You were there

The 1970 Sebring 12-hour race is famous for Mario Andretti’s almost single–handed, last–ditch victory over Peter Revson and Steve McQueen’s Porsche. However, further down the finishing order there was a nearly as impressive, if less eye–catching, result from the Porsche 906 driven by Mike Rahal (father of Bobby), Dr Hugh Wise and Werner Frank – it won the under 2–litre class. 

A young Ed Sexton, who was photographing the race in Florida for a school project, had been a gofer for Mike during the time he competed in SCCA National events with an Elva-Porsche, and came to know the Rahals, father and son, well.

 “Mike was a business associate of my father and when he heard I liked racing, he asked me to come along,” explains Sexton. “The entire Rahal family was very good to me and made me feel right at home: it was a wonderful time of my life. In 1970 Mike had acquired a Porsche 906 and decided to race the Sebring 12 Hours. With great access throughout the pits, I was able to take these pictures. In the race, all three Rahal Team Porsche drivers put in great performances on the way to the class win. It was too bad Bobby wasn’t old enough to join them: it was shortly after that he started his great career.”