Racing Up Donner Summit in 1967 (Page 4): I am so pleased to find this post. Just 2 days ago I was talking with a classmate, a 72 year resident of Donner Lake. His family owned a gas...

Chief Truckee Loc: Gold River, CA

I am so pleased to find this post. Just 2 days ago I was talking with a classmate, a 72 year resident of Donner Lake. His family owned a gas station and motel at the bottom of the summit, is now a 72 year resident. We were both seniors in high school at the time. I asked if he remembered it, and he did. So today I decided to do a Google search, with the hope that someone might remember the race. You did!!!!
I observed the race from near the startling line. My takeaway, in addition to the specialty cars, was how fast the Cobra(s) looked from the start, to the first turn. Impressive. Is it possible that you have any additional photos, the Genie car (Reno), the 427 Sprint car (Truckee), the Cobra(s)? I did not own a camera, but I am thankful that you did. Thank you for sharing.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Chief Truckee wrote:

I am so pleased to find this post. Just 2 days ago... (show quote)

Wow, Cobras were fast!!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

DickC wrote:

Wow, Cobras were fast!!

They sure were! I can't find a decent photo of a Cobra, however I did find one of Carroll Shelby (with the sunglasses) with Dan Gurney (sitting on the back of the truck) at the October 1966 Can-Am Race in the paddock at Laguna Seca (attached).

(Download)

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

DJphoto wrote:

They sure were! I can't find a decent photo of a Cobra, however I did find one of Carroll Shelby (with the sunglasses) with Dan Gurney (sitting on the back of the truck) at the October 1966 Can-Am Race in the paddock at Laguna Seca (attached).

A good photo!!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

DickC wrote:

A good photo!!

Thanks Dick. That was back when to only people who had access to the paddock were the competitors and the people working the event. I had access because I was working on the timing crew. We typically timed about 2/3 of the races, practice and qualifying, so we had some free time to wander around.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

DJphoto wrote:

Thanks Dick. That was back when to only people who had access to the paddock were the competitors and the people working the event. I had access because I was working on the timing crew. We typically timed about 2/3 of the races, practice and qualifying, so we had some free time to wander around.

I ran several of the desert races back in the 70s, the Baja twice, Snore 250, Parker, etc. ran the Pikes Peak Hill Climb twice, back when it was paved only half way. Now in my 80s I can only recollect!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

DickC wrote:

I ran several of the desert races back in the 70s, the Baja twice, Snore 250, Parker, etc. ran the Pikes Peak Hill Climb twice, back when it was paved only half way. Now in my 80s I can only recollect!

Lots of great experiences! Pikes Peak looks scary. I got married at 23 while in college and that ended my competitive driving, but I still got out for some "brisk" driving, which I still do now 50 years later. I still usually make it to Laguna Seca (~2 hours from home) as a spectator at least once a year, and sometimes to Sears Point (about an hour from home). The older I get, the faster I was.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

DJphoto wrote:

Lots of great experiences! Pikes Peak looks scary. I got married at 23 while in college and that ended my competitive driving, but I still got out for some "brisk" driving, which I still do now 50 years later. I still usually make it to Laguna Seca (~2 hours from home) as a spectator at least once a year, and sometimes to Sears Point (about an hour from home). The older I get, the faster I was.

Good for you, My EDC is a 1989 JaguarXJS coupe, so I still "stay in speed", thank goodness!! I take it up to 130 now and then but reflects not to good anymore so I stop at 100 nowadays!
Yes Pikes Peak was a little spooky even in 1970; the jump from pave to dirt meant you had to decide what kind of tires to use, you couldn't do both real well; and those hairpin curves, the pucker factor was meant for you to change your shorts after the race! The drop was only about 3.000 feet!!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

DickC wrote:

Good for you, My EDC is a 1989 JaguarXJS coupe, so... (show quote)

Back before speed limits in Nevada, I drove a few thousand miles at 100+ in my '67 Barracuda Formula S. On one segment of a rallye I averaged 111 for an hour, and there were a few "twisty bits." It seemed to be happy at 105, but I would occasionally drive it at 115-120; it was flat out at 132. I currently drive an '06 Mazda 3 Grand Touring (2.3 liter, 5 speed manual) that I bought new. I have not had it over 100, but have had a lot of fun with it in the twisties, which abound in this part of California. It's really fun to drive, handles great and has adequate power (though another 40 HP would be nice). It's stock except for Konis and high performance summer tires (Bridgestone S-04s). At some point I'll need to replace it, but so far it's still going strong approaching 178,000 miles. I'd love to have a Miata, but at 6'1" I don't fit, and neither does my 6' wife. It will get replaced with something that handles well with a manual transmission.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

DJphoto wrote:

Back before speed limits in Nevada, I drove a few ... (show quote)

I would still drive high speed, but I'm 82 now and spent last 2 years in & out of cancer wards and hospitals and so my physical body is not ready for speed anymore!

DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area

DickC wrote:

I would still drive high speed, but I'm 82 now and spent last 2 years in & out of cancer wards and hospitals and so my physical body is not ready for speed anymore!

That's too bad; I hope you have recovered. You've got 9 years on me, but I can feel it creeping up on me. We're going to do what we can, while we can. COVID has cost us some prime time for traveling. We went to Hawaii last month and it was the first time we've gone anywhere more than a couple of hours away since December 2019. We are hoping things get back to at least near normal and we can go on the Med cruise that we re-booked to 2022 that was originally booked for 2020. Of course there's the current political situation with what looks to be the possibility for terrorist attacks. We really want to get to and around Europe at least a couple of more times.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

DJphoto wrote:

That's too bad; I hope you have recovered. You've... (show quote)

Well I hope you can succeed in your travel plans, I'm happy being at home! I did run the Jag up to 115-120 after I got out of the cancer ward, scared the crap out of my stepson, hard to hold onto the wheel after I had lost 40#!! We kinda went back and forth across the road!

Chief Truckee Loc: Gold River, CA

You are correct, the summit is sparsely treed due to the granite. I have photographs dating from the mid 1860s to the present. While there have been fires somewhat nearby, adjacent Hwy 80 for example, I do not recall any fires in the area of the old Donner summit. Find here, a photograph of the "Hill Climb" start area, the photo dating to circa late 1940s.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Chief Truckee wrote:

You are correct, the summit is sparsely treed due to the granite. I have photographs dating from the mid 1860s to the present. While there have been fires somewhat nearby, adjacent Hwy 80 for example, I do not recall any fires in the area of the old Donner summit. Find here, a photograph of the "Hill Climb" start area, the photo dating to circa late 1940s.

Nice - and it looks like fun driving when the snow falls...

Chief Truckee Loc: Gold River, CA

Oh yes, the old summit gets some snow....