Malcolm Bernard Durham, 65, died June 22 at his home in Lanham, Md. He was born in Mount Olive, N.C. to the late Wade Sr. and Maude Durham. He was the fourth of 13 children born to this union.

Raised on the family farm in Goldsboro, N.C., Durham gained his initial mechanical experience working on tractors. He began racing in 1957 at Easy Street Dragstrip in Newton Grove with a 225-horsepower ’56 Chevrolet.

After moving to Washington D.C Durham took automotive courses at a tech trade school and campaigned the ’56 Chevy at Aquasco Speedway with great success.

Durham first gained attention within drag racing circles in 1962. He won nearly 90 percent of the races he entered that year and became a regular on the East Coast match race circuit. He competed against such racers as Don Nicholson, Sox and Martin, the Ramchargers, Hayden Proffitt, Strickler and Jenkins.

When Chevrolet dropped out of racing at the end of ’63 Durham became an independent racer. His Chevelle defeated Sox and Martin on consecutive evenings at 75-80 and Cecil County. He then defeated them three more times at New York International Raceway after they had won the 1964 Winternationals.

Durham kept pace with the Funny Car revolution of 1965 by updating the Chevelle by adding sheet metal, injectors and nitromethane.

In 1966 he switched to a Corvair, which took him to a win at the United Drag Racers Association Nationals at U.S. 30 Dragway. In 1968 Durham spent the off-season completing a new Logghe-chassied Camaro which proved to be his most successful car. He also competed in Pro Stock with a ’73 Vega.

Durham built an ’84 Pro Stock Camaro which became airborne in an accident at Rockingham Dragway in 1985, prompting him to retire.

“The drag racing world has lost one of the truly great people in this sport,” IHRA President Aaron Polburn said. “Malcolm Durham was a trailblazer whose importance to this sport can not be overstated. He wasn’t just a great racer, he was a great person who touched a lot of lives and paved the way for minorities in motor sports. While we are saddened by his death, we should all celebrate his life and be thankful for the example he set.”

A dedicated father, Durham worked tirelessly to help his sons establish professional careers. He is survived by his loving wife Darletha; his children Bernard, Raynard and Bryon; four grandchildren Nicholas, Mikayla, Mitchell and Mia; Nine brothers and sisters Wade Durham, Jr., Geraldine Williamson, Charles Durham, Jacquelyn Barnes, Reginald Durham Sr., Jeannette Bowden, Joseph Durham, Shirley Bennett, Donald Durham and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

The viewing/visitation and services will he held June 27 at Reid Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church. The viewing/visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:45. Services will start at noon. Internment will be held at Ft. Lincoln Cemetary, 3401 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood, Md.

Reid Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church
11400 Glen Dale Blvd.
Glen Dale, Md. 20769

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in the name of Malcolm Durham to:

Washington Hospital Center Foundation Cancer Institute
East Building 1001
110 Irving Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20010