West Palm Beach

Interviewed for an authorised IMSA spectators’ guide, West Palm Beach lap record holder and 1986 race winner Sarel van der Merwe described the original circuit as “a typical downtown street circuit which has no real character whatsoever. It is nothing more than a series of 90-degree left and right turns, and two 180-degree hairpin turns.” The race was originally held in June so Florida’s heat and humidity was oppressive. “The circuit at West Palm Beach,” he continued, “is like going high speed sightseeing in the downtown area of any city in the world!” The race relocated to South Florida Fairgrounds in 1988 on a new date in April that eased the challenging weather conditions.