September 28-29, 1963 - USRRC Championships at Kent Washington. This was the debut race for Shelby's new Ford King Cobra.

Dave MacDonald (R) and crew feverishly working out last minute kinks before the race. Carroll Shelby said "The cars weren't really ready
but we went racing anyway". Photo Dave Friedman

Shelby reached into his well stocked stable and selected Dave MacDonald and Bob Holbert to drive both races at Kent. In heat #1 Dave
MacDonald has his King Cobra out front in the early going but retired on lap 14 with overheating problems. Photo Dave Friedman

Bob Holbert retired his King Cobra on lap 9 with overheating issues as well. Holbert's King Cobra wasn't able to make heat 2. (Friedman)

Saturday, Heat #1 - Don Wester finished 4th in a Porsche 718 RS. Photo Tam McPartland

Saturday, Heat #1 - Stan Burnet finished 5th in a Ferrari 250 TRI. Photo Tam McPartland

Saturday, Heat #1 - Graham Hill dnf'd in a Lotus 23B. Photo Tam McPartland

Saturday, Heat #1 - Skip Hudson also dnf'd in a Chaparral. Photo Tam McPartland

Sunday Heat #2 and only Dave MacDonald is left to carry the Shelby banner as Holbert's King Cobra couldn't make the grid.

And he carried it well for over half the race. Here Dave slings his King Cobra past Jerry Grant (#8), and two-time Indy 500 winner Rodger
Ward on lap 4 to take the lead. By lap 29 MacDonald had built a half lap lead but he hit loose debris on the track and blew a tire. He dnf'd

Race results for the Sep 28-29 1963 races at Kent Washington. Lloyd Ruby a double winner.

News articles recapping the September 28-29, 1963 USRRC races at Kent Washington

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Model of the King Cobra in its maiden voyage when Dave MacDonald drove it at Kent WA on 9/28/63. After Kent it was painted viking blue.