1980, John Morton Racing

Daytona International Speedway

February 3, 1980

Ferrari 235 GTB/4 (#16407)

4th in GTO class

John Morton and Tony Adamowicz had one final race in S/N 16407 at the 1980 Daytona 24 Hours. This time the car was entered by Nicholas/McRoberts racing; however, Otto Zipper was not around to oversee the preparation. They got the eleven-year-old design qualified at 2:01.54. Tony was running in fourth overall, when the left rear stub axle broke in the last turn in the infield.

John Morton at the wheel.

Morton collection – Philippe Moriniere photo

Morton collection

Tony crawls into NART’s big Ferrari Daytona

Morton collection – Duke Ratliff photo

Morton collection- Philippe Moriniere photo

12 Hours of Sebring

March 22, 1980

Andial Racing Porsche

DNF (52 laps)

John teamed up with Randolph Townsend and Howard Meister to drive this Andial Racing Porsche 935.

Morton collection – Dave Kutz photo

Riverside International Raceway

LA Times Grand Prix of Endurance

April 27, 1980

Andial Racing Porsche 935 M16

DNF – suspension (60 laps)

John teamed up with Howard Meister to drive this Andial Racing Porsche 935.

Morton collection – Kurt Oblinger photo

Morton collection – Stan Sholik photo

Sears Point Raceway

SCCA Can-Am

Brad Frisselle Racing Frissbee

May 25, 1980

DNF – 34 laps (fuel)

Trevor Harris designed Brad Frisselle’s Frissbee, converting a Lola T332 F5000 to a Can-Am car. The Joey Cavaglieri led team included Wayne Hartman, Charlie Eddy and John Morton. In 1980 at Sears Point, John qualified the Frissbee in second place beside the factory entry with Patrick Tambay of France.

Qualifying results:

Morton collection

John Morton collection – Wayne Hartman photo

Morton collection

Watkins Glen

SCCA Can-Am

Brad Frisselle Racing Frissbee

July 6, 1980

DNF – accident

Qualifying results:

“When I was at Watkins Glen in 1980 on the pole in Brad Frisselle’s Frissbee, my future teammate Geoff Brabham tried to beat me out of the pits. He pulled out to block me when I was already up to about 80 and we destroyed our race cars. Next race, he had another car and financially, we were finished.”

Morton collection – David Hutson photo

Morton collection

Mosport International Raceway

Molson Canadian 1000

Six-Hour World Championship race

August 17, 1980

Racing Beat Mazda RX-7

1st in GTU class

Racing Beat was founded by Jim Mededer and Takayuki Oku. The team brought two Mazda RX-7s to the Molson Canadian 1000. The No. 17 was driven by John Morton, Jeff Kline and Walt Bohren.

Morton collection

Mid-Ohio Lumbermens 500

North American Sports Car Championship

Brad Frisselle Racing Frissbee

August 24, 1980

DNF (accident)

John teamed up with Hurley Haywood to drive the Frissbee at Mid-Ohio. John drove to a pole position and was on the front row with the Lola of Redman and Hobbs. An accident took the team out of contention.