Strong Spring Fling Entry for HSR
A large amount of track time on a legendary road course has attracted a solid and still-growing entry list of competitors and vintage and historic race cars for the season-opening Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Spring Fling at Sebring International Raceway, March 28 - 31.
Exactly a month away, the HSR Spring Fling weekend includes the first 2019 rounds of the B.R.M. Chronographes Endurance Challenge, which have been expanded to 90 minutes in length for the Sebring opener. Even more track time is available to competitors in all Run Groups with the addition of a fourth qualifying session at the Spring Fling, one more than the usual three qualifying runs offered on typical HSR race weekends.
The extra session was added in Friday's opening day of official competition that will have each Run Group take to the Sebring circuit for three qualifying runs in a jam-packed day of on-track action. An unofficial Thursday track test day is also available to competitors wanting to maximize their season-opening HSR race weekend.
The Sebring opener also showcases some rarely seen Pre-World War II race cars that will take to the track in their own "PreWar" Run Group all three days of the HSR Spring Fling weekend.
A familiar and favorite venue of HSR competitors, the expanded track time on iconic Sebring International Raceway has drawn a diverse lineup of vintage and historic race cars from all generations.
From the classic "PreWar" contingent to retired Modern GT machinery from this century, the HSR Spring Fling entry list truly offers something for everyone.
Lamar Beck is bringing his red 1929 No. 5 Ford Model A Speedster to compete in the showcase "PreWar" races, one of two of the 90-year-old Model A race cars entered so far for the HSR Spring Fling.
With the exception of modern-day tires, roll bars and other safety enhancements, the Speedsters are entirely period correct and offer race fans a rare chance to see cars compete on the Sebring airport circuit that are actually older than the track itself. One of the oldest continuously operating race circuits in the U.S., Sebring International Raceway hosted its first race in 1950.
Fast forwarding more than 70 years brings race fans another highlight HSR Spring Fling entry with the 2001 No. 15 Ferrari F360 of Ken Marlin. Prepared by Jim McGee and Pocono Sportscar, Marlin's Ferrari well represents the growing Modern GT era the HSR showcases in Group 10 and the HSR Global GT Series.
Historic Prototypes are another popular category in HSR, and the orange and blue 1993 No. 62 Kudzu Mazda DG-3 of Scott Spencer is a prime example set for the HSR Spring Fling. American-made prototype sports cars built in Georgia by accomplished constructor and driver Jim Downing, Kudzus were usually Mazda-powered and are distinctive in both their design and a rotary engine's shrill sound.
Followers of classic Detroit muscle cars will have several of the big-bore machines to watch at the HSR Spring Fling. Among the iconic Motown cars of the 1960s and '70s entered is the white and Blue 1965 No. 96 Ford Mustang 2+2 of Steve Piantieri.
