Dave MacDonald wins FIA sanctioned Phoenix National Open in Shelby Lang King Cobra CM 1 64

Brand new international road course planned for Phoenix Arizona - set to open in early 1964.

April 19th 1964 - FIA Phoenix US National Open - Dave MacDonald will run Shelby King Cobra Lang-Cooper CM/1/64 in its maiden
voyage at Phoenix International Raceway - PIR is a newly constructed state of the art 2.5 mile road course in the Arizona desert.

A dedicated family man, Dave took the family to many races. Pictured L-R is Dave's son Richie, wife Sherry, daughter Vicki, King Cobra
co-owner (with Carroll Shelby) Craig Lang, crew chief Wally Peat, Dave MacDonald and unidentified. The team preparing CM/1/64 for an
afternoon qualifying run. Photo Dave Friedman.

Dave returns from a blistering qual run and Wally Peat (R) tells him his time of 1:44.4 is a new track record. (The car had yet to be painted
MacDonald's trademark bright orange color and Craig Lang (sunglasses) had a little fun writing "Olympia Beer Spl" on the side. Craig was
heir to his family's Olympia Brewery empire. Photo Dave Friedman

“Dave

Unfortunately the engine blew on the next practice run. Chief mechanic Wally Peat with a shattered engine cover [Dave Friedman]

Carroll Shelby searched locally for parts but none to be found. They had to have a new engine overnighted from LA. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald's Cobra teammate Ken Miles ran a Cobra Roadster and clocked a 1:49.0, good for 27th position. Photo The Henry Ford

“Ken

Skip Hudson's Cooper Monaco caught fire during Sat morning practice but the photos look worse than it really was. Mostly electrical wires
burning so the car was quickly repaired for Hudson's afternoon qual run. He was fast, clocking a time of 1:47.6 and good for the 2nd starting
position behind MacDonald. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave's good friend Joe Freitas prepares for his qual run in the Corvette he bought from Dave. Joe's lap time was 2:03.2 and good for 29th
starting position. Racer Allen Grant is standing on the guardrail to the left. Photo Dave Friedman

MacDonald's qual time was fastest and he would be awarded the pole position - but they had precious little time to replace the engine.

The engine arrived in the morning and Dave MacDonald (R) Craig Lang (hat), Wally Peat (front) and Ken Miles (behind Peat) worked tire-
lessly to get CM/1/64 put back together before the flag fell. Photo is 90 minutes before the race. Dave's son Richie is to Dave's right super-
vising. Allen Grant in Autolite shirt checking out his old Cobra CSX2128 that Miles will drive in this race. [Dave Friedman]

Time continues to tick and CM/1/64 is till not ready to run. Photo Dave Friedman

30 minutes before the race and while Dave MacDonald is suited up and ready, King Cobra Lang Cooper CM/1/64 is not. The crew had a
legitimate fear that they would not run the race. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave's son Richie hoping his dad can get the car in the race. Photo Dave Friedman

Race time minutes away and the entire field is gridded. The Shelby crew gets CM/1/64 to fire up and they frantically push Dave MacDonald
out to his pole position. Race officials at fisrt block the track saying they're too late. Carroll Shelby is pissed! He tells them the flag has not
dropped and they should be allowed to grid. After a couple tense minutes race officials give in and the crew pushes Dave MacDonald to the
race track. Photo Dave Friedman

With absolutely zero track time with the new engine the Shelby crew had no idea what to expect. Dave MacDonald had King Cobra CM/1/64
positioned on the grid for less than a minute before the starter dropped the green flag. Front row L-R MacDonald in King Cobra Lang-Cooper
(CM/1/64), Skip Hudson in a Nickey Chevrolet Cooper Monaco & Jerry Titus in a Bill Thomas designed Chevrolet Cheetah. (Dave Friedman)

Race goes green and the cars speed off the line into turn 1. Pole sitter Dave MacDonald is off to a terrible start. The puff of smoke back at
the starting line was coughed up by CM/1/64's engine as Dave hit the gas. Dave goes into turn 1 in 4th and at this point Shelby thought they
were in for a long day. Skip Hudson, Jerry Titus & Chuck Parsons run 1-2-3 with Ed Leslie & Bobby Unser's Lotuses 5-6. [Dave Friedman]

The field exits turn 1 in the same running order following leader Skip Hudson. Photo Dave Friedman

Still lap 1 and Dave MacDonald has his King Cobra flying! He's already gone by Parsons and Titus before going through turn 7 and now
runs 2nd behind Skip Hudson's Cooper Monaco Chrvrolet. Photo Dave Friedman.

Tony Settember in a spectacular red Ferrari leads George Follmer's Lotus-Corvair. Photo The Henry Ford

Dave MacDonald continues to stalk leader Skip Hudson and on lap 5 he would overtake him in turn 1. Photo The Henry Ford

Superstar racer Bobby Unser in a Lotus 23B Ford is running in the top ten early. Photo The Henry Ford

Davey Jordan has his Porsche ahead of Nat Adam's Sadler MK. [Dave Friedman / The Henry Ford]

Joe Freitas dicing with Tony Settember's Ferrari. Ken Miles in the Cobra Roadster in the background. Photo Dave Friedman

Bud Morley's Elva just ahead of Miles Gupton's Merlyn-Porsche. Photo The Henry Ford

Unser attacking a left-hander and coming up behind Chuck Parsons #187. [Dave Friedman / The Henry Ford]

Pete Voevodsky (R) and Frank Monise bump in the turns and Pete spins into the dirt. Photo The Henry Ford

Photo The Henry Ford

Phoenix was a wide open track and Pete was able to immediately return to the track and continue. Photo The Henry Ford

Ken Miles has his Cobra Roadster gaining on Jerry Titus. Photo The Henry Ford

“Ken

By the next tour, on lap 22, Miles has slung his Cobra past Titus's overheating Cheetah. Photo Dave Friedman

Follmer pulls to the side of the course while Ken Miles still leads Jerry Titus' ailing Cheetah. Follmer would reenter the race. [Dave Friedman]

MacDonald begins lapping cars and here he goes by Clyde Freeman's Porsche and then Lother Mostchenbacher's Elva. Photo Dave Friedman

“Dave

Skip Hudson and George Follmer in a battle on the Phoenix road course. [Dave Friedman / The Henry Ford]

Jim Conner started in 24th position but had steadily moved toward the front until he spun his Genie Ford and retired. Photo The Henry Ford

Don Jensen in another Bill Thomas Cheetah comes up to put a lap on Corvette star Joe Freitas. Photo Dave Friedman

On lap 45 Dave MacDonald shoots by Tony Settember's Ferrari to put him a lap back. Photo Dave Friedman

The left side door on the freshly minted King Cobra popped open at speed! Photo Dave Friedman

A frustrated and annoyed Dave MacDonald ran his King Cobra near a tire marker and sheered the door off! Photo Dave Friedman

Next Dave MacDonald goes after friend and Shelby American teammate Ken Miles. Dave puts a lap on Ken and continues to seperate from
the field. Photo Dave Friedman

Legendary "Mr Corvette" Dick Guldstrand and Ken Miles both prepare to go by Motschenbacher's struggling Elva. Photo The Henry Ford

“Dick

Next up is racing great Davey Jordan and MacDonald goes by Davey's Porsche 718 RS 60 to put him a lap back too. Photo Dave Friedman

“Davey

A few laps remaining and Dave MacDonald runs up on 3rd place driver Rick Muther's Lotus 23B. Dave went by the hard charging Muther
to put him one lap back. Photo Dave Friedman.

“Dave

Skip Hudson running 2nd behind MacDonald runs up behind Tony Settember's Ferrari and then laps him. Photo The Henry Ford

“Skip

Dave MacDonald still charging hard thru the course in the lead minus his left side door. Photo Dave Friedman

“Davey

Don Jensen takes a wider line in his Allan Green Cheetah than the Corvette of Dick Guldstrand. Jensen is running 6th and Guldstrand 11th
late in the race. Photo The Henry Ford

“Don

Final lap and Dave MacDonald's King Cobra Lang Cooper rumbles toward the finish line - minus his door. Photo Dave Friedman.

“Dave

Dave MacDonald took the lead on lap 5 and never relenquished it. Here he roars across the line and gives King Cobra Lang-Cooper CM/1/64
its first-ever victory...in its very first outing! Dave finished 55 seconds ahead of 2nd place driver Skip Hudson - they were the only two on the
lead lap at the end. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald pulls Shelby King Cobra Lang-Cooper CM/1/64 into victory circle after winning the '64 Phoenix Open. (Dave Friedman)

“Dave

Craig Lang offers Dave MacDonald a cold refreshment. To Craig's left is Charlie Agapiou & Payten Cramer. Photo The Henry Ford

“Craig

wanting to recognize the herculean effort of Wally Peat (behind flag) and Craig Lang to get the car race ready tells them to jump in and share
a well deserved victory lap. Photo The Henry Ford