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. He later joined the United States Coast Guard, serving on the USCGC Bluebell before going to Portland State College to work towards a degree in elementary education before he eventually became interested in automobiles.
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 five 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 third 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. 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. 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. On October 14, 2004, he was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum-Category:Auto Racing In 2017, he was inducted into the Northwest Motorsports Hall of Fame.
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.
Racing results
24 Hours of Daytona
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 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 1997 Jorge Trejos Jeff Gamroth Tim Ralston Porsche 993 GTS-3 247 19th 6th
References