July 13-14, 1963 at the weekend races at Pomona Raceway, Dave MacDonald pilots the Cobra Roadster to three straight victories!
Carroll Shelby, weary of Corvette Stingray racers publically accusing him of avoiding head-to-head competition with the Stingrays said
... enough is enough! Let's get it on at Pomona!
In the Saturday 7/13 A-Production race, Dave MacDonald shown here leading Bob Bondurant's Stingray. Photo: Dave Friedman
MacDonald held on to eek out a four second victory over 2nd place finisher Bondurant in the Saturday A-Production go.
Later in a surprise move, Shelby decided to enter the 7/13 Saturday afternoon modified race and run the Cobra against the modified
Porsches, Ferraris Lotuses and others. Below: Bill Boldt's Kurtis Pontiac grabs the hole shot and leads MacDonald in lap one
MacDonald still running 2nd powering through the Pomona course in pursuit of race leader Ken Miles' Dolphin Porsche.
Al Cadrobbi running strong and has his Porsche 718 RSK in 6th place.
Three laps to go and MacDonald is within striking distance of Ken Miles.
Hard charging Dave MacDonald finally slings his Cobra Roadster past Ken Miles' Porsche on the last turn to score a dramatic victory in
the modified division! Ken Miles placed 2nd, Miles Gupton in a Porsche Spyder was 3rd and Jerry Titus 4th in a Genie Chevrolet.
Sunday's 7/14 Production race and MacDonald heads through Pomona's famed underpass just ahead of Dick Guldstrand in the #56
Stingray. Behind Guldstrand is Scott Briley in another Stingray & 2 cars back is Danny Stephens in a Corvette. Photo Allen Kuhn
Midway through the 7/14 Production race and MacDonald had opened up a large lead over the field. Photo Allen Kuhn
Dick Guildstrand still running 2nd and chasing after Dave MacDonald. Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com
Dave MacDonald contunued to pull away from the field in Sunday's production go and finished a lap ahead of his nearest compettor.
Photo Allen Kuhn www.vintage-sportscar-photos.com
Sidenote - The photo above was used to create the official logo of the 2012 NHRA event celebrating the 50-yr anniversary of Carroll
Shelby's Ford Cobra. The bash will be held April 19-22, 2012 at the Pomona Fairgrounds
Dave MacDonald pictured here with his personal trophy queen - wife Sherry MacDonald - on one of three victory laps at Pomona
Raceway. Dave was three-for-three for this July 13-14 1963 weekend...and Carroll Shelby was a happy man! Photo Allen Kuhn
Race results for the Saturday 7/13 modified main event ... Dave MacDonald nips Ken Miles by 1/100 of a second
Dave ran away with the Sunday 7/14 Production race finishing a lap ahead of 2nd place driver Dick Guldstrand in a Corvette Stingray
Shelby brought only one Cobra to Pomona ... it was enough. MacDonald won twice Saturday and once Sunday for a Pomona trifecta
and Shelby American had bragging rights ove the Corvettes.
LA Times article describing the weekend event
Another LA Times article - Dave MacDonald sets course record at Pomona
Another Pomona article
More on the races
One of the trophies Dave won in the Cobra Roadster at Pomona Raceway July 13-14 1963
The mighty Cobra Roadster knocked Ferrari off its perch and wound up winning the 1963 USRRC Championship! Photo Pete Brock
2011 Shelby Hauler with Dave's image on the side. Hauler travels the country transporting various Shelby vehicles to auto shows
