Toad Hall Motor Racing

Michael Keyser's Toad Hall team received their new 2.8 liter Porsche RS from the factory several days before Sebring, 1973. Dry brake systems were not required in those days and after installing the fuel cell they ran a vent tube from it through a hole in the left front fender. On half tanks during practice there were no problems. Milt Minter started the race and Michael Keyser took over after two hours.

The first four turns on the old Sebring circuit after the pits were all left handers, then there was Big Bend, the fast sweeping right hander. Halfway through the curve at around 100 mph Michael heard a loud WHOOOOMP and suddenly realized the entire car was ablaze. The fuel in the full tank had shot out the vent tube and directly onto the hot discs. Michael pulled to the side of the road activated the fire extinguishers and lept out. With no help in sight, he did the only thing he could which, was to scoop up dirt from the ground and started throwing it on the fire. It did little good, but luckily fire crews arrived fairly quickly and extinguished the blaze.

It appeared the only damage was cosmetic, so Michael drove back to the pits with the door open (the fire extinguisher foam had coated the windscreen) where the crew cleaned things up. He rejoined the race with nothing more than a few burnt wires, and at the finish he and Milt came home in 2nd place overall.