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Topic: Gambler 100"er Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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Bkcr
MyWebsite
May 22, 2010 at 08:18:12 AM
Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 599
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Posted By: jlstew25 on May 21 2010 at 09:29:22 PM

Hey David,

Is that Steve Carbone lettered on the wing?



In his book Doug Wolfgang talks a lot about engine height and how it affected handling. He said that the Gambler and Nance chassis had the engine to high for his driving style and the Stanton fitted his style a lot better. It is interesting that in his super year of 1977 with Trosstle, they did not know what to do to stop the car from pushing and tipping over.

Ray



SFSfan
May 22, 2010 at 12:06:38 PM
Joined: 07/17/2007
Posts: 635
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Look how close the guy in the white is standing to the track to snap a photo of what looks like an OFIXCO car. Crazy!


"They're steering them sum bi***es with their right 
foot!"

brian26
May 22, 2010 at 12:39:08 PM
Joined: 12/03/2006
Posts: 7918
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Posted By: Trammel on May 01 2010 at 07:35:33 AM

I know a little about the Gambler story and was wondering if someone help tell the story about the beginning? I think it would great to learn from someone who mabey worked at the shop in the beginning. Any help out there. Thanks Trammel



Got this from Shane Carson, pics later.

 

 

It's 1979. Wolfgang is running back and forth between the Speedy Bill 4x car, and the Vise-Grip Trostle house car. Each time he moves, the owners seem to displace Shane.

Meanwhile, Shane keeps doing well enough to stay on the national radar. Good enough that he gets the ride C K Spurlock owns at the time. It was a Trostle, and Shane was well aquainted with them by then. Lorretta Lynn threw in some money to sponsor the deal, which was fairly easy since C K was her manager. That was a big deal at the time since Loretta was getting a lot of airtime and a movie was in the works, also she had a lot of duets with Conway Twitty on board.

 

So, Shane is tooling down the backstretch in early '79 (I guess), and the front axle snaps (Not Trostles fault). The car goes to flipping and tearing itself apart to the point it is junk. And that, was the end of the Lorretta Lynn venture into the wonderful world of sprint car racing.

The remains of the car go back to Tennessee, and end up at a NAPA Autoparts store. The guy in the back is a good friend of C K's, his name was Floyd Bailey. Floyd ran the machine shop, and he was certain he could fix it, of course the car needed a new frame.

 

Now then, between Floyd, CK, and some help from Shane , they copy that Trostle. The car gets done, and Shane goes back to OKC to get packed and get to the Bowl in DFW. He then gets a call from the guys that Dub May has the ride now, and they no longer needed his help. Of course, that pissed him off at the time.

Meanwhile, CK and Floyd are thinking "Hey! We could streamline this whole deal and build several at a time"!

CK Spurlock was also the manager of Kenny Rogers at the time, and Kenny was walking in high cotton. Kenny writes a check, and Gambler Chassis was born.

Apparently, by the time Tommy Sanders got the Bowl in '85, he was well aware he needed to get Shane together with his new employers. They had known each other for years by then. And the 100" market was going to be tough.

 





brian26
May 22, 2010 at 12:47:15 PM
Joined: 12/03/2006
Posts: 7918
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Just like he had done after being dropped by Trostle at Chula Vista, where he went on to win the Eldora Nationals for someone else, in a Trostle-

Shane did the same here in a Gambler.

Hutch, NCRA Champ, and the '86 NCRA vs USAC win.

It took a few good people to make that happen of course, but it took the right wheelman with a personal cause to ride those horses past some tough hombres.. Shane made the grade.




DGM 7620
May 22, 2010 at 10:11:19 PM
Joined: 07/18/2007
Posts: 377
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Reply to:
Posted By: jlstew25 on May 21 2010 at 09:29:22 PM

Hey David,

Is that Steve Carbone lettered on the wing?



John,

Yes that is Carbone's name on the wing, Steve struck a deal with Shane to help us with some motor stuff in '86, he did a few things for us but he got more pub with his name on that wing then we got service from him!!! You know alot of people thing I hated Carbone and believe me I went plenty of rounds with him we were deffiently not even friends but I had alot of respect for Steve because I knew what a great TOP FUEL RACER he was, anybody that could beat Garlets at the US NATS was big. As a racer I admired him, in the engine building I did not, it wasn't because he didn't build good motors because he did his record more then proves it. It's just my opinion that some of his ways of doing business were not up to par. The Old Man and I bought a lot of parts from him and used them against him and Offico, it's part of what made racing great back then, you might not like one another tonight but would give you anything you needed the next. Hell I don't mind telling you Steve Carbone, Carol Nance, Jerry Stone, Bob Ewell and a couple more were what motovated me, When Steve & Carol died I felt like I lost a good friend, even though we hadn't talked in years I still respected them!!!!!! Respect is something that is really lacking in todays racing!!!!!!!!!!!



Trammel
May 23, 2010 at 08:43:31 AM
Joined: 10/07/2008
Posts: 86
Reply

Respect is something that is high on my list. It is not given it is erned. When these Ledgons are gone so are the stories, that is why it is important to tell the stories and keep them alive. Some of the greasest memories are some of the crazy things that happened not at the track but in the shops and on the road. Thanks for all the input keep the stories coming.

I knew Spurlock was Kenny Rodgers manager but didn't know about Loretta Lynn.

Was Spurlock always a race fan? I know he had a Kustom Mercury built but don't know too much more. I was wondering the racing connection.




Racing From The Past
MyWebsite
May 23, 2010 at 12:03:45 PM
Joined: 12/04/2004
Posts: 2303
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His kid went on to race. I believe it was drag racing though. I think this was after Gambler.


Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

Bkcr
MyWebsite
May 23, 2010 at 05:32:01 PM
Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 599
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Reply to:
Posted By: brian26 on May 22 2010 at 12:39:08 PM

Got this from Shane Carson, pics later.

 

 

It's 1979. Wolfgang is running back and forth between the Speedy Bill 4x car, and the Vise-Grip Trostle house car. Each time he moves, the owners seem to displace Shane.

Meanwhile, Shane keeps doing well enough to stay on the national radar. Good enough that he gets the ride C K Spurlock owns at the time. It was a Trostle, and Shane was well aquainted with them by then. Lorretta Lynn threw in some money to sponsor the deal, which was fairly easy since C K was her manager. That was a big deal at the time since Loretta was getting a lot of airtime and a movie was in the works, also she had a lot of duets with Conway Twitty on board.

 

So, Shane is tooling down the backstretch in early '79 (I guess), and the front axle snaps (Not Trostles fault). The car goes to flipping and tearing itself apart to the point it is junk. And that, was the end of the Lorretta Lynn venture into the wonderful world of sprint car racing.

The remains of the car go back to Tennessee, and end up at a NAPA Autoparts store. The guy in the back is a good friend of C K's, his name was Floyd Bailey. Floyd ran the machine shop, and he was certain he could fix it, of course the car needed a new frame.

 

Now then, between Floyd, CK, and some help from Shane , they copy that Trostle. The car gets done, and Shane goes back to OKC to get packed and get to the Bowl in DFW. He then gets a call from the guys that Dub May has the ride now, and they no longer needed his help. Of course, that pissed him off at the time.

Meanwhile, CK and Floyd are thinking "Hey! We could streamline this whole deal and build several at a time"!

CK Spurlock was also the manager of Kenny Rogers at the time, and Kenny was walking in high cotton. Kenny writes a check, and Gambler Chassis was born.

Apparently, by the time Tommy Sanders got the Bowl in '85, he was well aware he needed to get Shane together with his new employers. They had known each other for years by then. And the 100" market was going to be tough.

 



In March of 1977 there was a sprint car race at the big Tulsa track and Charlie Swartz (not the correct spelling) car was called the "Loretta Lynn Special" there was a big article in the paper about this sponsorship. I don't know if this is how Gambler got started but I imagine it had something to do withe it.

In Doug Wolfgang's book "Lone Wolf " chapter 10 is called Soap Opera and is about the 1979 season and how he and Shane traded rides several times. there is also a chapter about his season as the driver of the Gambler car and all of their wins and problems. it is amazing reading this book and Brad Doty"s about his opinion of Kenny Woodruff. You would think that they were not the same person.

Ray



Racing From The Past
MyWebsite
May 23, 2010 at 06:23:13 PM
Joined: 12/04/2004
Posts: 2303
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In 1979 the movie the Gambler with Kenny Rogers was being filmed. The 2nd issue of Open Wheel has the #18 on the cover with Kenny and I believe Danny Smith?? I would have to dig it out of the boxes to actually see if is Danny. CK and Kenny looked a lot a like if I remember. I would imagine autograph seekers might have mistaken CK for Kenny.


Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes


brian26
May 24, 2010 at 02:21:29 AM
Joined: 12/03/2006
Posts: 7918
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Reply to:
Posted By: Bkcr on May 23 2010 at 05:32:01 PM

In March of 1977 there was a sprint car race at the big Tulsa track and Charlie Swartz (not the correct spelling) car was called the "Loretta Lynn Special" there was a big article in the paper about this sponsorship. I don't know if this is how Gambler got started but I imagine it had something to do withe it.

In Doug Wolfgang's book "Lone Wolf " chapter 10 is called Soap Opera and is about the 1979 season and how he and Shane traded rides several times. there is also a chapter about his season as the driver of the Gambler car and all of their wins and problems. it is amazing reading this book and Brad Doty"s about his opinion of Kenny Woodruff. You would think that they were not the same person.

Ray



I know I don't have 'total recall', but I do know that when it was sponsored by Loretta, the car in question was a Trostle.




Trammel
May 24, 2010 at 08:23:23 AM
Joined: 10/07/2008
Posts: 86
Reply

From the history everyone is sharing there is plenty of stories about drivers and car owners to fill a good book. Maybe it could be called Driving the OKLAHOMA PLAINS. Or what about a vintage organisation called OPRA Okla Plains Racing Association. What a play on words that would be.



Bkcr
MyWebsite
May 24, 2010 at 10:36:22 AM
Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 599
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Posted By: brian26 on May 24 2010 at 02:21:29 AM

I know I don't have 'total recall', but I do know that when it was sponsored by Loretta, the car in question was a Trostle.



I don't know what kinda of car that it was , I just remember the Loretta Lynn Special on the car. Back then the drivers would pick up local sponsers when they could for as much as they could get. One car was sponsered by "DeJanerts Wiggly Worms" the best fishing worms in OK That might havesbeen in the 1979 WoO race her in Tulsa.

I have the 2nd issue of Open Wheel" and the Kenny Rogers Special driven by Danny Smith is on the cover. I heard the the 1st issue of Open Wheel is worth up to $500, I have it some where but can't find it.

ray




brian26
May 24, 2010 at 12:46:37 PM
Joined: 12/03/2006
Posts: 7918
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Reply to:
Posted By: Racing From The Past on May 23 2010 at 06:23:13 PM

In 1979 the movie the Gambler with Kenny Rogers was being filmed. The 2nd issue of Open Wheel has the #18 on the cover with Kenny and I believe Danny Smith?? I would have to dig it out of the boxes to actually see if is Danny. CK and Kenny looked a lot a like if I remember. I would imagine autograph seekers might have mistaken CK for Kenny.



The 2nd issue of OW was on the stands it looks like first of 1981. I have no.1 and no.2. For some reason I have always thought it was February. It has results from Syracuse superdirtweek, that is in Oct 1980, with 3 months lead time for stories, that puts the magazine at February or thereabouts. And then the magazine was bi-monthly, which could have little effect on the subject.

Also in no. 2 OW, there is a pic or 2 of the last Parson chassis Suchy #76, in a crash scene of all things.




Bkcr
MyWebsite
May 24, 2010 at 03:26:30 PM
Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 599
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Reply to:
Posted By: brian26 on May 24 2010 at 12:46:37 PM

The 2nd issue of OW was on the stands it looks like first of 1981. I have no.1 and no.2. For some reason I have always thought it was February. It has results from Syracuse superdirtweek, that is in Oct 1980, with 3 months lead time for stories, that puts the magazine at February or thereabouts. And then the magazine was bi-monthly, which could have little effect on the subject.

Also in no. 2 OW, there is a pic or 2 of the last Parson chassis Suchy #76, in a crash scene of all things.



Ther are several pictures in "Sprint Cars of the 60's and 70's on the RFTP home page that are very interesting: photo #1344 is the Loretta Lynn Special. #1436 The Nuckles Brothers car being driven by Shane at the WoO final 1978

Luther photo #1439 is a sprint roadster that mabee you know who the driver. is.

Ray



Sprint97
May 24, 2010 at 04:15:52 PM
Joined: 03/19/2007
Posts: 253
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This message was edited on May 26, 2010 at 11:05:21 AM by Sprint97
Reply to:
Posted By: Bkcr on May 24 2010 at 03:26:30 PM

Ther are several pictures in "Sprint Cars of the 60's and 70's on the RFTP home page that are very interesting: photo #1344 is the Loretta Lynn Special. #1436 The Nuckles Brothers car being driven by Shane at the WoO final 1978

Luther photo #1439 is a sprint roadster that mabee you know who the driver. is.

Ray



I looked at the #1439 photo and do not know who it is. The roll bar, tail section & bumper look the same as the Don Brown roadster at the 67 IMCA Hutch fair picture....Luther




brian26
May 31, 2010 at 06:38:19 PM
Joined: 12/03/2006
Posts: 7918
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Reply to:
Posted By: brian26 on May 22 2010 at 12:39:08 PM

Got this from Shane Carson, pics later.

 

 

It's 1979. Wolfgang is running back and forth between the Speedy Bill 4x car, and the Vise-Grip Trostle house car. Each time he moves, the owners seem to displace Shane.

Meanwhile, Shane keeps doing well enough to stay on the national radar. Good enough that he gets the ride C K Spurlock owns at the time. It was a Trostle, and Shane was well aquainted with them by then. Lorretta Lynn threw in some money to sponsor the deal, which was fairly easy since C K was her manager. That was a big deal at the time since Loretta was getting a lot of airtime and a movie was in the works, also she had a lot of duets with Conway Twitty on board.

 

So, Shane is tooling down the backstretch in early '79 (I guess), and the front axle snaps (Not Trostles fault). The car goes to flipping and tearing itself apart to the point it is junk. And that, was the end of the Lorretta Lynn venture into the wonderful world of sprint car racing.

The remains of the car go back to Tennessee, and end up at a NAPA Autoparts store. The guy in the back is a good friend of C K's, his name was Floyd Bailey. Floyd ran the machine shop, and he was certain he could fix it, of course the car needed a new frame.

 

Now then, between Floyd, CK, and some help from Shane , they copy that Trostle. The car gets done, and Shane goes back to OKC to get packed and get to the Bowl in DFW. He then gets a call from the guys that Dub May has the ride now, and they no longer needed his help. Of course, that pissed him off at the time.

Meanwhile, CK and Floyd are thinking "Hey! We could streamline this whole deal and build several at a time"!

CK Spurlock was also the manager of Kenny Rogers at the time, and Kenny was walking in high cotton. Kenny writes a check, and Gambler Chassis was born.

Apparently, by the time Tommy Sanders got the Bowl in '85, he was well aware he needed to get Shane together with his new employers. They had known each other for years by then. And the 100" market was going to be tough.

 



dubmay.jpg picture by brian26_photos_2007




Trammel
June 01, 2010 at 07:05:06 AM
Joined: 10/07/2008
Posts: 86
Reply

I am wondering what was the weight of the 18 car? It looks like it is light. I like the short side bars,and the reenforced push bar.



Trammel
June 11, 2010 at 07:27:23 AM
Joined: 10/07/2008
Posts: 86
Reply

The 91 is ready for Ada this weekend. I put in new plugs changed the oil and tires and loaded it in the trailer. Looking foward to a good show talking to all the fans.




Trammel
June 14, 2010 at 01:10:14 PM
Joined: 10/07/2008
Posts: 86
Reply

I took demons to the Ada track. The car was running great at the shop. At the track the fuel pump would not pump. Checked the switches and wiring all ok still no fire. Took the fuel pump off tore into it and found stuck brushes, got it going everything seemed to be working fine. I suited up got in the car got belted in and fired it up only to find fuel dripping on the header. It was coming from the bottom of the fuel pump. The end of my race night. Better to be around to race another night than go up in a ball of flames.



Trammel
June 30, 2010 at 07:21:37 AM
Joined: 10/07/2008
Posts: 86
Reply

I started doing clean up on my body panels and found a Gambler business card laminated inside the hood. I was wondering if Gambler did this to all of there hoods?Also was wondering how many parts on there cars has Gambler on them. I found the fuel shutoff lever has Gambler on it. I am trying to gather all the correct parts and make it as original as possible.





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