1959 Continental Divide

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First International Small Car Marathon

Continental Divide Raceways, Castle Rock, Colorado, USA

Date: 15/11/1959
Track length: 4.500 m
Attendance:
Entries accepted:
Starters:
Finishers:

Pole position:
Fastest lap:

Distance: 6 hours
Average speed: 89,319 kmh
Weather:
Ruleset:
Car info:

The first “compact car” battle took place at Continental Divide, hastily organised to be just ahead of similar races at the Sebring Grand Prix (December) and Daytona (January).
The biggest car was a 3.2 litre Rabler which hampered with its tires far less than the Chevrolet Corvairs and the Ford Falcons, who might have been in contention otherwise. 1948 Indianapolis driver Johnny Mauro shared the winning with teammate Tommy rice, while in second it was a humble VW Beetle, leading the first Falcon in third. No cars retired with technical problems, but three cars were rolled, either by tire or suspension failure.

Overall result

Pos Pos in class # Team / Entrant
Car- Engine Drivers, Nationality Engine
vol. (cc) Engine
Type Group Distance,
time Qualifying position Qualifying time Fastest lap Reason out,
remarks

1 1 7
Rambler American Johnny Mauro, USA
Tommy Rice, USA
3205 L6 Class 1 119 laps

2 1 20
VW 1200 Joe Doubek, USA
Don Southwick, USA
1192 B4 Class 6 118

3 1 11
Ford Falcon Steve Wendt, USA
Dave Pauling, USA
2360 L6 Class 3 118

4 2 14
Ford Falcon Jim Sterling, USA
Joe Giba, USA
2360 L6 Class 3 118

5 1 22
Volvo PV 544 Jack Miller, USA
Dick Sayles, USA
1582 L4 Class 5 118

6 3 2
Chevrolet Corvair Mike Collins, USA
Bob Donner, USA
2296 B6 Class 3 117

7 4
Chevrolet Corvair Dan Collins, USA
Wolf
2296 B6 Class 3 117

8 1 18
DKW Joe Lenker, USA
Gene Kurland, USA
L3 Class 7 116

9 2 10
VW 1200 Ed Weinand, USA
Don Skitt, USA
1192 B4 Class 6 116

10 2 19
Riley 1.5 John Barker, USA
Steve Bowman, USA
1489 L4 Class 5 112

11 3 21
VW 1200 Eddie Stammler, USA
Pete Heuberger, USA
1192 B4 Class 6 111

12 1 16
Fiat Abarth 750 Alan Wilson, USA
Chuck Frederick, USA
747 L4 Class 9 110

13 5
Chevrolet Corvair B. Randle, USA
Eichhorn, USA
Koperski, USA
2296 B6 Class 3 110

14 6
Chevrolet Corvair Unknown
Parker, USA
2296 B6 Class 3 109

15 7
Ford Falcon Davey, USA
McNeil, USA
2360 L6 Class 3 108

16 1 55
Ford Zodiac Mk 3 Foster Campbell, USA
Eddie Jackson, USA
2555 L6 Class 2 106

17 1 10
Fiat 500 Dabney Collins, USA
Bob Betts, USA
479 L2 Class 10 104

18 2 8
Renault 4 CV Lou Salzman, USA
Gary Fohl, USA
748 L4 Class 9 97

19 3 15
Fiat 600 Patsy Randle, USA
Edna Sherman, USA
633 L4 Class 9 97

20 2 6
Vespa 400 Bruce Harlow, USA
Marilyn Harlow, USA
394 L2 Class 10 93

DNF 3
Chevrolet Corvair Kurt Kircher, USA
Lyon, USA
2296 B6 Class 3 66 Blown tire, accident

DNF 1 (!) 27
Renault Dauphine Rolf Docterman, USA
Duane Merritt, USA
845 L4 Class 8 36 Blown tire, accident

DNF 2 (!) 9
Volvo PV 544 Corky Blair, USA
Bob Heinz, USA
1582 L4 Class 5 15 Bent sway bar, accident

Overall result
Pos	Pos in class	#	Team / Entrant Car- Engine	Drivers, Nationality	Engine vol. (cc)	Engine Type	Group	Distance, time	Qualifying position	Qualifying time	Fastest lap	Reason out, remarks
1	1	7	Rambler American	Johnny Mauro, USA Tommy Rice, USA	3205	L6	Class 1	119 laps
2	1	20	VW 1200	Joe Doubek, USA Don Southwick, USA	1192	B4	Class 6	118
3	1	11	Ford Falcon	Steve Wendt, USA Dave Pauling, USA	2360	L6	Class 3	118
4	2	14	Ford Falcon	Jim Sterling, USA Joe Giba, USA	2360	L6	Class 3	118
5	1	22	Volvo PV 544	Jack Miller, USA Dick Sayles, USA	1582	L4	Class 5	118
6	3	2	Chevrolet Corvair	Mike Collins, USA Bob Donner, USA	2296	B6	Class 3	117
7	4		Chevrolet Corvair	Dan Collins, USA Wolf	2296	B6	Class 3	117
8	1	18	DKW	Joe Lenker, USA Gene Kurland, USA		L3	Class 7	116
9	2	10	VW 1200	Ed Weinand, USA Don Skitt, USA	1192	B4	Class 6	116
10	2	19	Riley 1.5	John Barker, USA Steve Bowman, USA	1489	L4	Class 5	112
11	3	21	VW 1200	Eddie Stammler, USA Pete Heuberger, USA	1192	B4	Class 6	111
12	1	16	Fiat Abarth 750	Alan Wilson, USA Chuck Frederick, USA	747	L4	Class 9	110
13	5		Chevrolet Corvair	B. Randle, USA Eichhorn, USA Koperski, USA	2296	B6	Class 3	110
14	6		Chevrolet Corvair	Unknown Parker, USA	2296	B6	Class 3	109
15	7		Ford Falcon	Davey, USA McNeil, USA	2360	L6	Class 3	108
16	1	55	Ford Zodiac Mk 3	Foster Campbell, USA Eddie Jackson, USA	2555	L6	Class 2	106
17	1	10	Fiat 500	Dabney Collins, USA Bob Betts, USA	479	L2	Class 10	104
18	2	8	Renault 4 CV	Lou Salzman, USA Gary Fohl, USA	748	L4	Class 9	97
19	3	15	Fiat 600	Patsy Randle, USA Edna Sherman, USA	633	L4	Class 9	97
20	2	6	Vespa 400	Bruce Harlow, USA Marilyn Harlow, USA	394	L2	Class 10	93
DNF		3	Chevrolet Corvair	Kurt Kircher, USA Lyon, USA	2296	B6	Class 3	66				Blown tire, accident
DNF	1 (!)	27	Renault Dauphine	Rolf Docterman, USA Duane Merritt, USA	845	L4	Class 8	36				Blown tire, accident
DNF	2 (!)	9	Volvo PV 544	Corky Blair, USA Bob Heinz, USA	1582	L4	Class 5	15				Bent sway bar, accident