Fred Gamble, a racing driver from the United States, had a distinguished career with several notable achievements. He finished 10th overall in the 1960 Italian Grand Prix, driving the Formula Two Behra-Porsche. Gamble also competed in the 1960 Le Mans 24 hours, where he and his co-driver Lee Lilley finished 10th overall in a Corvette. Additionally, he was a key figure in the Camoradi Racing Team, which competed in various sports car racing events in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Fred Kesner Gamble was born on March 17, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after World War II. Gamble developed an interest in motorsports while living in Fort Lauderdale, where he was exposed to sports cars. He graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School in 1950 and later joined the Air Force as a radio operator during the Korean War. After leaving the military, Gamble attended California Polytechnic State University and the University of Florida, where he was involved with racing clubs.
Gamble's racing career began in 1958, when he competed in his first national race in Gainesville, Georgia, finishing second in the H Modified class. He then joined Jarrard Motors, a foreign car importer, as a driver and assistant advertising manager. Gamble drove a Triumph TR3 and later an MGA for a University of Miami student.
In 1959, Gamble met Lloyd "Lucky" Casner, a successful racing driver and entrepreneur, who was forming the Camoradi Racing Team. Gamble joined the team and played a key role in its development. The team competed in various sports car racing events, including the 1960 1,000 km Buenos Aires, where Dan Gurney and Masten Gregory drove a Maserati to a DNF. At the 1960 Sebring 12 hours, Gamble drove a Corvette solo for 12 hours, earning press notice as an "iron man." The team's Maseratis, led by Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney, won several races, including the 1,000 km Nurburgring.
One of the defining incidents of Gamble's career was his involvement in the Camoradi Racing Team's Le Mans 24 hours campaign in 1960. Gamble and Lee Lilley drove a Corvette to a 10th place finish, but were later excluded due to insufficient miles covered under the index of performance rules. Gamble was also involved in a number of other incidents, including a crash at the Goodwood Tourist Trophy race, where the team's Corvette was destroyed.
Fred Gamble passed away on March 30, 2024, at the age of 92, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Gamble's racing career was marked by several notable achievements, including his top 10 finish in the 1960 Italian Grand Prix and his 10th place finish at the 1960 Le Mans 24 hours. He was also a key figure in the development of the Camoradi Racing Team and played a crucial role in its success.
After leaving the Camoradi Racing Team, Gamble went on to work in the racing industry in various capacities. He was a member of the International Motor Press Association and worked as a sales manager for Carroll Shelby's Cobra team. Gamble later joined Goodyear as the founding director of its International Racing Tire Division, where he played a key role in the company's success in motorsports.
Gamble's contributions to motorsports were recognized through his appointment as the founding director of Goodyear's International Racing Tire Division. His collection of photos, videos, and memorabilia are now housed at the Watkins Glen research center in New York.
Gamble was involved in the production of several films, including "The Green Helmet" (1961), "Grand Prix" (1966), and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968).
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