Mel Shaw (racing driver)

For the American animator and writer, see Mel Shaw.

Melvin D. Shaw (September 22, 1946 – July 2, 2017)[1] was an American racing driver. Shaw raced in various series and races such as the 24 Hours of Daytona. Shaw died in a crash at Brainerd International Raceway.

Shaw and his wife were residents of Voorhees Township, New Jersey.[2]

Career

Shaw started racing in 1968.[3] In 1971 he made his IMSA GT Championship debut. Sharing his Chevrolet Corvette with Cress Taylor the duo finished 18th overall at Virginia International Raceway, second in the GTO class. During the same season, Shaw also competed at Summit Point Raceway in a Datsun 240Z. With teammate Larry Weaver the team again finished in 18th place.[4]

A regular in the SCCA GT1 class, Shaw made a single SCCA National Championship Runoffs start. In 1983, at Road Atlanta Shaw qualified 14th, but failed to finish.[5]

After a hiatus in racing, Shaw made his debut in the Grand-Am Cup. In a Pontiac Firebird the team finished 30th at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.[6]

In 2016 Shaw raced in the Clarington 200, the 2016 NASCAR Pinty's Series season opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Shaw participated in a Chevrolet entered by Canada's Best Racing Team. He retired early in the race.

Trans-Am

Shaw made his Trans-Am Series debut in 2011. Shaw competed in the inaugural TA2 class season in 2011. He competed the full season in the TA2 class in Chevrolet Camaro. During 2012, 2013 and 2014 despite scoring numerous top ten finishes, Shaw failed to enter the top five. The point finishes meant Shaw ended in seventh place in the championship in 2014.[7] The New Jersey–based driver stepped into the TA3-A class for 2015. In the fourth round of the championship, at Lime Rock Park, he scored his first podium finish placing third. He again placed third at NOLA Motorsports Park. Solid point finishes placed him third in the final standings, behind champion Ernie Francis Jr. and runner-up Todd Napieralski.[8] In 2016 Shaw missed the last two races of the season, placing eighth in the series championship.[9]

His 2017 Trans-Am season was cut short by a deadly crash. Shaw was competing at Brainerd International Raceway in a regional SCCA GT2 class race.[10] On July 2, during the race, Shaw failed to slow down for turn 3. Shaw hit a concrete barrier head-on and was killed on site by the impact.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Motorsport Memorial - Mel Shaw". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. ^ Kent, Spencer. "Longtime racecar driver from N.J. reportedly dies in crash at Minnesota event", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 3, 2017. Accessed September 3, 2017. "Mel Shaw, 70, of Voorhees, who was described as a veteran racer for more than 40 years, died while participating at the Sports Car Club of America race at the Brainerd International Raceway, according to startribune.com.... He and his wife Debbie -- with whom he had been married for more than 27 years -- lived in a home together in Voorhees."
  3. ^ "TRB Autosport Presents its Driver Lineup for the 2017 SCCA Pro Trans Am Road Race Series, presented by Pirelli". Go Trans-Am. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Complete Archive of Mel Shaw". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  5. ^ "SCCA RUNOFFS DRIVER HISTORIES" (PDF). SCCA. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Grand-Am Cup Series Race Results" (PDF). IMSA. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ "2014 Trans Am Series TA2 Drivers' Championship Final Standings" (PDF). Go Trans-Am. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. ^ "2015 CHASE FOR THE TRIGON TROPHY TA3 AMERICAN MUSCLE STANDINGS". Go Trans-Am. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  9. ^ "2016 CHASE FOR THE TRIGON TROPHY TA3 STANDINGS". Go Trans-Am. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  10. ^ "Dick Kantrud Memorial Race" (PDF). CenDiv SCCA. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Accident results in tragic loss". Brainerd Raceway. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  • Mel Shaw driver statistics at Racing-Reference