SVRA at Sebring: Race summaries & gallery

The vintage racers of the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) hosted the Trans Am series, Historic Trans Am and International GT (America's GT Cup) at Sebring March 3-6 to produce diverse racing with over 300 entries. The colorful display delivered an array of varied car designs and engine noises rarely found in one setting today.

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The theme of the weekend was the 50th anniversary of the Trans Am series and some of the biggest names in the sport's history were visible throughout the weekend with panel discussions, autograph sessions, book signings and interviews. Among the racing icons on hand were event grand marshal Bob Tullius, George Follmer, Willy T. Ribbs, Jack Baldwin, Lyn St. James, Ron Fellows and Tom Yeager.

The current-era Trans Am series introduced a new format with the addition of the TA4 and TA5 class designations along with the familiar TA, TA2 and TA3. The growth of the series has necessitated two feature races with TA2 running one event while the others joined together in a separate contest. Gar Robinson edged Adam Andretti in the TA2 race while 79-year-old Kenny Bupp was the surprise winner in the premier class, TA.

Bupp was prepared to meet opportunity when early leaders faltered through accidents and mechanical failure. Lee Saunders won the TA3 class while Steve Kent Jr. and Mark Boden brought home the first-place hardware for TA4 and TA5 respectively. The Trans Am series conducted their races on Saturday and were headed home before Sunday morning.

Bruce Hamilton figured heavily among the highlights from the SVRA races on both Saturday and Sunday. The veteran vintage racer won all four contests he entered. Clair Schwendemann swept both day's Group 6 events in his 1968 Corvette. Justin Ehrlich won the two International GT races. It was that series' first outing as part of SVRA weekends with their Stuttgart and Maranello Cup prizes. Theo Bean, last year's SVRA Group 11 national champion, won overall in Sunday's Group 10 and 11 races. The 23-year-old driving sensation piloted his father's 1990 Chevrolet Intrepid prototype.

Click on the thumbnails below for larger images. Podium finishers for all races follows below.

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Saturday Groups 1-4

1) Bruce Hamilton, 1970 Brabham BT36
2) Duke Waldrop, 1982 Van Diemen VD82
3) Bill Treffert, 1960 Corvette

Sunday Groups 1-4

1) Bruce Hamilton, 1970 Brabham BT36
2) Duke Waldrop, 1982 Van Diemen VD82
3) George Balbach, 1960 Porsche 356

Saturday Groups 5, 7, 9

1) Bruce Hamilton, 2008 Dallara-Infiniti
2) Jacked Mucha, 2006 Swift
3) David Delsol, 2006 Swift-Mazda

Sunday Groups 5, 7, 9

1) Bruce Hamilton, 2008 Dallara-Infiniti
2) Jacked Mucha, 2006 Swift
3) David Delsol, 2006 Swift-Mazda

Saturday Group 6, 12

1) Clair Schwendemann, 1968 Corvette
2) Gary Moore, 1965 Mustang GT350
3) Mark Rife, 1969 Corvette

Sunday Groups 6, 12

1) Clair Schwendemann, 1968 Corvette
2) Gary Moore, 1965 Mustang GT350
3) Shannon Ivey, 1967 Camaro SS

Saturday Groups 10, 11

1) David Porter, 2007 Pescarolo-Judd
2) John Reisman, 2010 Corvette
3) Jack Mucha, 2006 Swift-JMS

Sunday Groups 10, 11

1) Theo Bean IV, 1990 Chevrolet Intrepid
2) David Porter, 2007 Pesarolo-Judd
3) Jim Pace, 1994 Spice GTP

Saturday Historic Trans Am

1) Walter Brown, 1970 Camaro
2) Bill Ockerlund, 1971 Penske AMC Javelin
3) Gregory Weirick, 1970 Camaro

Sunday Group Historic Trans Am

1) Bill Ockerlund, 1971 Penske AMC Javelin
2) Walter Brown, 1970 Camaro
3) Richard Goldsmith, 1970 Dodge Challenger

Saturday International GT, Race 1

1) Justin Ehrlich, 2011 Porsche 997
2) Martin Burrowes, 2006 Ferrari 430
3) Jack Baldwin, 2011 Porsche Cayman

Saturday International GT, Race 2

1) Justin Ehrlich, 2011 Porsche 997
2) Mark Sandridge, 2015 Porsche GT3
3) Martin Burrowes, 2006 Ferrari 430

Sunday Historic GT/GTP/ALMS 90 Minute Enduro

1) David Porter, 2007 Pescarolo-Judd
2) John Reisman/Eric Curren, 2010 Corvette
3) Travis Egen, 2005 Audi R8 LMP1

Sunday Vintage/Classic 60 Minute Enduro

1) Richard Stuart, Porsche 911 ST
2) Gary Moore/Curt Vogt, 1965 Mustang GT 350
3) Shannon Ivey, 1967 Camaro SS