July 7th 1963 - Dave MacDonald and the Shelby American team arrive at Lake Garnett Kansas and a full blown Cobra vs Corvette
battle is about to go down

Legend has it that racer Bob Johnson - fresh off a June 30th 1963 victory at Watkins Glenn NY, was hauling his independant Cobra
out to Kansas for the July 7th Lake Garnett Grand Prix. Johnson had just won the USRRC event in NY finishing just ahead of two
Shelby American Cobras driven by Dave MacDonald & Ken Miles. Johnson was going to run solo against the Corvettes in Kansas.

The Corvette gang - seeing this as an opportunity to beat up on a lone Cobra - decided to rally the troops and call in some big guns.
They were locked & loaded for Johnson with racing greats Don Yenko, Grady Davis & Dick Thompson bringing in a modified
Corvette, a Corvette Stingray and a Corvette Grand Sport respectively

With the Cobra transport rumbling toward LA, Shelby suddenly gives the order to detour to Kansas.

Shelby's Cobras - and top drivers MacDonald, Miles & Holbert - roll into Lake Garnett to support Bob Johnson and his independant
Cobra. Suddenly the game had changed for the Corvette contingent!

The Ken Miles Cobra wheeled away from the transporter

Carroll Shelby discusses a game plan with Ken Miles

Less than a mile into the race the Cobras start to seperate from the field as Johnson, MacDonald & Miles jump to the lead. All three
drivers led the race at one point or another and midway through the race they had built 80 second lead over the 4th place car. It was
a dominating performance by the Cobra Roadsters as Johnson MacDonald & Miles turned in a clean 1-2-3 sweep.

Before they leave Kansas, Shelby crewmembers build a mock grave for the Corvettes.

News articles recapping the July 1963 Lake Garnett race

Sports Car Graphic article on the Lake Garnett Race

Point standings prior to the Lake Garnett race. Dave MacDonald's 2nd place finish, combined with Sherwood's dnf, brought Dave to
within four points of Sherwood.

Shelby American notes describing race day

Sidenote: A full scale riot broke out after race testing on Saturday. Thousands of youths from all over decended on tiny Lake Garnett
Kansas and the local authorities were not equipped to handle the drunken, rowdy crowds.

Mighty Cobra Roadster wound up winning the 1963 USRRC Championship! Photo Pete Brock

Chuck Brandt and the gang take a few Cobra's out to Lake Garnett in late 2005. They attempted to recreate the vintage race photo
posted above but they had one problem ... they didn't bring any Corvettes!

2011 Shelby Hauler with Dave's image on the side. Hauler travels the country transporting various
Shelby vehicles to auto shows