"I'll try and help in identifying the venue, some of the drivers and the date.  First, its easy to agree with the fact that this is later then 1954. Please note the OSCA MT4-TN number 5 (just entering the turn) driven by Jim Kimberly in his distinctive all red driving gear and the # 5 on the car.

The OSCA -- serial number 1178 -- appeared in Palm Springs in November 1956. Given that the car could not have been there before early 1956 (was not produced) and not much later (Kimberly sold it) thus the November 1956 date seems more than plausible.

I would think that the white Cooper in the picture is Bob Drake in Joe Lubin's Cooper.

The Porsche carrying # 88 is an RS550A driven by Pete Lovely and owned by John Edgar. The 550 Porsche (silver with red streaks) was entered by von Neumann and was driven by Richie Ginther in that race.

The other OSCA in the picture (no number visible - but should be race number 7) is Howard Wheeler -- which I believe was prepared and maintained by Ernie McAfee's shop (By that time run by Tom Bamford due to MacAfee's death at Pebble Beach that year).

(10-18-08)  From historan Ron Cummings:

"#118 may be Kunstle in the red Porsche 550. The date is actually the first weekend in November, 1956.  Drake won in the Lubin Cooper-Climax in what was one of the most thrilling races I ever saw."

(10-18-08)   From website contributor and historic racer Bob Engberg:

"I won't argue the venue and date (deemed 1956) of the Palm Springs race showing turn 1 in the under-1500cc event. But OSCA MT4's were produced as early as 1954, with some prototypes coming a year earlier. In fact, Moss won the Sebring race in '54 in an MT4. There aren't very many around, perhaps 30 or so, but I do know of a blue one that sits in a San Diego garage and sees the light of day once every 10 years. My brother once rode along with its owner going east on Highway 8 at 100 mph past Grossmont High School."

(10-18-08)  More from Bob:

"Kimberley had an OSCA MT4 in '54. The one you led me to on the website is a "TN" model, much more streamlined.  I shot a couple of photos of one at Torrey Pines in 1956. It was owned by William "Bumpy" Bell and perhaps is the one shown in the photo."

(10-23-08)   From Michael Jacobsen:

"The OSCA at the rear is certainly Kimberley.  There seem to be two silver Porsche 550s between #88 and the OSCAs and probably a white one behind the lead OSCA (John Porter?)."

(2-4-09)   From Charlie Vehle:

"My recolleection:

Jean Pierre Kunstle  #118
Bob Drake  white Cooper-Climax
Ken Miles silver 550 directly behind Drake
Richie Ginther #88 550 (believe it or not)
Jack McAfee silver 550 behind Miles
Howard Wheeler and Jim Kimberly red OSCA's 
Monumental race between Miles and Drake with Drake winning."