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1993 Exxon Supreme GTO Champion...

Charles Morgan - #47 Oldsmobile Cutlass prepared by Riggins Engineering

Charles Morgan earned a reputation as a tough competitor in several years of Camel Lights competition, twice coming close to the championship. Morgan had 15 career Camel Lights wins and had won at least one race every year from 1985 to 1993.

It therefore, shouldn't have been a surprise that Morgan's first Exxon GTO season resulted in a championship. He won three races in six starts and posted three more finishes in the top four in route to the Exxon Supreme GTO title driving the blue and silver #47 Oldsmobile Cutlass prepared by Riggins Engineering.

It therefore, shouldn't have been a surprise that Morgan's first Exxon GTO season resulted in a championship. He won three races in six starts and posted three more finishes in the top four in route to the Exxon Supreme GTO title driving the blue and silver #47 Oldsmobile Cutlass prepared by Riggins Engineering.

Morgan wasn't the only veteran in the hunt. Les Lindley was a top contender, while Ken Bupp, Joe Llauget and Joe Pezza offered a serious challenge as well. These four drivers finished within six points of each other.

The season-opening round on Miami's bayside street circuit was won by Les Lindley in his Ford Mustang. He was followed by Joe Llauget and Dan Osterholt in Oldsmobiles.

Morgan missed the Miami opener, but won in his first race of the season at Mid-Ohio. He was followed by Ken Bupp, posting his best career finish aboard a Chevrolet Camaro. The Oldsmobiles of Pezza and Llaugett took the next two positions.

Lindley dropped out early at Mid-Ohio, but rebounded at Watkins Glen with his second win of the season. Brian DeVries took second in a Rocketsports prepared Oldsmobile, followed by Osterholt, Morgan and Bupp.

Road America proved to be the turning point as Morgan won his second race of the season. He was followed by Llauget and Pezza while Lindley, Bupp, Osterholt and DeVries all failed to finish the race and earn points. This put Morgan into the points lead and gave the momentum to the Conway, Arkansas, driver with three races remaining.

Morgan took his third win in four races at Laguna Seca. Joining him on the podium were second place DeVries and third place Lindley.

The following weekend at Portland was the clincher for Morgan as his third place finish in a wild race was enough to claim the championship. Pezza won the race, his first career victory, while Bupp took second place. Lindley and DeVries, early challengers for the win, both failed to finish.

Pezza finished the season with his second straight victory at Phoenix, while Morgan drove to second place and Bupp earned another podium finish with a third.

The final standing showed Morgan with 97 points, followed by Bupp with 68. Pezza Llauget and Lindley rounded out the top five. The second five showed DeVries, Osterholt, Nick Cole, Mark Porcaro and former champion Clay Young.

1994 - Rob Morgan took over the race car

In 1994 Charles built a new car and turned the car over to Rob, his son, who drove the Oldsmobile Cutlass, now #48 and painted a bold red, white and blue, in several races. At the longer races Rob co-drove with his father in the new car.

Rob graduated from IMSA Street Stock racing to the Exxon Supreme GTS-1 Series in 1995 and promptly won the Most Improved Driver award in the class. He had eight top five finishes in eleven race starts - including his first professional victory - and finished fourth in the final standings. Rob along with his father, drove the Acxiom sponsored Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme to victory at Mosport Park in August, earning Oldsmobile its 100th victory in IMSA competition.

1995 - Short season

The 1995 Grand Prix of New Orleans was the last time Rob ran the car. He wrecked the car in the first practice and knocked the left front corner off the car. The crew worked all night and fixed the car for the race.

The second lap of the race, coming out of the last turn onto the straight, the transmission exploded and split the case.

1997 - Tropic Zone Racing acquires the Olds Cutlass

The car sat in the Morgan's shop until 1997 when Charles Morgan sold his IMSA equipment and cars to Curtis Wood.

Tropic Zone Racing purchased the Red, White and Blue #48 Riggins Oldsmobile in July of 1997 and began to prepare it to race once again.

The transformation begins