Photo : Richard DOLE - IMSA

 

Between Sebring and the cows, it's a love story that has lasted since 1993. We are not talking about the 60,000 heads of cattle that graze the meadows surrounding the many ranches in the area, but about the "Sebring Cows," all grouped at the "Zoo!"

The 12 Hours of Sebring is well known for action on the track, but also for its campgrounds - namely Green Park nicknamed the Zoo. For three days, giant barbeques and impromptu parties set the tone for many campers' evenings, given the lack of hotel room availability. Legendary Southern hospitality is in full force. Anyone can participate in this happy brotherhood that randomly came to be.

One day, an endurance fan packed in his travel bag a cow costume he had worn for Halloween. One of his buddies having seen the costume one night partaking of a few drinks, dared him to don the black and white disguise during the race, and the guy didn't hesitate to do so! Since then, the tradition lives on and astonished spectators cross paths each year with a little more than a dozen "cows" at the heart of the circuit.

While spectators have their fun, serious matters start up on the track with Thursday's traditional night test session prior to qualifying on Friday and finally the 12 Hours of Sebring race - the start of the 63rd edition will be given Saturday at 10:40 a.m. (2:40 p.m. in the U.K.).

Cécile Bonardel / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

PHOTO: SEBRING (FLORIDA, U.S.), SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, 12 HOURS OF SEBRING, SATURDAY MARCH 15 2014, PADDOCK.