The Shelby American (Winter 2021)

The SHELBY AMERICAN Winter 2021 7 Gentleman Tom Brooks Laudin, one of SAAC’s more prolific writers, was researching an ar- ticle on Cobra drivers [ printed else- where in this issue ] and turned up some information on “Gentleman Tom” Payne’s political career that might not be well known. He was pro- filed in an article in the Ann Arbor News , dated March 6, 1965. Payne, then 41 years old, describing his dual pursuits – driving race cars and politics, two seemingly divergent ac- tivities. He owned a foreign car deal- ership in Ypsilanti and later co-owned Gerber-Payne Ford in Fremont, a Shelby dealer. Payne started sports car racing in 1954. He went on to suc- cessfully compete in a succession of Cobra roadsters in late 1963 and by 1965 was invited to drive Cobra team roadsters and Daytona Coupes. Payne became state chairman of the Michigan Young Democrats in 1960 and this led to unsuccessful runs for congress in 1960 and 1962. One of the Part of being a big time racer were public appearances like this, at Beaver’s Bike and Hobby in Ann Arbor. Date was April 13, 1966. In 1957 Payne successfully raced one of the few Porsche Spyders in this country. high points was having President John F. Kennedy campaign for him. He studied law at the University of Arkansas and Wayne State in Detroit. He was, however, more successful in racing than in politics. He acquired the sobriquet “Gentle- man Tom” Payne at a 1965 race in Mont Tremblant in Canada. He was late for a practice session and didn’t have time to put on his driver’s suit so he got behind the wheel in his sports jacket and tie. The corner workers came unglued, thinking that a specta- tor had stolen a race car and was driv- ing on the track. Payne ignored the black flags he got at every corner until a pit marshall identified him and called the black flags off. It was a memorable incident and he was immediately referred to as “Gen- tleman Tom” Payne that weekend. It made him a favorite of Canadian fans and he continued to wear a jacket and tie over his driving suit whenever he raced there. He passed away in De- cember, 2005.