Virginia International Raceway - August 3-4, 1957
DANVILLE, Va., Aug. 3 (AP) Walter Hansgen of Chicago and Charlie Wallace of Washington, driving D-type Jaguars, turned in the best qualifying times for inaugural Grand Prix racing events today in 101-degree heat at Virginia International Raceway.
Each toured the new 3.2 mile $500,000 course in 2:27.8, for an average of 88.6 miles per hour. Some 5000 fans lined the course.
Carroll Shelby of Dallas, Tex., driving a new 4.5 Maserati, had an unofficial timing of 2:25.6 minutes, but his qualifying was recorded in the official book of the Sports Car Club of America as 2:28.1. 1
These three drivers will be among the featured competitors in the A-B-C-D modified event, listed for 20 laps or 64 miles, which closes the seven event inaugural schedule tomorrow.
Two events were held today. Ed Hugus of Pittsburgh, Pa., driving an Alfa Romeo, captured the opening 7-lap race, nosing out Bob Grossman of West Nyack, N. Y., who also drove an Alfa Romeo. Hugus averaged 67.05 miles per hour.
In the second race, won by Bob Holbert of Warrington,, Pa., in a Porsche 550, there were three accidents, two of which took favored drivers out of competition. Running second at the time, Wallace's Porsche failed to make the last turn on the course and his right front landed against a tree. Frank Baptista of Hyattsville, Md., driving a Lotus, failed to make the midway turn and hit an embankment. Ray Heppenstall of Philadelphia spun a Jomar on the next to the last lap, straddling the dirt embankment between the home stretch and the pit area.