My old buddy Ben Campanale sent me this photo years ago. It’s marked 1942 and shows Clark Gable with Campanale standing in front of Rich Budelier Harley-Davidson’s service department in Hollywood. Campanale was an East Coaster who won Daytona twice and then moved to California where he could race year-round. Gable was an avid motorcyclist and used to have his Harley-Davidson’s serviced by Ben.

Ben told me he and Gable would go out to lunch on occasion. Gable liked the fact that he could tell his motorcycling buddies that Campy was the guy who took care of his bikes. Ben said Gable’s favorite lunch was macaroni and cheese. I think this photo was one of Ben’s prized possessions. Late in life Ben was sort of a lonely old guy living alone in California. After we met in Daytona in the mid-1990s Ben would call me about once a month or so. He knew I loved to hear his old racing stories. He’d also send me pictures, hats, t-shirts. He was a generous man. He passed away back in 2003 and I feel priveledged I had the chance to get to know him.

Clark Gable and Ben Campanale in 1942.