Daytona International Speedway
IMSA GT/World Sports Car Championship
February 5, 1983
Ford Mustang
38th, 17th in GTO class
John co-drove this Firestone Ford Mustang (shown here at Sebring) with Tom Klausler and Ronnie Bucknum.
Martin Spetz photo – RacingSportsCars.com
12 Hours of Sebring
IMSA GT/World Sports Car Championship
March 19, 1983
Ford Mustang
9th, 4th in GTO class
John co-drove the Firestone Ford Mustang again with Tom Klausler to a 4th place GTO class finish.
Riverside International Raceway
LA Times Grand Prix of Endurance
IMSA (Round 5)
Conte Racing Tiga Mirage M12 01/Ford
April 24, 1983
DNF
John drove this race with Richard Spenard and Bob Lobenberg.
Morton collection
Morton collection
Charlotte Motor Speedway
IMSA (Round 7)
Racing Beat Mazda RX-7
May 15, 1983
7th overall, 3rd in GTO
John co-drove the Racing Beat Mazda RX-7 with Rick Knoop to a 3rd place finish in the GTO class.
Results:
Lime Rock Park
IMSA (Round 8)
Racing Beat Mazda RX-7
May 30, 1983
6th overall, 3rd in GTO
John co-drove the Racing Beat Mazda RX-7 again with Rick Knoop to a 3rd place finish in the GTO class.
Results:
Sears Point International Raceway
IMSA (Round 12)
Conte Racing Lola T600 HU11
July 14, 1983
2nd overall and class (GTP)
The Conte Racing IMSA GTP Lola T600, on pole at Sears Point Raceway, was driven by Morton and Bob Lobenberg to second place. The car was soon made obsolete by the Porsche 962 which would dominate from 1985-1987.
Morton collection
Results:
Portland International Raceway
3 Hour Camel GT
IMSA (Round 13)
Conte Racing Lola T600 HU11
July 31, 1983
2nd overall and class (GTP)
Results:
Mosport Park
IMSA (Round 14)
Racing Beat Mazda RX-7
August 14, 1983
3rd overall, 1st in GTO
“The Mazda was an underpowered car in the GTO class against cars like Gene Felton’s Camaro and Craig Fisher’s Firebird. Jim Mederer of Racing Beat told us: ‘The only way to win this one is to run every lap like a qualifying lap. Those other guys have too much power for us. I believe the car will hold together so go flat out for six hours.’ So that is what we did and we won and finished third overall.”
– co-driver Rick Knoop
Morton collection
Morton collection
Results:
Road America
IMSA Conte Lola T600 HU11
August 21, 1983
8th overall, 3rd in GTP
Morton collection
Results:
Pocono International Raceway
IMSA (Round 16)
Racing Beat Mazda RX7
September 11, 1983
DNF
Morton collection
Morton collection