Dave MacDonald recorded the King Cobra's first-ever victory here at the 1963 LA Times Grand Prix at Riverside International Raceway. Race sponsors attracted world class drivers to this Southern California event by offering a record purse, including a new 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix to the winner. A month long media blitz by the Los Angeles Times helped bring out the largest crowd ever for an American road racing event and 85,000 fans saw local favorite Dave MacDonald dominate a star-studded international field. Racing champions AJ Foyt, Jimmy Clark, Rodger Ward, Parnelli Jones, Graham Hill, Jim Hall, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant, Pedro Rodriguez, John Surtees, Billy Krause, Dick Thompson, Don Wester, Lloyd Ruby and Roger Penske were no match for Dave that day as he won in spectacular fashion - finishing 1+ laps ahead of the entire 31 car field.1962 winner Roger Penske placed 2nd, Mexico's Pedro Rodriquez 3rd, England's John Surtees 4th and Scotland's Jimmy Clark, the 1963 World Driving Champion, placed 5th driving a Lotus 23B