Monte Shelton

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

12 Hours of Sebring
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1997 Jorge Trejos Jeff Gamroth
Tim Ralston		 Porsche 993 GTS-3 247 19th 6th
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References
  1. 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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