Simeone Museum To Host 12 Hours of Sebring Celebration in Philadelphia
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the full-day event features live demonstrations, historic race cars & real-time coverage from Florida…
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum will host “Once Around the Clock: The Simeone 12 Hours of Sebring,” a 12-hour celebration of American endurance racing that runs simultaneously with the actual 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida.
This marks the only Sebring celebration happening outside of Florida and arrives as the United States commemorates 250 years of independence in 2026, event officials stated in a press release.
“Since 1950, Sebring has been America’s proving ground,” said Kevin Kelly, executive director of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. “It’s where American builders, drivers and engineers proved they could compete with the world’s best. As we mark America’s 250th anniversary, this event honors that spirit of competition and innovation.”
Celebrating Sebring’s Greatest Moments
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the museum will present seven themed sessions spanning Sebring’s greatest moments: the 1950 Crosley shock victory, the first true 12-hour format in 1952, America’s breakthrough with Cunningham in 1953, Detroit power versus European precision, the Jaguar-Ferrari factory battles, Shelby’s Cobra Daytona Coupe era and GT championship, and a closing champions parade.
Each session includes indoor presentations with rare archival footage, live demonstrations on the museum’s 3.5-acre tarmac, audience Q&A and close-up access for photography. More than 24 historic race cars will be demonstrated throughout the day, with some vehicles running multiple sessions.
Immersive Atmosphere Replicating the ’50s Through the ’70s
The museum will recreate the Sebring infield atmosphere from the 1950s through 1970s with period-correct signage, vintage soundtrack and staff in era-appropriate racing attire, noted the release. Continuous race coverage from Florida will be shown on 10 screens throughout the facility.
“This isn’t a static display,” said Kelly. “Guests who stay for multiple sessions will see the event evolve. The atmosphere intensifies as the race builds. We’ve built surprises into the program that reward those who commit to the full experience.”
The format follows the success of the museum’s “24 Heures du Simeone,” its annual Le Mans celebration that drew more than 1,000 attendees in 2025.
