Need some help

[DavidM]

I was very lucky recently to be given some very old Sportscar photo's that belonged to my wife’s father. He's been gone for a number of years so I don't have him to fall back on for identification.

Here is what I know about the photos. The original envelope they were given to me in indicates it's from Daytona early 1960. These photos were part of an IBM PR piece my Father in-law was doing for IBM at the time. All the photo's but one center around what I take is the winning 23 or 24 Maserati team. Fairly certain the cars are both Birdcage Maserati's. I can identify Carroll Shelby in one of the photos. Also looks like Amoco was the team sponsor as it's on the pit wall banner.

Any help on identifying drivers, or pointing me in a direction of were I might find some early Daytona sportscar info would be of much help.

After taking another close look, some of the photos may be from Sebring.

Thanks!

[slinger]

Amoco was the official fuel at Sebring back then so I'd guess the photos were from Sebring. Those Birdcages were entered by A team called Camoradi USA which was run by Lucky Casner. IIRC, the 23 car was driven by Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney. It ran away from the field and had a 6 lap lead when it pooped out with about 3 hours to go. A Porsche RS 60 driven by Olivier Gendebien and someone whose name I've forgotten, actually won the race. Gendebien was available because Ferrari did not send a factory team due to the organizer's insistence on the use of Amoco fuel. Ferrari was contracted to Shell.

IIRC, the 24 car was driven By Shelby and Masten Gregory and it retired somewhere around half distance.Hope this has been of some assistance. I'm working from memory here.

[Vitesse]

Slinger's pretty much nailed it, I think - sounds like the 1960 Sebring 12 Hours. The other driver in the winning Porsche was Hans Herrmann but the #24 car was driven by Luke W Stear and Dave Causey (who?). The Shelby/Gregory Camoradi car was #22. Here's a link to the full result:

http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1960/60seb.html

[slinger]

Thanks for the corrections. I remember Dave Causey but Luke Stear is totally unfamiliar to me. At various times, Camoradi had a bunch of drivers including Casner himself. I had thought Hans Hermann might have been Gendebien's co driver but I wasn't sure. The old memory ain't what it used to be.

[Shadow101]

Memory may be slipping, but at least you guys got to see some of these great drivers in action during the golden era of sportscars!

Thanks for the great memories! I just picked up Phil Hill's book written right after his 1961 F1 championship, and am floored about his descriptions of how simple, yet thrilling racing was back in those days. Pack your bag and move to the next race, man that is something today's drivers would have no clue how to handle.

[DavidM]

Thanks for the help guys! I think I've got these photos figured out.

Here's what I got.

Photo 1: Over head shot from the GoodYear blimp? Corvette #2 Driven by Dick Thompson, Fred Windridge & Paul Forno follow an Alfa Giulietta #49 driven by Charlie Rainville and Jake Kaplin into a left hand turn.

Photo 2: Stirling Moss and Dan Gurney talking in the pits as the 23 Maserati is being worked on at the rear of the car.

Photo 3: 24 Maserati at speed with either Luke Stear or Dave Causey at the wheel. Driver leaning hard to the right. Great photo!

Photo 4: Night shot of the 24 Maserati pitting. Crew changing left front tire.

Photo 5: Carroll Shelby in Maserati pits talking to mechanic with another driver in picture wearing white helmet and what looks like Suixtil on his pants. Ferrari mechanic standing on wall just behind Shelby.

Photo 6: Trophy presentation to Hans Herrmann & Olivier Gendebien. Olivier still has on his white helmet.

Photo 7: IBM PR shot in front of RAMAC 305 computer system used for scoring. In photo are Herrmann, Gendebien holding trophy, and Jo Bonnier who never raced the car but did practice it.

My Father in-law ever managed to get a ride around Sebrings in one of the Maserati's while he was covering this event for IBM.

[crashcourse]

can you post the photos?

[DavidM]

I would if I had a scanner.