Born |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
March 17, 1932
---|---|
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | American |
Active years | 1960 |
Teams | Behra-Porsche |
Entries | 1 |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Career points | 0 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 1960 Italian Grand Prix |
Last entry | 1960 Italian Grand Prix |
Fred K. Gamble (born March 17, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) 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 Formula Two Behra-Porsche, scoring no Championship points.
Gamble was as car mad as any other 1940s 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 in 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 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 Collier 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.