Bob Engberg's Palm Springs Photos -- 1

Bob's photos showing "main event" cars.
  

From Bob:  "Imagine driving this 4.5 litre Maserati! It was driven by Carroll Shelby who later retired from driving after revealing he had a heart condition. I'd think the condition might have been partially caused by driving a car like this one. Look at the width of those tires. It might have been fun on an airport course like Palm Springs but I would think terrifying on a course like Riverside. Shelby drove this Maserati maybe at the April 1957 event but I think this photo was taken in November, when Shelby won both days."
 
 
From Maserati historian Willem Oosthoek:

"I love that shot of Shelby's Maserati 450S #4506. One comment. He raced the car at Palm Springs twice, on Nov 2-3, 1957 and on April 12-13, 1958. November 1957 was cold and wet, and the car featured a small windshield and taped over radiator intake. Your photo shows a full windshield and the sun shining, which leads me to believe it was taken in April 1958.

It was Shelby's last ride in this car, then he went to Europe. He won on Saturday, but switched to his Ferrari on Sunday. Then it was raced by Bob Oker and Dan Gurney. Jim Rathmann put a Pontiac engine in it, which was a disaster. Then Chuck Daigh drove it with a 5.7 liter Maserati speedboat engine. Incidentally, this was the same car raced by Moss/Jenkinson in the 1957 Mille Miglia, until the brake pedal broke off after 8 miles."

 
"I believe this photo was taken in April of 1958. Shelby drove a 4.9 Ferrari at least one day that weekend, and evidently its brakes were being as troublesome as those of the big Maserati. That looks like John Edgar looking at the front of the car while Shelby, in the hat, leans over. Shelby finished second to Dan Gurney's 4.9 Ferrari in the April '58 Main."
 
 
From website visitor Giorgio Gotti: 

"In Bob Engberg's Palm Springs-1  page there is a gorgeous photo of Shelby's 410 S.  I think the photo was taken the 11/2-3/57, not in April '58 because in the 4/13/58 race the nose was yellow (see Peter Coltin's "Racing in colour" book, page 42).

(Also, see Willem Oosthoek's comments above re: the weather at the two Palm Springs events.  The Nov. '57 event was cold & wet, while the sun was shining in April '58.  This photo sure looks to me like it was taken on a cold & wet day!  TM)

From Will Edgar, author, historian, and son of John Edgar:

"Man at front of 0598CM with cigarette is Edgar's mechanic, Joe Landaker.  Man in hat might be Shelby, but I doubt it.  Too short.  Venue is not Palm Springs April 1958, as race numbers for that race were crudely painted "98," not this artistic style shown.  Pomona rain race day January 1957 most likely correct venue and date."

From Bob Engberg:

"Yes, I was at Pomona on that rainy day, so the photo could come from there."

More from Will Edgar:

"Pomona must be it then. Weather and style of "98" on car are strong indicators, and now Bob says he was there.  It's good to solve these questions.  This Pomona date would be the weekend that Shelby got the 410 off track and banged it up a bit in the rain.  Water would pool on that track surface.  The 410 was throwing out water like a hydroplane in Saturday's consolation race.  Shel said "I stood on it and hit a puddle, and lost it."  Date was January 19, 1957."

 

"Looks like Ritchie Ginther unloading von Neumann's new 2.5 litre 625TRC Ferrari. It was very pretty and I saw it race elsewhere in the following months including at San Diego's Hourglass Field."

Here's a look at this Ferrari 625TRC (#0672MDTR) today!


Next:  Palm Springs -- 2

Back to:   Palm Springs -- Homepage

Back to:   "New Old Stuff"