Gambler History
 

My friend Dudley Balmer posted this at his National Speedway Ministries website.
Dave Cash of Palm Coast, Florida is searching for any relevant history of Gambler race cars. Dave owns, displays and races the beautiful yellow number 98 Gambler with the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association. The car that Dave races is the fifth one out of the shop. We would like to trace at least cars one through ten as to where they went, who drove them and where they may be today.

Any information or the contact info of anyone who may posess one of the early cars or related history would be appreciated. You may contact Dave at flacash@aol.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or us here at National Speedway Ministries. This is a labor of love by Dave as his history with C.K.Spurlock and Gambler goes back even before there was such an animal as a Gambler sprint car. Thank you in advance for any information you may be willing to share.:)

Re: Gambler History
 

If my memory is correct, he might check with Floyd Bailey(sp?) who builds minisprints. I think he used to work for Gambler and might be of help.

Re: Gambler History
 

Gambler chassis #1 was not built by the Gambler Co. It was built by Bob Trostle in Des Moines, Iowa. You may contact him for confirmation and he can be reached at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa. Check their website for correct mailing address and email connections.

Re: Gambler History
 

Thanks I'll pass it on:6:

Re: Gambler History
 

Charlie Schwartz ... Loretta Lynn special...

Re: Gambler History
 

Get a hold of Floyd Bailey with Bailey Chassis Company. He got his start with Gambler and helped pit the Kenny Rodgers cars

Re: Gambler History
 

Yes, this WAS the Bob Trostle built car.

Re: Gambler History
 

In 1985 I bought a 1982 Gambler from a man in New York State. At the end of 1986 I was given Brad Doty's tubes. See photo. George Marshall (gdmmail@yahoo.com)
Attachment 8740

Re: Gambler History
 

I remember seeing the Loretta Lynn car sitting outside Lloyd Shores (old) shop for years. I cant remember if Lloyd had anything to do with some of the manufacturing of these cars back in the early days or not. I'll have to ask my dad...

Re: Gambler History
 

How old are they looking for ? I still have my 89 Gambler

Re: Gambler History
 

This is 100% NOT true. Gambler #1 was built on Volunteer Dr. in Hendersonville TN. We did run the Kenny Rogers Racing logo on a Trostle driven by Dub May and on a Stanton as well. Both of those cars were prior to building Gambler Chassis cars. ALL Gambler Chassis from # 1 on ... were built in Hendersonville, TN.

Re: Gambler History
 

Correct …...Been to the facility in Hendersonville, TN. Tommy Sanders was there at the time. I think they may have built custom motorcycles there at one time.

Re: Gambler History
 

Yes, we need in fact build Gambler Motorcycle frames and components up until CK sold business. New buyer, never built any additional Sprint Car chassis and we do not believe they built many, if any motorcycle frames after they purchased.

Re: Gambler History
 

There is a Gambler Facebook group that I'm a member of. Lots of pictures and Gambler history on there. The group is called Gambler Sprint Cars if you search on Facebook.

Re: Gambler History
 

Yes, great Group!

Were The motorcycle frames built for dirt track?

Re: Gambler History
 

Floyd Bailey passed away a few years back...

Re: Gambler History
 

No. They were custom cruiser type frames.

Re: Gambler History
 

Bob has passed.

Re: Gambler History
 

Got it from a very reliable source yesterday the the first Gambler was actually a Stanton. In fact, the first ten may have been Stantons. One might compare the chassis design of chassis 1-10 with those that came after.

Re: Gambler History
 

Your "very reliable source" is 100% incorrect. Prior to building the first Gambler Chassis we had considered switching to Stanton chassis from the Trostle chassis we had been using. We went to Phoenix, built the car and brought it back East. But, we were not happy with it's performance. Then the first chassis was built, from scratch. We did not even intend to sell them and they were not named until we went to FL and entry required a chassis manufacturer name. We still did not intend to sell. Randy Ford and his Dad, good friends for years ... convinced CK to build them two frames. And Gambler Chassis Co. had its start.

Re: Gambler History
 

Bob Trostle passed years ago.

Yes, a loss for the industry. My father, CK, had the utmost respect for Bob

This statement is incorrect. Gambler # 1 was built in Hendersonville, TN .. where all Gamblers were built