Fred Gamble
Encyclopedia
Fred K. Gamble is a former racecar driver from the United States
. He participated in one Formula One
Grand Prix, the 1960 Italian Grand Prix
, on September 4, 1960. He finished 10th overall driving the F2 Behra-Porsche, scoring no Championship points.
A family friend promoted racing (late 40’s) on an old abandoned Navy airfield(looked like a wagon wheel from the air) in Davie, Florida
and hired Gamble and his high school buddies to set up bleachers, sell tickets, refreshments, programs, etc. for stock cars (before NASCAR
) on the 2 mile circle taxiway. AAA midgets raced on an 1/8th mile oval on a parking ramp and sports cars on a simulated road circuit using the runways and taxiways. Big Bill France and his gang of good old boys in their hot rodded 39/40 Fords raced round the circle at speeds faster than INDY of that era! The big name INDY drivers raced their midgets in the winter season in Florida and California. The sports car crowd was led by SCCA founders Briggs Cunningham
, the Miles brothers and northeastern friends.
Gamble graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School
in 1950 with his highlight being Captain of his State Championship Swim Team. He indulged in street racing his less than stock 1932 Ford and 39 Dodge.
The Korean War intervened and Gamble joined the Air Force to earn 4 years of college on the GI Bill. He served two voluntary combat tours but out of harms way as a senior ground radio operator. His last year in the AF was spent at Castle AFB, Merced, California
(l954) and his hot wheels was a 500cc AJS Scrambler and spectated at the Golden Gate Park and Pebble Beach road races.
Four years of college further delayed his racing ambitions but his final 3 years as president of the U. of Florida Sports Car Club, got him established with the SCCA, organizing events and hoping for a ride.
During his Senior year (57/58), Gamble’s wheels were a 1952 Jeep Station Wagon and Zundapp Scrambler. On his trips home to Fort Lauderdale, he had many laps at Sebring in the middle of the nights, dreaming of really racing there some day.
. Gamble discarded the body and in the local VW dealership (was a part time salesman) fabricated a feather-weight aluminum body, stock 750cc motor and called his HM special a Gambini MK1 and on his soon to earn international license, himself – Fredrico Gambini!
In his first national race,( May 1958, Gainsville, Georgia) he had a long race duel with a LeMans DB and finished second in H Modified. Gamble was hired by Jarrard Motors of Pensacola, a foreign car importer for Renault, Triumph, AC Cars, & Borgward servicing 200 dealers in eleven south east states. He was the assistant advertising manager and Triumph race team driver with Bill Kimberly. Jarrard raced a team of 3 TR3’s and Gamble was assigned to Sedan class battles with the new TR10 (1,000cc Standard 10) to dice with VW’s, Renault, Dauphines, and Morris Minors.
When Jarrard decided not to run the Factory Triumph team at Sebring in 1959, and stop his SCCA racing, Gamble resigned and returned to South Florida, to race an MGA for a U. of Miami student.
From the mid 50’s, Gamble had been a motoring journalist and contributor to Chris Economaki’s NATIONAL SPEED SPORT NEWS, The SCCA Magazine SPORTS CAR, Denise McCluggage’s COMPETITION PRESS and ROAD & TRACK.
At a mid-summer SCCA race in Miami, while racing the MGA, Gamble met Lloyd “Lucky” Casner, ex airline pilot, car dealer and successful racing driver in a string of cars – MG’s, Alfas, AC Bristols, Maseratis and Ferraris. Lucky announced at the victory presentation that he wanted to go race in Europe (didn’t we all?). He invited the amateur racers to contribute to a fund to finance his idea. He got a good laugh from the crowd.
Gamble knew Casner was a hustler/promoter, introduced himself with the suggestion he go along as a helper, publicist & pay his own way as a motoring journalist. Casner suggested a partnership to make his idea happen.
Gamble put on his thinking cap, college degree in advertising/PR/Journalism/Marketing, and inspired by Ecurie Ecosse, the Scottish National Racing Team that spawned Jim Clark and later Jackie Stewart, created the concept of America’s “Olympic Team” of motor racing to challenge the Europeans for World Championships.
Casner’s amateur racing team of friends called themselves CAMORADI Racing Team (Casner Motor Racing Division) as a tax write-off probably. So the proposed professional team was incorporated as CAMORADI USA, America’s first industry sponsored racing team with the best drivers from all race series in the best cars that could be acquired.
“Lucky” was an understatement . GOODYEAR was just getting into sportscar racing (Jan 59) and signed up with substantial financial support and all tires needed. Chevrolet’s President, Ed Cole and Zora Duntov, signed up with covert financial support (Engineering Dept.), two Corvettes with all competition options, funneled thru Don Allen Chevrolet, Miami. “Covert” because of an industry management ban on racing support. These first two backers opened the corporate doors to Shell/BP, Exide, Champion, DA Lubricants, Koni, Dow and Guest Airways (Mexico to Paris via Miami).
Casner took off to Europe in September (59) and approached bankrupt Maserati who had their new Birdcage T61, a world beater but no finances to race a factory team. CAMORADI was their answer for 1960. Casner also formed an alliance with Porsche’s Huschke Von Hanstein and bought two cars from the late Jean Behra’s estate – a lightweight Carrera and the special Behra-Porsche F2, which served as a test bed and prototype for Porsche’s 1960 F2 cars and 1962 F1 1,500cc Formula.
Due to his long association with Maserati, Stirling Moss muscled his way into CAMORADI thus polluting the All American idea. CAMORADI’s driver roster: Jim Rathman, Roger Ward, Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory, Dan Gurney, Juan Fangio(Parade lap at Cordova, Argentina 1960), Chuck Daigh, Jo Bonnier, Jack Mcafee, Jim Jeffords, Bill Weustoff, Fred Windridge, Joe Sheppard, Dick Dungan, Pinkie Windridge, Denise McCluggage, Umborto Maglioli, Nino Vaccarella, Nino Todaro, Gino Munaron, Georgio Scarlatti, Lucky Casner, Lee Lilley, Fred Gamble, Dave Lane, and Johnny Cuevas.
CAMORADI “works” Maseratis, led every World Sports Car Championship race of 1960, and won only 1,000 km Nurburgring with Gurney/Moss. Led Nassau 1959 (Shelby DNF Mechanical), Porsche RSK 2 Liter winner (Bonnier), GT winner Porsche Carerra(Cuevas); 1960 1,000 km Buenos Aires (Gurney/Gregory DNF Mechanical and accident); Argentine GP (Gregory Behra-Porsche); Havana GP for Sports Cars – 8 car entre, winning overall Moss Maserati, 2 Liter Gregory Porsche RSK, GT Corvette Jeffords, under 2 liter GT Cuevas Porsche Carerra; Sebring 12 hour, largest team entry ever of 8 cars, 3 Mazeratis (Gurney/Moss led 8 hours DNF Mechanical), 2 Porsche Carerras (under 2 liter GT winner and 2nd OA GT Sheppard/Dungan), 2 Corvettes Jeffords/Weustoff/Gamble (Gamble drove 12 hours solo – only one of two known to have done this – earned press notice as “iron man Gamble”). OSCA 750 (McCluggage/Windridge DNF).
At the Nurburgring, Gamble qualified the “Yank Tank” Corvette 3rd among the big GT’s, several 250 GT Ferraris but didn’t get to drive in the race as co-driver Lee Lilley started the race and DNF with wheel bearing failure. Gurney/Moss won overall in the team’s T61 Maserati, Gregory/Munaron 4th.
Off to LeMans24hours, Gregory/Daigh led with the famed Streamliner Birdcage Maserati, set a 3 liter lap record and top speed record of 170Mph, DNF engine failure, other two long tail Maseratis DNF with electrical faults. Gamble/Lilley drove their Corvette conservatively to finish 10th OA.
All CAMORADI Maseratis were prepared and maintained by the factory and in Europe race managed by Maserati. CAMORADI’s role was primarily financial. Gamble was the only full time principal in Europe, living in Modena, Casner frequently back in Miami.
Sad ending to Gamble’s LeMans story was to find out years later they had been excluded due to insufficient miles covered under the index of performance rules. Even tho at the race awards event, they were announced as 10th OA and awarded their participants medals. In 9th OA, just ahead of Gamble/Lilley was the 1959 OA winner Aston-Martin DBR1 and in 8th the Cunningham Corvette of Fitch/Grossman.
Gamble was approved to drive the Behra-Porsche in the 1960 German GP where the car was used by the factory in practice. Porsche manager Von Hanstein changed his mind at the last minute and denied Gamble the car as it had a “works” engine installed.
For the GP of Europe at Monza, Sept. 4, 1960 Ferrari pushed the organizers to use the rough high banks to scare off the British rear engine cars. Chapman of Lotus led the boycott, rightly so as his fragile cars would likely have broken up. This boycott opened the entry for Formula Two cars so Gamble entered the CAMORADI Behra-Porsche for himself as driver and for starting money! Designer Collotti and builder Neri were in Gamble’s pit and were sure the car could run the 500 km race non-stop for fuel. So Gamble paced himself 500 rpm below redline, running 8th OA and 1st Privateer F2, when he was stranded out of fuel, ran to the pits for a can of gas and dashed across the line for 10th. Winner was Phil Hill in his works F1 Ferrari.
Gamble and team mechanic New Zealander Bob Wallace (who stayed in Modena and became Lamborghini’s Chief Test Engineer) took the Corvette and a Maserati to the Swedish GP for sports cars. Jo Bonnier drove the Birdcage to 2nd OA behind Moss in the first Lotus 19. Casner won the GT category. Bonnier then took both cars to a super highway and set a Swedish “Land Speed” record in the Maser and GT record in the Corvette.
Gamble had a starting money paid entry in the Goodwood Tourist Trophy race. Moss was the favorite in Rob Walker’s 250GT Ferrari. Gamble was confident his long wearing GOODYEAR tires would be an advantage on this notorious tire grinder circuit (as it was for Dunlop and Avon). Sadly, in southern Sweden after a lunch stop with beer, Wallace apparently dozed off, flipped and destroyed the Corvette.
Gamble left CAMORADI in October, dismayed by big spending Lucky Casner’s, abusing the team’s sponsors trust.
At December’s 1960 Nassau, Gamble was there as a journalist, looking for a ride as well and was approached by racing patron Frank Harrison of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Harrison had bought the ex-CAMORADI LeMans Streamliner and had just won the U.S.A. pro sports car Championship with Carroll Shelby and Jim Jeffords. Harrison proposal for Gamble to drive his Streamliner Birdcage and 450S Maseratis in National SCCA events, not abuse his cars and learn the circuits for the 61 season; for 62, buy the latest Cooper or Lotus and go for a National Championship. If that was achieved, he would go into a Formula One challenge for 1963. A dream opportunity.
Gamble was at Sebring 1961 as a reserve driver for Denise McCluggage and her inexperienced co-driver Alan Eager who might not have been approved for the race. Denise had her 250GT Ferrari, Alan was accepted and they won the GT category.
Gamble started the 61 season at the first National race at Marlboro, Maryland, finishing second to Bob Holbert (lap record holder). He drove through the first half of the season, leading in points after several races but sadly the team was coming unraveled in discord due to a difficult shop manager. This could not be resolved so Gamble left the Harrison operation and racing. He moved to New York and landed a Job as Assistant Advertising Manager, Standard-Triumph North America for the introduction of the TR4. Gamble and his Triumph boss Mike Cook pioneered the Triumph competition program, which was soon adopted by other manufacturers (another story). Also Gamble and Cook “GodFathered” Bob Tullius which evolved into his extremely successful Group 44.
At the end of the 1961 year, the SCCA announced its season Champions and Gamble was 3rd in points to Roger Penske and Walt Hansgen.
Summer of 1962, Carroll Shelby presented his first Cobra to Ford, won their support and went the New York to show off his new car to the International Motor Press Association. Gamble was a member. He and Shelby sat together at the luncheon and Carroll said he had to set up a company to produce his Cobras. He hired Gamble as his first Sales Manager. Off to Venice, California. Two months later at the Riverside Sports Car GP and the first race for the Cobra, Shelby and Gamble got together with GOODYEAR’s General Manager of Racing, Tony Webner. Over drinks and dinner Webner expounded his plans to expand GOODYEAR in racing and he needed another assistant. Shelby was the western states GOODYEAR racing tire distributor and commented that he needed GOODYEAR as well Ford’s support to go to Europe and “kick Enzo Ferarri’s ass” for the World GT Championship. The result was GOODYEAR bought Gamble. He, Webner and Shelby schemed through the 63 season to convince GOODYEAR management to approve an International Racing Tire Division. Gamble was appointed its founding Director.
February 1964, Gamble and his Chief Engineer Walt DeVinney established their head quarters at the GOODYEAR plant in Wolverhampton, England. In just 5 years, Gamble and his team had racked up seven World Championships and 3 LeMans victories (Ferrari 65, Ford 66-67), GOODYEAR’s first Formula One win (Ginther/Honda-Mexico 65) and Gurney’s historic All American 1967 Belgian GP win.
Gamble turned over GOODYEAR Racing in 1968 to Leo Mehl and transferred to General Management. Gamble’s collection photos, video and memorabilia are at the Watkins Glen research center, Watkins Glen, New York in 3 sections: GOODYEAR the early years, CAMORDI USA and Gamble personal.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He participated in one Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Grand Prix, the 1960 Italian Grand Prix
1960 Italian Grand Prix
The 1960 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on September 4, 1960. The race was won by American driver Phil Hill driving a Ferrari 246 F1.-Race Summary :...
, on September 4, 1960. He finished 10th overall driving the F2 Behra-Porsche, scoring no Championship points.
Early life
Gamble was as car mad as any other 40’s teenager, but the South Florida winter season was a land of expensive European sports cars vs California’s hot rod culture. Gamble got hooked on road racing from the first issue of ROAD & TRACK 1947 and snagged a ride in the first MGTC being sold in Fort Lauderdale.A family friend promoted racing (late 40’s) on an old abandoned Navy airfield(looked like a wagon wheel from the air) in Davie, Florida
Davie, Florida
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. The town's population was 91,992 at the 2010 census.- History :Davie was founded by Jake Tannebaum and Tamara Toussaint. The original name of the town was Zona. In 1909 R.P. Davie assisted then Governor Broward by draining the swamplands...
and hired Gamble and his high school buddies to set up bleachers, sell tickets, refreshments, programs, etc. for stock cars (before NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
) on the 2 mile circle taxiway. AAA midgets raced on an 1/8th mile oval on a parking ramp and sports cars on a simulated road circuit using the runways and taxiways. Big Bill France and his gang of good old boys in their hot rodded 39/40 Fords raced round the circle at speeds faster than INDY of that era! The big name INDY drivers raced their midgets in the winter season in Florida and California. The sports car crowd was led by SCCA founders Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Swift Cunningham II was an American entrepreneur and sportsman, who raced automobiles and yachts. Born into a wealthy family, he became a racing car constructor, driver, and team owner as well as a sports car manufacturer and automobile collector.He skippered the victorious yacht Columbia...
, the Miles brothers and northeastern friends.
Gamble graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School
Fort Lauderdale High School
school song = sang to the tune of "Flow Gently Sweet Afton" Fort Lauderdale High School is a secondary school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida serving students in grades 9 through 12...
in 1950 with his highlight being Captain of his State Championship Swim Team. He indulged in street racing his less than stock 1932 Ford and 39 Dodge.
The Korean War intervened and Gamble joined the Air Force to earn 4 years of college on the GI Bill. He served two voluntary combat tours but out of harms way as a senior ground radio operator. His last year in the AF was spent at Castle AFB, Merced, California
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
(l954) and his hot wheels was a 500cc AJS Scrambler and spectated at the Golden Gate Park and Pebble Beach road races.
Four years of college further delayed his racing ambitions but his final 3 years as president of the U. of Florida Sports Car Club, got him established with the SCCA, organizing events and hoping for a ride.
During his Senior year (57/58), Gamble’s wheels were a 1952 Jeep Station Wagon and Zundapp Scrambler. On his trips home to Fort Lauderdale, he had many laps at Sebring in the middle of the nights, dreaming of really racing there some day.
Racing
During his last semester in college, he spotted a disassembled Crosley Hot Shot, and conned the owner into a straight trade for his ZundappZündapp
Zündapp was a major German motorcycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1917 in Nuremberg by Fritz Neumeyer, together with the Friedrich Krupp AG and the machine tool manufacturer Thiel under the name "Zünder- und Apparatebau G.m.b.H." as a producer of detonators...
. Gamble discarded the body and in the local VW dealership (was a part time salesman) fabricated a feather-weight aluminum body, stock 750cc motor and called his HM special a Gambini MK1 and on his soon to earn international license, himself – Fredrico Gambini!
In his first national race,( May 1958, Gainsville, Georgia) he had a long race duel with a LeMans DB and finished second in H Modified. Gamble was hired by Jarrard Motors of Pensacola, a foreign car importer for Renault, Triumph, AC Cars, & Borgward servicing 200 dealers in eleven south east states. He was the assistant advertising manager and Triumph race team driver with Bill Kimberly. Jarrard raced a team of 3 TR3’s and Gamble was assigned to Sedan class battles with the new TR10 (1,000cc Standard 10) to dice with VW’s, Renault, Dauphines, and Morris Minors.
When Jarrard decided not to run the Factory Triumph team at Sebring in 1959, and stop his SCCA racing, Gamble resigned and returned to South Florida, to race an MGA for a U. of Miami student.
From the mid 50’s, Gamble had been a motoring journalist and contributor to Chris Economaki’s NATIONAL SPEED SPORT NEWS, The SCCA Magazine SPORTS CAR, Denise McCluggage’s COMPETITION PRESS and ROAD & TRACK.
At a mid-summer SCCA race in Miami, while racing the MGA, Gamble met Lloyd “Lucky” Casner, ex airline pilot, car dealer and successful racing driver in a string of cars – MG’s, Alfas, AC Bristols, Maseratis and Ferraris. Lucky announced at the victory presentation that he wanted to go race in Europe (didn’t we all?). He invited the amateur racers to contribute to a fund to finance his idea. He got a good laugh from the crowd.
Gamble knew Casner was a hustler/promoter, introduced himself with the suggestion he go along as a helper, publicist & pay his own way as a motoring journalist. Casner suggested a partnership to make his idea happen.
Gamble put on his thinking cap, college degree in advertising/PR/Journalism/Marketing, and inspired by Ecurie Ecosse, the Scottish National Racing Team that spawned Jim Clark and later Jackie Stewart, created the concept of America’s “Olympic Team” of motor racing to challenge the Europeans for World Championships.
Casner’s amateur racing team of friends called themselves CAMORADI Racing Team (Casner Motor Racing Division) as a tax write-off probably. So the proposed professional team was incorporated as CAMORADI USA, America’s first industry sponsored racing team with the best drivers from all race series in the best cars that could be acquired.
“Lucky” was an understatement . GOODYEAR was just getting into sportscar racing (Jan 59) and signed up with substantial financial support and all tires needed. Chevrolet’s President, Ed Cole and Zora Duntov, signed up with covert financial support (Engineering Dept.), two Corvettes with all competition options, funneled thru Don Allen Chevrolet, Miami. “Covert” because of an industry management ban on racing support. These first two backers opened the corporate doors to Shell/BP, Exide, Champion, DA Lubricants, Koni, Dow and Guest Airways (Mexico to Paris via Miami).
Casner took off to Europe in September (59) and approached bankrupt Maserati who had their new Birdcage T61, a world beater but no finances to race a factory team. CAMORADI was their answer for 1960. Casner also formed an alliance with Porsche’s Huschke Von Hanstein and bought two cars from the late Jean Behra’s estate – a lightweight Carrera and the special Behra-Porsche F2, which served as a test bed and prototype for Porsche’s 1960 F2 cars and 1962 F1 1,500cc Formula.
Due to his long association with Maserati, Stirling Moss muscled his way into CAMORADI thus polluting the All American idea. CAMORADI’s driver roster: Jim Rathman, Roger Ward, Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory, Dan Gurney, Juan Fangio(Parade lap at Cordova, Argentina 1960), Chuck Daigh, Jo Bonnier, Jack Mcafee, Jim Jeffords, Bill Weustoff, Fred Windridge, Joe Sheppard, Dick Dungan, Pinkie Windridge, Denise McCluggage, Umborto Maglioli, Nino Vaccarella, Nino Todaro, Gino Munaron, Georgio Scarlatti, Lucky Casner, Lee Lilley, Fred Gamble, Dave Lane, and Johnny Cuevas.
CAMORADI “works” Maseratis, led every World Sports Car Championship race of 1960, and won only 1,000 km Nurburgring with Gurney/Moss. Led Nassau 1959 (Shelby DNF Mechanical), Porsche RSK 2 Liter winner (Bonnier), GT winner Porsche Carerra(Cuevas); 1960 1,000 km Buenos Aires (Gurney/Gregory DNF Mechanical and accident); Argentine GP (Gregory Behra-Porsche); Havana GP for Sports Cars – 8 car entre, winning overall Moss Maserati, 2 Liter Gregory Porsche RSK, GT Corvette Jeffords, under 2 liter GT Cuevas Porsche Carerra; Sebring 12 hour, largest team entry ever of 8 cars, 3 Mazeratis (Gurney/Moss led 8 hours DNF Mechanical), 2 Porsche Carerras (under 2 liter GT winner and 2nd OA GT Sheppard/Dungan), 2 Corvettes Jeffords/Weustoff/Gamble (Gamble drove 12 hours solo – only one of two known to have done this – earned press notice as “iron man Gamble”). OSCA 750 (McCluggage/Windridge DNF).
At the Nurburgring, Gamble qualified the “Yank Tank” Corvette 3rd among the big GT’s, several 250 GT Ferraris but didn’t get to drive in the race as co-driver Lee Lilley started the race and DNF with wheel bearing failure. Gurney/Moss won overall in the team’s T61 Maserati, Gregory/Munaron 4th.
Off to LeMans24hours, Gregory/Daigh led with the famed Streamliner Birdcage Maserati, set a 3 liter lap record and top speed record of 170Mph, DNF engine failure, other two long tail Maseratis DNF with electrical faults. Gamble/Lilley drove their Corvette conservatively to finish 10th OA.
All CAMORADI Maseratis were prepared and maintained by the factory and in Europe race managed by Maserati. CAMORADI’s role was primarily financial. Gamble was the only full time principal in Europe, living in Modena, Casner frequently back in Miami.
Sad ending to Gamble’s LeMans story was to find out years later they had been excluded due to insufficient miles covered under the index of performance rules. Even tho at the race awards event, they were announced as 10th OA and awarded their participants medals. In 9th OA, just ahead of Gamble/Lilley was the 1959 OA winner Aston-Martin DBR1 and in 8th the Cunningham Corvette of Fitch/Grossman.
Gamble was approved to drive the Behra-Porsche in the 1960 German GP where the car was used by the factory in practice. Porsche manager Von Hanstein changed his mind at the last minute and denied Gamble the car as it had a “works” engine installed.
For the GP of Europe at Monza, Sept. 4, 1960 Ferrari pushed the organizers to use the rough high banks to scare off the British rear engine cars. Chapman of Lotus led the boycott, rightly so as his fragile cars would likely have broken up. This boycott opened the entry for Formula Two cars so Gamble entered the CAMORADI Behra-Porsche for himself as driver and for starting money! Designer Collotti and builder Neri were in Gamble’s pit and were sure the car could run the 500 km race non-stop for fuel. So Gamble paced himself 500 rpm below redline, running 8th OA and 1st Privateer F2, when he was stranded out of fuel, ran to the pits for a can of gas and dashed across the line for 10th. Winner was Phil Hill in his works F1 Ferrari.
Gamble and team mechanic New Zealander Bob Wallace (who stayed in Modena and became Lamborghini’s Chief Test Engineer) took the Corvette and a Maserati to the Swedish GP for sports cars. Jo Bonnier drove the Birdcage to 2nd OA behind Moss in the first Lotus 19. Casner won the GT category. Bonnier then took both cars to a super highway and set a Swedish “Land Speed” record in the Maser and GT record in the Corvette.
Gamble had a starting money paid entry in the Goodwood Tourist Trophy race. Moss was the favorite in Rob Walker’s 250GT Ferrari. Gamble was confident his long wearing GOODYEAR tires would be an advantage on this notorious tire grinder circuit (as it was for Dunlop and Avon). Sadly, in southern Sweden after a lunch stop with beer, Wallace apparently dozed off, flipped and destroyed the Corvette.
Gamble left CAMORADI in October, dismayed by big spending Lucky Casner’s, abusing the team’s sponsors trust.
At December’s 1960 Nassau, Gamble was there as a journalist, looking for a ride as well and was approached by racing patron Frank Harrison of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Harrison had bought the ex-CAMORADI LeMans Streamliner and had just won the U.S.A. pro sports car Championship with Carroll Shelby and Jim Jeffords. Harrison proposal for Gamble to drive his Streamliner Birdcage and 450S Maseratis in National SCCA events, not abuse his cars and learn the circuits for the 61 season; for 62, buy the latest Cooper or Lotus and go for a National Championship. If that was achieved, he would go into a Formula One challenge for 1963. A dream opportunity.
Gamble was at Sebring 1961 as a reserve driver for Denise McCluggage and her inexperienced co-driver Alan Eager who might not have been approved for the race. Denise had her 250GT Ferrari, Alan was accepted and they won the GT category.
Gamble started the 61 season at the first National race at Marlboro, Maryland, finishing second to Bob Holbert (lap record holder). He drove through the first half of the season, leading in points after several races but sadly the team was coming unraveled in discord due to a difficult shop manager. This could not be resolved so Gamble left the Harrison operation and racing. He moved to New York and landed a Job as Assistant Advertising Manager, Standard-Triumph North America for the introduction of the TR4. Gamble and his Triumph boss Mike Cook pioneered the Triumph competition program, which was soon adopted by other manufacturers (another story). Also Gamble and Cook “GodFathered” Bob Tullius which evolved into his extremely successful Group 44.
At the end of the 1961 year, the SCCA announced its season Champions and Gamble was 3rd in points to Roger Penske and Walt Hansgen.
Summer of 1962, Carroll Shelby presented his first Cobra to Ford, won their support and went the New York to show off his new car to the International Motor Press Association. Gamble was a member. He and Shelby sat together at the luncheon and Carroll said he had to set up a company to produce his Cobras. He hired Gamble as his first Sales Manager. Off to Venice, California. Two months later at the Riverside Sports Car GP and the first race for the Cobra, Shelby and Gamble got together with GOODYEAR’s General Manager of Racing, Tony Webner. Over drinks and dinner Webner expounded his plans to expand GOODYEAR in racing and he needed another assistant. Shelby was the western states GOODYEAR racing tire distributor and commented that he needed GOODYEAR as well Ford’s support to go to Europe and “kick Enzo Ferarri’s ass” for the World GT Championship. The result was GOODYEAR bought Gamble. He, Webner and Shelby schemed through the 63 season to convince GOODYEAR management to approve an International Racing Tire Division. Gamble was appointed its founding Director.
February 1964, Gamble and his Chief Engineer Walt DeVinney established their head quarters at the GOODYEAR plant in Wolverhampton, England. In just 5 years, Gamble and his team had racked up seven World Championships and 3 LeMans victories (Ferrari 65, Ford 66-67), GOODYEAR’s first Formula One win (Ginther/Honda-Mexico 65) and Gurney’s historic All American 1967 Belgian GP win.
Gamble turned over GOODYEAR Racing in 1968 to Leo Mehl and transferred to General Management. Gamble’s collection photos, video and memorabilia are at the Watkins Glen research center, Watkins Glen, New York in 3 sections: GOODYEAR the early years, CAMORDI USA and Gamble personal.
Movie involvements
- The Green HelmetThe Green HelmetThe Green Helmet is a 1961 British film starring Bill Travers, Ed Begley and Sid James. The film is centred around a British motor racing team. It is based on a novel by Australian author Jon Cleary.-Cast:* Bill Travers as Rafferty...
(1961) - Grand Prix (1966)
- Chitty Chitty Bang BangChitty Chitty Bang BangChitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car is a children's book written by Ian Fleming for his son Caspar, with illustrations by John Burningham...
(1968)
Complete Formula One results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 1960 Formula One season The 1960 Formula One season featured the eleventh FIA World Championship of Drivers, the third International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and numerous non-championship Formula One races... |
Camoradi USA | Behra-Porsche Special Behra-Porsche Behra-Porsche was a Formula One constructor competing briefly in 1960.The company was founded by Jean Behra, an established French racer. He had been driving a Ferrari D246 in 1959 but was dismissed from the team after the French GP... |
Porsche | ARG 1960 Argentine Grand Prix The 1960 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Buenos Aires on February 7, 1960.- Classification :* Trintignant and Moss received no points for the shared drive-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standings... |
MON 1960 Monaco Grand Prix The 1960 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monaco on May 29, 1960.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: Stirling Moss - 1:36.3*Fastest Lap: Bruce McLaren - 1:36.2*First win for a Lotus in a World Championship Formula One race... |
500 1960 Indianapolis 500 The 1960 Indianapolis 500 was an automobile race held at Indianapolis on Monday, May 30, 1960. The event was part of the 1960 World Drivers' Championship; the last Indianapolis 500 to be included in the Championship.- Classification :... |
NED 1960 Dutch Grand Prix The 1960 Dutch Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zandvoort on June 6, 1960.Due to a crash by Dan Gurney, a spectator, who was in a prohibited area, was killed during this event.- Classification :- Notes :... |
BEL 1960 Belgian Grand Prix The 1960 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 19 June 1960. It is remembered as one of Formula One's darkest days due to the deaths of Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey and the serious accidents of Stirling Moss and Mike Taylor.The results highlight an unusual... |
FRA 1960 French Grand Prix The 1960 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims-Gueux on July 3, 1960.- Classification :-Standings after the race:Drivers' Championship standingsConstructors' Championship standings... |
GBR 1960 British Grand Prix The 1960 British Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, England, on 16 July 1960. The race was the seventh round of the 1960 Formula One season, the final Formula One season run to the 2.5 litre maximum engine displacement rules which had been in... |
POR 1960 Portuguese Grand Prix The 1960 Portuguese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuito da Boavista, Oporto on August 14, 1960.- Classification :- Notes :*Pole position: John Surtees - 2:25.56*Fastest Lap: John Surtees - 2:27.53... |
ITA 1960 Italian Grand Prix The 1960 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Monza on September 4, 1960. The race was won by American driver Phil Hill driving a Ferrari 246 F1.-Race Summary :... 10 |
USA 1960 United States Grand Prix The 1960 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on November 20, 1960 at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California.__FORCETOC__-Summary:... |
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