Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

~ I Meet The Dragger I BAKERSFIELD ~ t.:l By Betty Nichols, Photo by Dan Zeman ~ Drag racing is unique and so are the men and women who participate. Some ;:.., are business men, some are selt-emU ployed, some are skilled, some DOt so sld1led, but working for a living. Tala! JACK LINN, for Instance. This young man Is so modest, that be was actually embarrassed that 1 would consider bim important enough to interview. Jack Is Il 27- year- old bIlcbelor who SIlys he isn't looking for any added respoos1b1llty Just yet. He was bern in Pb1ladelpb1a, PIl., but came to caworma as Il youngster. He makes his home wilb b1s parents lUId a brolber and sister In HawlborDe. t.:l ....:J U ~-- , -- JACK LINN Jack was a Cub Scout, but dropped out before he advanced any further. Hetrled bis band Ilt go-karts, then at 19 he became fascinated with free-fiight model airplanes. He travelled all over _ Bakersfield, San Francisco, Dallas, or any other place he could get to that was holding an event. He worked for several years on an electronics assembly llne, eventuallY working uP to leadman, but he dido'treel satisfied, so four monthS ago be went to work for Suzuki City In Inglewood as a motOrcycle mechanic. Being an "incurable" motorcycle enthusiast, this Is more to his llkIng. Jack's first bike was a 1946 lnd1an. At Jacks 16 years of age, 5'8" and 130 lbs. Its 600 lb. bulb proved a little too much for him. It landed on top of bim two weeks 1I.!ter he got It, so they parted company. About three years ago he bought a Suzuki and that changed the whole story. He said his first tryon the drag strip almost scared him to death. He sat out there, blue from fear and full of goosebumps, then before he knew it, it was all over lUId it's been "like a disease" with him ever since. He Is constantly working to build a better and faster macb1ne. He spends spare time from Monday through saturday adjusting his mllcb1ne, trying out new parts and getting It ready for Sunday. Then he starts all over again. He said that In the past three years, he can honesUy say that three times he bas bad his macb1ne ready by Tuesday lUId bad the remainder of the week free. Jack Is very quiet and unassuming, but always bas a warm smile for everyone. If he doesn't win he just grins, loads b1s bike Into his Datsun pickuP truck and says, "oh well, there's always next week" .. Jack recently christened his drag machine. On the triple crown of his little Suzuki Is painted - In all It's glory Rip the D.O.M. (Dirty Old Man). That may sound barsh, but In reality he and Jack Murphy (The Dirty Old Man) are good friends. Jack Linn is helpful to his opponents, lending them small parts for their machines or offering bits of inJormation. He has an Interesting attitude on this. "If there is only one guy with afast bike there is no competition. By all of us helping each other, we all have fast bikes and plenty of competition". Being that Jack owns Suzukis, drags a SUZuki, and works for SUZuki, it's only fitting that Suzuki of Inglewood, Call!. just happens to be his sponsor. The Drag Race Scene By Dan Zeman Kern County Racing Association held Its big drag meet at the Famosa Strip near Bakersfield, Cal. Friday Feb. 28. 200 acres of asphalt makes uP the strip and pit area, and stlll leaves enough room for an airfield. With Its huge pit area loaded with something like 300 various types of racing macb1nes (not to mention ears, trucks and trailers) it took me awhile to find the motorcycles. There in front of me were drag bikes belonging to Joe Smith, Dave Campos, Bob Ables, Bob Braverman, Gordon Kately, and Bill Chambers. The motorcycle director Jerry Johnson Informed Smith and Campos that they had to have boots that came up over their ankles. The only boots to be found at a reasonable price were football shoescleats and all. So that was what they raced on. (With the cleats removed). Each motorcycle had to make at least 2 runs Saturday to qualify for the big run- off Sunday. Joe Smith turned In the best speed of 152 mph and Elapsed Time of 9.92 seconds. Gordon Kately bad next best E. T. of 9.96. The other four machines made runs In the low and mid- tens saturday. Another macb1ne that ran saturday was a 40-lnch modified Triumph belonging to Jim Lynch of Bakersfield, Jim made his two runs but was not sure if he wanted to run Sunday against the 5 fuel-burnIng Harley-Davldsons and Bob Braverman's twin engine Kawasaki gasser. Sunday the first run-off was between Bob Braverman and Joe Smith. Both macb1nes were run n I n g good. The Christmas tree lights started bllnk1ng and the greens came on.. Both were r~ ning strong and Bob's front wheel started to lift uP. Bob wasn't about to put uP with this, so he shut off for a split second. This was all it took and Joe pulled ahead and across the flo1sh llne, turning a 9.96 E.T. and 152 mph. Next uP was Bob Ables of Albuquerque, New Mextco, mounted on a 74-inch fuelburning Sportster and Gordon Kately on his 65-lnch fuel Sportster. This was a close race for the first cOuPle of hundred feet. Bob Able's engine came unglued and parts went flying. Gordon turned a 10.29 E.T. Dave Campos of Albuquerque New Mexico on his 74-inch Sportster then staged with BUI Chambers on his 74- inch Knucklehead. The traction was real good and Bill went Into a wheelie everytime he cranked it on. Bill went Into three wheel-stands In all, but stlll turned a ten-second run. Dave crossed the line first, turning a 9.75 E.T. Jim Lynch decided to run, so he made a single In round one. 20 minutes later, round two came and Joe Smith staged with Gordon Kately. This was a very close r un and the only way to tell the winner was by the win lights at the big end. The light came on for Gordon as he went through the traps with a 9.94 E.T. Dave Campos and Jim Lynch ran off next. Dave's fueler was a bit too much for Jim'S gasser. Dave turned the best time of the meet. 9.71 and 145.86. Round three was about to start when the loudspeaker informed everyone that the meet was over and the award ceremonies were about to take place. The timing lights were picked uP and people started pouring out on the strip. What's going on? A trip to the starting line told the story. They forgot about the bikes. This was an honest mistake. Jack Williams, the strip manager and Steve Evans of N.H.R.A. gave their apologies, agreed this was not fair to the motorcycles lUId determined to do something about it. And they did! They stopped the award ceremoD1es lUId cleared the strip. They next informed Dave Campos and Gordon KatelY that the clocks were all pulled lUId the starting light equipment was put away, so they could only offer a flag start. Both riders agreed, so they f1 red uP and staged. The starter jumped and both bikes were on their way. An official stood at the finish llne and Wormed everyone that Gordon had won. Many thanks go out to Jack Wllllams and Steve Evans. I don't think there is another strip as fair. These two gentlemen also informed me that the Gas machines will have a class of their own next year and there would be good money for them as well as the fuelers. Many thanks also go out to the following: Auld Automotive of Delano, that donated the trophy. LaIdlaw's Harley-Davidson In So. San Gabriel, donated $25.00. EdRoth and Choppers. Magazine, donated $25.00. E and J Drag Equipment of Minneapolis, Mion. donated $25.00, and Venolla Pls- Six of the fastest motorcycles In the West. From left Gordon Kately, Bob Ables, Bill Chambers, Joe Smith. tons awarded a $25.00 certificate towards a set of pistons. These people helped make this a very worth- while event. Gordon Kately had a total purse of $300.00 plus a trophy and Dave Campos was awarded $75.00 for runner-uP. bike ate LIONS DRAG STRIP, March 2nd_ Jack Linn filled In as pit director while yours truly was covering the Bakersfield meet. 43 machines showed uP and although Jack may have pulled a couple of hands full of hair from his head, he did a very good • job as pit director. . Moulders and Reese decided it was time to tryout some fuel In their Norton, and so it was done. They took top bike awards. Runner-up was Bruce Miller. Don Harris bad his twin engine Triumph out, but bad chain problems. In Street Division, Alan Wetherell bad his bands full In B Street. Alan bad five Bill Chambers 74-lnch H.D. Knucklehead. First UN

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