Gallery>>sebring, 1988

With the 12 Hours of Sebring happening this weekend in Florida, we thought we would put up another blast from the past as we did around the time of the Daytona 500.

This time we have a selection of photos that Mark Windecker shot at the 1988 Sebring IMSA race.

So, what did sports car racing in North America look like 23 years ago?

This was the era of the Porsche 962 of course. Here is Sachs 962 driven by John Winter, Frank Jelinski, and Paolo Barilla.

The GTO cars from this era are unlike anything you see on the track today. You might remember that Toyota USA has an IMSA Celica its historic collection.

Well known NASCAR driver Wally Dallenbach could be found behind the wheel of this C4 Corvette, along with John Jones. This car would wind up on top of the GTO class.

It's interesting to see that while some of the GT cars had very professional, factory-backed looks – others, like this 2nd gen Camaro had more of a backyard special vibe.

Another one from the prototype class, this one was Buick powered.

Browsing through these photos, you can see that the RX7 was a popular car on the GT circuit back in '88.

At first I was going to say, "check out this FC on old school Enkei racing wheels", then I remembered that back in 1988 there was nothing "old school" about this.

Of course you can't look at 1980's IMSA GT racing without including Porsche…

The Jaguar XJR-9 has to be one of the most unique looking GTP cars of the era. You just can't beat a race car with Castrol livery.

The production version of the Chevy Beretta was a pretty forgettable car, the IMSA version on the other hand…

Great shot of another 962 with the GTO Celica following. Something tells me won't see another Copenhagen-sponsored race car out there again…

Another IMSA car that differs heavily from its production counterpart – the Dodge Daytona.

Great overhead view of a night time pit stop here!

The World's Fastest Clown. I wish this one was in color!

Not only does this RX7 look awesome, but the "Malibu Grand Prix" banner brings back fond memories of racing go karts as a kid. In fact, me and my friends used to have our birthday parties there. Anyone else spend time at Malibu Grand Prix as a youngster?

IMSA version of the Merkur XR4TI, which is the US market counterpart of the Ford Sierra. Very cool.

John Gunn drove this Chevy-powered Phoenix in the GTP class.

GTU class Pontiac Fiero. Nice to see some motorsport love for Pontiac's almost forgotten mid-engine sports car.

One of my personal favorites, a Fox Body Mercury Capri GTO car.

Finally, a shot of the race winning Porsche 962 driven by Klaus Ludwig and Hans Stuck.

For more of these great vintage shots, you can head over to Mark Windecker's photo gallery.

-Mike Garrett

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1

i wish i could go back in time and be in the middle of all this 93 is a little late of a start, eh?

2

I never cared one whit about cars, until I went to my first race. The 1988 12 Hours of Sebring, thanks for the pics. I just wish I could find a vid of the Polyvoltac Protofab Vette. Your chest would shake when it went by.

3

According to racingsportscars.com The World's Fastest Clown driven by Mike Guido, Mike Graham, Alan Crouch didn't qualify.

4

is there any dvds or docs on imsa????

5

Those IMSA cars are awsome,especialy the IMSA Celica.

6

tobacco liveries are what i miss most about classic racing.

7

i wish i could go back in time and be in the middle of all this 93 is a little late of a start, eh?

8

Thanks for sharing.

9

i don't really remember all of these wonders, but we did get some of the variants in the UK.. hon. mention the Celica and the XR4Ti.. oowwee!!

10

Oh yes...MGP......my 7th-11th birthdays were spent at the Phoenix location..i was even allowed to drive there big cars at 12 after completing there driving class(usually had to have a DL)..there was nothing better up untill my dad got me my first kart with a 100cc Yam single speed racing in the junior sportsman class.....THANKS POPS for starting my addiction....god damn its crazy to think that was 20 years ago

11

WOW. chevy friggin' beretta!

12

That 1980 Toyota Celica is located in Torrance in the Toyota USA Museum along with other crazy 80's classic race cars. Definitely easily one of my favorite race cars...

13

That 1980 Toyota Celica is located in Torrance in the Toyota USA Museum along with other crazy 80's classic race cars. Definitely easily one of my favorite race cars...

14

Impressive cars back in the day.

15

Some nice race cars are that.



For Mike I found a colour pic of the E30 The worlds fastest clown: http://www.fuelslut.net/ihost/files/287/026413504133.jpg

16

Yep! I used to live at Malibu Grand Prix.

17

Awesome time capsule :) love the racing history!



Hells yes I remember Malibu Grand Prix!

18

This post is full of win!

19

This is why I love speedhunters

20

The Dodge Daytona was a front wheel drive racing car! Hal Showket drove one of them. Saw most of these machines at Watkins Glen. The Celica went from fastback to notchback - I think they found better handling with the flat deck on the back.....

Did a commissioned painting of the Polyvoltac Vette - check my website. Great shots as usual!

21

FIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

22

yesterdays 12 hour was fantastic

24

More photos from this race are available here:



http://www.americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=gallery



No video on the race highlighted above, but several interesting GTP-era videos:



http://www.grandtouringprototype.com/category/videos/

25

1988 was the end of the 962 era, as Geoff Brabham and Nissan would go on to win the first of their four IMSA GTP titles in a row.

26

I think I might still have my circa '88 Malibu Grand Prix driver's licence...

28

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29

I used to live at MGP in Sweetwater Miami till they took it down

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