Dear Folks:
Johnnie Oliver Gunn, Jr. (1939-2010) was born in Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina. He graduated from Bartlett Yancey High School and was interested in motor sports from the start. This may have come partly as a result of his father being the Ford dealer in Yanceyville. I also grew up in Yanceyville. It is a small town where there were no strangers. We all knew each other. Johnnie had a very distinctive Ford coupe and was the local daredevil.
Johnnie and I both saw the first wheel turned in anger at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in 1957. While the track is in Virginia, it is most often associated with Milton, North Carolina, which is only a few miles from Yanceyville. At one time Johnnie held the VIR course record. My good friend (and later judge) Phil Allen traveled with Johnnie all over the country racing with limited financial support. Phil would keep me informed as to Johnnie's exploits. In 1967 (or 1968, as memories fade), we attended the twelve hours of Sebring to watch Johnnie race a Mini-Cooper. Phil Allen co-authored a book on VIR and contributed to the VIR history website. Here is Phil's entry on Johnnie:
"Johnnie Gunn first raced at VIR (near Milton, NC) in April 1967 in a Lotus 23 when he took top honors in G Sports Racing. A native of nearby Yanceyville, he grew up with the track and was a spectator at the inaugural event in August 1957. His racing career began while a student at the University of Miami in an Alfa Romeo that carried him to two SCCA divisional championships. He turned pro in 1968 by entering the SCCA Formula A Continental series and became a regular for the entire life of the championship. After his second season he returned to VIR at the conclusion of the 1969 pro races to enter the September SCCA Nationals. In his Lola T-142 he set the final overall lap record for the original course at 2:06.3. He later was a regular entrant in Can Am and IMSA events."
In addition to having some personal knowledge of Johnnie and the Gunn family, I also serve as an archivist and the webmaster for the Caswell County Historical Association. In this capacity I am collecting all information possible about Johnnie's life, including photographs, racing results, stories, anecdotes, cars owned and raced, etc. We will place these materials on our website as a permanent tribute to a fine individual and a good race driver.
Please send what you are willing to share to me at:
rick@ncccha.org
Thanks and best regards,
Rick Frederick
Archivist and Webmaster
Caswell County Historical Association
http://www.rootsweb....ry.com/~ncccha/PS Johnnie has an older sister, Ann Newman Gunn Everitt, who still lives in Yanceyville in the house that Johnnie and she were raised.
PPS Here is Johnnie's obituary:
"Services for Johnnie Oliver Gunn, Jr., 70, who died July 7, 2010, at his home in Palm City, Florida, will be held at the Yanceyville United Methodist Church on July 29, 2010, at 10:30 AM. Private interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests no flowers. Donations may be made to the Yanceyville United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund or the charity of your choice. Support is provided by Marley Funeral Home."
Edited by rfrederi2, 30 July 2010 - 16:46.