This Week in Racing History
Michael Stucker
December 26
Derek Bell finishes third overall and first in the F3 class in a race at
Mallory Park, England, driving a BMC-powered Lotus 31 (1964).
December 27
Whitney Straight wins the South African Grand Prix in a Maserati, with his
brother third in a Railton. It is the last race that Whitney will
participate in. He is getting married and feels that racing and marriage
do not mix (1934).
December 28
Drag racer Mike Ferderer born in San Francisco, California, USA (1956).
December 29
Motorcycle racer Cal Rayburn is killed in a crash at Pukekohe, New Zealand
(1973).
December 30
Roger Penske takes delivery of a Lola T70 MKIIIB endurance racer (serial
number SL76/139), the first MKIIIB to be delivered (1968).
December 31
Ralph Deshon and Fred Koster drive a Crosley Hotshot to victory in the
6-hour Sam Collier Memorial Grand Prix of Endurance, the first autorace
held at Sebring, Florida. It is also the first sports car endurance race
held in the United States. The little Crosley was able to defeat faster
Ferraris, Jaguars, and others because the race was run under an Index of
Performance handicapping system (1950).
January 1
Phil Read, Motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion in the 125cc, 250cc, and
500cc classes, born in Luton, England (1939).
