A Brief Visit to a Florida Small-Town Treasure

Attending the 12 Hours of Sebring has been a tradition for the guys in our family for years. Planning begins shortly after Christmas for a four-day adventure that culminates in the world-famous 12-hour endurance race held annually on the third Saturday in March in south-central Florida.

Things were a little different in 2021, thanks to COVID-19-related restrictions. Instead of getting tickets from his usual source, Jerry and I found ourselves making a day trip a week before the race to get the tickets and parking pass in advance.

This historic 1927 building in downtown Sebring is still an active firehouse.

We decided to take the opportunity to explore downtown Sebring, known as “The City on the Circle.”

Founded in 1911 by George Sebring, the city’s entire downtown is a designated 1920s Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The focal point is a beautifully landscaped, tree-covered circle surrounded by quaint shops and restaurants. It’s a wonderful step back in time from the modern retail business that has exploded along nearby US 27.

Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works

We enjoyed hotdogs and milkshakes for lunch at Sebring Soda & Ice Cream Works, which offers more than 200 different flavors of sodas from around the world. We decided not to try the Sebring Super Sundae Challenge (12 scoops of ice cream, 2 cookies, 2 bananas, sauces, toppings, whipped cream, and more)—if you can eat it without help in 30 minutes, it’s free.

The lazy charm of the downtown area is a marked contrast to the energy of Sebring International Raceway. America’s oldest road racing track has a rich history. It was originally Hendricks Field, a World War II airbase used to train B-17 combat crews. After the war, aeronautical engineer, entrepreneur and car enthusiast Alec Ulmann organized a six-hour endurance race across the field’s long, broad runways and network of access roads on December 31, 1950. The first 12-hour race was held 15 months later on March 15, 1952.

12 Hours of Sebring

Jerry’s experiences at Sebring (with son Paul, grandsons Jeremiah and William, and friends) were the inspiration for The Sebring Experience, an adult coloring book with pictures featuring the cars, people, and action from the legendary annual race. It’s available on Amazon for $7.95.

In addition to the 12 Hours of Sebring, Sebring International Raceway hosts a number of events throughout the year. Not interested in car racing? Sebring offers golf, fishing, boating, water sports, airboat rides, arts, entertainment, dining, and more. It’s also home to Highlands Hammock State Park, one of Florida’s oldest state parks spanning 9,000 acres.

Click here to see more of Jerry’s photos from Sebring.