The 1963 LA Times Grand Prix was held at Riverside International Raceway on October 13 and boasted a world class field of cars and
drivers. Racing champions from all genres were lured to Southern California by a massive race purse, that included the largest winner's
payout for any road race in the world and a new '64 Pontiac Grand Prix. Shelby American would enter two factory King Cobras, CM/1/63
for Dave MacDonald and CM/3/63 for Bob Holbert and a Cobra Roadster for Bob Bondurant.

Riverside Raceway's 2.5 mile short course layout for the 1963 LA Times Grand Prix. For NASCAR events the course was altered to direct
the big stockers out of turn 6 and into a short chute over to turn 8. These changes extended the back straight and added 1/10 of a mile to the
overall length of the course.

The worlds greatest drivers set to compete in the LA Times Grand Prix - and young Dave MacDonald offers a bold prediction

Riverside teeming with activity as practice for the 200 mile event begins. American & international racing champions from all types of
racing were entered and the following photos highlight just a few of them. Below is racing legend, and 1963 World Driving Champion
Jim Clark with unidentified race beauty. That looks to be a young Peter Fonda to the right. Photo Dave Friedman

Two of the finest racers in the history of motorsports - legends Graham Hill (L) and Dan Gurney. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Legendary American racer AJ Foyt - and soon to be 4-time Indy 500 Champion. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

1963 Indy 500 winner and racing legend Parnelli Jones (L) with world champ Jim Clark. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Team owner John Mecom (C) with racing greats Rodger Ward (L) and AJ Foyt (R). Foyt is part of formidable three-man Mecom team
determined to again capture the richest road race in America. In addition to Foyt, Mecom will have 1962 Times Grand Prix winner Roger
Penske and another American star, Augie Pabst. Photo The Henry Ford

1962 LA Times Grand Prix Champion Roger Penske (R) tells Gurney that he's back to defend his title. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

American superstar driver Richie Ginther will run a Porsche 718 RS. Photo The Henry Ford

International grand prix phenom Pedro Rodriguez from Mexico will run a Genie Mk.8 Ford. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Veteran American road racer Scooter Patrick will run a new Merlyn VI. Photo The Henry Ford

AJ Foyt (L) and Pabst Blue Ribbon heir, and elite American racer Augie Pabst (in chair) relax in the Mecom camp. Photo Dave Friedman

Another of America's elite racers Jerry Grant will run his #8 Lotus 19 Buick. Photo The Henry Ford

Hollywood stuntman and talented modified racer Bob Harris will run an Elva Mk VI. That's Bob's good friend and partial sponsor Dan
Blocker (Bonanza) directly behind him. Photo The Henry Ford

Legendary driver Ken Miles, seen here after a few practice laps in a Shelby Cobra Roadster, will be driving Otto Zipper's Dolphin-Porsche
in the 200 mile Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

American superstar racer Bob Bondurant, newly hired with Shelby American, will run a Cobra Roadster against the modifieds in the 200
mile Grand Prix. Bob will also run the same car in the 1 hr GT race held prior to GP. Photo Dave Friedman

Rising star Dave MacDonald and 1962 US Driving Champion Bob Holbert will round out Carroll Shelby's (L) three-car contingent.
MacDonald (C) will again drive King Cobra CM/1/63 and Holbert (R) CM/3/63. Photo courtesy of Allen Kuhn

Bob Holbert tinkers with CM/3/63 before he and MacDonald head to the track for practice laps before qualifying. Photo courtesy
Allen Kuhn - www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

Bob Holbert is first out for his qualifying attempt. He runs King Cobra CM/3/63 to a time of 1:32.7 & 100.970 mph. Photo Dave Friedman

AJ Foyt is next in his Scarab Mk IV Oldsmobile and turns in a solid run of 1:35.1 & 98.422 mph. Photo Dave Friedman

Dan Gurney cranks his Genie Mk.8 Ford around the track in 1:33.1 & 100.537 mph. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald smokes the tires of CM/1/63 on the way out to his qualifying run. Photo Dave Friedman

Below: MacDonald during his qualifying run. This was only the second outing for Shelby's beautiful King Cobras and they were hoping
the overheating issues experienced during the debut at Kent were resolved. They would need to be as Dave & Bob would be taking on the
world's best cars and drivers in the 6th annual LA Times GP. Dave's run was clocked at 1:32.6 & 101.167 mph. Photo Dave Friedman

Jim Hall in his ultra quick Chaparral is fastest of the field with a time of 1:31.9 & 101.849 mph. He takes the pole. Photo Dave Friedman

MacDonald heads over to friend Bob Harris pits and offers assistance between Bob's qual runs. Mechanical problems prevented Harris
from getting his Elva up to speed and he didn't make the field. Dan Blocker (next to MacDonald) of Bonanza fame. Photo Dave Friedman

Ronnie Bucknum closes qualifying with a final attempt to get Old Yeller into the field but the long faces tell the story. Bucknum was
unable to find the necessary speed with the new untested Ford powerplant. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave's time of 1:32.6 and 101.167mph was 2nd fastest and good for the middle of row 1. Teammate Bob Holbert qualified 3rd fastest.

Shelby happy that his King Cobras have qualified 2-3, relaxes with Hollywood starlet, and Miss California Sports Car, Lori Campbell.
John Surtees & Ken Miles are in the background to Carroll's left. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

Race day! Scorching 100 degree heat didn't scare off the crowds as a record 85,000 fans invaded Riverside International Raceway to watch
the world's greatest cars & drivers do battle. (Talk about a traffic nightmare!) Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

This was the largest crowd to ever attend a road race in America. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Just hours before the race and Carroll Shelby oversees final adjustments to his Cobra entrants. Photo Dave Friedman

Race time and Dave MacDonald brings Shelby King Cobra CM/1/63 to the starting grid and receives encouragement from the crew

Top qualifier Jim Hall grabbed the pole position in his Chaparral while King Cobras of Dave MacDonald (98) and Bob Holbert fill out the
front row. The world's best drivers entered the Grand Prix in 63, including AJ Foyt, Jimmy Clark, Rodger Ward, Parnelli Jones, Graham
Hill, Jim Hall, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant, John Surtees, Dick Thompson, Pedro Rodriguez, Lloyd Ruby, Billy Krause, Don Wester,
Roger Penske. Richie Ginther, Augie Pabst, Ed Leslie and many others

L-R Holbert in CM/3/63, MacDonald in CM/1/63 and Hall's Chaparral. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Race about to go green as the drivers look to the starter to drop the flag.

Bob Holbert grabs the hole shot as he jumps off the line first. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Another view just off the grid shows Holbert's King Cobra ahead by a nose as the lead cars race toward turn 1. Photo Dave Friedman

Going through turn 2 it's Holbert, Hall & MacDonald. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Unfortunately there's trouble back in the rear of the field as three cars get tangled up in the esses.

Cars involved in the melee are that of 2-time Indy Champ Roger Ward, Walt Hangsen & Frank Gardner. Photo Dave Friedman

The dustup causes the race to go yellow and track stewards slowed the field to a crawl exiting turn 6 and onto the back straight. The pace
car moves to the track to lead the drivers around for a rolling restart. Photo Mickey Thompson

Another view of lap 2 on the yellow shows the dust still settling in turn 2. Photo: Bill Witcher

On the restart it's Jim Hall who jumps out front this time as he leads the pack out of turn 2. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Still lap 3 and Hall leads the field into turn 6 - but MacDonald, Penske, Holbert & Gurney have closed the gap. Photo Dave Friedman

One lap later photos shows Pedro Rodriguez has slipped by Dan Gurney to take over 5th, AJ Foyt is still 7th. Photo The Henry Ford

On lap 5 Jim Hall's Chaparral develops an electrical malfunction and he pulls his mighty Chaparral to the side - Jim is done for the day.
Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Lap 6 and both Don Wester (#60) and Richie Ginther sling their Porsches past AJ Foyt's slowing Lotus. Photo Dave Friedman

Lap 8 leaderboard has King Cobras of Dave MacDonald & Bob Holbert running 1-2 with Roger Penske, Pedro Rodriguez, Dan Gurney
and Jerry Grant running 3-4-5-6. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

England's John Surtees powers through turn 7 with his Ferrari 275 Prototype running in 7th. He's just ahead of fellow Englander and 1962
World Driving Champion Graham Hill (8th) in a Lotus 23B and Augie Pabst (9th) driving a Lotus 19 Climax. Photo Martin Hill

Richie Ginther, Rodger Ward (1) and Billy Krause lead Bob Bondurant's Cobra Roadster as the group exits turn 6. Photo Dave Friedman

Back in the pack Ron Dykes in a Maserati Tipo takes a peek at Chuck Parsons' Lotus 23B as they enter turn 7. Photo The Henry Ford

Lap 13 and MacDonald laps Roger Ward's Cooper Monaco Chevy that is slowing with overheating issues. Photo Dave Friedman

On lap 15 Skip Hudson driving Jim Hall's 1962 Chaparral 1, heads into turn 9 running 12th. Photo Dave Friedman

Lap 17 - MacDonald & Holbert come out of turn 6 with the Shelby King Cobras still in front and running 1-2. Photo Dave Friedman

Heading toward turn 7 it's international superstar Pedro Rodriguez keeping his Genie-Ford ahead of American superstar Dan Gurney and
they maintain positions 4 & 5. Photo Dave Friedman

On lap 20 Penske moves past Holbert and into 2nd behind MacDonald. Gurney has also passed Rodriguez and now runs 4th. (Martin Hill)

Talented veteran Lloyd Ruby has moved his Harrison Special Ford into 6th. Photo The Henry Ford

1963 World Driving Champion Jimmy Clark pulls his Lotus past Don Wester's Porsche 718 RS 61 to claim 7th place.

Dave MacDonald still leads Roger Penske into turn 6. Holbert, Gurney, Rodriguez, Ruby, Foyt 3-4-5-6-7. Photo Dave Friedman

Versatile driving ace Dan Gurney, who would join Dave on the Cobra team in 1964, gets by Holbert and moves into 3rd. Getty Image

Pedro Rodriguez passes Holbert too as Bob's King Cobra begins to slow with overheating issues. Photo Dave Friedman

Miles Gupton's Porsche RS Special gets a little loose in the esses and is already dropping back in the field. Photo courtesy Dave Friedman

Pedro Rodriguez is flying now and he roars past Dan Gurney in turn 7 and grabs 3rd place. Photo Martin Hill

Walt Hansgen Cooper Monaco T57 Buick leads Corvette Star Dick Thompson's Maseratti Tipo Ford into turn 6. Photo The Henry Ford

Lap 28 and it's still Dave MacDonald and 1962 Times Grand Prix champion Roger Penske running 1-2. Photo: Bill Witcher

The sweltering So Cal heat is taking its toll on machinery as Dave MacDonald whips his King Cobra past Dan Gurney's steaming hot
Genie Ford. Photo Dave Friedman

Next up to go by Gurney's ailing Genie is 6-time World Motorcycle Champion John Surtees. Photo courtesy of Allen Kuhn

Dave MacDonald goes inside on Dave Ridenour's Genie Mk.8 Buick and puts him a lap back. Photo courtesy Dave Friedman

Chuck Parsons loses it in the esses and his Lotus 23B Ford plows into the infield on lap 35. Chuck is OK but out of the race.

Dave MacDonald goes through turn 7 in a classic cross-lock 4-wheel drift as he begins to pull away from Penske. Photo Dave Friedman.

Graham Hill (57), Augie Pabst (7) & Tim Mayer have their Lotuses in close quarters as they enter turn 7. Photo Dave Friedman.

After a pit stop on lap 45 Pedro Rodriguez charges back to the track with his Lotus in 8th place. Photo courtesy of Allen Kuhn

50 laps in the books and Dave MacDonald has already lapped most of the field. Below he drifts through turn 6. Photo Bob Burbridge

1963 World Champion Jim Clark enters turn 7 with an eye on passing Dick Thompson's Maserati Tipo 64 Ford. Photo Dave Friedman

On lap 54 Ron Dykes' Maseratti Tipo 60 begins to slow and he's forced to retire with mechanical problems. Photo The Henry Ford

On lap 57, Dave MacDonald gets word from his crew that he's stretched his lead to more than one minute.

MacDonald and the King Cobra continue an all out assault on Riverside's course record. Photo Dave Friedman

Racer Joe Freitas helps Bob Bondurant cool off while his Cobra Roadster gets tires and fuel before heading back out.

Pedro Rodriguez continues to move through the field and now has his Genie Mk.8 Ford up to 3rd. Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald goes by Scotland's Jimmy Clark to put the World Driving Champion 3 laps back. Photo Caliornia Sports car

Next up is Frank Gardner's Brabham BT5 Ford and MacDonald prepares to put a lap on him as well. Photo Dave Friedman

John Surtees has his Ferrari 275 running 4th with 15 laps to go and comes up to lap Ed Leslie and Roy Salvadori. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald tearing through the esses on lap 65 and is now multiple laps ahead of everyone but Penske. Photo Dave Friedman

Up the hill toward turn 7 Penske puts a lap on Augie Pabst and still runs 2nd but is far behind MacDonald. Photo The Henry Ford

Jimmy Clark has taken over 5th but is still 4 laps behind MacDonald's King Cobra. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

Bob Bondurant carrying the Cobra flag well and has his Cobra Roadster running 8th, five laps back of MacDonald. It's been a long day for
Bob as he ran, and won, the GT race earlier in the day. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

MacDonald slides King Cobra CM/1/63 through turn 6 and is dominating this race. Photo Dave Friedman.

John Surtees running 4th comes out of turn 6 making a move on Don Wester's 9th place Porsche. Photo Dave Friedman.

Eight laps to go and Carroll Shelby tells Dave MacDonald he has a 1 minute 25 second lead over Roger Penske. Photo Dave Friedman.

Penske fighting hard to keep his Zerex Special on the same lap as MacDonald. Photo Allen Kuhn

MacDonald keeps pushing and comes up on Penske's bumper with just 6 laps to go. Photo Dave Friedman

On the next lap MacDonald goes by Penske and now leads the entire world class field by 1 or more laps. Photo Dave Friedman

Two laps from the finish and Dave MacDonald continues to separate from Penske. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald glides the Shelby King Cobra past the start/finish line and into turn 1 as he begins the final lap of the 200 mile event.
Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com

All eyes on Dave as he enters turn 6 on the final lap

Dave drifts King Cobra CM/1/63 out the back of turn 6 on the final lap. Photo Dave Friedman

After 2 hours of brutal road racing Dave MacDonald acknowledges Carroll Shelby and the crowd as starter Bud Ehrlich waves the check-
ered flag. Dave finished a lap ahead of the entire international field - becoming the first driver to accomplish this feat in the Times GP.

Race results for the 1963 LA Times GP. Dave finished several laps ahead of most of the field. Video of this race in Dave's Video section

Dave and Sherry share a moment after Dave's dominating performance in the 1963 LA Times Grand Prix. This victory was the first-ever
for Carroll Shelby's mighty King Cobra...Dave would win the following week as well in the Monterey Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Seca

Carroll Shelby hands Dave refreshments as an LA Times reporter goes for the interview. Photo Dave Friedman

To the victor go the spoils as Dave gets a kiss from wife Sherry. Crew about to cool Dave off. Photo Dave Friedman

Carroll Shelby reaches in to congratulate Dave on the big win. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave helped out of the now drenched King Cobra cockpit. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave helps Sherry up. Photo Dave Friedman

Let the celebration begin! Photo Dave Friedman

A joyous Shelby American team celebrates with the massive LA Times Grand Prix trophy. Photo Dave Friedman

The LA Times Grand Prix was the crown jewel of American road racing in 1963 and at the post race news conference a beaming Carroll
Shelby poses with the coveted trophy and tells reporters "This is the happiest day of my life! Dave is just the greatest isn't he?" (Friedman)

Post race interview and MacDonald learns he has set a new Times Grand Prix record with an average speed of 96.273 mph. (Friedman)

MacDonald is hoisted atop the Pontiac Pace Car as the celebration continues. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Under 2-Liter winner Jimmy Clark congratulates Dave on his big win. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Dave & Sherry's good friend Joe Freitas lifts Sherry out of the King Cobra after the celebration. Photo courtesy of Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald, with wife Sherry in the front seat and Jimmy Clark in the back, drive off in the pace car. Photo Dave Friedman

Richie sits in his Daddy's winning King Cobra after the race. Photo Dave Friedman

On this day, the worlds greatest drivers were no match for Dave MacDonald as he finished a full lap ahead of the entire field. (LA Times)

More news articles recapping the '63 Times Grand Prix

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

CONTINUED - 1963 LA Times Grand Prix article continued

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

CONTINUED - 1963 Monterey Pacific Grand Prix article continued

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

Closer view of the above Competition Press front page article on the 1963 LA Times GP

CONTINUED - Competition Press article on 1963 LA Times GP continued

Dave MacDonald recieves his 1963 LA Times GP paycheck - the richest ever in road racing to that point - and then promptly hands
it over to wife Sherry

LA Times

Interesting that this LA Times cartoon - published prior to the race - has Dave MacDonald prominately positioned in the center!

Lap records for Riverside International Raceway. This is from a 1965 Riverside race program and as you can see the dates are wrong on the
sports car lap records. Dave of course, set these records in 1963.

Times Grand Prix winners - '58 Chuck Daigh, '59 Phil Hill, '60 Billy Krause, '61 Jack Brabham, '62 Roger Penske, '63 Dave MacDonald

L-R Bill Hartman and Sherry MacDonald in CM/1/63 (and Rich) at Bob Bondurant's 82th B-Day party in 2013

King Cobra CM/1/63 owner Bill Hartman takes Sherry MacDonald on the parade lap at Bob's racetrack & adjacent Wild Horse track

Dave's daughter-in-law Lisa in the historic Shelby King Cobra in 2012 - owners Bill & Evelyn Hartman have restored it to its original beauty

Sherry sits in the King Cobra

Dave's son Rich and King Cobra owner Bill Hartman take a spin around at California's Pomona Fairgrounds in 2012

The car below was modeled after Dave MacDonald's victory at the 1963 LA Times Grand Prix

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