1957 Cooper T43

— Think back to the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1. Among the several beauties racing that time, the Cooper T43 debuted in that race. A year later, in the 1958 Argentine Grand Prix, the car made history as the first mid-engined car to win that race and the World Drivers’ Championship. Now, let’s move forward to the 2013 for the inaugural Sportscar Vintage Race Association (SVRA) and its vintage racing national championship at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). That was when I had the pleasure of meeting Luca Maciucesco, the Cooper T43 owner, driver and mechanic (photo taken by my friend Patrick). One of the best races at COTA, the vintage national championship allows the public the walk around the paddock area and chat with the racers. It is a terrific idea for both the public and racers alike. The owners are more than happy to talk about their precious machines. When you look at the photo below, you can see how much pride and care they devote to these gems. For the 2013 vintage race, this Cooper T43 was in the pre-war group and qualified third for the feature race. The final result placed the Cooper T43 at second place!