FredGamble

Early Career and Motorsport Foundations

Frederick Kesner Gamble, born on March 17, 1932, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, embarked on a multifaceted career in motorsport that spanned driving, team management, and industry leadership. His formative years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following his family's relocation after the Second World War, exposed him to the burgeoning sports car scene, igniting a lifelong passion. This early immersion led him to a job selling refreshments at a local racetrack, a position that proved instrumental in forging connections within the racing community. After graduating from Fort Lauderdale High School in 1950, Gamble served as a radio operator in the Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his return, he pursued higher education at California Polytechnic State University and later the University of Florida, actively engaging with racing clubs at both institutions. Gamble’s entry into competitive driving showcased his ingenuity and resourcefulness. During his final semester in college, he acquired a disassembled Crosley Hot Shot, which he ingeniously traded for his Zündapp motorcycle. Working part-time as a salesman at a local Volkswagen dealership, Gamble discarded the original body and fabricated a lightweight aluminum shell for the Crosley’s stock 750cc motor. He christened this creation the Gambini MK1, adopting the racing moniker “Fredrico Gambini” for his soon-to-be-acquired international license. His debut national race in May 1958, held in Gainesville, Georgia, saw him achieve a commendable second-place finish in the H Modified class after a protracted duel with a Le Mans DB. His burgeoning talent and business acumen soon caught the attention of Jarrard Motors of Pensacola, a prominent foreign car importer. Gamble was hired as assistant advertising manager and a factory Triumph race team driver, partnering with Bill Kimberly. He competed in Sedan class battles with the Triumph TR10, dicing with contemporary Volkswagen, Renault Dauphine, and Morris Minor entries. When Jarrard Motors withdrew from SCCA racing in 1959, Gamble resigned and returned to South Florida, where he continued racing an MGA for a University of Miami student. Concurrently, from the mid-1950s, Gamble cultivated a parallel career as a motoring journalist, contributing to respected publications such as Chris Economaki's National Speed Sport News, The SCCA magazine Sports Car, Denise McCluggage's Competition Press, and Road & Track.

The Camoradi Era and Formula One Debut

Fred Gamble’s career took a significant turn when he encountered Lloyd “Lucky” Casner, an ex-airline pilot and successful racing driver, at an SCCA race in Miami. Casner, expressing a desire to race in Europe, initially sought financial contributions from amateur racers. Recognizing Casner’s entrepreneurial spirit, Gamble proposed a partnership, offering his services as a helper, publicist, and motoring journalist, covering his own expenses. Leveraging his background in advertising, PR, journalism, and marketing, Gamble conceived the ambitious vision of “America’s Olympic Team” of motor racing. Inspired by the success of Ecurie Ecosse, this concept aimed to challenge European dominance in world championships. The amateur racing group, Casner Motor Racing Division (Camoradi), was subsequently incorporated as Camoradi USA, positioning itself as America’s first industry-sponsored racing team, committed to fielding top drivers in the best available machinery. Under Gamble’s strategic guidance, Camoradi USA secured substantial backing. Goodyear, then expanding into sports car racing, provided significant financial support and all necessary tires. Chevrolet, through covert financial aid from its Engineering Department and two competition-spec Corvettes funneled via Don Allen Chevrolet, also became a key supporter, circumventing an industry-wide ban on direct racing involvement. These initial endorsements paved the way for further corporate partnerships with Shell/BP, Exide, Champion, DA Lubricants, Koni, Dow, and Guest Airways. Casner traveled to Europe in September 1959, securing a pivotal alliance with Maserati, which saw Camoradi become the factory’s racing arm for the new Birdcage T61. Additionally, an agreement with Porsche’s Huschke Von Hanstein led to the acquisition of two cars from the late Jean Behra’s estate: a lightweight Carrera and the special Behra-Porsche F2, a crucial testbed for Porsche’s 1960 F2 and 1962 F1 1,500cc formula cars. The team’s driver roster grew to include an impressive array of talent, though the inclusion of Stirling Moss, due to his Maserati ties, somewhat diluted the initial “all-American” ethos. Camoradi’s 1960 season was marked by significant participation in the World Sports Car Championship. The team’s Maseratis led every race and secured a notable victory at the 1,000 km Nürburgring with Dan Gurney and Stirling Moss. Gamble himself demonstrated his endurance and skill at the Sebring 12-hour race, where he drove a Corvette for a full 12 hours solo, an accomplishment that earned him the press moniker “iron man Gamble” and was one of only two known instances of such a feat. At the Nürburgring, he qualified the “Yank Tank” Corvette third among the big GTs, though he did not drive in the race due to a co-driver’s mechanical failure. At the Le Mans 24 Hours, Gamble and co-driver Lee Lilley finished 10th overall in their Corvette, driving conservatively. However, they were later retroactively excluded due to insufficient miles under the index of performance rules, despite being announced as 10th and receiving participants’ medals at the awards ceremony. Throughout this period, Gamble served as Camoradi’s only full-time principal in Europe, residing in Modena, while Casner frequently returned to Miami. His single Formula One Grand Prix appearance came at the 1960 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The race was notable for Ferrari’s insistence on using the rough high banks, prompting a boycott by British teams, including Lotus, concerned about the fragility of their rear-engined cars. This opened the grid to Formula Two entries, providing an opportunity for Gamble to enter the Camoradi Behra-Porsche, primarily to secure starting money. With designer Collotti and builder Neri in his pit, Gamble strategically paced himself 500 rpm below the redline, aiming for a non-stop run. He was running 8th overall and leading the privateer F2 entries when he ran out of fuel. After a quick dash to the pits for a can of gas, he rejoined to finish 10th overall, in a race won by Phil Hill in a works F1 Ferrari.

Post-Camoradi Racing and Transition to Industry Leadership

Following his departure from Camoradi in October 1960, disillusioned by what he perceived as Casner’s excessive spending and abuse of sponsor trust, Gamble continued to seek opportunities in racing. At the December 1960 Nassau event, attending as a journalist, he was approached by racing patron Frank Harrison. Harrison presented a compelling proposal: Gamble would drive his ex-Camoradi Streamliner and 450S Maseratis in National SCCA events for the 1961 season, with the prospect of acquiring a new Cooper or Lotus for a National Championship bid in 1962, leading to a potential Formula One challenge in 1963. Gamble began the 1961 season strongly, finishing second at the first National race in Marlboro, Maryland, and leading the points standings after several races. However, internal discord within Harrison’s team, attributed to a difficult shop manager, led Gamble to leave the operation and step away from active racing. He subsequently moved to New York, securing a position as Assistant Advertising Manager for Standard-Triumph North America, where he was instrumental in the introduction of the TR4. Alongside his boss, Mike Cook, Gamble pioneered Triumph’s competition program, a model that was soon adopted by other manufacturers. Notably, Gamble and Cook also mentored Bob Tullius, whose Group 44 racing team went on to achieve considerable success. At the close of the 1961 season, Gamble was recognized for his strong performance, finishing third in the SCCA season championship points, behind racing legends Roger Penske and Walt Hansgen.

Goodyear Racing Director and Enduring Legacy

Fred Gamble’s career trajectory shifted definitively towards motorsport industry leadership in the summer of 1962. When Carroll Shelby presented his first Cobra to Ford, securing their support, he subsequently showcased the car to the International Motor Press Association in New York, where Gamble was a member. Shelby then hired Gamble as his first Sales Manager for the Cobra project. Two months later, at the Riverside Sports Car GP, the Cobra’s debut race, Gamble, Shelby, and Tony Webner, Goodyear’s General Manager of Racing, discussed Goodyear’s ambitions to expand its presence in motorsport. Shelby, who was the western states Goodyear racing tire distributor, articulated his need for Goodyear and Ford’s backing to challenge Ferrari for the World GT Championship in Europe. This pivotal conversation led to Goodyear acquiring Gamble’s services. Over the course of 1963, Gamble, Webner, and Shelby strategically worked to convince Goodyear management to approve the establishment of an International Racing Tire Division, with Gamble appointed as its founding Director. In February 1964, Gamble and his Chief Engineer, Walt DeVinney, established the division’s headquarters at the Goodyear plant in Wolverhampton, England. Under Gamble’s leadership, this division achieved extraordinary success in a remarkably short period. Within just five years, his team amassed an impressive record of seven World Championships and three victories at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours (Ferrari in 1965, Ford in 1966 and 1967). Furthermore, this era saw Goodyear secure its first Formula One win with Richie Ginther and Honda at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, followed by Dan Gurney’s historic all-American victory at the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix. In 1968, Gamble transitioned from his role, handing over Goodyear Racing to Leo Mehl and moving into general management within the company. His significant contributions to motorsport are preserved in his collection of photos, videos, and memorabilia, housed at the Watkins Glen research center in New York, categorized into sections covering his personal life, the Camoradi USA period, and the early years of Goodyear Racing. Beyond his direct involvement in racing and industry, Fred Gamble also contributed to the cultural representation of motorsport, participating in film productions such as “The Green Helmet” (1961), “Grand Prix” (1966), and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” (1968). Fred Gamble passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 30, 2024, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy as a driver, visionary team builder, and a pivotal figure in the global expansion of motorsport tire technology.