Dave MacDonald runs Shelby Daytona Coupe CSX2287 in debut race at the '64 Daytona Continental 2000km

February 16th, 1964 - Dave MacDonald at the Daytona Continental 2000km at Daytona International Raceway

This is just the 3rd annual Daytona Continental race - in '64 it moved to a 2000 kilometers race from a 3hr race

According to Sherry MacDonald's calendar notes from that time the Daytona Coupe and the Roadsters arrived at the
Daytona track on Wednesday, Feb 12. Dave put Daytona Coupe CSX2287 on the track that evening and the team clocked
him under the current track record. Gurney was even faster in his Lotus.

SAI hauler arrives at Daytona International Speedway and unloads Peter Brock's creation

Bob Holbert (L) and Dave MacDonald will co-pilot Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287 in this race and are at the track for
qualifying. Only six Pete Brock designed Coupes were built and CSX2287 was the only one built entirely in the US.

Dave over at the Dan Gurney/Bob Johnson Cobra before Gurney takes it out for a qualifying run. Photo Dave Friedman

Bob Johnson (L) chats with Bob Holbert & Dave MacDonald after his qualifying run. Photo Dave Friedman

Dan Gurney & Dave MacDonald in the infield after Dan's sizzling qualifying run. Gurney turned a 7th best time of
2:15.00. MacDonald is up next and will track the new Cobra Daytona Coupe. Photo Dave Friedman

MacDonald takes his qualifying run and is clocked at a blistering 171.381 MPH and a time of 2:08:800. Both are new
track records and he qualifies CSX2287 on the pole position. Excitement is swirling for the Coupe's maiden race.

Dave MacDonald puts 2287 on the pole.

MacDonald & Holbert share a laugh. By virtue of the fastest qualifying time Dave had won the right to either start or
finish the race, he chose the finish line so Bob will drive the first shift in CSX2287.

Sherry MacDonald's calendar notes regarding Dave's pole run at 106.490 mph, which driver will start the race and the
testing of select drivers during the 2000km race. The tests were a collaborative effort between NASA & Baylor University.

Dave MacDonald (stripped sweater) keeping Shelby American teammate Dan Gurney loose out on the grid. Gurney and
Bob Johnson will co-drive Cobra CSX2259 with Gurney taking the first shift [Dave Friedman / THF]

SAI crew positions Daytona Coupe CSX2287 on the pole for Bob Holbert's first shift. Next to Bob is Jo Schlesser in the
Cobra he'll share with Tommy Hitchcock. Pedro Rodriguez & David Piper put their Ferrari's in row 2. Gurney is in row 3

Race goes green and Holbert. AP Wire photo

Bob Holbert jumps to the early lead ahead of Pedro Rodriguez in a Ferrari 250 GTO. Holbert and Rodriguez swapped
the lead several times in the early going.

Holbert running the high banks of Daytona with Tommy Hitchcock

Lap 40 shows Holbert and Rodriguez about to put a lap on Cobra CSX2260 driven by Jean Guichet. Holbert had a 10
second lead on Rodriguez when both drivers pitted on lap 50 for fuel and a driver change. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald, Carroll Shelby and the crew wait for Bob Holbert to enter the pits for a driver change

Holbert brings 2287 into the pits for a driver change. Dave MacDonald steps into the Coupe as Holbert hops over the wall
next to Ken Miles. [Dave Friedman / THF]

Dave MacDonald heads out for his first first and is just behind leader Phil Hill who took over for Pedro Rodriguez.

Two laps later and MacDonald slips past Hill's Ferrari to reclaim the lead. Photo Dave Friedman

Dave MacDonald and Phil Hill continue a fierce battle with the Daytona Coupe out front. Photo Bill Brannon

It's Dave MacDonald, Phil Hill and Dan Gurney now running 1-2-3 at this juncture

Dave MacDonald and Phil Hill continue running 1-2 and are separating from the field. Photo Bob Whitehouse

Dave MacDonald negotiates CSX2287 through a turn and at this stage would begin to pull away from the rest of the field.
The Daytona Coupe is performing beautifully at this point. Photo Dave Friedman

After 110 laps (919km) Dave and Bob were taking it to the Ferraris and had built a 10 minute lead on the entire field.

Phil Hill's Ferrari losing ground to MacDonald as the Daytona Cobra continues to separate from the field.

Bob Holbert takes another shift in the Daytona Cobra and continues to lead the field. Photo Bill Brannon

Walt Hangsen/Bob Grossman Ferrari 250 GTO flat out on the straight. Photo Bob Whitehouse

Aston Martin DP214 of Hatreed/Kerrison leads the Cannon/Norinder Ferrari 250 GTO

Dave MacDonald out on the track in his second shift runs the infield section with Ralph Noseda in the Cobra he shared
with Jeff Stevens.

The David Piper/Lucien Bianchi Ferrari 250 GTO slows down as it enters a turn. Photo Bob Whitehouse

The Ed Butler/Charlie Rainville Cobra running strong but well back of the leaders. Photo David Jones

Gurney on the high banks and running strong in CSX2259 just ahead of the Piper Bianchi Ferrari. Photo Dave Friedman

At the 200 lap mark Dave MacDonald runs CSX2287 through the infield section 4 1/2 laps ahead of Phil Hill in his Ferrari
GTO. [AP Wire photo]

At 205 laps Carroll Shelby gives MacDonald the thumbs up as he is 4 1/2 laps ahead of the field. The next lap MacDonald
brings the Coupe in for Holbert.

Dave MacDonald brings CSX2287 into the pits with what seems like an insurmountable lead. Bob Holbert to the right just
over the wall is ready to go. Just to the right of Holbert (on this side of pit wall) is Ken Miles in Cobra jacket holding pit
board, and to Ken's right is one of the Baylor University officials conducting tests with NASA. [Dave Friedman / THF

Holbert heads back out for his shift but after only a few laps on the track feels the rear axle beginning to seize and would
bring CSX2287 back into the pits. Photo Bob Whitehouse

While Holbert discusses the problem with the crew, Shelby orders the car refueled. Dave MacDonald (helmet), Ken
Miles (to Dave's left) and Dan Gurney (black jacket) are in background. Photo Dave Friedman

Holbert steps out to brief MacDonald and mechanic John Ohlson goes under the car to make adjustments. Gas begins to
spill underneath the Coupe and a quick thinking official sees the potential danger and is ready if needed [Dave Friedman]

Suddenly the car is engulfed in flames and Ohlson is trapped underneath. Saftey officials and crewmembers spring into
action and attack the fire.

Ohlsen suffered first & second degree burns but thanks to rescue efforts he escaped serious injury. (Dave Friedman)

Saftey crews continue fighting the fire

So after 796 miles of racing, MacDonald & Holbert had built a 4 1/2 lap lead on the field but the Cobra Daytona Coupe
was done as Shelby retired CSX2287 on the spot. The Coupe's maiden voyage looked like a sure victory but in the end
it was not to be. Photo Dave Friedman

While the Daytona Coupe burns in the pits, the Ferrari GTO of Pedro Rodriguez & Phil Hill takes the lead and goes
on to win the 1964 Daytona Continental 2000km. Photo David Jones

Formidable team of Phil Hill & Pedro Rodriguez celebrate the prestigious international victory. Photo Bob Eginton

Getty Image

Newspaper and magazine articles recapping the 1964 Daytona Continental 2000km

Continued

Road & Track article on the 1964 Daytona Continental 2000km

Sports Car magazine

NASA & Baylor University performed a collaborative study on select drivers racing in the Daytona Continental. Dave
was one of the drivers selected to participate. Letter below is from Baylor University.

Another letter from Baylor University 29 years later.

Before leaving Daytona the crew washed & detailed CSX2287 for a photo shoot. The fire looked worse than it was and
the car cleaned up nicely. Carroll Shelby, Dave MacDonald and Bob Holbert pose with Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287.

More from the photo shoot. Photo Dave Friedman

Photo Dave Friedman

Another pic from that same Daytona photo op and it was later used for this cover of 1993 Vintage Motorsport Magazine

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