Ford issued a Request For Quote to Kent Racing to "Design, November 14, 1983
build, and test 1 Mercury Merkur XR4Ti for competition in the
1984/85 IMSA GTU series".
Kent Racing submits budgetary proposal to Lee Morse at Ford January 26, 1984
Kent Racing receives pricing from Drake Engineering (engines) February 10, 1984
Product Specification completed March 1, 1984
Ford Purchase Order No. 47-G-630506 issued to Kent Racing March 30, 1984
Contract go-ahead from Ford SVO April 4, 1984
Kent issues P.O. to Drake Engineering for engine development April 7, 1984
Telephone conference with IMSA regarding rules April 11, 1984
Bob Riley (Ford) design review at Kent Racing April 23, 1984
Lee Morse (Ford) visit to Kent Racing April 26, 1984
KR-84-01, first development status report to Ford May 2, 1984
Each of 9 progress reports contains detailed information regarding
all activity on the project and typically includes updates in the
following categories:
General - overview of project
Schedule
Cost
Problems
Chassis development
Body development
Engine development
Each report includes several (or more) photos.
The reports were written by Harry Haggard, Merkur Project Engineer
at Kent Racing and sent to Michael Kranefuss of Ford SVO.
KR-84-02, second development status report to Ford May 14, 1984
Tom Logar visit to Kent Racing May 14, 1984
KR-84-03, third development status report to Ford May 28, 1984
KR-84-04, fourth development status report to Ford June 11, 1984
KR-84-05, fifth development status report to Ford June 25, 1984
KR-84-06, sixth development status report to Ford July 9, 1984
Bob Riley (Ford) visit to Kent Racing July 13, 1984
KR-84-07, seventh development status report to Ford July 23, 1984
KR-84-08, eighth development status report to Ford August 6, 1984
Lincoln-Mercury graphics received August 18, 1984
KR-84-09, ninth development status report to Ford August 24, 1984
Engine dyno test #1 September 22, 1984
Engine dyno test #2 September 24, 1984
Engine dyno test #3 September 27, 1984
Engine dyno test #4 September 28, 1984
Bob Riley (Ford) visit to Kent Racing October 9, 1984
1st track test at Riverside Raceway, California October 9-10, 1984
Merkur XR4Ti introduction to Los Angeles press January 3, 1985
Lee Morse (Ford) visit to Kent Racing January 5, 1985
Tom Huchison and Rick Dishaw visit to Kent Racing January 29-31, 1985
and Drake Engineering
Young & Rubicam graphics received February 8, 1985
IHI dyno test engine #001 February 14-15, 1985
Track test at Hawthorne police department facility February 18, 1985
IHI dyno test engine #002 February 20, 1985
Camel GTU, Miami, FL February 24, 1985
NOTE: The races in 1985 were under Ford sponsorship. The
'87 and '88 seasons were under Dave Kruse Racing.
Track test at Willow Springs Raceway with John Morton April 17, 1985
filling in for Lee Mueller
Los Angeles Times Nissan Grand Prix, Riverside, CA April 28, 1985
Monterey Triple Crown Camel GTO/GTU, Laguna Seca, CA May 5, 1985
Purolator Camel GT, Portland, OR July 27, 1987
Camel GT, Sears Point, CA August 1, 1987
Xtra Super Food Centers Camel GTU, Miami, FL February 28, 1988
Nissan GP of Mid-Ohio Camel GTO/GTU, Lexington, OH June 5, 1988
Miller High Life Camel GP, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI July 17, 1988
Lincoln Mercury Camel GP for GTO/GTU, Sears Point, CA August 14, 1988
Kodak Copier Camel GTO/GTU, Watkins Glen, NY September 25, 1988
Turner Construction Camel GTO/GTU, Columbus, OH October 2, 1988
Camel GP of Southern California, Camel GTU, Del Mar, CA October 23, 1988