Squeezing into the Sebring - OUMF at InternationalHealey Drivers Day

Figure 1: The OUMF stand at Bicester Heritage with the Sebring Sprite on display.

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Last time I wrote a report, it was about the Riley Kestrel 1300, a restoration of a road-going classic car. This time was slightly different. Instead of talking about a car being brought back to life in the workshop, I, and a few others, were lucky enough to spend the day at Bicester Heritage with OUMF, the Healey Drivers Club, and the Sebring Sprite being used exactly as intended.

We arrived at Bicester Motion and set up in front of a row of glorious Healeys, which made a pretty special setting for the Sebring. The sun was out, the airfield test track looked fantastic, and everywhere you looked, there were Healeys lined up with owners who were more than happy to talk about them. Before anything had even turned a wheel, it already felt like a proper event. We had the OUMF stand set up, the Sebring on display, and plenty of members coming over to ask about the car, the team, and what we do.

Figure 2: The team with the Sebring Sprite in front of the Bicester Heritage backdrop.

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The test track was laid out on the airfield, giving everyone the chance to see the cars being used properly rather than just parked up and polished. Ding was first to take the Sebring out and, unsurprisingly, did not hang about. Compared with most of the other cars on track, the Sebring looked noticeably quicker and much more lively. It was brilliant to see it being driven properly in that setting, especially surrounded by the kind of cars that inspired it in the first place.

(a) The Sebring Sprite on the airfield test
track.

(b) The Sebring showing its pace among the
road cars.

Figure 3: The test track gave everyone a chance to see the Sebring being used properly.

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After lunch, Charlie Lemme was given the chance to drive the Sebring. Trying to explain how it drives is almost impossible (I will attempt to later), but watching it from the outside gives you some idea. It looked small, sharp, and properly quick. Down the straight, Charlie went zooming past both Tyler’s Honda Jazz and my Ford Focus, which was a fairly funny sight and also a good reminder that the Sebring may be old, but it is still very much a race car.

Then it was my turn.

This was slightly more complicated, mainly because I am 6ft 5 and the Sebring was not exactly designed with that in mind. To even get in properly, the seat cushion had to come out and I had to take my shoes off. Even then, I only just about fitted. It was not graceful, but once I was in and moving, none of that really mattered. The car felt completely alive. The steering was direct, the grip was far better than I expected, and the speed felt much more intense from inside the car than it had looked from the outside. What surprised me most was how much confidence the car gave you. It felt light and responsive, and every input seemed to matter straight away. On a few corners I managed to get the back end moving, which was both slightly terrifying and absolutely brilliant. You could feel the car rotating underneath you, but it never felt vague or disconnected. It was the kind of experience that is very hard to describe without just using the word “proper” over and over again. It felt like a proper race car, doing proper race car things, and I came back in with a much better understanding of why everyone who drives it talks about it the way they do.

(a) The Sebring carrying speed through the
track.

(b) A proper race car doing proper race car
things.

Figure 4: From the outside it looked quick; from the driver’s seat it felt even quicker.

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Even though each person only had a few laps, everyone who drove it came back saying the same thing. Ethan Wakeman, Charlie Stratton, Vinnie Allan, Tyler Wilkinson and Elliot Nash all described the car in much the same way: simply fantastic. That probably says more about the Sebring than any long explanation could. It was not just quick; it was involving, exciting, and memorable from the moment it left the paddock to the moment it came back in.

Overall, the day was a fantastic insight into the Sebring and into the wider Healey community. The owners were incredibly welcoming, interested in what OUMF does, and generous with their time and knowledge. Rod Graham also made sure we were fed and watered throughout the day, which was very much appreciated.

A huge thank you must go to the Healey Drivers Club for inviting us, hosting us, and giving us the chance to show what OUMF and its members can achieve. All in all, it was a brilliant day at Bicester Heritage: great people, great cars, and a rare chance to experience the Sebring Sprite properly from both the outside and the driver’s seat. For me personally, squeezing into the car and getting to drive it around the test track is something I will not forget in a hurry. And I know many of the OUMF members who didn’t attend won’t either.

Joseph Farley
Final year Computer Science Student
OUMF member of 4 years