October 27, 1963 - Dave & Sherry MacDonald arrive in Honolulu for the 1963 Hawaiian Grand Prix. Dave, coming off spectacular
back-to-back victories in the LA Times Grand Prix and Pacific Grand Prix, was given red carpet treatment by Hawaiian race officials.

Dave and Sherry had arrived in Hawaii a few days early to make a vacation out of the trip. After winning the two biggest and richest
sports car races in the world, Dave deserved it.

The rest of the team lands in Honolulu and are greeted by the locals.

Dave and Sherry cruise around the track area in Shelby Cobra Roadster CSX2136. Dave had previously driven CSX2136 at
the 1963 Road America 500 with co-driver Bob Bondurant where they finished 1st in GT & 4th OA. Photo Dave Friedman

A 5 lap A-B-C-D Production class race was held on Saturday. Dave MacDonald captured the pole position for this race and here
he moves CSX2136 to the grid for the start of the race. To the far left you can see the very back of Miles' Cobra

MacDonald in Cobra #198 on the pole, Miles in #197 in 2nd position and Jimmy Castle's #55 Jaguar XKE on the outside of row 1.
Dave was running 2nd behind teammate Ken Miles when he hit loose debris on the track and blew a tire. The airport course had
been freshly repaved for the weekend races but was nonetheless in terrible condition after just a few of the Saturday races.

Sunday's feature event was the Hawaiian Grand Prix and below is Dave MacDonald blasting his Cobra through a turn. Dave
passed Craig Lang in the King Cobra on lap 5 to take the lead. He led for the next 22 tours until Craig repassed him and the
two would continue to exchange the lead for the rest of the race.

Lang, MacDonald & Miles (just out of view) sprinted to the finish line on the last lap and all were within a single second of each
other as they crossed the line. The locals were on their feet in appreciation of the show. It was Shelby 1-2-3. Photo Pipi Wakayama

Craig Lang won the 1963 Hawaiian Grand Prix but according to Sherry MacDonald, the results "could" have been different. "Dave &
Craig were very good friends and Dave absolutely loved him. Craig was in the King Cobra which was much faster than the Roadster,
but Dave was a better driver so they actually stayed close throughout the race, Dave passed Craig, Craig passed Dave, it was exciting
and Dave Ken & Craig gave the fans a great show. Dave had told me Saturday night that he was going to let Craig win. I said why?!
He told me Hawaii was Craig's home and the locals would be happy to see him win. He said he had just won two Grand Prix's, Craig
can win this one! I didn't agree with that, I wanted Dave to win every race he could, period! But that's the type of person Dave was,
always thinking of other people".

Dave & Sherry stayed at the beautiful Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel during their stay in Hawaii. (Postcard from thier stay)

Room service menu - circa 1963

How about those prices back in 1963? Fresh Mahi Mahi for $3.75! And for room service no less.

The mighty Cobra Roadster knocked Ferrari off its perch and wound up winning the 1963 USRRC Championship! Photo Pete Brock

Photo courtesy of Conceptcarz.com

Photo courtesy of Conceptcarz.com