Monza Mirage | Mirage Origins | DeKon | 1001 | 1002 | 1003 | 1004 | 1005 | 1006 | 1007 | 1008 | 1010 | 1011 | 1012 | 1014 | 1015* | 1016

Agor1 | Agor2 | Baird & Trivette | Fischer | Fournier | Gallant | Hinchcliff | Huffaker | Hunt | King | Overbagh | SRD | Stairs | Trueman | Others | Unknowns
Aussie Monzas | Purcell-Jane | Riordon-Whincup | Seidel-Whincup | Webb-Blacklaw | White
 

DeKon Chassis 1015

 

Gene Felton #96 (DeKon c/n 1015) Buick Skyhawk

IMSA AC - Daytona Finale 250 mi

Daytona Beach, FL - November 26, 1977

(The little Buick that did.)

Gene Felton #96 (DeKon c/n 1015) Buick Skyhawk

IMSA AC - Talladega Superspeedway 6-hr

Lincoln, AL - April 2, 1978

(Photo courtesy of Gene Felton Restorations)

Gene Felton #96 (DeKon c/n 1015) Buick Skyhawk

IMSA AC - Mid-Ohio

Lexington, OH - August 7. 1978

(Photo by Mark Windecker)

 

 

 

Gene Felton #96 (DeKon c/n 1015) Buick Skyhawk

IMSA AC - Mid-Ohio

Lexington, OH - August 7. 1978

(Photo by Mark Windecker)

Gene Felton #96 (DeKon c/n 1015) Buick Skyhawk

Winner of IMSA AC - Talladega Superspeedway 6-hr

Lincoln, AL - April 2, 1978

(Photo courtesy of Gene Felton Restorations)

Gene Felton #96 (DeKon c/n 1015) Buick Skyhawk

IMSA AC - Road Atlanta

Braselton, GA - September 4, 1978

(Photo by Scott Sperka)

 

 

The Only DeKon Buick

 

Gene Felton of Roswell, Georgia and is an American champion racecar driver. From 1977 through 1980, he dominated and won the IMSA American Challenge championship series all four years. During this run, he accumulated 25 wins. In the 1980 season alone, he qualified on the pole for all nine races. Felton also won the manufacturer’s championships for both Buick and Chevrolet.

 

For his IMSA American Challenge and Radial Sedan effort, he drove the only Buick Skyhawk built by DeKon Engineering, LTD. GM's Buick Division commissioned Dekon to build a racing Skyhawk for Felton to test the new Buick V-6 engines being built by Smokey Yunick. Gene won several races at Daytona and Talladega but between engine failures and a bunch of chassis problems didn't have much success with the H-body. Still, the DeKon Buick faired well in the capable hands of this multi-talented driver.

 

Today, Gene Felton restores road course race-ready cars and other select race cars, and is owner of Gene Felton Restorations. He continues to race in historic stock car events and is a member of the Road Racing Driver's Club.

 

IMSA Race Results - Gene Felton

Buick Skyhawk H-body and Buick Skylark X-body cars.

 

Date 

Track

Class

Driver(s)

Entrant

No.

Car

Result

OA

Status

Apr 17, 1977

Road Atlanta 100 mi

AC

Gene Felton

 

96

Skylark

dq

38th

engine

Jul 24, 1977

Hallett Motor Circuit

AC

Gene Felton

 

96

Skylark

1st

8th

running

Nov 27, 1977

Daytona Finale 250 mi

AC

Gene Felton

 

96

DeKon 1015 Skyhawk

1st

8th

running

                   

Mar 18, 1978

Sebring 12 hr

AC

Felton/Gimondo

Unicure

96

Skylark

1st

9th

running

Apr 01, 1978

Talladega 6 hr

AC

Felton/Gimondo

Gene Felton

96

DeKon 1015 Skyhawk

3rd

36th

dnf

May 29, 1978

Lime Rock 100 mile

AC

Gene Felton

 

96

Skylark

6th

27th

dnf

Jul 02, 1978

6 h Daytona

RS

Felton / Craw

Gene Felton

96

DeKon 1015 Skyhawk

 

41st

dnf

Jul 04, 1978

Daytona Revere 250 mi

AC

Gene Felton

 

96

Skylark

1st

11th

running

Sep 03, 1978

6 h Road Atlanta

RS

Felton / Gregg

Gene Felton

96

DeKon 1015 Skyhawk

dnf

43rd

dnf

Sep 04, 1978

Road Atlanta 30 lap

AC

Gene Felton

Gene Felton

96

Skylark

4th

21st

running

Nov 26, 1978

Daytona Finale 250 mi

AC

Gene Felton

Perform. Assoc.

96

Skylark

2nd

27th

running

                   

Apr 01, 1979

6 h Talladega

RS

Felton / Cox

Gene Felton

96

DeKon 1015 Skyhawk

-

9th

 

Jul 01, 1979

6 h Daytona

RS

Felton/Sheehy/Sereix

Gene Felton

96

DeKon 1015 Skyhawk

-

50th

 

 

 

Gene Felton's Racing Career

 

1967

Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) A Sedan Class South eastern regional champion.

1971

SCCA D Production Class Southeastern regional champion. Peachbowl Speedway Ministock champion. NASCAR Grand American series with three top-5 finishes.

1972

Won first professional race, IMSA Camel GT series Presidential 250 at Daytona with a big-block Camaro.

1976

Won IMSA Camel GT Daytona Paul Revere 250 with same big-block Camaro. Qualified and finished 16th at his first NASCAR Grand National race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Dixie 500.

1977-80

Won the IMSA American Challenge series all four years, with 25 wins. In 1980, qualified on the pole for all nine races.

1980

Three wins at Dixie Speedway, a 3/8 mile dirt track.

1981-82

Runner-up for consecutive years in  IMSA American Challenge series.

1982

Runner-up in IMSA GTO class at Daytona 24 Hours.

1983

Three wins during 1983 IMSA Championship season.

1984

Won IMSA GTO class at Daytona 24 Hours. Also, won IMSA GTO class 12 Hours of Sebring.

1984

In October, Gene was critically injured during SCCA Trans-Am race at Riverside, California.

1985-86

IMSA American Challenge and GTO series events, with seven top-5 finishes and one win.

1992

Historic Sportcar Racing series, HSR Sprint Challenge champion. Since then, has continued to race historic stock car events with 91 wins, as of 2012.

2003

Nominated to International Motor Sports Hall of Fame.

2005

Inducted into  Georgia Automobile Racing Hall of Fame.

1992 -

today

Gene Felton restores road course race-ready cars with other select race cars. Continues to race in historic stock car events. Member of Road Racing Driver's Club.

 

International Motor Sports Association

American Challenge Series

 

The IMSA Kellygirl American Challenge (IMSA AC) series was a road racing series for American compact and sub-compact cars such as Nova, Grand-Am, Cutlass, Aspen, Maverick, Concord, etc. Pony cars were also welcomed (Camaro, Mustang). Both V6 and V8 engines could be found on the grid. Tires were racing slicks. Body flares were not allowed, although wheel-well opening flares were permitted, and original metal body panels had to be used.

 

From 1977 through 1980, Gene dominated and won the IMSA American Challenge championship series all four years. During this run, he accumulated 25 wins. In the 1980 season alone, he qualified on the pole for all nine races. Felton also won the manufacturer’s championships for both Buick and Chevrolet.

 

IMSA logo

IMSA American Challenge series

IMSA Radial Sedan series

Series sponsor before 1979

Series sponsor beginning 1979

 
 

General Motors H-Body Styles

1971-1980

 

 

Division

Model

Body Style

Buick

Skyhawk

HS07, HT07

Chevrolet

Monza

HM07, HR07

Oldsmobile

Starfire

HD07, HT07

Pontiac

Sunbird

HE07, HM07

 

The GM H07 platform was not a big threat in the IMSA American Challenge series, but it achieved fair good results. The General Motors H platform or H-body is the designation used for the 1971–1980 model year and their line of rear wheel drive compact cars in their divisions.  The '07' designation is the "body style" for GM's 2-door hatchback sport coupes built by Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Pontiac.