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Old 6 Jul 2003, 08:59 (Ref:653769)   #8
John Turner
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Join Date: Mar 2003
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Pontesbury, Shropshire
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John Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of FameJohn Turner will be entering the Motorsport Hall of Fame
Actually, in view of timescales, why don't I try to add to Vitesse's info.

His full name is Robert Charles Tullius. He went from selling Kodak products to selling Jaguar Products. He formed Group 44 in 1965 working initially to promote Triumph, and later MG cars. Group 44 originally concentrated on SCCA 'amateur' racing on the US East Coast.

According to the Bamsy book, the first win in TransAm was indeed by Tullius in a Dodge Dart, but he places it at Daytona in 1967, so sorry if that confuses with Vitesse's
info. Maybe a little more research required!

In 1974, Tullius persuaded BL to add the V12 E-type to its SCCA programme and with it Group 44 won the National title in 1975. Group 44 implemented a full TransAm programme with the XJS in 1977, winning the title in both 1977 (Tullius himself becoming category 1 Champion) and 1978, when Tullius again won the drivers title as well. In that year Tullius shared a drive with his engineer, Brian Furstenau, in the Watkins Glen 6 hours race (a round of the World Championship of makes) to win their class and finish 7th overall.

In 1979 & 1980, Group 44 raced TR8s in the IMSA GTO series, Tullius finishing second to his team mate, Bill Adam, in the GTO class at the 1980 Daytona finale.

Jaguar, going through a very rough patch, nevertheless then (1981) approved Tullius's proposal to develop a Jaguar IMSA GTP car with the longer term objective of going to Le Mans with it. The result, eventually, was the XJR5 which started to win races in 1983. In 1984, Tullius took Jaguar back to Le Mans with a two car team where sadly both retired. Entered again in 1985, Tullius drove the last stint in the sick No 44 car to finish 13th on classification.

I'm afraid that I am running out of time and info. now, but hope this helps.
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"It's pure joy. This was the perfect training for the WEC after a summer of not racing, even though the car is faster than LMP2." Nicolas Minassian after lapping at 123mph in the Group C Jaguar XJR-14, setting a new outright lap record for the historic GP circuit at Silverstone Classic in 2013!
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