Fairways Racing Complex Forum

Guys,

The 62nd running of the 12 Hours of Sebring starts at 10:15 am on Saturday, March 15th. This race is second only to the 24 Hours of Le Mans when it comes to famous endurance races that have withstood the passage of time. The first race was held on March 15th 1952, the same month and day of this year's race. Sebring is an airfield track much like our own (now lost) Wallerfield circuit and early versions used a combination of airstrips and access roads to form the track. The course has changed a bit over the years but still has airfield sections mixed in with the rest of the track.



Start of the 1964 race. Endurance races generally used the "Le Mans" type start in those days, with the drivers running to their cars at the drop of the flag. Those of you familiar with the Wallerfield circuit will immediatley recognise the wide runway comprised of slabs of concrete laid down in rows:



Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2s at the 1966 Sebring 12 Hour GP:



Phil Hill, Lew Spencer and Ken Miles drove this Shelby Cobra roadster to 11th place and 1st in class at Sebring 1963



I expect that SPEED will air most if not all of the race, so be sure not to miss it.

So what's the significance of this at FRC? Well you should watch the race not just for the entertainment value, but also to prepare and get you in the mindset for an upcoming special event, the FRC 2-Hours Endurance. The race will be run according to the FRC Endurance Competition Regulations. Here's the proposed format:

Class:
The event will be for our Vintage Sports class to represent the historical aspect of endurance racing.

Race Length:
The race will be for two hour's duration (approximately 1,200 laps of FRC). SSDC race management software will keep track of the cars and the computer display will allow everyone to follow the race.

Number of Drivers:
Each car must have a minimum of two and a maximum of three drivers.

Establishing Driver Teams:
Entrants choose their teammate(s) prior to the event. This can be done right up to race day.

Race Qualifying:
Teams will draw for their qualifying slot (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). Each team can decide how many of its members will qualify their officially entered car and the sequence they will do so within the team's qualifying slot. Qualifying will then be done in sequence individually over three flying laps. Each driver's best lap will be his qualifying time. De-slotted cars will be re-slotted to complete the three laps. Fastest time for each team determines the team's starting grid position, regardless of which team member does the first stint.

Mandatory Driver Changes:
Each team must do a minimum of five driver changes during the course of the race. Drivers completing a stint must record their driver change in the log provided.

Repairs:
Cars can be repaired if necessary during the course of the race.

I suggest you familiarise yourself with the FRC Endurance Competition Regulations upon which this event will be based.

So, are you ready to take on a real endurance race? Let's hear your thoughts below.

Gordon

WOW!

This sounds great! Looking forward to this event. My only concern is the Scalextrix digital chip, I don't believe it will stand up to the test of 1200 laps, however I believe it will show the true metal of our teams in doing repairs.

Arden

Love your response Arden You're right... preparing for an endurance race is different to the preparation needed for the sprint races we normally run. Things like spare parts will likely come into play, chips being an obvious one.

The weekend just got a little bigger for me - in more ways than one

The F1 2014 Race Calendar starts in Australia and race day the 16th plus next day the 17th. I will turn 51

I often hear how I dont look anything like fifty but I sure do feel like it, getting up in the mornings... hehe

Just for the record -

FRC had 6 Special Events in four years (Race Reports Nos. 33,53,100,113,124 & 152) and this one will now make it seven.

FRC Endurance Event - 28/12/09
Formula Libre - 17/6/10
FRC 100th. Event - 19/5/12
2012 Last Event - 27/12/12
Mixed "IROC" GT - 25/4/13
2013 Last Event - 30/12/13
FRC (2-Hours) Endurance Event - ?/?/2014

So lets set a day for racing

Luke

Luke,

Good stats.

You really don't look like 50 you look more like 60. hehe

Just kidding buddy!

I will be out 20th March return 25th March. Out 21st May return 25th May.

Arden.

Sounds like fun. Reliability will be a key factor in this event. think that this type of event should take place on a weekend if possible.

Our next two events are this Thursday 13th May (G5SC and F1) and Thursday 20th (GT and LMP), bringing an end to our first full cycle of class races for 2014. I think it would be appropriate to have this special event before starting our second cycle of races.

Because of the extra preparation time needed to organise everything including setting up the computer and race management software, I would prefer to have this event on a Saturday evening from around 6:00 PM. Arden will be away from 20th to 25th March so I propose that we have it on Saturday 29th March.

Please air your thoughts on this below so that we can start narrowing down the final date.

I wont be able to make this day Gordon because it is Bethany school's Sports & Family Day plus dont forget its a public "Spiritual Baptist Liberation" holiday on Sunday 30th. so maybe Monday or even the Sunday to have this event.

Luke

Hi Gordon,
I agree with having the event after the first full normal FRC cycle. I'm pretty flexible as regards which Saturday to have it on.
Steve

Luke, you're right... that's a long weekend and probably not a good date for the event. Because we need as many participants as possible, what we need is to have everyone say when they can make it and this way we can narrow down the date.