PHILADELPHIA, PA — As engines roar in Florida for one of America’s most storied endurance races, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum will stage its own 12-hour tribute in South Philadelphia, marking the only Sebring celebration outside the Sunshine State.
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, the museum will present “Once Around the Clock: The Simeone 12 Hours of Sebring,” a daylong event running from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM in sync with the famed 12 Hours of Sebring. The celebration arrives during the nation’s 250th anniversary year and is designed to spotlight Sebring’s legacy as a proving ground for American engineering and racing prowess.
“Since 1950, Sebring has been America’s proving ground,” said Kevin Kelly, executive director of the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. He said the race became the arena where American builders, drivers, and engineers proved they could challenge the world’s best — a spirit he described as fitting for the country’s semiquincentennial.
The museum’s program will unfold in seven themed sessions tracing defining eras of Sebring history. Highlights include the 1950 Crosley upset, the introduction of the full 12-hour format in 1952, Briggs Cunningham’s breakthrough in 1953, Detroit muscle confronting European precision, Jaguar-Ferrari factory battles, the Cobra Daytona Coupe and Shelby era, and a closing champions parade.
More than 24 historic race cars will be demonstrated throughout the day on the museum’s 3.5-acre tarmac, with some vehicles appearing in multiple sessions. Each segment will feature indoor presentations, rare archival footage, live vehicle demonstrations, audience question-and-answer sessions, and opportunities for close-up photography.
Organizers say the atmosphere will extend beyond the cars. The museum plans to recreate the Sebring infield from the 1950s through the 1970s with period signage, vintage soundtrack, and staff dressed in era-appropriate racing attire. Continuous live race coverage from Florida will be broadcast on 10 screens throughout the facility.
“This isn’t a static display,” Kelly said, noting that the program is designed to build intensity throughout the day, rewarding guests who attend multiple sessions.
The format mirrors the museum’s annual “24 Heures du Simeone” Le Mans tribute, which drew more than 1,000 attendees in 2025.
Doors open at 9:00 AM at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, 6825-31 Norwitch Drive. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for youth under 18, and free for children 4 and under. Museum members receive one free ticket. Food vendors will be on-site from noon to 8:00 PM. The event will be held rain or shine, with free parking available.
More information is available at https://simeonemuseum.org/sebring or by calling 215-365-7233.
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