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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic 2014 – Report and Photos

Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962 HR-1 Picasa
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962 HR-1

Report and photos by David Ferguson

Over 150 vintage race cars presented themselves at the 2014 SVRA Spring Vintage Classic, held on February 28th through March 2nd at the venerable 3.74-mile, 17-turn Sebring International Raceway. Sebring, Florida is in the south central part of the state, about 80 miles South of Orlando. This year’s event has held under perfect weather, which was especially welcome to the participants from the North who have endured an unusually vicious winter. The warm days and blue skies with puffy clouds seemed to have put everyone in a very pleasant mood.

The cars were divided into eight groups, with each group having two sprint races. Group five had only ten entries, but each one would be welcomed in any automotive museum. They included a pair of Lola T70s, Porsche 910, three Lotus 23s, a Lotus Formula Junior, a Chevron B17 a 1964 Elva Mk7S. The T70s shared wins with Hobart Buppert’s MkIII winning the first heat and the MkIIIB of James Cullen the second heat.

Other cars of note at the 2014 running of the SVRA Spring Vintage Classic were three Porsche 962s, 1959 Porsche 718 RSK, Costin-bodied Lister Jaguar and an abundance of Shelby Mustangs, Porsche 911s and 935s, Jaguar E-Types among others. The paddock also included a Jaguar XK120, Shelby Cobra and a beautiful replica Ferrari 250 GTO that got everyone’s attention.

The best racing of the weekend was offered by Group 1-4, where five Porsche 356 Speedsters dueled each other all race long. Both heats had multiple passes for the lead, and both also had last lap passes. Paul Swanson won both of the heats, but he admitted that in heat one it was so close that he did not know who crossed the line first. Great stuff.

There were three enduros run at SVRA Sebring Spring 2014, including a night race that was very popular with, ahem, photographers and others. The Hawk Vintage / Classic enduro had a Le Mans start, which turned out to be very exciting and surprisingly clean. Thomas Grudovich’s 1966 Ginetta G4 nailed the start and led the first lap.

Known primarily as a retirement community surrounded by orange groves, Sebring was home to an airbase that trained bomber pilots during World War II. It held its first race in 1952. The annual 12 hour endurance event grew in popularity and reputation, and, despite its very pedestrian location, is one of the best-known endurance races in the world. The track has also become a favorite for teams to test their cars. As the weekend wound down, impressive looking race haulers from Penske, Andretti, Rahal-Letterman and others showed up to test before the upcoming Indy race at St. Petersburg. Audi was there with, according to rumor, their R18 LMP car. Juan Pablo Montoya, Penske Racing’s new driver took advantage of the GT/GTP/ALMS enduro to get some practice in David Robert’s Corvette. That was a nice cap to put on a very good event.

Photographer David Ferguson documented the 2014 SVRA Spring Vintage Classic, offering the following picture gallery that highlights the entrants and the famed circuit in Sebring, Florida. We split up David’s 225 pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs.

SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

Dick Howe, 89 Ford Mustang
Dick Howe, 89 Ford Mustang
Tom Haacker, 1986 Porsche 962
Tom Haacker, 1986 Porsche 962
Bob Wechsler, 57 Chevrolet Corvette
Bob Wechsler, 57 Chevrolet Corvette
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962 HR-1
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962 HR-1
Jack Ruscilli, 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar
Jack Ruscilli, 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar
Patrick Bean, 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Patrick Bean, 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Melvin Andrews, 70 Porsche 914/4
Melvin Andrews, 70 Porsche 914/4
Todd Wetzel, 1957 Turner 950S
Todd Wetzel, 1957 Turner 950S

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

George Calfo, 1970 Porsche 911
George Calfo, 1970 Porsche 911
Frankie Montecalvo on his way to the overall win in the night enduro in car number 60/45.
Frankie Montecalvo on his way to the overall win in the night enduro in car number 60/45.
Ron Boscom in the Fiat 128 leads an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider through turn 15.
Ron Boscom in the Fiat 128 leads an Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider through turn 15.
Travis Engen, 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Travis Engen, 2005 Audi R8 LMP
Christian Zugel, Porsche 962
Christian Zugel, Rothmans Porsche 962
Frankie Montecalvo's unique paint job grace the 2002 Porsche GT3-RS number 60/45.
Frankie Montecalvo’s unique paint job grace the 2002 Porsche GT3-RS number 60/45.
David Porter, 07 Pescarolo 01 Judd
David Porter, 07 Pescarolo 01 Judd
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7
Andrea Robertson, 06 Ford GT Mk 7

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

Skip Bryan, 72 BMW 2002
Skip Bryan, 72 BMW 2002
Travis Engen and the Audi R8 LMP braking before entering turn 16.
Travis Engen and the Audi R8 LMP braking before entering turn 16.
Charles Harris and his 1973 Porsche 911 RSR bring back memories of Peter Gregg racing at Sebring some 4 decades ago.
Charles Harris and his 1973 Porsche 911 RSR bring back memories of Peter Gregg racing at Sebring some 4 decades ago.
Charles Scrdina, 2008 Ferrari 430 GT2
Charles Scrdina, 2008 Ferrari 430 GT2
Steven Piantieri "rocketing" into turn 16 in his 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider.
Steven Piantieri “rocketing” into turn 16 in his 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider.
The Tom Entsminger / Greg Ira 1974 Datsun 240Z.
The Tom Entsminger / Greg Ira 1974 Datsun 240Z.
The Jeff Mitchell/Ron Branom 1995 Porsche 993.
The Jeff Mitchell/Ron Branom 1995 Porsche 993.
David and Andrea Robertson share the Ford GT Mk 7 in the Night Enduro.
David and Andrea Robertson share the Ford GT Mk 7 in the Night Enduro.

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

Fritz Seidel, 1973 Porsche 911 IROC RSR
Fritz Seidel, 1973 Porsche 911 IROC RSR
David Roberts, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
David Roberts, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Robert Bodin, 1964 Lotus Elan
Robert Bodin, 1964 Lotus Elan
Hervey Parke, 1965 Ginetta G4
Hervey Parke, 1965 Ginetta G4
Charles Harris, 1970 Porsche 911
Charles Harris, 1970 Porsche 911
Robert Bodin, 1964 Lotus Elan
Robert Bodin, 1964 Lotus Elan
John Deford in his very quick 1973 Porsche 914/6
John Deford in his very quick 1973 Porsche 914/6
Frank Menard, 1970 Porsche 911
Frank Menard, 1970 Porsche 911

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Tom Haacker, 1978 Porsche 935
Tom Haacker, 1978 Porsche 935
Howard Cherry, 1966 Porsche 910
Howard Cherry, 1966 Porsche 910
Robert Boller, 1963 Lotus 23B
Robert Boller, 1963 Lotus 23B
James Cullen, 1968 Lola T70 MK 3B
James Cullen, 1968 Lola T70 MK 3B
Hobart Buppert, 1969 Lola T70 MKIII
Hobart Buppert, 1969 Lola T70 MKIII
Alex Heckert, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
Alex Heckert, 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
Marty Beaulieu, 1968 Mercury Cougar
Marty Beaulieu, 1968 Mercury Cougar
Samuel LeComte, 67 Corvette
Samuel LeComte, 1967 Chevrolet Corvette

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

John Boxhorn, 84 Tiga SC84
John Boxhorn, 84 Tiga SC84
Richard Carlino, 1977 Chevron B36
Richard Carlino, 1977 Chevron B36
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962
Juan Pablo Montoya (yes, that Juan Pablo Montoya), 2006 Corvette
Juan Pablo Montoya (yes, that Juan Pablo Montoya), 2006 Corvette
Great racing at Sebring!
Great racing at Sebring!
Christian Zugel, 1986 Porsche 962
Christian Zugel, 1986 Porsche 962
Patrick Bean, 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Patrick Bean, 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Jack Ruscilli, 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar
Jack Ruscilli, 1959 Costin Lister Jaguar

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

Tom Haacker, 1978 Porsche 935
Tom Haacker, 1978 Porsche 935
David Bland, 1969 Porsche 911
David Bland, 1969 Porsche 911
John Deford in his very quick 1973 Porsche 914/6
John Deford in his very quick 1973 Porsche 914/6
Charles Harris, 1970 Porsche 911
Charles Harris, 1970 Porsche 911
Robert Bodin, 1964 Lotus Elan
Robert Bodin, 1964 Lotus Elan
Thomas Grudovich leads a Ginetta in his 1966 Ginetta G4
Thomas Grudovich leads a Ginetta in his 1966 Ginetta G4
Howard Cherry, 1966 Porsche 910
Howard Cherry, 1966 Porsche 910
Bob Tkacik, 1965 Lotus 30
Bob Tkacik, 1965 Lotus 30

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

Michael Oritt in the middle of the action in his 1959 Elva MK IV.
Michael Oritt in the middle of the action in his 1959 Elva MK IV.
George F. Balbach, 1961 Porsche 356
George F. Balbach, 1961 Porsche 356
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962 HR-1
Dan Curry, 1985 Porsche 962 HR-1
Patrick Bean, 1959 Aston Martin DB4
Patrick Bean, 1959 Aston Martin DB
John Higgins warning others that his 1959 Porsche 718 RSK has slowed.
John Higgins warning others that his 1959 Porsche 718 RSK has slowed.
Vic Skirmants, 1961 Porsche 356B
Vic Skirmants, 1961 Porsche 356B
Michael Oritt, 1959 Elva MK IV
Michael Oritt, 1959 Elva MK IV
Mike Fisher, 2000 Audi S4 Speed GT
Mike Fisher, 2000 Audi S4 Speed GT

 

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SVRA Spring Vintage Classic at Sebring 2014 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=648 images=15]

 

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[Source: David Ferguson]