John Oliver Gunn Jr.

After attending Bartlett Yancey High School in his hometown, Gunn studied mechanical engineering at the University of Miami. His father ran a Ford dealership near the Virginia International Raceway, which gave him access to motor racing early on. He entered his first races during his student days in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, winning two national sports car championships.[1]

Gunn's auto racing career began in 1965, which later led to participation in Formula A, Can-Am, and IMSA events.[1]

He had his best Formula A seasons in 1970 and 1974. In 1970, Gunn reached seventh place in the final ranking (championship winner John Cannon). He drove a Surtees TS5A with a Chevrolet V8 engine for Fred Opert's team.[2]

Gunn finished the 1974 racing year behind Brian Redman, Mario Andretti, David Hobbs, Eppie Wietzes, and Brett Lunger as sixth in the SCCA/USAC F5000 championship.[3] In the Can-Am series, he mainly used Lola racing cars and was fifth in the 1974 championship in the T260.[4] In the 1980s he drove regularly in the IMSA GT series.

Gunn's greatest success in an international endurance competition was second overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring race in 1976.[5]

• John Gunn at Racing Sports Cars