March 1, 1964 - World class road racing comes to Augusta Georgia. Shelby American brought both the Cobra Roadsters and King
Cobras to Augusta International Raceway for two USRRC races. Dave MacDonald ran in both

Final qualifying times for both the Drivers' Championship Race & the Manfacturers' Championship Race. Not shown in the Drivers'
race is Ken Miles' Cobra Roadster, Ken's qualifying time of 1:54 for the Manufacturers' race was used for the Drivers' race as well.

Dave MacDonald and crew working on the King Cobra before the Drivers Championships race. Dave drove the King Cobra in this
race and the Cobra Roadster in the Manufacturers' Championships. A gifted mechanic, Dave worked on all his cars. (Dave Friedman)

Augie Pabst's Maserati Tipo 64 Ford arrives for the Drivers Championship. (Photo courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

Ditto for Don Yenko's Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. (Photo courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

Dave MacDonald's #97 King Cobra & Bob Holbert's #98 before the Drivers' Championships race. Photo Richard Macon

Bob Holbert's #98 King Cobra, this time alongside Ken Miles #15 Shelby Roadster. (Courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

John Fulp's Ferrari 250. (Photo courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

Dick Doane's Chevette McKee Mk.I Chevrolet. (Photo courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

George Koehne's Genie - Ford. (Photo courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

Bob Ward's Ferrari 500 Mondial Chevrolet. (Photo courtesy of Augusta International Raceway)

Roger Heftler's Elva Mk VII. Photo Richard Macon

Cars begin to fill the grid and Dave MacDonald pulls his #97 King Cobra into the middle of row 1 in the 2nd starting position. Bob
Holbert in the #3 position on the outside of row 1. (Photo Autosport Magazine)

Jim Hall's Chaparral is top qualifier and on the pole with a lap time of 1:47:200. (Photo Autosport Magazine)

Ralph Sayler's Cheetah was clocked at 2:00 flat and pulls into the 17th grid position (accounting for Miles). Photo Autosport Magazine

Bud Clusserath put his Cheetah in the field in the 22nd position with a time of 2:08 (accounting for Miles). Photo Autosport Magazine

The Drivers' Championships gets underway and Jim Hall spins his wheels on the start. Hall pulled to the shoulder and lost 5 positions
before gaining traction and slipping back into the field. MacDonald takes advantage and grabs the early lead. Photo Dave Friedman

Bob Holbert & Dave MacDonald (97) took turns leading early while Hall played catchup.

Don Yenko's Corvette Grand Sport flying down the Augusta straight running 7th.

On lap 35 hard charging Jim Hall slung his Chaparral past Holbert and went after leader MacDonald. Hall pushed his racer to the limit
and whittled MacDonald's lead down to a scant few seconds but then lost control and spun out with just one lap to go! He returned to
the track to finish 2nd behind MacDonald and comfortably ahead of 3rd place driver Bob Holbert in the other Shelby King Cobra.

Dave MacDonald heading home on lap 52 to win Augusta International Raceway's inaugural sports car road race. Little known fact; Dave
MacDonald & Jim Hall were born on the same day ... July 23rd. Dave in 1936, Jim in 1935.

Results for both the 1964 Drivers' Championships & Manufacturers' Championships at Augusta International Raceway. MacDonald
pulled a double and later in the day drove a Cobra Roadster to a 2nd place in the Manufacturers' Championships. Miles was winner

News articles recapping both he 1964 Drivers' Championships & Manufacturers' Championships at Augusta International Raceway

Sports Car magazine April 1964

Augusta Herald news report posted by veteran auto racing expert Chris Economaki

USRRC press release for the races at Augusta

2011 ariel view of the old Augusta road course (in orange). You can see new Diamond Lakes Regional Park beginning to take shape.

Memorial constructed by the Augusta International Raceway Preservation Society (AIRPS) honors past champions at the speedway.
Dave MacDonald competed in all three races held at the 3 mile, 21 turn road circuit. He won the '64 USRRC Drivers' Championships
in a King Cobra, finished 2nd in the '64 USRRC Manufacturers' Championships in a Cobra Roadster and finished 2nd in the 1963
Augusta 510 NASCAR race driving a Holman/Moody Ford Galaxie