1962 Kern County CA Rams Run Motorcycle Race - 2-Page Vintage Article

Description

1962 Kern County CA Rams Run Motorcycle Race - 2-Page Vintage Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
One minute to go, 138 riders chomping at the bit.
RAMS
MC
HARE
AND
HOUND
Checkers MC everywhere. This one is Gene Hirst, blasting
his Triumph across the scenic desert.
Triumph-mounted Don Surplice pressing eventual winner Al
Switzer into the first check on the first loop. Later Surplice
hit a rock and retired.
THE California desert motorcycle racing scene is so
complex CYCLE WORLD chose for this month
to illustrate its second cover, and this report, with the
running of what is one of the most popular cross country
events of the year. The Rams MC Hare and Hound, or
the Rams Run as the locals call it.
The run this year, as in times past, chose the colorful
Jawbone and Red Rock Canyon areas of Kern County,
California to stage its demanding 90 miles chase. Tri-
umph-mounted Max Switzer carried on a hair-raising
duel with J. D. Williams, also on a Triumph, right down
to the bar to bar finish that saw Switzer win by inches.
A pretty unusual sight in cross country racing.
Williams had built up a seemingly insurmountable
lead on the first 40-mile loop of the course while Switzer
and Don Surplice, riding a Matchless, were battling it
out for second place not far behind. The battle came to
an abrupt end in a canyon appropriately called Last
Chance when Surplice crashed into a rock while trying
to pass Switzer on a one lane road.
Such noted desert experts as Al Rogers, Steve Lydeck-
er, Gene Hirst and Dick Vick filled out the next seven
after Williams and Switzer. Finisher No. 36 was Moe
Griffin, 1960 Big Bear lightweight champ. Out of 138
entrants, 39 finished the run, which, due to the rain the
day before, was run dust-free under perfect conditions.
Bud Ekins, three time Big Bear winner, and Dusty
Coppage, up and coming novice, both went out with
mechanical troubles.
The Rams MC is to be congratulated on the success
of a well run, and well received event. The course was
laid out and limed under the worst rainy and cold con-
ditions imaginable and forced the club to relime the
morning of the event. Rams men Jerry Platt, Jack La
Praik, Jack Binning, Ira Chase, and many others worked
very hard, and it was worth it.
Three hardy desert rats cut a dustfree swath a few miles
“down the road’’ from the start.
Triumph ace Al Rogers flat tracking
into the first check. His
efforts netted him a 3rd place.
The rider's meeting. Jack La Praik of the sponsoring Rams
MC gives the lowdown on one of the tricky checks in store for
them. Almost every club was represented.
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