Monte Shelton (1933 – June 16, 2019) was an American racing driver from Portland, Oregon.

Early life

He was born in Missouri before his family moved to Vanport, Oregon, in 1943, where his father worked in a shipyard.[1] He later joined the United States Coast Guard, serving on the USS Bluebell before going to Portland State College to work towards a degree in elementary education before he eventually became interested in automobiles.[1]

Racing career

Shelton began racing in the early 1960s, with his career gaining traction a few years later when he began competing in the United States Road Racing Championship. Shelton also became regular competitor in Can-Am from 1966 to 1974, scoring points only in the 1974 season driving a McLaren M8F. Shelton also started several Trans-Am races between 1976 and 1987, where he took 5 race victories driving a variety of different Porsches. In sports car racing, he participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona, with a best finish of 3rd in the 1979 edition of the race with co-drivers Bruce Canepa and Rick Mears. He also participated many other IMSA Camel GT races, including the 12 Hours of Sebring. Included in his sports car career were two class victories in the Six Hours of the Glen at Watkins Glen International.[2] Outside of sportscars, Shelton had a brief single-seater career driving in Formula 5000 cars, racing a Gurney Eagle during the 1971 SCCA L&M Continental 5000 Championship.[3] In amateur racing, Shelton participated regularly in Portland's Rose Cup races, winning seven times over five decades. He also served as a co-founder of SCCA's Oregon Region and held a competition license with the organization for over 60 years.[4] On October 14, 2004, he was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.[5] In 2017, he was inducted into the Northwest Motorsports Hall of Fame.[6]

Personal life

Outside of racing, Shelton owned a collector car dealership called "Monte's Motors", where he specialized in British automobiles. Shelton died June 16, 2019, from complications from pancreatic cancer.[1]

Racing results

24 Hours of Daytona

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1979 United States Bruce Canepa United States Bruce Canepa
United States Rick Mears
Porsche 935 GTX 627 3rd 2nd
1988 United States Escort Porsche United States Karl Durkheimer
United States Jim Torres
United States Nort Northam
Porsche 911 Carrera GTU 455 33rd 6th
1989 United States SP Racing United States Gary Auberlen
United States Bill Auberlen
United States Cary Eisenlohr
Porsche 911 Carrera GTU 351 DNF DNF
1995 United States Alex Job Racing United States Joe Cogbill
United States Jack Lewis
United States Charles Slater
Porsche 911 GTS-2 633 13th 6th
1996 United States Alex Job Racing United States Joe Cogbill
United States John Rutherford
United States Ron Finger
Porsche 911 GTS-2 599 14th 7th
1997 Costa Rica Jorge Trejos Costa Rica Jorge Trejos
United States Jeff Gamroth
United States Tim Ralston
Porsche 993 GTS-3 632 13th 4th

12 Hours of Sebring

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1997 Costa Rica Jorge Trejos United States Jeff Gamroth
United States Tim Ralston
Porsche 993 GTS-3 247 19th 6th

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rogoway, Mike (June 18, 2019). "Champion Portland auto racer Monte Shelton dies at 85". Oregonlive.com. Oregon Live, LLC. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  2. O'Neill, Sean (November 5, 2018). "Monte Shelton–Auto Racing". oregonsportshall.org. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  3. Rudow, Martin (July 12, 2016). "Monte Shelton: Concours d'Elegance honoree for 2016". Pamplinmedia.com. Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  4. Zurschmeide, Jeffery (June 17, 2019). "Monte Shelton, 1933-2019". Racer.com. Racer Media & Marketing, Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  5. Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum-Category:Auto Racing
  6. Zurschmeide, Jeffery (March 21, 2017). "Northwest motorsports legends honored at World of Speed". Pamplinmedia.com. Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
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