl Erickson Co. Porsche 718 RSK 1 Timing gear jammed
DNS 21 S3.0   Stirling Moss   Dan Gurney Camoradi USA Maserati Tipo 61 Engine
DNQ 73 S1.15   Bob Grimes   Paul Hill Elva Distributors USA Elva-Climax Mk. IV Reserve
DNQ 75 S850   Otto Linton   Francis Ginther John Miles Osca S750 Reserve
DNQ 79 GT3.0   Mel Siegel   Harry Fry London Motors Inc. Austin-Healey 3000 Reserve
DNS 81 GT3.0   Laurence Gandolfi
  Paul O'Shea
  Nim York Lewis Engineering Co. Mercedes-Benz 300 SL No spare brakes
DNS T2 GT3.0   Peter RIley
  John Colgate
  Jack Sears
  Fred Spross
British Motor Corp. Austin-Healey 3000 practised only
DNS T GT1.6 British Motor Corp. MG A Twin Cam practised only

[5][4]

Class Winners

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Class Winners
Sports 3000 – Class 12S 8 Ferrari 250 TR 59/60 Lovely / Nethercutt
Sports 2500 – Class 11S No starters
Sports 2000 – Class 10S No classified finishers
Sports 1600 – Class 9S 42 Porsche 718 RS 60 Herrmann / Gendebien
Sports 1150 – Class 7S 58 Lola-Climax Mk.1 Vögele / Ashdown
Sports 1100 – Class 6S No classified finishers
Sports 850 – Class 5S 63 Osca S750 Bentley / Gordon
Grand Touring 5000 – Class 14G 6 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Fritts / Hall
Grand Touring 3000 – Class 12G 16 Ferrari 250 GT California Abate / Scarlatti / Serena
Grand Touring 2000 – Class 10G 31 Arnolt Bolide Goldman / Durbin
Grand Touring 1600 – Class 9G 72 Porsche 356A Carrera Dungan / Sheppard
Grand Touring 1300 – Class 8G 54 Alfa Romeo Giuletta Spider Veloce van Beuren / Velásquez / Velásquez

[1]

Standings after the race

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FIA World Sportscar Championship

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Pos Championship Points
1=   Ferrari 12
1=   Porsche 12
3   Maserati 3
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included in this set of standings.

Championship points were awarded for the first six places in each race in the order of 8-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only awarded points for their highest finishing car with no points awarded for positions filled by additional cars. Only the best 3 results out of the 5 races could be retained by each manufacturer. Points earned but not counted towards the championship totals are listed within brackets in the above table.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Sebring 12 Hours 1960 - Racing Sports Cars".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "1960 Sebring 12 Hours - Race Photos, History, Profile". April 23, 2014.
  3. ^ "Sebring 12 Hours 1960 - Entry List - Racing Sports Cars".
  4. ^ a b c d e "Sebring 12 Hours 1960 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars".
  5. ^ a b c "Reference at www.teamdan.com". Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2016.

Further reading

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  • Alec Ulmann. The Sebring Story. Chilton Book Company. ASIN B0006CUAP2.


World Sportscar Championship
Previous race:
1000 km Buenos Aires
1960 season Next race:
Targa Florio
FIA GT Cup
Previous race:
4 Hours of Sebring
1960 season Next race:
1000 km Nürburgring