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

Dave MacDonald, Bob Holbert & Carroll Shelby in Daytona Raceway photo op with new Daytona Cobra Coupe. This
was the maiden voyage for the Coupe and Shelby looked into his vast and extremely talented stable of drivers and sel-
ected Dave MacDonald & Bob Holbert to challenge the international field of competitors. Photo Dave Friedman

Cobra CSX2287 was the only Coupe built entirely in the US. Holbert & MacDonald at the track for qualifying

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 after Dan's qualifying run. Gurney turned a 7th best time of 2:15.00. Photo 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 qualify the Coupe for the pole position. Excitement is swirling for the Coupe's maiden race.

Dave MacDonald and the Cobra Daytona Coupe set new Daytona track record and qualify for the pole position

Bob Holbert takes the first shift and positions the Cobra Daytona Coupe on the pole. Joe Schlesser places his Cobra
Roadster in second position while Pedro Rodriguez & David Piper put their Ferrari's in row 2. Gurney is in row 3

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

Lap 40 and Holbert and Rodriguez about to put a lap on Jo Schessler's Cobra. Bob held a scant few second lead when
both drivers pitted on lap 50 for fuel and a driver change. Photo Dave Friedman

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 reclaims 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 seperating from the field. Photo Bob Whitehouse

Dave negotiates a turn and it's here at the 50 minute mark that Dave began 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 was 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 seperate 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

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

Lap 207 and Holbert gets word to bring the Coupe in for a driver change. Photo Bob Whitehouse

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

After 796 miles of racing, MacDonald & Holbert had built a 2 1/2 lap lead when Bob brought the car in on lap 209.
Holbert tells the crew what adjustments are needed during refueling. Photo Dave Friedman

Holbert steps out to brief MacDonald and mechanic John Olson goes under the car to make adjustments. Gas then
spills underneath the Cobra. A quick thinking crewmember sees the potential danger and is ready if needed.

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

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

The Daytona Coupe however suffered significant damage and was forced to retire ... stealing what was a sure victory
for MacDonald & Holbert in he Daytona Coupe's maiden outing. Photo Dave Friedman

The aftermath. 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

Newspaper and magazine articles recapping the 1964 Daytona Continental 2000km

Continued

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