Todd Morris Brings Survivor Sprite to Groesbeck Grand Prix

Staff

Todd Morris' MKIII Austin Healey Sprite has a great history, one that Todd has committed to preserving. Originally built by SCCA racer, Johnny Dayton Jones. The car competed heavily from 1966 through 1975. Johnny campaigned the car to a 2nd place National SCCA Championship in 1971.


With numerous podium finishes, wins, and equal DNF's, the car missed very few races along the eastern seaboard. VIR, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Marlboro, Watkins Glenn, and other tracks. This car was a fixture in the road race community for years. Famed race team "Group 44" team members were good friends with Johnny and worked regularly with him prepping his cars.


In 1976 the car was parked in a barn and sat for over 25 years and eventually stripped of its engine and custom race parts for another Johnny Jones built car (Todd now owns both). Johnny Jones would pass away in 2013 and in late 2014, it was decided the car was to be hauled off from the barn to be scrapped. The scrapyard owner did not have the heart to crush this race car so he tucked it away in the corner of the scrapyard. In 2015 the Morris family came across this historic club racer and acquired it with hopes to get back on the track for vintage club racing and hill climbs.


Todd and his kids brought the car back to life, along with help from friends and noted racing car builders helping them along the way. The car was modified to become street legal as well. Today, this car is now part of the family and is driven often on open road runs, local errands and now entering vintage race events, hill climbs, and car shows.

"We are very excited to attend the Groesbeck Grand Prix and get this car back on the track where she belongs. This race car is pretty tired as race cars go, but she still has some life in her. We are coming from North Carolina not to try and win...we are coming with good friends to compete and enjoy the ride." -Todd Morris

Todd Morris serves on the Board of Directors with the North Carolina Auto Racing HOF. Todd has helped manage sponsorship programs for NASCAR and Drag Racing team drivers. Todd dedicates much of his time to help preserve racing history through film and photography initiatives, including race-related consulting work with groups such as HBO, Motor Trend, and Netflix film teams. Todd was also a Judge for the National Hot Wheels Legend Tour in 2020.