This Month in Cobra History - January

[computerworks]

This Month in Cobra History - January

The first race won by a Cobra - Riverside, January 1963

(note - Most Cobra history timelines indicate this event to be January 1963. From the archives, it appears that this was actually the first weekend in February. Race programs from SCCA Pacific Coast Points Championships Feb 2-3, 1963 event at Riverside show both entries from Shelby. The actual race, I believe, was Pacific Coast Championship Point Races (Race 9 - Production A, B, C), Riverside International Raceway ... but we'll consider this a January event, since most dialogs reference it as such).

After a disappointing outing in Nassau, the Shelby team lost driver Billy Krause to the Corvette factory team. In a bit of irony, they picked up Corvette team driver Dave MacDonald for the 1963 season. In addition, a local independent driver, who had been working with Shelby and the Rootes Group turning the Sunbeam Alpine into a racer, joined the team... that would be one Ken Miles.

(How Shelby and Miles came together is an interesting story in itself.)





The cars ran in Production Class A, with Aston-Martin DB4-GT and Zagato, 327 Corvette ('62), Stingray ('63), Ferrari 250GT and Jaguar XKE.





This was the first and only race victory for the 260-based Cobra.





The coolest thing about this is that the two new drivers went out and finished one-two in their first rides in a Cobra; that must have 'pumped' the boys in Venice big-time for the coming season.

Cars 98 (Miles) and 198 (MacDonald)




The victory at Riverside was a minor one in a regional race, but the race story is legend...

...MacDonald won going away from everyone except Miles, who followed him closely across the finish line. What really set the Corvette contingent's teeth to grinding was a typical Miles stunt. Halfway through the race, he pitted suddenly and asked for a drink of water. Tossing the half-empty cup aside, he tore out of the pits., re-passed the Corvettes and closed in behind MacDonald for the finish. The screams from the Corvette and Stingray drivers were loud and bitter, and they would have entered a formal protest if they could. But there was nothing in the rule book that said a driver couldn't stop for a drink of water if he was thirsty.



What was on the radio that day? Top 10 Billboard-January 1963
Go Away, Little Girl (Steve Lawrence)
Walk Right In (Rooftop Singers)
Hotel Happiness (Brook Benton)
Tell Him (The Exciters)
Pepino, The Italian Mouse (Lou Monte)
My Dad (Paul Peterson)
Two Lovers (Mary Wells)
Zip-a-dee Doo-Dah (Bob B. Soxx/Bluejeans)
The Night has a Thousand Eyes (Bobby Vee)
It's Up to You (Ricky Nelson)

[computerworks]

...a sad note to the above.

Although the long string of Cobra victories began at Riverside, it also was the venue for the end of Ken Miles life. In August 1966, Ken Miles was killed at Riverside, testing the J-car.

Further, in May 1964, Dave MacDonald was killed driving Mickey Thompson's car at Indy.

[clayfoushee]

Thanks Ron....enjoy seeing these historical posts. From the number of reads, I can tell others did too. It's hard to add anything except to say thanks for doing this. Keep 'em coming, please.

[KobraKarl]

Thanks again , Ron , always look forward to these.....

I love the "drink of water pitstop" story .....the stuff of pure s.o.b. legends....

[PDHse]

Good work Ron, heres another picture to look at. Not sure which race but im pretty sure its Ken Miles and Dave Mcdonald.

[computerworks]

Nice cover, Paul. Yup...that's both the cars we are talking about.

For those "keeping score"...

..The white 98 car that Miles drove at Riverside was CSX2008.

Dave MacDonald's ride was CSX2026

[CobraDan]

Am I reading it right or our my eyes worse than I thought but the date on the Road & Track says 1943?

Dan

[computerworks]

Originally posted by CobraDan


Am I reading it right or our my eyes worse than I thought but the date on the Road & Track says 1943?

Dan

Dan... you need a prescription monitor..

June 1963

[sshurts]

Ron, thanks for sharing your passion for the history of these legends. The more I learn the more I appreciate and enjoy the making of these cars. The character of these drivers is a big part of the cars. Also, loved the photos.

Thanks again

Scott

[Rick Parker]

Ron:
Great research on your part, we all thank you for your efforts to share it with us. I have a minor question. We know that Riverside was the first race for the cars, with that being said, is there any explaination for the VIN on Mc Donalds car being so far away from that of Miles's?

Thanks ........Rick

[Excaliber]

Interesting question Rick. In addition it makes me wonder if McD's car was a 289? Sounds like Miles was a 260?

Ernie

,,,,,and a side note on Chevy. The Bow Tie emblem was taken from a wall paper pattern found in a French Hotel. IE, Chevys have French roots? The horror!

[computerworks]

Originally posted by Rick Parker


...is there any explaination for the VIN on Mc Donalds car being so far away from that of Miles's?

Actually, they are not too far away from each other.

The first batch of cars made by AC spanned the period of Aug-Nov 1962.

SAI selected and prepped CSX 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2026 as Factory Team Cars.

Both 2008 and 2026 had 260 ci engines.

The last 260-based car was CSX2074.

The last worm-and-sector steering car was CSX2125.

[Jamo]

Good stuff, buddy.

[Jim Wintz]

Very interesting stuff. Can't get enough of the Cobra history.

I see that January 1963 was the beginning of racing history for the Cobra.

Just by chance this coincides with my birthday in January 1963, and just be chance I am a complete Cobra fanatic, who just by chance took delivery of my Cobra in, again January but only 40 years later in 2003. Strange?

Thanks for the history and the pictures they are great.

Jim