September 28-29, 1963 - SCCA FIA sanctioned Northwest Grand Prix at Kent Washington. This was the debut race for Carroll
Shelby's new Ford King Cobra. Dave MacDonald will pilot King Cobra CM/1/63 and Bob Holbert CM/3/63.

Dave MacDonald (R) and crew working out last minute kinks before the race. Carroll Shelby said "The cars weren't really ready but
we went racing anyway". The team was so harried in LA there wasn't even time to paint the King Cobras and they ran them in bare
finish. L-R Wally Peat, unknown, Craig Lang and Dave MacDonald prepare CM/1/63 for its maiden battle. Photo Dave Friedman

In 1963 the Northwest Grand Prix was run in two separate heats. Below photo is lap 2 of heat 1 and it's Dan Gurney, Bob Holbert,
Lloyd Ruby and Dave MacDonald barreling down the hill. Pete Biro/Sports Car Graphic photo

Saturday, Heat #1 - Don Wester has his Porsche 718 RS running in front of Graham Hill early. Photo Tam McPartland

Saturday, Heat #1 - Bob Holbert running strong early but he went out on lap 9 with overheating issues. Photo Dave Friedman

Saturday, Heat #1 - Chuck Parsons trying to catch Don Wester who's hard on the tail of Ship Hudson's Chaparral. Photo Don Wester

Saturday, Heat #1 - Stan Burnet in a Ferrari 250 TRI. Photo Tam McPartland

Saturday, Heat #1 - Skip Hudson running Jim Hall's Chaparral 1 went out on lap 33 and was a dnf. Photo Tam McPartland

Saturday, Heat #1 - 1962 World Driving Champion Graham Hill has his Lotus 23B in 3rd with four laps to go. Photo Tam McPartland

Racing great Lloyd Ruby storms across the line to win Heat 1 of the 1963 Northwest Grand Prix. Pete Biro/Sports Car Graphic photo

Sunday Heat #2 - Bob Holbert's King Cobra couldn't make the grid so only Dave MacDonald is left to carry the Shelby banner.

Dave MacDonald started dead last but by lap 4 he had slung his King Cobra into the lead. Here he leads Jerry Grant (#8),
and two-time Indy 500 winner Rodger Ward. Dave led for the next 22 laps Pete Biro/Sports Car Graphic photo

Don Wester slips his Porsche 718 RS underneath Stan Burnett's Ferrari 250 TRI/61. Pete Biro/Sports Car Graphic photo

Dave MacDonald had stretched his lead to over a half lap before hitting loose debris on the track and shredding a tire. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave's King Cobra came to rest inches from a boulder. He was done for the day but it could have been worse. Photo Dave Friedman

Race leader Lloyd Ruby coming up to put a lap on Dan Gurney's Genie Mk.8 Ford late in the race. Ruby would win this heat as well
for a Northwest GP sweep. Pete Biro/Sports Car Graphic photo

Race results for the Sep 28-29 1963 races at Kent Washington. Lloyd Ruby was race winner in both heats and declared champion.

News articles recapping the September 28-29, 1963 USRRC races at Kent Washington

Article continued from above

Sports Car Graphic 1963

Sports Car Graphic 1963 - Continued

Official Shelby American press release for the upcoming LA Times GP & Monterey Pacific GP recaps the Pacific NW GP at Kent.

Model of King Cobra CM/1/63 in its maiden voyage 9/28/63 in Pacific Northwest GP at Kent - after Kent it was painted viking blue.

Another Dave MacDonald King Cobra CM/1/63 slot car, this one manufactured by Monogram