Want to bet Hairpin Spin set for 4th run SEBRING — It is almost that time of year when the pungent smell of gasoline
and the roaring sounds of finely tuned engines fill the air. In other words, here comes the 57th Annual 12 Hours of Sebring. But before the race comes another almost as exciting event — the Fourth Annual Hairpin Spin, which will take place from 12-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, kicking off the 12 Hours of Sebring. It will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton – Chateau Elan. An individual must be 21 or older to attend. First begun in 2006, the Hairpin Spin is a major fundraiser, that provides money for four local non-profit agencies: The Highlands Art League Scholarship Program the Children’s Services Foundation’s Safe House the Highlands County Humane Society and the Sebring Sportscar Hall of Fame Museum. An annual fashion show, however, only produced slight results, typically well less than $2,000. Celetano approached Tres Stephenson, Sebring International Raceway president, with an entirely different idea — create a casino-themed luncheon with a huge roulette wheel and the opportunity to spin to win prizes add world famous drivers to help spin the wheel and sign autographs, she said, to make it even more exciting and then include an all-you-can-eat buffet with wine and gourmet chocolates and desserts and it was bound to draw more participants — especially if a variety of charities were selected to benefit equally. For example, this year three vacation trips are in play, one to Montana, another to the Bahamas, and a three-day, two-night hunting excursion. The grand prize is a VIP race package Celetano said is valued in the thousands of dollars.
Celetano explained that the concept of the Hairpin Spin is simple. Numbered poker chips match paper tickets. The chip is put into the desired prize’s basket, the player holds onto the ticket.