1958 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars

Last updated

Riverside International Raceway Riverside International Raceway 1980 and 1967.svg
Riverside International Raceway

The 1958 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars was a sports car race held at Riverside International Raceway on October 12, 1958. It was the fourth and final round of the 1958 USAC Road Racing Championship season, the seventeenth round of the Sports Car Club of America's Pacific Coast Championship, the second running of the Riverside Grand Prix, and the first post-World War II running of the United States Grand Prix. The race was held over 62 laps of Riverside's 3.3-mile (5.3 km) circuit, for a total of 203.1 miles (326.9 km). Chuck Daigh won the race overall, driving one of Lance Reventlow's Scarab-Chevrolets. The race is also noteworthy in the annals of international racing, as the strong second-place finish by a local driver named Dan Gurney earned him a test drive in a factory Ferrari Formula 1 car, effectively launching the Californian's legendary racing career.

Contents

The weather at this event was very warm, even for a desert climate that routinely saw daytime temperatures of 100F plus during the summer. On race day the temperature reached an extraordinary high for the era 95 °F (35 °C); with winds gusting up to 9.9 miles per hour (15.9 km/h) on race day. [1] Even with the global warming that emerged decades after the late 1950s, the maximum temperature of Riverside, California never exceeded 79.2 °F (26.2 °C) for the month of October 2013. [2]

Entry

The race was open to cars meeting the Sports Car Club of America's B Modified through G Modified classes. Although named "modified", most of the cars in classes C through G were factory-built sports racing cars. The field was unusually large for an American sports car race, attracted in large part by a large purse consisting of $14,500 ($147,073.82 in today's money). [3]

ClassDisplacement
B Modified5000-8000cc
C Modified3000-5000cc
D Modified2000-3000cc
E Modified1500-2000cc
F Modified1100-1500cc
G Modified750-1100cc
[4]

Qualifying

Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.

PosClassCarDriverLap Time
1BM#5 Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet Chuck Daigh 02:04.0
2CM#2 Ferrari 412 S Phil Hill 02:06.0
3BM#3 Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet Lance Reventlow 02:08.1
4CM#59 Aston Martin DBR2 Bob Oker02:09.7
5CM#69 Ferrari 375 Plus Dan Gurney 02:10.2
6CM#11 Ferrari 335 S John von Neumann02:10.8
7BM#70 Ol' Yaller Mk.I-Buick Max Balchowsky 02:11.1
8DM#159 Aston Martin DBR1 Roy Salvadori 02:11.6
9DM#211 Ferrari 250 TR Richie Ginther 02:12.3
10BM#172 Kurtis 500X-Cadillac Jerry Unser 02:12.4
11CM#27 Jaguar D-Type Bill Krause02:13.6
12BM#111 Devin-Chevrolet Special Ak Miller 02:13.7
13FM#7 Porsche 718 RSK Jean Behra 02:14.3
14BM#14 Lister-Corvette Bill Pollack 02:15.5
15CM#88 Ferrari 410 S Masten Gregory 02:15.6
16CM#78 Maserati 450S Carroll Shelby 02:15.6
17BM#229 Chevrolet SpecialClem Proctor02:17.6
18BM#264 Huffaker Special-Chrysler Fred Knoop02:17.7
19EM#50 Porsche 550 RS Spyder Ken Miles 02:18.0
20FM#126 Lotus Eleven Pat Pigott02:18.6
21EM#155 Ferrari 500 TR Sam Weiss02:18.8
22BM#149 Zidar Special (Kurtis-Corvette) Ray Crawford 02:19.8
23GM#125 Lotus Eleven Pete Lovely 02:21.8
24BM#98 Maserati 450S-Pontiac Jim Rathmann 02:22.9
25GM#127 Lotus Eleven-Climax Skip Conklin02:23.4
26EM#9 Meyer-Drake Special-Offenhauser Bill Cantrell 02:24.0
27FM#49 Cooper-Climax Bob Drake 02:24.3
28FM#117 Osca TNHarry Hanford02:24.4
29FM#4 Lotus Eleven Lew Florence02:24.6
30EM#135 Ferrari 500 TR Alan Markelson02:24.9
31CM#129 HWM-Chevrolet Ralph Ormsbee02:25.3
32BM#96 Kurtis-FordMarvin Porter02:25.4
33BM#110 Caballo de Hiero Mk II-Oldsmobile Bobby Unser 02:26.3
34EM#121 Ferrari 500 TRCFrank Becker02:26.3
35BM#93 Buick SpecialFloyd Burt02:27.6
36FM#122 Cooper-Porsche Tom Meehan02:28.2
37FM#124 Porsche 550 RS SpyderGeorge Keck02:28.3
38DM#259 Aston Martin DB3S William de Creeft02:28.8
39EM#35 Osca 2000Pearce Woods02:29.0
40BM#140 Kurtis-Buick Bill Cheesbourg 02:30.1
41EM#23 Lotus Mark X John Timanus02:30.4
42DM#118 Porsche 356 Carrera GT CoupeJean Pierre Kunstle02:34.2
43DM#138 Duncan SpecialBill Love02:35.3
44EM#26 Ferrari 500 TR Gordon Glyer02:36.5
45BM#6 Kurtis-Buick Troy Ruttman no time
46BM#181 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-Corvette Johnnie Parsons no time
DNQFM#8 Maserati 150S Dusty Miller
DNQBM#16 Scarab Mk I-Chevrolet Lance Reventlow
DNQBM#52 Kurtis-Corvette Bert Ruttman
DNQCM#77 Ferrari 735 LM Rodger Ward
DNQEM#114 Sebring 2000SSHank Tubman

Race result

Class winners marked in bold.

PosClassNoTeamDriversCarLaps
1BM5 Reventlow Automobile Incorporated Flag of the United States.svg Chuck Daigh Scarab Mk II62
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8
2CM69 Frank Arciero Flag of the United States.svg Dan Gurney Ferrari 375 Plus 62
Ferrari 5.0L V12
3CM27Frank Millard Flag of the United States.svg Bill Krause Jaguar D-Type 62
Jaguar XK 3.9L I6
4FM7 Porsche AG Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Porsche 718 RSK 61
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4
5DM211 Ferrari Representatives of California Flag of the United States.svg Richie Ginther Ferrari 250 TR 61
Ferrari Tipo 128 3.0L V12
6DM159 David Brown Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori Aston Martin DBR1 61
Aston Martin 2.9L I6
7BM70 Motor Trend Magazine Flag of the United States.svg Max BalchowskyOl'Yaller Mk.160
Buick 5.3L V8
8BM14Dean Van Lines Flag of the United States.svg Bill Pollack Lister 60
Chevrolet Corvette 5.8L V8
9EM50Precision Motor Cars Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Miles Porsche 550 RS60
Porsche 1.6L Flat-4
10FM49Top Equipment Co. Flag of the United States.svg Bob Drake Cooper 58
Coventry Climax 1.5L I4
11CM88John Edgar Flag of the United States.svg Masten Gregory Ferrari 410 S 57
Ferrari 5.0L V12
12EM26Gordon Glyer Flag of the United States.svg Gordon Glyer Ferrari 500 TR 57
Ferrari Tipo 131 2.0L I4
13CM129Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg Ralph OrmsbeeHWM57
Chevrolet 5.0L V8
14FM117 Tim Considine Flag of the United States.svg Harry Hanford Osca TN57
Osca 1.5L I4
15EM135Alan Markelson Flag of the United States.svg Alan Markelson Ferrari 500 TR 56
Ferrari Tipo 131 2.0L I4
16EM9Mar-Chris Co. Flag of the United States.svg Bill Cantrell Meyer-Drake Special56
Offenhauser 1.7L
17EM121Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg Frank Becker Ferrari 500 TRC55
Ferrari 2.0L I4
18GM127Skip Conklin Flag of the United States.svg Skip Conklin Lotus Eleven 55
Climax 1.1L I4
19FM124Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg George Keck Porsche 550 RS54
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4
20DM118Jean Pierre Kunstle Flag of the United States.svg Jean Pierre Kunstle Porsche 356 Carrera GT54
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4
21DM259William de Creeft Flag of the United States.svg William de Creeft Aston Martin DB3S 52
Aston Martin 2.9L I6
22EM35C. Vernon Flag of the United States.svg Pearce Woods Osca 200047
Osca 2.0L
23DM138West Coast Racing Flag of the United States.svg Bill LoveDuncan Special44
Triumph TR2 2.2L
24EM23John Timanus Flag of the United States.svg John Timanus Lotus Mark X 39
1.4L (Supercharged) I4
25
DNF
CM2 Ferrari Representatives of California Flag of the United States.svg Phil Hill Ferrari 412 S 55
Ferrari 4.0L V12 DOHC
26
DNF
GM125Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg Pete Lovely Lotus Eleven 54
Coventry Climax FWA 1.1L I4
27
DNF
FM126Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg Pat Pigott Lotus Eleven 46
Coventry Climax 1.5L I4
28
DNF
FM4Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg Lew Florence Lotus Eleven 25
Coventry Climax 1.5L I4
29
DNF
BM93Floyd Burt Flag of the United States.svg Floyd Burt Buick Special23
Buick
30
DNF
BM149Ray Crawford Flag of the United States.svg Ray Crawford "Zidar Special" Kurtis 20
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8
31
DNF
BM181Chuck Porter Flag of the United States.svg Johnnie Parsons Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Special16
Chevrolet Corvette (Supercharged) 5.0L V8
32
DNF
BM264Fred Knoop Flag of the United States.svg Fred KnoopHuffaker-Chrysler Special13
Chrysler 5.2L V8
33
DNF
BM3 Reventlow Automobile Incorporated Flag of the United States.svg Lance Reventlow Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet 9
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8
34
DNF
BM140Alex Budurin Flag of the United States.svg Bill Cheesbourg Kurtis Kraft 8
Buick
35
DNF
BM172 Mickey Thompson Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Unser Kurtis 500 X27
Cadillac 5.6L V8
36
DNF
BM6Bill Murphy's Buick Flag of the United States.svg Troy Ruttman Kurtis Kraft 7
Buick 5.1L V8
37
DNF
FM122Team Empire Flag of the United States.svg Tom Meehan Cooper 6
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4
38
DNF
CM78Temple Buell Flag of the United States.svg Carroll Shelby Maserati 450S 4
Maserati 4.7L V8 DOHC
39
DNF
BM96Flag placeholder.svg Marvin Porter Kurtis Kraft 4
Ford
40
DNF
BM110 Ak Miller Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Unser Caballo de Hiero Mk II3
Oldsmobile 6.2L V8
41
DNF
EM155Sam Weiss Flag of the United States.svg Sam Weiss Ferrari 500 TR 1
Ferrari Tipo 131 2.0L I4
42
DNF
CM11 Ferrari Representatives of California Flag of the United States.svg John von Neumann Ferrari 335 S 0
Ferrari 4.0L V12 DOHC
43
DNF
BM111 Ak Miller Flag of the United States.svg Ak Miller Devin Special0
Chevrolet 5.6L V8
DNSCM59 David Brown Flag of the United States.svg Bob Oker Aston Martin DBR2
Aston Martin 3.9L I6
DNSBM98John Engar Flag of the United States.svg Jim Rathmann Maserati 450S
Pontiac 6.3L V8
DNSBM229Clem Proctor Flag of the United States.svg Clem Proctor Chevrolet Special
Chevrolet (Supercharged) 4.6L V8
DNQFM8Dusty Miller Flag of the United States.svg Dusty Miller Maserati 150S
Maserati 1.5L I4
DNQBM16 Reventlow Automobile Incorporated Flag of the United States.svg Lance Reventlow Scarab Mk I-Chevrolet
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8
DNQBM52Engine Masters Flag of the United States.svg Bert Ruttman Kurtis Kraft
Chevrolet Corvette V8
DNQCM77Italia Motors Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward Ferrari 735 LM
Ferrari 4.4L I6
DNQEM114Dean Van Lines Flag of the United States.svg Hank TubmanSebring 2000 SS
2.0L

Support races

Two support races were held: a production car race won by Skip Hudson in a Chevrolet Corvette, and an under-1400cc race won by Jock Ross in a Cooper-Climax. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto racing</span> Motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition

Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Motor Speedway</span> Historic motorsport track in Speedway, Indiana, U.S.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a motor racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 and formerly the home of the United States Grand Prix. It is located six miles (9.7 km) west of Downtown Indianapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Grand Prix</span> Formula One Grand Prix

The United States Grand Prix is a motor racing event that has been held on and off since 1908, when it was known as the American Grand Prize. The Grand Prix later became part of the Formula One World Championship. As of 2023, the Grand Prix has been held 52 times at ten different locations. Since 2012, it has been held every year at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, except in 2020 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Gurney</span> American racing driver (1931–2018)

Daniel Sexton Gurney was an American racing driver, race car constructor, and team owner who reached racing's highest levels starting in 1958. Gurney won races in the Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR, Can-Am, and Trans-Am Series. Gurney is the first of three drivers to have won races in sports cars (1958), Formula One (1962), NASCAR (1963), and Indy cars (1967), the other two being Mario Andretti and Juan Pablo Montoya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuka International Racing Course</span> Motorsport track in Japan

The Suzuka International Racing Course, more famously known as the Suzuka Circuit, is a 5.807 km (3.608 mi) long motorsport race track located in Ino, Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, Japan and operated by Honda Mobilityland, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co, Ltd. It has a capacity of 155,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside International Raceway</span> Former motorsport track in Moreno Valley, California, US

Riverside International Raceway was a motorsports race track and road course established in the Edgemont area of Riverside County, California, just east of the city limits of Riverside and 50 mi (80 km) east of Los Angeles, in 1957. In 1984, the raceway became part of the newly incorporated city of Moreno Valley. Riverside was noted for its hot, dusty environment, which was a dangerous challenge for for drivers. It was also considered one of the finest tracks in the United States. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989, with the last race, The Budweiser 400, won by Rusty Wallace, held in 1988. After that final race, a shortened version of the circuit was kept open for car clubs and special events until 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Behra</span> French racing driver (1921–1959)

Jean Marie Behra was a Formula One driver who raced for the Gordini, Maserati, BRM, Ferrari and Porsche teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Magnussen</span> Danish racing driver (born 1973)

Jan Ellegaard Magnussen is a Danish professional racing driver and was a factory driver for General Motors until the end of the 2020 season. He has competed in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), NASCAR, the FIA Formula One World Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lime Rock Park</span> Motorsport road racing venue located in Lakeville, CT, US

Lime Rock Park is a natural-terrain motorsport road racing venue located in Lakeville, Connecticut, United States, a hamlet in the town of Salisbury, in the state's northwest corner. Built in 1956, it is the nation's third oldest continuously operating road racing venue, behind Road America (1955) and Willow Springs International Motorsports Park (1953). The track was owned by Skip Barber from 1984 to April 2021, a former race car driver who started the Skip Barber Racing School in 1975. Now, it is owned by Lime Rock Group, LLC. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ascot Park (speedway)</span> Former dirt race track

Ascot Park, first named Los Angeles Speedway and later New Ascot Stadium, was a dirt racetrack located near Gardena, California. Ascot Park was open between 1957 and 1990. The track held numerous United States Auto Club (USAC) national tour races and three NASCAR Grand National races. The Turkey Night Grand Prix was held at the track for several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1000 km Buenos Aires</span>

The 1000 km Buenos Aires was an endurance sports car and stock car event held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The race mostly run on the Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez, although it ran on the Costanera circuit in 1957. Besides a single race in Caracas, Venezuela, it was the only annual South American race in the history of the World Sportscar Championship.

This article documents the status of motorsports in the 1950s.

The 1961 SCCA National Sports Car Championship season was the eleventh season of the Sports Car Club of America's National Sports Car Championship. It began February 5, 1961, and ended September 23, 1961, after thirteen races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1975 Long Beach Grand Prix</span> Motor car race

The 1975 Long Beach Grand Prix was the inaugural running of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. The race was held September 28, 1975, on a 2.02-mile (3.25 km) temporary street circuit. It was race 7 of the 1975 SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship. An estimated 65,000 spectators saw Englishman Brian Redman win the race from Australian Vern Schuppan, with Canadian driver Eppie Wietzes finishing third.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Grand Prix</span> Annual sports car race in Canada

The Chevrolet Grand Prix is an annual IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race held every July at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. The race originated in 1975 and is currently a two hour and forty minute race in order to fit the event into a television-friendly package. Previous editions of the Grand Prix were part of the World Sportscar Championship, the American Le Mans Series and the IMSA GT Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zerex Special</span>

The Zerex Special was a sports racing car. Originally a Cooper T53 built for the 1961 United States Grand Prix, it was rebuilt for usage in American sports car racing, and featured open-top bodywork. Initially using a 2.75-litre version of the Coventry Climax FPF straight-four engine, it later used a Traco-Oldsmobile 3.5-litre V8. The car won numerous races throughout its four-year career, being driven by drivers such as McLaren and Roger Penske.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix</span>

The 2017 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix was an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)-sanctioned sports car race held on the Long Beach Street Circuit in California, United States, on April 8, 2017 as part of the Long Beach Grand Prix event weekend. The race was the third of twelve scheduled rounds of the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and was held for the Prototype, Grand Touring Le Mans (GTLM) and Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) categories. The race was the shortest of the 2017 WeatherTech Championship calendar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari 412 S</span> Motor vehicle

The Ferrari 412 S was a unique sports racing car produced by Ferrari in 1958. The 412 S combined Ferrari's most powerful V12 engine to date with a one-off experimental racing chassis. It was also incorrectly called as the 412 MI due to being built around an engine from the 500 Miles of Monza racer. The car was created specifically for John von Neumann to take on the American racing cars Scarabs in SCCA racing. Its famed drivers included Phil Hill and Richie Ginther.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix</span>

The 2018 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix was a sports car race sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). It was held at Long Beach street circuit in Long Beach, California on 14 April 2018. The race was the third round of the 2018 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Chevrolet Grand Prix</span> Sports car race in Ontario

The 2022 Chevrolet Grand Prix was a sports car race held at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada on July 3, 2022. It was the eighth round of the 2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship and the fifth round of the 2022 WeatherTech Sprint Cup. The 01 Cadillac Racing entry piloted by Sébastien Bourdais and Renger van der Zande took the overall victory. The No. 54 CORE Autosport Ligier JS P320 driven by Jon Bennett and Colin Braun won in the LMP3 class. In the GTD Pro class, the No. 9 Pfaff Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Mathieu Jaminet and Matt Campbell claimed victory, while in GTD the No. 27 Heart of Racing Team Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 driven by Roman De Angelis and Maxime Martin claimed victory.

References

  1. "Weather information for the 1958 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  2. "Weather comparison – 2010s climate vs 1950s climate". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
  3. Dredge, Bill (October 10, 1958). "Berha arrives to drive in $14,500 U.S. Grand Prix". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  4. "Haybale: Official Sports Car Racing Program, New England Championship". Etceterini. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  5. "Riverside (BP+CP+DP+EP+FP)". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  6. "Riverside (GM+HM+GP+HP)". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
Preceded by USAC Road Racing Championship
1958 season
Succeeded by
none
Preceded by Riverside Grand Prix Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Grand Prix Succeeded by