33 replies to this topic

[HistoricMustang]

Please take a minute to visit this developing site on Dave MacDonald. A few really unique photographs.

Indy, 1964 with Eddie Sachs, a tragic racing season:

http://www.davemacdonald.net/

Henry

[rosemeyer]

Lets keep this going it is as valuable as Max B. got to see him race a true American hero.






TNF Badge 93

[HistoricMustang]

Dave's Cobra along with that of Ken Miles:



Henry

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

I saw(& taped)a sportscar race broadcast, IIRC, on ESPN's 'Glory Days' some years back featuring pre-CanAm types at Riverside. It had to be late '63-early '64. Dave MacDonald romped away from the field in his King Cobra(Cooper-Ford). I was amazed to see his technique thru the 180-degree(virtually, at least)turn #6. He cocked the wheel to the right to get the tail hung well and truly out there and just proceeded to opposite lock his way thru the entire sweep of the corner, expertly playing the throttle to keep the car at a cant. It looked supremely effortless. What a huge talent lost.

[Frank S]

At Pomona 1960 or so, in the rain, if I
remember correctly, he and Bondurant were having a closely contested
go, to the detriment of the cars' integrity. I was flagging a turn at
the end of the short back straight, looking right down the drivers'
throats before they made a bend to their right, my left, and then
their left around a long curve that connected to a turn onto the front
straight. Bondurant and Dave made a number of contacts before reaching
my station, and one of them dislodged a piece of 'glas from the left
side of Dave's car. It was still hanging on and flapping in the breeze
as he began the turn to his right, when it detached and frisbeed its
way just off the ground, then skidded to a stop at my feet. I
disremember who won, but I took the fifteen-inch square to his pit at
the end of the day, and they seemed grateful, saying they'd use it
when they put the car back together.

--
Frank S

[theunions]

Looking for more documentation beyond the local papers about Dave's 1963 Hawaiian Grand Prix win.

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by theunions
Looking for more documentation beyond the local papers about Dave's 1963 Hawaiian Grand Prix win.

There is a "Guestbook" at the above link. Perhaps someone can provide additional information.

Also, there are some pretty cool photographs at the site, one from Hawaii..................

Just wondering, based on his record in different types of cars if he was indeed headed for greatness on the world scene in open wheel?

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Research continues to produce 42 years later!

Henry

[Huw Jadvantich]

I'm i right in thinking Dave McDonald was the first person to win a race in the Shelby Cobra?

[HistoricMustang]

January 1963.
Dave MacDonald and Ken Miles sign to drive Cobras for Shelby-American and place first and second at Riverside, beating the Corvette Stingrays. Miles is so confident, he pits for a drink of water and relaps the Corvettes to finish behind MacDonald.


I believe a Dave MacDonald book is forthcoming in the next few years!

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

AIRPS is desperately searching for a photograph of the #29 Holman-Moody 1963 Ford driven by Dave here in Augusta on November 17, 1963.

It is believed this car was painted yellow.

It is one of a very few that is not in possession of the MacDonald family.

Henry

[David M. Kane]

A fellow here in Scottsdale has a 1964 Indy 500 Program autographed by all 33 starters. Dave's signature is right in the middle.

[raceannouncer2003]

Henry

Have you tried Lee Holman?

http://www.holmanmoo...om/contact.html

Vince Howlett, Victoria, B.C., Canada

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by raceannouncer2003
Henry

Have you tried Lee Holman?

http://www.holmanmoo...om/contact.html

Vince Howlett, Victoria, B.C., Canada

Thanks Vince,
Lee was at the AIRPS September 9th event and this topic was discussed. He was not aware of any photographs in his possession of this "single" appearance of Dave in the car.

Henry

[HistoricMustang]

Henry

[David McKinney]

What are we supposed to be looking at?

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by David McKinney
What are we supposed to be looking at?

David,

A friend put together this photo of Dave taking a spin on his street.

A family member of a lost driver on track told me several months ago...............

"..........the bad things happened decades ago..............lets remember the fun stuff".

I was reminded of this just this past weekend by another family member of a lost driver on track.

Henry

[Buford]

Originally posted by Manfred Cubenoggin
I saw(& taped)a sportscar race broadcast, IIRC, on ESPN's 'Glory Days' some years back featuring pre-CanAm types at Riverside. It had to be late '63-early '64. Dave MacDonald romped away from the field in his King Cobra(Cooper-Ford). I was amazed to see his technique thru the 180-degree(virtually, at least)turn #6. He cocked the wheel to the right to get the tail hung well and truly out there and just proceeded to opposite lock his way thru the entire sweep of the corner, expertly playing the throttle to keep the car at a cant. It looked supremely effortless. What a huge talent lost.

-------------------------------
I saw that movie - or another one at the Riverside Reunion about 3 years ago in L.A. It was just as described. MacDonald had the tail all hung out and was literally sprint car driving thru the corners, using tire scruff to slow the car down at corner entrance. The crowd was abuzz when we all saw that.

Here is a URL that describes the 1964 accident in great detail from Johnny Rutherford who was right in the middle of it. Not for the squeamish. The description of the still barely alive MacDonald in the track hospital will take your breath away and you better not have just eaten lunch when you read it. You were warned.

http://www.automobil...nny_rutherford/

[HistoricMustang]

Originally posted by Buford


-------------------------------
I saw that movie - or another one at the Riverside Reunion about 3 years ago in L.A. It was just as described. MacDonald had the tail all hung out and was literally sprint car driving thru the corners, using tire scruff to slow the car down at corner entrance. The crowd was abuzz when we all saw that.

Here is a URL that describes the 1964 accident in great detail from Johnny Rutherford who was right in the middle of it. Not for the squeamish. The description of the still barely alive MacDonald in the track hospital will take your breath away and you better not have just eaten lunch when you read it. You were warned.

http://www.automobil...nny_rutherford/

In my discussions with family members, paragraph eight in the article is not accurate.

I have a copy of the mentioned video if it can be figured out how to upload. Let me work with it.

Henry

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Nice to old amigo Buford post here again.

As for that Riverside footage, adjectives and phrases can barely describe it with justice. Breath-taking...phenomenal...jaw-dropping...awe-inspiring. They all fit comfortably.

[David M. Kane]

The part of the article written by David E. Davis, Jr. where JR describe the Lemon they found under the hood blows my mind! I had never heard that before. That is scary!

[David M. Kane]

How much gasoline were they allowed to carry on-board during this race? It was one heck of a fire.
Clearly this was the accident that changed all of that.

[FLB]

Originally posted by David M. Kane
How much gasoline were they allowed to carry on-board during this race? It was one heck of a fire.
Clearly this was the accident that changed all of that.

Buford or Allen Brown could probably give more accurate numbers, but from what I've read, both cars carried over 70 gallons each, in multiple tanks. However, only a single tank burst on Sachs's car, whereas all the fuel from MacDonald's car was spilled and burned.

[Buford]

Yes that is true. My dad has a photo of Sach's car afterwards when they were draining the tanks in the garage area. Only a small tank in front above his knees burst. Most of the fire was from MacDonalds car. The macabe thing was on the morning of the race the papers all had a fuel company full page ad. It showed Eddie's car and said in huge letters. "Keep your eyes on Eddie Sachs. He is riding on eight gas tanks and they are all filled with Marathon (I think it was). My scrapbook is at the museum or I would go look but that was the text before the last word.

[HistoricMustang]

Sorry for large size. Just trying to get this readable.

From local newpaper as drivers were getting ready for the "Augusta 510" NASCAR race on November 17, 1963.

Henry

[Sandeep Banerjee]

Thanks Mustang, that was some good readin.

[Peter Leversedge]

I remember the Dave McDonald crash this way. I had been racing at the Nelson Beach races [ in my Mercury Special No 33 ] and was returning home to ChCh., about an eight hour haul. We stopped at a road side caf'e in the middle of no were for food and gas. I picked a copy of "Press" news paper and on the front page was a large photo of the crash with large plumes of black smoke rising skyward and never forgot seeing that photo. So even half a world away it made the front page of one of New Zealands major news papers

[HistoricMustang]

I realize this is a very long shot, but does anyone have photographs of Dave that we might be able to pass along to his children?

Thanks in advance!

Henry

[fbarrett]

Originally posted by HistoricMustang
I realize this is a very long shot, but does anyone have photographs of Dave that we might be able to pass along to his children?

Check with Dave Friedman. He has great photos of DM.

Frank

[HistoricMustang]

For those interested, updates are underway!

Henry

http://www.davemacdonald.net/

[Hse289]

Fantastic

[HistoricMustang]

I am going to bump this one again because there is some really good information being added.......................especially the 8mm home movies converted to video.

http://www.davemacdonald.net/

Henry

[Hse289]

Thanks for the heads up Henry. Love the Hawaiian G.P., enjoyed seeing Shelby , Miles and Holbert too.
Also the race with the orange Simpson Corvette. Am i right in saying this car was built on a Max Balchowsky chassis?
Paul

[HistoricMustang]

For those interested new USRRC photographs have been added to the Dave MacDonald tribute site by his son.

Most are from the Dave Friedman collection.

Dave MacDonald

Cheers,
Henry

Edited by HistoricMustang, 20 June 2012 - 21:44.