1958 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Riverside_International_Raceway_1980_and_1967.svg/250px-Riverside_International_Raceway_1980_and_1967.svg.png)
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.
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 ($153,128.03 in today's money).[3]
Class | Displacement |
---|---|
B Modified | 5000-8000cc |
C Modified | 3000-5000cc |
D Modified | 2000-3000cc |
E Modified | 1500-2000cc |
F Modified | 1100-1500cc |
G Modified | 750-1100cc |
[4] |
Qualifying
Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.
Pos | Class | Car | Driver | Lap Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BM | #5 Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet | Chuck Daigh | 02:04.0 |
2 | CM | #2 Ferrari 412 S | Phil Hill | 02:06.0 |
3 | BM | #3 Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet | Lance Reventlow | 02:08.1 |
4 | CM | #59 Aston Martin DBR2 | Bob Oker | 02:09.7 |
5 | CM | #69 Ferrari 375 Plus | Dan Gurney | 02:10.2 |
6 | CM | #11 Ferrari 335 S | John von Neumann | 02:10.8 |
7 | BM | #70 Ol' Yaller Mk.I-Buick | Max Balchowsky | 02:11.1 |
8 | DM | #159 Aston Martin DBR1 | Roy Salvadori | 02:11.6 |
9 | DM | #211 Ferrari 250 TR | Richie Ginther | 02:12.3 |
10 | BM | #172 Kurtis 500X-Cadillac | Jerry Unser | 02:12.4 |
11 | CM | #27 Jaguar D-Type | Bill Krause | 02:13.6 |
12 | BM | #111 Devin-Chevrolet Special | Ak Miller | 02:13.7 |
13 | FM | #7 Porsche 718 RSK | Jean Behra | 02:14.3 |
14 | BM | #14 Lister-Corvette | Bill Pollack | 02:15.5 |
15 | CM | #88 Ferrari 410 S | Masten Gregory | 02:15.6 |
16 | CM | #78 Maserati 450S | Carroll Shelby | 02:15.6 |
17 | BM | #229 Chevrolet Special | Clem Proctor | 02:17.6 |
18 | BM | #264 Huffaker Special-Chrysler | Fred Knoop | 02:17.7 |
19 | EM | #50 Porsche 550 RS Spyder | Ken Miles | 02:18.0 |
20 | FM | #126 Lotus Eleven | Pat Pigott | 02:18.6 |
21 | EM | #155 Ferrari 500 TR | Sam Weiss | 02:18.8 |
22 | BM | #149 Zidar Special (Kurtis-Corvette) | Ray Crawford | 02:19.8 |
23 | GM | #125 Lotus Eleven | Pete Lovely | 02:21.8 |
24 | BM | #98 Maserati 450S-Pontiac | Jim Rathmann | 02:22.9 |
25 | GM | #127 Lotus Eleven-Climax | Skip Conklin | 02:23.4 |
26 | EM | #9 Meyer-Drake Special-Offenhauser | Bill Cantrell | 02:24.0 |
27 | FM | #49 Cooper-Climax | Bob Drake | 02:24.3 |
28 | FM | #117 Osca TN | Harry Hanford | 02:24.4 |
29 | FM | #4 Lotus Eleven | Lew Florence | 02:24.6 |
30 | EM | #135 Ferrari 500 TR | Alan Markelson | 02:24.9 |
31 | CM | #129 HWM-Chevrolet | Ralph Ormsbee | 02:25.3 |
32 | BM | #96 Kurtis-Ford | Marvin Porter | 02:25.4 |
33 | BM | #110 Caballo de Hiero Mk II-Oldsmobile | Bobby Unser | 02:26.3 |
34 | EM | #121 Ferrari 500 TRC | Frank Becker | 02:26.3 |
35 | BM | #93 Buick Special | Floyd Burt | 02:27.6 |
36 | FM | #122 Cooper-Porsche | Tom Meehan | 02:28.2 |
37 | FM | #124 Porsche 550 RS Spyder | George Keck | 02:28.3 |
38 | DM | #259 Aston Martin DB3S | William de Creeft | 02:28.8 |
39 | EM | #35 Osca 2000 | Pearce Woods | 02:29.0 |
40 | BM | #140 Kurtis-Buick | Bill Cheesbourg | 02:30.1 |
41 | EM | #23 Lotus Mark X | John Timanus | 02:30.4 |
42 | DM | #118 Porsche 356 Carrera GT Coupe | Jean Pierre Kunstle | 02:34.2 |
43 | DM | #138 Duncan Special | Bill Love | 02:35.3 |
44 | EM | #26 Ferrari 500 TR | Gordon Glyer | 02:36.5 |
45 | BM | #6 Kurtis-Buick | Troy Ruttman | no time |
46 | BM | #181 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL-Corvette | Johnnie Parsons | no time |
DNQ | FM | #8 Maserati 150S | Dusty Miller | – |
DNQ | BM | #16 Scarab Mk I-Chevrolet | Lance Reventlow | – |
DNQ | BM | #52 Kurtis-Corvette | Bert Ruttman | – |
DNQ | CM | #77 Ferrari 735 LM | Rodger Ward | – |
DNQ | EM | #114 Sebring 2000SS | Hank Tubman | – |
Race result
Class winners marked in bold.
Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Car | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BM | 5 | Reventlow Automobile Incorporated | ![]() | Scarab Mk II | 62 |
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8 | ||||||
2 | CM | 69 | Frank Arciero | ![]() | Ferrari 375 Plus | 62 |
Ferrari 5.0L V12 | ||||||
3 | CM | 27 | Frank Millard | ![]() | Jaguar D-Type | 62 |
Jaguar XK 3.9L I6 | ||||||
4 | FM | 7 | Porsche AG | ![]() | Porsche 718 RSK | 61 |
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 | ||||||
5 | DM | 211 | Ferrari Representatives of California | ![]() | Ferrari 250 TR | 61 |
Ferrari Tipo 128 3.0L V12 | ||||||
6 | DM | 159 | David Brown | ![]() | Aston Martin DBR1 | 61 |
Aston Martin 2.9L I6 | ||||||
7 | BM | 70 | Motor Trend Magazine | ![]() | Ol'Yaller Mk.1 | 60 |
Buick 5.3L V8 | ||||||
8 | BM | 14 | Dean Van Lines | ![]() | Lister | 60 |
Chevrolet Corvette 5.8L V8 | ||||||
9 | EM | 50 | Precision Motor Cars | ![]() | Porsche 550 RS | 60 |
Porsche 1.6L Flat-4 | ||||||
10 | FM | 49 | Top Equipment Co. | ![]() | Cooper | 58 |
Coventry Climax 1.5L I4 | ||||||
11 | CM | 88 | John Edgar | ![]() | Ferrari 410 S | 57 |
Ferrari 5.0L V12 | ||||||
12 | EM | 26 | Gordon Glyer | ![]() | Ferrari 500 TR | 57 |
Ferrari Tipo 131 2.0L I4 | ||||||
13 | CM | 129 | Team Empire | ![]() | HWM | 57 |
Chevrolet 5.0L V8 | ||||||
14 | FM | 117 | Tim Considine | ![]() | Osca TN | 57 |
Osca 1.5L I4 | ||||||
15 | EM | 135 | Alan Markelson | ![]() | Ferrari 500 TR | 56 |
Ferrari Tipo 131 2.0L I4 | ||||||
16 | EM | 9 | Mar-Chris Co. | ![]() | Meyer-Drake Special | 56 |
Offenhauser 1.7L | ||||||
17 | EM | 121 | Team Empire | ![]() | Ferrari 500 TRC | 55 |
Ferrari 2.0L I4 | ||||||
18 | GM | 127 | Skip Conklin | ![]() | Lotus Eleven | 55 |
Climax 1.1L I4 | ||||||
19 | FM | 124 | Team Empire | ![]() | Porsche 550 RS | 54 |
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 | ||||||
20 | DM | 118 | Jean Pierre Kunstle | ![]() | Porsche 356 Carrera GT | 54 |
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 | ||||||
21 | DM | 259 | William de Creeft | ![]() | Aston Martin DB3S | 52 |
Aston Martin 2.9L I6 | ||||||
22 | EM | 35 | C. Vernon | ![]() | Osca 2000 | 47 |
Osca 2.0L | ||||||
23 | DM | 138 | West Coast Racing | ![]() | Duncan Special | 44 |
Triumph TR2 2.2L | ||||||
24 | EM | 23 | John Timanus | ![]() | Lotus Mark X | 39 |
1.4L (Supercharged) I4 | ||||||
25 DNF | CM | 2 | Ferrari Representatives of California | ![]() | Ferrari 412 S | 55 |
Ferrari 4.0L V12 DOHC | ||||||
26 DNF | GM | 125 | Team Empire | ![]() | Lotus Eleven | 54 |
Coventry Climax FWA 1.1L I4 | ||||||
27 DNF | FM | 126 | Team Empire | ![]() | Lotus Eleven | 46 |
Coventry Climax 1.5L I4 | ||||||
28 DNF | FM | 4 | Team Empire | ![]() | Lotus Eleven | 25 |
Coventry Climax 1.5L I4 | ||||||
29 DNF | BM | 93 | Floyd Burt | ![]() | Buick Special | 23 |
Buick | ||||||
30 DNF | BM | 149 | Ray Crawford | ![]() | "Zidar Special" Kurtis | 20 |
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8 | ||||||
31 DNF | BM | 181 | Chuck Porter | ![]() | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Special | 16 |
Chevrolet Corvette (Supercharged) 5.0L V8 | ||||||
32 DNF | BM | 264 | Fred Knoop | ![]() | Huffaker-Chrysler Special | 13 |
Chrysler 5.2L V8 | ||||||
33 DNF | BM | 3 | Reventlow Automobile Incorporated | ![]() | Scarab Mk II-Chevrolet | 9 |
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8 | ||||||
34 DNF | BM | 140 | Alex Budurin | ![]() | Kurtis Kraft | 8 |
Buick | ||||||
35 DNF | BM | 172 | Mickey Thompson | ![]() | Kurtis 500 X2 | 7 |
Cadillac 5.6L V8 | ||||||
36 DNF | BM | 6 | Bill Murphy's Buick | ![]() | Kurtis Kraft | 7 |
Buick 5.1L V8 | ||||||
37 DNF | FM | 122 | Team Empire | ![]() | Cooper | 6 |
Porsche 1.5L Flat-4 | ||||||
38 DNF | CM | 78 | Temple Buell | ![]() | Maserati 450S | 4 |
Maserati 4.7L V8 DOHC | ||||||
39 DNF | BM | 96 | ![]() | Kurtis Kraft | 4 | |
Ford | ||||||
40 DNF | BM | 110 | Ak Miller | ![]() | Caballo de Hiero Mk II | 3 |
Oldsmobile 6.2L V8 | ||||||
41 DNF | EM | 155 | Sam Weiss | ![]() | Ferrari 500 TR | 1 |
Ferrari Tipo 131 2.0L I4 | ||||||
42 DNF | CM | 11 | Ferrari Representatives of California | ![]() | Ferrari 335 S | 0 |
Ferrari 4.0L V12 DOHC | ||||||
43 DNF | BM | 111 | Ak Miller | ![]() | Devin Special | 0 |
Chevrolet 5.6L V8 | ||||||
DNS | CM | 59 | David Brown | ![]() | Aston Martin DBR2 | – |
Aston Martin 3.9L I6 | ||||||
DNS | BM | 98 | John Engar | ![]() | Maserati 450S | – |
Pontiac 6.3L V8 | ||||||
DNS | BM | 229 | Clem Proctor | ![]() | Chevrolet Special | – |
Chevrolet (Supercharged) 4.6L V8 | ||||||
DNQ | FM | 8 | Dusty Miller | ![]() | Maserati 150S | – |
Maserati 1.5L I4 | ||||||
DNQ | BM | 16 | Reventlow Automobile Incorporated | ![]() | Scarab Mk I-Chevrolet | – |
Chevrolet Corvette 5.5L V8 | ||||||
DNQ | BM | 52 | Engine Masters | ![]() | Kurtis Kraft | – |
Chevrolet Corvette V8 | ||||||
DNQ | CM | 77 | Italia Motors | ![]() | Ferrari 735 LM | – |
Ferrari 4.4L I6 | ||||||
DNQ | EM | 114 | Dean Van Lines | ![]() | Sebring 2000 SS | – |
2.0L |
- Time of race: 2 hours, 17 minutes, 15 seconds
- Average speed: 88.87 mph (143.02 km/h)
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]
References
- ^ "Weather information for the 1958 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ "Weather comparison – 2010s climate vs 1950s climate". The Old Farmers' Almanac. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Haybale: Official Sports Car Racing Program, New England Championship". Etceterini. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ^ "Riverside (BP+CP+DP+EP+FP)". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ^ "Riverside (GM+HM+GP+HP)". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- Krejci, Martin. "United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- "Grand Prix Riverside 200 Miles 1958". Racing Sports Cars. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
Preceded by 1958 Watkins Glen Formula Libre Grand Prix | USAC Road Racing Championship 1958 season | Succeeded by none |
Preceded by 1957 Riverside National Championship Sports Car Races | Riverside Grand Prix | Succeeded by 1959 United States Grand Prix for Sports Cars |
Preceded by | United States Grand Prix | Succeeded by |