Dave MacDonald runs in the 1963 Motor Trend 500 held at at Riverside Intenational Raceway on January 20
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Dave MacDonald had already signed with Carroll Shelby to run the Cobra for the 1963 season and this would be his last race in a
Chevrolet. The '62 Impala was owned by his good friend and longtime Corvette sponsor Jim Simpson and this race was the last time
the two would be together in a race.
Riverside Raceway track layout for this NASCAR event. The course was changed for NASCAR races by directing the big stockers out
of turn 6 and into a short chute over to turn 8 and then to an elongated back straight. (at the top of this photo). These changes added 1/10
of a mile to the course for NASCAR races.
NASCAR stockers line the starting grid and prepare for the pace lap
Pace lap for the 1963 Motor Trend 500. This picture has Jim Hurtibise (far right) in the 9th starting position. #12 is Art Watts, #15 is
Parnelli Jones, #28 is Dan Gurney and behind Gurney is #0 Dave MacDonald. Photo Dave Friedman.
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1963 Motor Trend 500 goes green and 44 big stockers go thru the Riverside esses and toward Turn 6. Photo Dave Friedman.
Trouble on the first lap as some NASCAR veterans find the Riverside road course a bit tricky. Photo Dave Friedman.
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Rear of the field goes thru the famed Riverside esses toward 6 on lap 1. Photo The Henry Ford Dave Friedman Collection
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Sports car ace Dave MacDonald blasting through the Riverside road course in a Jim Simpson Chevrolet.
Clem Proctor started 7th and leads superstar Dan Gurney and group into turn 9
Denny Lerner and a couple more NASCAR pilots finding out early that Riverside is a tricky road course. Photo The Henry Ford
Lap 15 and NASCAR King Richard Petty leads Parnelli Jones. Photo Dave Friedman.
Racing legend AJ Foyt (02) leading the pack, including NASCAR legend Fireball Roberts (22) through turn 9. [Car & Driver]
Dave MacDonald in front of NASCAR star Rex White into turn 6. Photo Dave Friedman.
Lap 27 and another NASCAR driver losses it at Riverside. Denny Weinberg flips in the esses. Weinberg was done for the day but
not seriously hurt in the crash. Photo Jack McGinnis
Dave MacDonald (#0) trails a group out the back of turn 6 over to the adjusted turn 7. Photo Dave Friedman.
Lap 35 - Paul Goldsmith, Dan Gurney & Parnelli all out at Riverside. Photo The Henry Ford Dave Friedman Collection
Superstar NASCAR driver Freddy Lorenzen running in the top 10 in the famous Wood Bros #21 Ford. Photo Dave Friedman.
Lap 60 and Dave MacDonald prepares to pass legendary driver Parnelli Jones. Photo Dave Friedman.
Legendary wheelman Dan Gurney continues to scream through his home course in a Holman Moody Ford.
Pole sitter Paul Goldsmith goes off course and into the dirt. Goldsmith would return to the race but he retired for good on lap 59 with
a broken connecting rod. Photo Dave Friedman.
NASCAR legend Fireball Roberts rolling his stocker through turn 6. Photo Dave Friedman.
Two legends right here on lap 70! Dan Gurney & Parnelli Jones through the esses
More cars go off course going through the Riverside esses. Photo Dave Friedman.
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Lap 80 and Cotton Owens teammates Billy Wade #5 and David Pearson #6 run together as they come out the back of turn 6.
Lap 143 Carl Joiner and Jim Cook get tangled up in the tricky Riverside esses. Joiner gets the worst of it but both go out of the race.
Photo The Henry Ford Dave Friedman Collection
Joiner's crashed stocker. Photo The Henry Ford Dave Friedman Collection
Dave MacDonald running 3rd past the midway point in the race.
Another driver losses it coming out of the Riverside esses into turn 6. Photo Dave Friedman.
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Dave MacDonald's '62 Chevrolet slipping to 10th on lap 150. Photo Dave Friedman.
Troy Ruttman running 4th in the Bill Stroppe #14 Mercury comes in for a final pit stop. Photo Fran Hernandez
NASCAR stars everywhere in this Riverside California race and Little Joe Weatherly running a strong race. Photo Dave Friedman.
Dave MacDonald and Bobby Johns side by side out of turn 6 on lap 170. Photo Dave Friedman.
Two laps to go and legendary racers AJ Foyt and Troy Ruttman run 2-3 behind leader Dan Gurney. Photo Dave Friedman
After driving a brilliant race Dan Gurney heads for home in the 1963 Motor Trend 500. Photo Gus Vignolle
Dave MacDonald finished 12th in his final race in a Chevrolet. Photo Dave Friedman
Official race results for the 1963 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway.
Dan Gurney collects his rewards. $13K is the winner's share. Photo Gus Vignolle
Article recapping the 1963 Motor Trend 500 at Riverside International Raceway.
Dave MacDonald and long time friend and race sponsor Jim Simpson parted ways after this race. Dave had already signed with Shelby
American for the '63 season but his start date was set to begin after the Motor Trend 500, allowing him to honor his commitment to Jim.
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Dave MacDonald's first paycheck from Shelby American
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