2023 Monterey Reunion Races - #00 1961 Macdonald Corvette Special

August 15-19 2023 at Laguna Seca

It was a journey filled with historical “gravitational pulls,” as so many fans seeing the #00, related their personal stories recalling and seeing Dave MacDonald dominating the competition, with anything he raced. There was excitement for the annual Tribute/Theme, “Official Photo Shoot.” The “High Lift” platform was ready for the photographers at the huge Archway, between Turn 3-4, as selected historic Corvette cars were assembled. The Honorary Chief Steward, Bill Warner, motioned to us to move our #00 forward and just behind the rare Le Mans and Sebring Racing Corvettes, adjacent to the two ultra rare Corvette Grand Sport cars. On the track and racing, the #00 was still “work in progress” and had handling issues, chassis flexing, ‘shifter’ jammed trying to catch’ 3rd gear, ‘darty’ drum brakes and trans’ oil leaking. The dashboard added signatures from iconic Pete Brock, Ike, and Doug MacDonald. So many fans stopped by, as our ‘team,’ felt like maybe, maybe we had one of the “best looking girls at the dance.” It was so special to have Doug MacDonald join us, as his older brother was the legendary iconic Dave MacDonald. Doug recalled at 15 years old, helping Dave reinforce the fiberglass under the fenders using small ropes dipped in resin with the original #00. Doug brought and gave us a ‘family, framed’ photograph of Dave MacDonald and that touched our hearts and it was displayed with the #00 at Monterey.  Doug said, “My brother is smiling on the ‘Dave MacDonald’ legacy he left us.”

We surprised Doug, to join us, as “Navigator,” in the Invitational, 15 Race Cars for the “Run to Quail” and to make a loud, boisterous “Grand Entrance” at the elegant Quail Concours d’Elegance (sold out event each year @ $600 per ticket!!). The 15 CHP Escort motorcycles, assembled on Friday at noon and the lead car was the “2024 E-Ray,” which was the featured Corvette of the 70th Anniversary of Corvette Tribute at Monterey Reunion Races. We were asked to move our #00 ahead of other cars… to the position directly behind the “E-Ray.” We followed the CHP motorcycles and took the twisty ‘back-roads’ in very ‘spirited ’run’ at fast speeds, which was a pleasant surprise for a “tour” like event! We hung on and carefully watching the tight ‘apexes” along the small narrow old highways. Emotions were unleashed for Doug, as sometimes events are put into the ‘emergency parking’ spot for years. Dave MacDonald was not only Doug’s older brother but was his “Hero” of all heroes, as Dave championed everything with four wheels and especially Corvettes and Cobra. On May 30, 1964, in a horrific crash at Indy, involving Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs, Motorsports lost their “chosen one” and rising star like no other… that day, all in Motorsports had to pull down the shades. Dave MacDonald was our “Camelot” recalling, “If it had not been heard… once there was a bright and shining moment and that was called Camelot.”  That day, Doug lost his 27 year old “Hero-Brother.” During the run back from Quail, the driver of the “E-Ray” was nowhere to be found at the driver “call up” and the #00 slipped into ‘P1’ and fittingly so, as Dave was always at the front of the competition! Doug said, “Time Machine only works on certain things… it transported me, the car, and my memories back to my ‘glory days’ in 1961.” With the glint of the brilliant yellow-orange afternoon rays of sun, that pierced through the old historic trees, along the ‘back roads’ of Monterey along the route…tears flowed for Doug and he pointed to the sky several times… as he said over and over, “I am 15… I am 15…”

Thanks for photos: Bob Pengraph, John Taylor and Barry Weary