1955 12 Hours of Sebring

The 1955 Florida International Twelve Hour Grand Prix of Endurance took place on 13 March, on the Sebring International Raceway (Florida, United States). It was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. For the fifth running of the event, the 5.2 mile course had been widened and smoothed with a new asphalt topping laid down. This was for safety and would allow the cars to achieve greater speed, especially in some of the corners.

Report

Entry

A massive total of 124 racing cars were registered for this event, of which 101 arrived for practice, trying to get among the 80 qualifiers for the race. Despite the size of the entry, the event was not supported by the major European teams, although there was one factory entry from England, for Donald Healey Motor Co., driven by Stirling Moss, who piloted an Osca to victory in 1954 with fellow Englishmen, Lance Macklin and two cars from France for Regie Renault Co., who include Robert Manzon amongst their squad. With no factory Ferrari entry to defend their championship lead, they were supported by the private entries of Allen Guiberson and Luigi Chinetti.^[1]

Briggs Cunningham returned after winning in 1954, with five cars from five different manufacturers. One of those cars was a factory-supported Jaguar D-Type for Phil Walters and Mike Hawthorn. Cunningham himself was entered in a new Cunningham-Offenhauser C-6R with John Gordon Bennett ^[2]

There were a dozen different countries represented in the field, including the teams from Mexico and Venezuela. The later had Chester “Chet” Flynn leading their effort, while the Mexicans had a two car team with Fred T. Van Beuren and Carlos Braniff leading their charge. The race saw its first Hollywood movie star, as Jackie Cooper was listed to pilot an Austin-Healey 100S.^[3]

Miss Isabelle Haskell was to become the first woman to complete, not only in the 12 Hours of Sebring – but in any American Automobile Association sanctioned race. Although the AAA did not allow ladies drivers, Haskell discovered that there was no such restriction placed on ‘foreign races’. By race day, another woman had signed up to drive in the race, Lady Oakes was listed to take the wheel with her husband, Sir Sydney Oakes.^[4]

Race

The race was held over 12 hours on the 5.2 miles Sebring International Raceway. An estimated 20,000 spectators showed on a warm and sunny raceday. With the race starting promptly at 10am, 80 cars scrambled for positions. Meanwhile, six drivers who were unhappy at not being allowed to start, decided to go on the track at the start, they did one or two laps and then got off the track. Statistics show that the Hawthorn/Walter’s Jaguar D-Type led all but one of the 182 completed laps, That single lap, a Ferrari 750 Monza of Piero Taruffi and Harry Schell were able take to the front for lap 32.^[5][6]

As darkness fell on the former Hendricks Army Airfield, the race ended in confusion. At one point, the Ferrari of Phil Hill and Carroll Shelby were declared winners, then it was the D-Type. The Jag was called to the winner’s circle, only to run out of fuel during the victory lap. The former Le Mans winner, Luigi Chinetti, the Ferrari representative from New York protested the result, which was counter-protected by the Jaguar owner, Briggs Cunningham. Cunningham insisted that the D-Type had passed the Ferrari. The owner of the Ferrari, Allen Guiberson demanded that the D-Type should be disqualified, as it passed the Ferrari under a yellow flag. Cunningham countered the Index of Performance Trophy should not have been handed to Hill/Shelby, when in fact it should have gone to the Osca driven by Bill Lloyd and George Huntoon. ^[7]

The AAA contest board called a meeting on 21 March to make a final decision. They inspected the records of Cunningham and Guiberson, and that of race timekeeper, Joe Lane. The AAA declared the Jaguar had won by a margin of ten seconds. Although Cunningham had won the race, his protest was disallowed and Ferrari was ruled the handicap winners under the Index of Performance. This was due to an admission by Ferrari team chief, Nello Ugolini had forgotten to count a lap. As a result, Walters became the first driver to win the Grand Prix of Endurance twice – having co-driven a Cunningham-Chrysler C4-R to victory with John Fitch in the 1953 race.^[8]

The winning D-Type covered 182 laps (946.4 miles), averaging a speed of 79.300 mph. The podium was complete by William Spear’s Maserati 300S, which he co-drove with Sherwood Johnston albeit two laps adrift. Elsewhere, Cooper managed to finish the race in 41st, Haskell did not. She went out with an apparent engine problem. The Oakes’ Austin-Healey also failed to finish, after being involved in an accident.^[9][10]

Official Classification

Class Winners are in Bold text.

Pos	No	Class	Driver		Entrant	Chassis	Laps	Reason Out
1st	19	S5.0	Mike Hawthorn	Phil Walters	B. S. Cunningham	Jaguar D-Type	12hr 00:00.0, 182
2nd	25	S3.0	Phil Hill	Carroll Shelby	Allen Guiberson	Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder	182
3rd	35	S3.0	William Spear	Sherwood Johnston	William C. Spear	Maserati 300S	180
4th	36	S3.0	Gino Valenzano	Cesare Perdisa	Maserati Co. & B. S. Cunningham	Maserati 300S	178
5th	28	S3.0	Piero Taruffi	Harry Schell	Luigi Chinetti	Ferrari 750 Monza	177
6th	44	S3.0	Stirling Moss	Lance Macklin	Donald Healey Motor Co.	Austin-Healey 100S	176
7th	64	S1.5	Bill Lloyd	George Huntoon	B. S. Cunningham	Osca MT4 1450	168
8th	68	S1.5	Huschke von Hanstein	Herbert Linge	Porsche Co. & B. S. Cunningham	Porsche 550 Spyder	166
9th	63	S1.5	Carlos Braniff	Javier Velasquez	Carlos Braniff Cornejo	Osca MT4 1500	166
10th	15	S5.0	Charles Wallace	Dick Thompson	Jack Pry	Jaguar XK140	163
11th	61	S1.5	Bob Davis	Candy Poole	Robert H. Davis	Porsche 550 Spyder	163
12th	14	S5.0	Russ Boss	Jake Kaplan	Jacob Kaplan	Jaguar C-Type	162
13th	5	S8.0	Ray Crawford		Ray Crawford	Kurtis Kraft-Lincoln 500K	161
14th	70	S1.5	Ed Crawford	John Urbas	Fed Crawford	Porsche 550 Spyder	161
15th	45	S3.0	William Brewster	Bill Rutan	Wm. Brewster	Austin-Healey 100S	160
16th	40	S3.0	Bill Cook	Steve Lansing	Hobart A. H. Cook	Austin-Healey 100S	156
17th	12	S5.0	Roger Wing	Loyal Katskee	Loyal Katskee	Jaguar C-Type	156
18th	60	S2.0	John Panks	Ernie Erickson	S. H. Arnolt	Arnolt Bolide Bristol	154
19th	4	S8.0	Bull Murphy	Sam Hanks	B. Murphy	Kurtis Kraft-Buick 500K	153
20th	17	S5.0	M. R. J. Wyllie	Leech Cracraft	Dr. M. R. J. Wyllie	Jaguar XK140	152
21st	31	S3.0	Harry Woodnorth	Rees Makins	Rees T. Makins & Herman Rutson	Mercedes-Benz 300SL	152
22nd	38	S3.0	Joe Giubardo	Fred Wolf	Joseph Giubardo	Austin-Healey 100M	152
23rd	81	S1.1	Paul O’Shea	Fritz Koster	Hoffmann Porsche Corp.	Porsche 550	152
24th	39	S3.0	William Wonder	William Wellenberg, Jr.	Wm. Wellenberg, Jr.	Austin-Healey 100M	151
25th	59	S2.0	S. H. Arnolt	Bob Goldich	S. H. Arnolt	Arnolt Bolide Bristol	151
DISQ	79	S1.1	Frank Miller	George Rabe	Frank Miller	Lotus-Climax Mark IX	150	pushed across the finish line
26th	18	S5.0	George Rice	Bob Grossman	Dr. Dolph Vilardi	Jaguar XK140	149
27th	55	S2.0	Mike Rothschild	Harold Kunz	M. G. Rothschild	Morgan-Triumph Plus 4	149
28th	48	S3.0	Jim Feld	Bob Ballenger	Brooks Stevens	Excalibur J Willys	148
29th	58	S2.0	René Dreyfus	Robert Grier	S. H. Arnolt	Arnolt Bolide Bristol	148
30th	52	S2.0	John Weitz	Gordon MacKenzie	John Weitz	Morgan-Triumph Plus 4	145
31st	84	S1.1	John Penn	William Wierdon	John S. Penn	Siata-Fiat 300BC	145
32nd	43	S3.0	James Fergusson	Rowland Keith	Jas, F. Fergusson	Austin-Healey 100S	143
33rd	57	S2.0	John Norwood	Don Vitale	John H. Horwood	Arnolt Bolide Bristol	141
34th	69	S1.5	GuyAtkins	Trevor McKenna	Guy Atkins	Porsche 356 1300 Coupe	141
35th	32	S3.0	Chester Flynn	Ed Munoz	Chester Fkynn	Mercedes-Benz 300SL	139
36th	75	S1.5	Hubert Brundage Al DuPree	Howard Fowler	H. L. Brundage	Porsche 356 1300 Coupe	139
37th	9	S5.0	Fred Scherer	Don Davis, Jr.	Fred G. Scherer	Ford Thunderbird	138
DISQ	80	S1.1	John Bentley	Jim McGee	John Bentley	Abarth 207A Boano	150	refuelling on track
38th	76	S1.5	David Ash	Duncan Black	David Ash	MG TF	137
39th	77	S1.5	Jack Ryan	Buel Kinne	John E. Ryan	MG	135
40th	8	S5.0	Fred van Beuren	Eugene Towie	Fred T. VanBeuren	Van Bueren-Chrysler Special	131
41st	42	S3.0	Jackie Cooper	Roy Jackson-Moore	Jack Cooper	Austin-Healey 100S	131
42nd	67	S1.5	Evans Hunt	Howard Hanna	Howard Hanna	Porsche 550 Spyder	130
DNF	54	S2.0	Tom Friedmann	Karl Brocken	T.A. Fredmann	Maserati 300 AG	129	Gearbox
43rd	50	S2.0	Tony Palmer-Morewood Masten Gregory	Gleb Derujinsky	Ecurie Yankee	Ferrari 500 Mondial	124
44th	88	S750	E. C. Miller	Curtis Attaway	Int. Auto Sales Co.	Renault 1063	124
DNF	87	S750	Louis Pons Jean Hébert	Robert Manzon	Regie Renault Co.	Renault 1063	121	Engine
DNF	72	S1.5	Norman Christianson	Don McKnought	Norman Christianson	Porsche 550 Spyder	119	Brakes
DNF	82	S1.1	Austin Conley	LeRoy Thorpe	Austin L. Conley	Siata-Fiat 300BC	112	unknown
DNF		S2.0	David Mott	Don Skogmo	John F. Ellwood	Triumph TR2	111	Head gasket
DNF		S1.1	Norman Scott	Robert W. Samuelson	Bobbie Burns & Norman J. Scott, Jr.	Lotus-Climax Mark IX	109	Accident
45th	3	S8.0	Walt Gray	Paul Ceresole	Walter Gray	Allard-Chrysler J2X	104
DNF	24	S3.0	Ernie McAfee	Howard Wheeler	Wm. H. Doheny	Ferrari 750 Monza	99	unknown
DNF	100	S2.0	Jim Pauley	David Michaels	James E. Pauley	Siata 208CS Balbo	96	Transmission
DNF	29	S3.0	Sterling Edwards	Chuck Daigh	Manfredo Lippmann	Ferrari 750 Monza	88	Engine
DNF	73	S1.5	Otto Linton	Hal Stetson	Speedcraft Enterprises	Osca MT4 1450	83	Unknown
46th	16	S5.0	Fred Dagavar	Al Garz	Fred Dagavar	Jaguar XK120	73
DNF	83	S1.1	Dick Irish	Isabelle Haskell	Isabelle Haskell	Bandini Fiat	67	Engine
DNF	71	S1.5	Richard Toland	Stan Hoffstein	Richard H. R. Toland	Denzel-Volkswagen 1300 Super	61	Unknown
DNF	41	S3.0	William Millkien	Lester Smalley	Bill Milliken	Austin-Healey 100	60	Engine
DNF	74	S1.5	Walt Hansgen	William Eager	George E. Tilp	Osca MT4 1350	58	Rear Axle
DNF	37	S3.0	Briggs Cunningham	John Gordon Bennett	B. S. Cunningham	Cunningham-Offenhauer C6-R	54	Gearbox
DNF	26	S3.0	Alfonso de Portago	Umberto Maglioli	Marquis de Portago	Ferrari 750 Monza	53	Gearbox
DNF	47	S3.0	Hal Ullrich	Robert Grey	Brooks Stevens	Excalibur J Willys	50	Engine
DNF	46	S3.0	Gus Ehrman	Fred Allen	Fred F. Allen	Austin-Healey 100S	47	Oil leak
DNF	49	S3.0	Sydney Oakes	Greta Oakes	Sir Sydney Oakes	Austin-Healey 100M	44	Accident
DNF	89	S750	Sandy MacArthur	Paul Gougelman	Sandy MacArthur	Bandini-Mercury Outboard	34	Engine
DNF	66	S1.5	Phil Stewart	Ted Boynton	Philip B. Stewart	Osca MT4 1500	33	Accident damage
DNF	65	S1.5	Harry Chapman	William Ball	Harry A. Chapman	Osca MT4 1500	18	Unknown
DNF	7	S5.0	Jim Kimberly	Ed Lunken	James Kimberly	Ferrari 375 Plus	18	Rear axle
DNF	33	S3.0	Julio Pola	Pancho Croquer	Pancho P. Croquer	Mercedes-Benz 300SL	17	Out of fuel
DNF	53	S2.0	Porfirio Rubirosa	Cal Niday	Porfirio Rubirosa	Ferrari 500 Mondial	14	Accident
DNF	2	S8.0	Andy Rosenberger	Charles Cowdin	A. Rosenberger	Nash-Healey Le Mans	14	Gearbox
DNF	85	S1.1	Bret Hannaway	Raymond Osborne	Dr. Raymond Osborne	Kieft-Fiat Sport	10	Engine
DNF	11	S5.0	Jack McAfee	Bob Drake	Tony Parravano	Ferrari 375 MM	5	Fuel fire
DNF	1	S8.0	Jack Ensley	Jim Rathmann	Jack Ensley	Kurits Kraft-Cadillac 500	3	Engine
DNF	27	S3.0	Bob Said	Masten Gregory	Ecurie Yankee	Ferrari 750 Monza	3	Collision with ambulance
DNF	86	S750	Jean Rédélé	Louis Pons	Regie Renault Co.	Renault 1063	2	Accident
DNF	86	S750	John Shakespeare	Manfredo Lippmann	J. W. Shakespeare	Ferrari 375 MM	0	Electrics
DNS	6	S5.0	Walter F. Huggler	John B. Mull	John B. Mull	Jaguar XK120		Reserve
DNS	12A	S5.0	Reina Morales	Ed Munoz	Chester J. Flynn	Ferrari 340 America		Accident in practice
DNS	21P	S1.5	Art Bunker		Art Bunker	Porsche 500 Spyder
DNS	29T	S3.0	Sterling Edwards	Chester Flynn	Manfredo Lippmann	Ferrari 250 Monza		Engine
DNS	41	S3.0	Sandy McPherson Harley Watts	Robert Fergus	Robt. H. Fergus	Austin-Healey 100S		Accident in practice
DNS	62	S1.5	Ed Crawford	John Urbas	Ed. W. Crawford	Porsche 550 Spyder
DISQ		S2.0	James Carson	Dan Hastings	Howard Hanna	Swallow Doretti-Triumph		started illegally – flagged off
DISQ		S1.1	Warren Smith	Joe Sheppard	Joe Sheppard	Lotus-Climax Mark IX		started illegally – flagged off
DISQ		S3.0	Billy Dantone	Phil M. Seeberg	Billy J. Dantone	Austin-Healey 100		started illegally – flagged off
DISQ		S3.0	Phil Stiles	Red Bryon	Phil Stiles	Austin-Healey 100		started illegally – flagged off
DISQ		S3.0	Emil Bulck	William Bulck	Emil Bulck	Austin-Healey 100		started illegally – flagged off
DISQ		S2.0	Fred Losee	William Kichloe	Fred L. Losee	Veritas Comet RS		started illegally – flagged off

^[11][12][13]

• Fastest Lap: Sherwood Johnston, 3:38.8secs (85.558 mph) ^[14][15]

Class Winners

^[16]

Standings after the race

Pos	Championship	Points
1	Ferrari	14
2=	Jaguar	8
2=	Maserati	8
4	Porsche	3
5	Gordini	2

• 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 4 results out of the 6 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

Further reading

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