Casner Motor Racing Division


Casner Motor Racing Division – also known as America Camoradi, Camoradi USA or Camoradi International – was an American racing team of the 1960s known for racing Maserati Birdcage sports cars, and a Porsche and Cooper in Formula One. It was founded by Lloyd "Lucky" Casner in 1960, after he gained interest in the Maserati Tipo 61 in August 1959, and was created to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Camoradi team won the 1000km Nürburgring in 1960 despite a broken fuel line halfway through the race. The team achieved victory again in 1961, however, due to the unreliability of their cars they never won Le Mans. Camoradi also purchased a single Tipo 63 but it also suffered the reliability problems of the Tipo 61s.
Camoradi USA was incorporated in the summer of 1959 and ended due to mismanagement and loss of sponsorship 18 months later.
Casner stayed on in Europe and re-incorporated his efforts as Camoradi International. Camoradi International continued with sponsorship from Dow Chemical, Maserati and Porsche, and with drivers Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Masten Gregory. Casner was killed at a LeMans practice in 1965 while trying to qualify a Maserati Tipo 151 for the French distributor, due to a mechanical failure.
Camoradi USA was America's first industry-backed international racing team, pioneering the industry backing of racing as we know it.
At a midsummer 1959 SCCA race in Miami, while racing a Ferrari 250TR, Casner met fellow driver Fred Gamble. During the victory presentation at the end of the race, Casner announced his intention of racing in Europe and was looking for people to help him fund this venture. Gamble introduced himself to Casner and offered to help him with publicity, working as a motor journalist and the two formed a partnership to create a racing team.
Gamble, inspired by Ecurie Ecosse, the Scottish National Racing Team that spawned Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, suggested an American “Olympic Team” of motor racing to challenge the Europeans for World Championships.
Casner’s amateur racing team of friends had called themselves Camoradi Racing Team. So the professional team was incorporated as Camoradi USA, America’s first industry-sponsored racing team with the best drivers from all race series in the best cars that could be acquired.
Gamble, who had a public relations background, surveyed the New York adverting agency market, to determine their involvement with the auto industry. He set up appointments for Casner with various advertising agencies looking for sponsorship for the new racing team. They met with success with the agency of Young & Rubicam, whose major client was the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Gamble, who knew Tony Webner, Goodyear’s first Manager of Racing, convinced him to support their proposal. Casner and executives from Young and Rubicam made a presentation to the management of Goodyear and won big financial support, tires and engineering support. With the world’s largest tire company supporting them, Camoradi quickly received sponsorship Shell/BP, Excide, Champion, DA Lubricants, Koni, Dow Chemical and Guest Airways.
The only American sports car of that era was, of course, the Corvette, which was needed as the GT challenger in their campaign for the World Sports Car Championship. Casner met with Chevrolet President Ed Cole and Corvette "god-father" Zora Duntov. They enthusiastically offered their support with two competition option Corvettes plus parts and technical support and a generous financial contribution. However, with an agreed industry ban on racing involvement, this support was disguised as a "testing contract" and the cars were supplied thru Don Allen Chevrolet of Miami. Sadly, due to production delays, the Corvettes were not delivered until after the first 1960 World Championship 1000 km race, Buenos Aires.
Casner went to Europe in September 1959 and approached a bankrupt Maserati who had their new Birdcage T61, but no finances to race a factory team. Camoradi was their answer for 1960. Casner also formed an alliance with Porsche’s Huschke Von Hanstein and brought two cars from the late Jean Behra’s estate – lightweight Carrera and the special Behra-Porsche F2, which served as a test bed and prototype for the Porsche’s 1960 F2 cars and 1962 F1 1,500cc Formula.
Camoradi “works” Maseratis, led every World Sports Car Championship race of 1960, and won only the 1,000 km Nurburging with Gurney/Moss. Led Nassau 1959, Porsche RSK 2 Liter winner, GT winner Porsche Carrera ; 1960 1,000 km Buenos Aires ; Argentine GP ; Havana GP for Sports Cars – 8 car entry, winning overall Moss Maserati, 2 Liter Gregory Porsche RSK, GT Corvette Jeffords, under 2 liter GT Cuevas Porsche Carrera; Sebring 12 hour, largest team entry ever of 8 cars, 3 Maseratis, 2 Porsche Carreras, 2 Corvettes Jeffords/Weustoff/Gamble. OSCA 750.
At the Nurburgring, Gamble qualified the “Yank Tank” Corvette 3rd among the big GT’s, but didn’t get to drive in the race as co-driver Lee Lilley started the race and DNF with a wheel bearing failure. Gurney/Moss won overall, Gregory/Munaron 4th in the team’s two T61 Maseratis entered.
At the Le Mans 24 hours, Gregory/Daigh led with the famed Streamliner Birdcage Maserati, set a 3-liter lap record and top speed record of 170 mph, DNF with engine failure, other two long tail Maseratis DNF with electrical faults. Gamble/Lilley drove their Corvette conservatively to finish 10th overall.
All Camoradi Maseratis were prepared and maintained by the factory and in European races managed by Maserati. Camoradi’s role was primarily financial. Gamble was the only full-time principal in Europe, living in Modena, Italy.

Complete Camoradi racing record

DateRaceCarResultsDrivers
1959 - MaySan Salvador GPPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F41st-
1959 - MaySan Salvador GPPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F41st David Lane
1959 - JuneUSAC Formula Libre, Lime RockMaserati 250F1 2.5 L61st Chuck Daigh
1959 - JuneUSAC Formula Libre, Lime RockMaserati 250F1 2.5 L62nd Chuck Daigh
1959 - JulyUSAC Formula Libre, MeadowdaleMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6DNF Chuck Daigh
1959 - JulyUSAC Formula Libre, MeadowdaleMaserati 250F1 2.5 L6DNF Zora Duntov, Paul O'Shea
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksMaserati T61DNF Carol Shelby
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksMaserati T61DNF Carol Shelby
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F41st Carol Shelby
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F41st Jo Bonnier
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F41st Jack McAfee
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F42nd Jack McAfee
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksPorsche Carrera1st Jack McAfee
1959 - DecemberNassau Speed WeeksPorsche Carrera1st Johnny Cuevas
1959 - DecemberUnited States GP, SebringMaserati TecMec1st Jim Rathmann
1959 - DecemberUnited States GP, SebringMaserati TecMecDNF Jim Rathmann
1960 - January1,000 km of Argentina, Buenos AiresMaserati T61DNF Jim Rathmann
1960 - January1,000 km of Argentina, Buenos AiresMaserati T61DNF Dan Gurney, Masten Gregory
1960 - JanuaryGP of ArgentinaPorsche F2DNF Masten Gregory
1960 - JanuaryGP of ArgentinaPorsche F212th Masten Gregory
1960 - JanuaryCordova Formula LibreBehra-Porsche F2DNF Masten Gregory
1960 - JanuaryCordova Formula LibreBehra-Porsche F2DNF Masten Gregory
1960 - FebruaryHavana GT RaceCorvetteDNF Jim Jeffords
1960 - FebruaryHavana GT RaceCorvette1st Jim Jeffords
1960 - FebruaryHavana GT RaceCorvette5th Jim Jeffords
1960 - FebruaryHavana GT RaceCorvette5th George Constantine
1960 - FebruaryHavana GT RacePorsche Carrera5th Johnny Cuevas
1960 - FebruaryHavana GT RacePorsche Carrera1st Johnny Cuevas
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixMaserati T611st Johnny Cuevas
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixMaserati T611st Stirling Moss
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F41st Masten Gregory
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixPorsche RSK 547/3 1.5 F43rd Masten Gregory
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixCorvette1st GT Masten Gregory
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixCorvette1st GT Jim Jeffords
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixPorsche Carrera1st GT Johnny Cuevas
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixPorsche Carrera1st Johnny Cuevas
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixFerrari 250TR13th Johnny Cuevas
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixFerrari 250TR13th Roger Ward, Dan Gurney
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixMaserati13th Dan Gurney
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixMaseratiDNF Dan Gurney
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixPorscheDNF Dan Gurney
1960 - FebruaryHavana Grand PrixPorscheDNF Carroll Shelby
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringMaserati T61DNF Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringMaserati T61DNF Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringMaserati T61DNF Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringMaserati T61DNF Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringMaserati T61DNF Jim Rathmann, George Koehne
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringMaserati T61DNS Jim Rathmann, George Koehne
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringPorsche Carrera1st, 9th Overall Jim Rathmann, George Koehne
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringPorsche Carrera1st, 9th Overall Joe Sheppard, Dick Dungan
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringCorvette1st, 9th Overall Jim Jeffords, Bill Weustoff, Fred Gamble
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringCorvette2nd+ 3rd Class 14GT Jim Jeffords, Bill Weustoff, Fred Gamble
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringPorsche CarreraDNF Jim Jeffords, Bill Weustoff, Fred Gamble
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringPorsche CarreraDNF Johnny Cuevas, Ulf Norinder
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringOSCA 750DNF Denise McCluggage, Pinkie Windridge
1960 - March12 Hours of SebringOSCA 750DNF Denise McCluggage, Pinkie Windridge
1960 - AprilLA Times GP, RiversideMaserati T611st Denise McCluggage, Pinkie Windridge
1960 - AprilLA Times GP, RiversideMaserati T611st Carroll Shelby
1960 - MayTarga Florio, SicilyMaserati T611st Umberto Maglioli, Nino Vaccarella
1960 - MayTarga Florio, SicilyMaserati T61DNF Umberto Maglioli, Nino Vaccarella
1960 - MayTarga Florio, SicilyPorsche Carrera22nd Umberto Maglioli, Nino Vaccarella
1960 - MayTarga Florio, SicilyPorsche Carrera22nd Lloyd Casner, Nino Todaro
1960 - May1,000 km Nurburgring, GermanyMaserati T6122nd Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss
1960 - May1,000 km Nurburgring, GermanyMaserati T611st Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss
1960 - May1,000 km Nurburgring, GermanyMaserati T615th Dan Gurney, Stirling Moss
1960 - May1,000 km Nurburgring, GermanyMaserati T615th Masten Gregory, Gino Munaron
1960 - May1,000 km Nurburgring, GermanyCorvette5th Fred Gamble, Lee Lilley
1960 - May1,000 km Nurburgring, GermanyCorvetteDNF Fred Gamble, Lee Lilley
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceCorvette10th Fred Gamble, Lee Lilley
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceCorvette10th Fred Gamble, Lee Lilley
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceMaserati T6110th Masten Gregory, Chuck Daigh
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceMaserati T61DNF Masten Gregory, Chuck Daigh
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceMaserati T61DNF Masten Gregory, Chuck Daigh
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceMaserati T61DNF Lloyd Casner, Jim Jeffords
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceMaserati T61DNF Georgio Scarlatti, Gino Munaron
1960 - JuneLe Mans 24 Hours, FranceMaserati T61DNF Georgio Scarlatti, Gino Munaron
1960 - JuneRoad America 500, U.S.A.Maserati T611st Georgio Scarlatti, Gino Munaron
1960 - JuneRoad America 500, U.S.A.Maserati T611st Jim Jeffords
1960 - JuneSolitude GP F2, GermanyBehra-Porsche F21st Lloyd Casner
1960 - JuneSolitude GP F2, GermanyBehra-Porsche F2DNF Lloyd Casner
1960 - JulyGerman GP Nurburgring, GermanyPorsche F25th Lloyd Casner
1960 - JulyGerman GP Nurburgring, GermanyPorsche F25th Hans Hermann
1960 - JulyGerman GP Nurburgring, GermanyBehra-Porsche F25th Fred Gamble
1960 - JulyGerman GP Nurburgring, GermanyBehra-Porsche F2DNS Fred Gamble
1960 - AugustSwedish GP, SwedenMaserati T612nd Fred Gamble
1960 - AugustSwedish GP, SwedenMaserati T612nd Jo Bonnier
1960 - AugustSwedish GP, SwedenCorvette2nd Lloyd Casner
1960 - AugustSwedish GP, SwedenCorvette1st Lloyd Casner
1960 - AugustGoodwood TT, EnglandCorvetteDNS Lloyd Casner
1960 - AugustGoodwood TT, EnglandCorvetteDNS Fred Gamble
1960 - SeptemberGrand Prix of Europe, Monza, ItalyBehra-Porsche F2DNS Fred Gamble
1960 - SeptemberGrand Prix of Europe, Monza, ItalyBehra-Porsche F210th Fred Gamble
---- Fred Gamble

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearChassisEngineTyresDrivers12345678910
Tec-Mec F415Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6MON500NEDFRAGBRGERPORITAUSA
Tec-Mec F415Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 Fritz d'OreyRet
Behra-Porsche PorschePorsche 547/3 1.5 F4ARGMON500NEDBELFRAGBRPORITAUSA
Behra-Porsche PorschePorsche 547/3 1.5 F4 Masten Gregory12
Behra-Porsche PorschePorsche 547/3 1.5 F4 Fred Gamble10
Cooper T53
Lotus 18		Climax FPF 1.5 L4MONNEDBELFRAGBRGERITAUSA
Cooper T53
Lotus 18		Climax FPF 1.5 L4 Masten GregoryDNQDNS101211
Cooper T53
Lotus 18		Climax FPF 1.5 L4 Ian BurgessDNSDNS141412

Racers