1987, John Morton Racing

Back

Home

24 Hours of Daytona

Group 44 Jaguar XJR-7

IMSA GT/World Sports Car Championship

February 1, 1987

DNF

Fort Lauderdale News

Morton collection

As John was exiting the pits at night, his safety belts came loose. He then recalled an incident in 1964 at Road America where Skip Scott pitted to reattach his safety belts which had come loose while he was driving. The crew was very critical of Skip for pitting for such a “trivial reason.” John ended up driving the one-hour stint in the GTP Jaguar with disconnected belts.

Morton collection

Morton collection – Florence Morning News

Grand Prix of Miami

IMSA GTP

Group 44 Jaguar XJR-7

March 1, 1987

10th

Riverside International Raceway

Los Angeles Times Grand Prix

IMSA GTP

Group 44 Jaguar XJR-7

April 26, 1987

1st

“In 1987, Bob Tullius took out a new Jaguar XJR-7 at Riverside for a test, lapping faster than Hurley and I had gone all day. Too fast actually, destroying it at Turn 2. I needed to go in the semi. I waited and waited, thinking how embarrassed he must be. Finally I went in and there was Bob, a beer in his hand, his girlfriend icing his leg and he said: ‘I guess I showed you young guys how it’s done.’ And he was serious.”

Morton collection – Myles Regan photo

Morton collection – Jerry Howard photo

Morton collection – Alan Bolte photo

Morton collection – Jerry Howard photo

Morton collection

Morton collection – Alan Bolte photo

John drove in the Group 44 Jaguar, winning the last professional race at the doomed Riverside track in 1987. “That was a special win for me in another way because that is where my career started, at the Shelby School at Riverside in 1962.”