Dave MacDonald wins 1963 Pacific GP in Shelby King Cobra CM 1 63

October 20, 1963 - Fresh off his victory at the LA Times GP, Dave MacDonald comes to Laguna Seca Raceway for the Monterey Pacific
Grand Prix. For the 2nd consecutive week Dave and Shelby King Cobra CM/1/63 will take on the world's best cars & drivers.

This race would boast essentially the same field of international drivers that Dave outdueled the week before in the LA Times GP at Riverside.

Track layout for the 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix - A record 67,000 fans would turn out for this race.

Before qualifying chief mechanic Wally Peat (front) works on MacDonald's King Cobra CM/1/63 while Carroll Shelby poses with friends.

Dave's crew chief Wally Peat taking a photo of Dave Friedman taking a photo of him. Allen Grant's #96 Cobra roadster in the background.
The car's paint scheme was designed by Allen's friend George Lucas, a Hollywood art student at the time but of course soon to be Star Wars
filmaker. Photo courtesy Dave Friedman & The Henry Ford.

American ace Roger Penske, winner of the 1962 LA Times GP relaxes during qualifying. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

Racing royalty at Laguna Seca. Mexican superstar Pedro Rodriquez and 1962 World Driving Champion Graham Hill from England get
together for a chat. 1962 US Driving Champion Bob Holbert to the far left, Bob is Dave MacDonald's teammate and will drive King Cobra
CM/3/63. Pedro qualified at 1:14.0, good for the outside of row 3 and Hill at 1:15.0 will be on outside of the row 5. Photo The Henry Ford

“superstar

AM shot of Jim Hall's crew preparing his Chaparral for qualifying. Jim ran a fourth fastest 1:13.2, putting him in row 2. Photo Heidi Allen

Dave MacDonald brings CM/1/63 back to the pits after a blustery morning qual run. Dave was clocked at 1:15.6, good enough for the show
but well back of the leaders. Dave had slid off the track in an earlier practice run and he and the crew worked round the clock to get it ready
for this final attempt. Richie Ginther and Wally Peat help Craig Lang (bottom left) remove the front hood section. Photo Dave Friedman

“Racer

Later in the day Indy 500 champion AJ Foyt relaxes in the Mecom camp after his 1:14.7 qual run. The Zerex Special (#6) that Roger Penske
drove to a 2nd place finish behind MacDonald in the LA Times Grand Prix a week earlier is in the background, and the Mecom Chevy
Special that Roger chose to drive in this race is in foreground. Photo Jimmy Laws

Dave MacDonald congratulates teammate Bob Holbert after Bob turned a blistering afternoon qual run of 1:11.8. The time earned Bob the
pole position for the 200 mile Grand Prix. That's Ken Miles leaning over Holbert's King Cobra CM/3/63. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

“Dave

Craig Lang (Shelby shirt) & Wally Peat (Ford) call it a day after successfully qualifying both King Cobra team cars. Photo The Henry Ford

Official starting positions for the 1963 Monterey Pacific GP. Check out this stellar lineup - racing greats everywhere. (Dave MacDonald and
Chuck Parsons were tied for the 12th best qual time but Parsons received the 12th grid position by virtue of first to qualify).

The crowd begins to arrive and settle in along the beautiful Monterey countryside. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald and Bob Holbert out on the grid with Holbert's King Cobra CM/3/63. Duke Q. Manor photo

Dave talks with the Shelby crew chief Wally Peat (L) & friend/fellow racer Roger Subith out on the grid. Photo Dave Friedman

“Dave

Dave MacDonald out on the grid getting final refreshments before the start of the race. Wally Peat again and King Cobra Lang-Cooper
owner Craig Lang in glasses behind Dave. Craig's family owned Olympia Brewery. Photo Dave Friedman

Starter Don Seike prepares to set the world class field off under green. Gordon Martin ph courtesy MotorBinder

1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix goes green and drivers put pedal to the metal! Photo Ed Brandt

Bob Holbert in King Cobra CM/3/63 grabs the hole shot and MacDonald slips to 17th at the start. Walt Hansgen, Lloyd Ruby, Jim Clark, Jim
Hall and AJ Foyt run 2-3-4-5-6 at the start. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

Bob Holbert heads up the hill with the lead. 1963 World Driving Champion Jim Clark got off to a poor start dropping 3 places going into the
first turn. Jim Hall was behind Clark and was affected as well. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

As the field comes out of the Corkscrew and down the hill through turn 8 on lap one it's Bob Holbert, Walt Hansgen, Lloyd Ruby, AJ Foyt,
Jim Clark, Pedro Rodriguez and Jim Hall. Some of the greatest names in racing right there. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald quickly moving through the field in King Cobra CM/1/63 has gone by 2-time Indy 500 winner Rodger Ward in turn 9 and
now has his sights on racing great Dick Thompson and his Genie-Ford. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

“Dave

Dave MacDonald successfully gets by Dick Thompson on the next tour and leads Thompson, 1962 World Driving Champion Graham Hill
(1) and Rodger Ward (111). Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

“Dave

American superstar drivers Lloyd Ruby (3) and AJ Foyt (91) lead international superstar Pedro Rodriquez on lap 6. Photo The Henry Ford

“American

On the next lap Foyt goes by Ruby and into 4th place behind Holbert and Hansgen and Clark. Photo courtesy The Henry Ford

After dropping back at the start Jim Hall finds his groove and is up to 7th on lap 10. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

“Jim

Dave MacDonald slings CM/1/63 past Porsche star Don Westor next and continues charging toward the leaders. Photo The Henry Ford

Scotland's Jimmy Clark tucks his Lotus 19 behind racing great Walt Hansgen's Maserati Ford as they run 2-3 coming out of turn 9.

Masten Gregory pulls his Elva Mk VII Porsche past Jack Flaherty's Genie Climax through Laguna Seca's Corkscrew. Both drivers are back
in the pack. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

Masten Gregory in 1963 pacific grand prix at laguna seca

Lap 15 and Dave MacDonald prepares to go by Mexican superstar driver Pedro Rodriguez. MacDonald has King Cobra CM/1/63 tearing
through the field but the car won't stay in gear and he's forced to hold the shifter in place. Photo The Henry Ford

“1963

Dave MacDonald continues to tear through the course and move toward the leader. Photo Dave Friedman

“Dave

Bob Holbert had built a nice lead by lap 21 but was then forced into the pits after running into the back of Masten Gregory's Elva Porsche
while trying to pass him. The impact closed the nose of Holbert's King Cobra and caused slight radiator damage as well. The crew hastily
opened the nose and sent Bob back out. When he returned to the track he had only lost 1 position.

“Bob

Jimmy Clark takes the lead during Holbert's stop and here he drifts thru turn 9 ... MacDonald style! Holbert, Foyt & Ruby run 2-3-4.

Walt Hansgen dropping back in the pack as he develops car troubles and Roger Penske takes him in the Corkscrew. Hansgen went out for
good on lap 21. Photo The Henry Ford

Walt Hansgen dropping back in the pack as he develops car troubles and Roger Penske takes him in the Corkscrew

Lap 27 and 1962 LA Times Grand Prix winner Roger Penske prepares to go by Pedro Rodriguez and his ailing Genie Ford. Pedro was out
of the race on lap 30 with mechanical problems. Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald in one of his classic "Master of Oversteer" drifts. On lap 28 he went by Lloyd Ruby and into 4th place. At this point running
1-2-3-4 are Clark (1963 World Driving Champion), Holbert (1963 US Driving Champion), Foyt (1963 USAC Driving Champion & Indy 500
winner), and MacDonald (1963 Los Angeles Times Grand Prix Champion). Photo Charles Mitchell

Superstar Richie Ginther running smoothly in his Porsche RS 61. Photo The Henry Ford

Here '63 World Champ Jim Clark goes through the Laguna Seca Corkscrew but on lap 32 he hit a course marker puncturing his oil pan and
Jim was done for the day. Bob Holbert inherits the lead. Photo The Henry Ford

Lap 45 Dave MacDonald has worked his way past AJ Foyt and Bob Holbert and now has King Cobra CM/1/63 in the lead. The crew did a
great job getting Dave's car in race shape but it was still never right. From the 4th lap on Dave had to hold the lever in third gear. His hands
were raw & blistered at the end. Photo Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald goes through the Corkscrew after lapping legendary Billy Krause. Richie Ginther and Chuck Parsons are about to do the
same as Krause's Elva begins to falter. Photo The Henry Ford

MacDonald, Krause and Ginther hit turn 9 in the same order. On the next tour Krause would leave the race. Photo The Henry Ford

Racing great, and Chaparral creator Jim Hall has his high flying Chaparral II in front of Harry Heuer in the Corkscrew. Heuer is driving a
1962 Chaparral I. Photo The Henry Ford

Jim Hall now dicing with soon to be 4-time Indy 500 champion AJ Foyt on lap 50. Photo The Henry Ford

Midway point and Dave Ridenour - beat up Genie and all - prepares to go by Masten Gregory's Elva-Porsche. Photo Oscar Anderson

Despite modifications to the nose Bob Holbert's King Cobra CM/3/63 ran way too hot and would shoot a steam geyser 20 feet into the air. On
lap 52 limped to the pits for another look see. Photo Dave Friedman/The Henry Ford

Holbert pulled the his King Cobra off the course and into the pits on lap 52 and the SAI crew went to work. Photo Duke Q. Manor

The decision is made to park the car for the rest of the race. To the left is Carroll Shelby and to Bob Holbert's right is 1963 World Champion
Jim Clark, who had already retired his Lotus. To Bob's left is SAI team manager Peyton Cramer. Great Duke Q. Manor photo

Despite the car's problems, Dave continues to lap the field and goes by Roger Penske's Mecom Chevy-Cooper next. Photo Pete Biro

Lap 60 and AJ Foyt moving up to lap Masten Gregory's wounded Elva Mk VII Porsche. Foyt would lap Gregory before laps end and
Gregory would retire on lap 62 with suspension problems. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

Race now in the later stages and Dave MacDonald still leading and continuing to pull away from the field and lap everyone but 2nd place
driver AJ Foyt. Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald takes the inside line out of 9 and prepares to put the legendary Roger Penske 2 laps back with 20 to go. (The Henry Ford)

Lap 80 has Richie Ginther & Don Wester streaking by in twin Porsche 718 RS 61's. They're running strong in 7th & 8th. Photo Don Wester

Dave MacDonald blasts King Cobra CM/1/63 past Harry Heuer's Chaparral 1 to put him 3 laps back. Photo The Henry Ford

The front end of MacDonald's King Cobra shows the wear of nearly two hours of fierce road racing on a tight course. Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald still charging goes by Jim Hall to put the Chevy Chaparral three laps back. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave on the final lap and not letting up at all. Photo Allen Kuhn

With his hands blistered and bloodied from holding the gear lever in place Dave MacDonald drifts through turn 9 and has the finish line in
sight...only AJ Foyt in his John Mecom Scarab is on the same lap as Dave. Photo Dave Friedman

After starting 13th, Dave MacDonald reeled in the entire field and finished 3 or more laps ahead of everyone except 2nd place finisher AJ Foyt
to win the 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix. Dave's winning time was 2:09.19 and 83.2 MPH average. Photo The Henry Ford

This victory was significant as it gave Dave back-to-back wins in the two most prestigious and richest road races in America; The LA Times
Grand Prix and The Monterey Pacific Grand Prix. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald pulls Shelby King Cobra CM/1/63 into victory circle. Photo The Henry Ford

Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald's blistered and bloodied hands felt much better holding the Pacific GP trophy & winners check. Photo Dave Friedman

Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald in a television interview after winning the 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix. A humble MacDonald gave every bit of the
credit to his crew. That's the kind of man Dave was. (Both the interview and the race can be seen in Dave's Racing Video section).

Results for the 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway

MotorRacing front page headline on both the 1963 LA Times GP and the Monterey Pacific GP

Closer view of the above MotorRacing front page article on the 1963 Pacific Grand Prix

CONTINUED - MotorRacing article on 1963 Pacific Grand Prix continued

Closer view of the MotorRacing front page article on 1963 LA Times Grand Prix

CONTINUED - MotorRacing article on 1963 LA Times Grand Prix continued

Competition Press front page headline on both the 1963 LA Times GP and the Monterey Pacific GP

Closer view of the above Competition Press front page article on the 1963 Monterey Pacific GP

CONTINUED - Competition Press article on 1963 Monterey Pacific GP continued

San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles Times

San Gabrial Valley Tribune

The Wheel Magazine

California Sports Car Magazine

Road & Track Magazine

Road & Track Magazine - CONTINUED

Sports Car Magazine

Sports Car Magazine - CONTINUED

Below is the trophy Dave received for winning the Monterey Pacific Grand Prix in 1963

Dave was now the hottest driver in the country after his victories at the LA Times GP & Pacific GP and was featured on the cover of
several magazines. Here he is on the cover of aforementioned The Wheel Magazine.

Dave was honored by the Helms Athletic Foundation as "Athlete of the Month" for October 1963. His victories in the LA Times Grand
Prix & Pacific Grand Prix - as well as his 2nd place finish in the Hawaiian Grand Prix - made Dave a unanimous choice. He was only the
ninth racecar driver to receive this prestigious award since it began in 1936, and the first-ever during the US football season. Carroll Shelby
accompanied Dave to the awards ceremonies. Photo Dave Friedman

Program for the following year's Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway. Dave on bottom right

This is the historic Shelby King Cobra today, restored to its original beauty by owners Bill & Evelyn Hartman

Model of Dave MacDonald in his famous Cobra helmet during his 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix victory at Laguna Seca.

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

Courtesy of Monogram.com

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