Markley Motor's Service Advisor Jack Kline
2010 Big Car Racing Association
Hall of Fame Mechanic
In racing, you usually only hear about the race car drivers. The mechanics who work hard to keep the vehicles running at their peak performance, so the drivers can take the glory, usually fade away into the history books. (That is if they make it into the history books.)
Markley Motors is pleased to report that our very own, Jack Kline has been inducted into the 2010 Big Car Racing Association Hall of Fame. He received this induction because of his great career as a
BCRA Mechanic.
Congratulations, Jack Kline, on receiving this
prestigious racing award.
Jack Kline (Standing, on the right.)
Jack's career, as a racing mechanic, began in 1959 when he was driving through Golden Colorado with his good friend Bill Erickson. They spotted a Midget car, sitting in the driveway of a residence, so they stopped and got out. After conversing with mechanic Jimmy Mars, they were introduced to owner Gordon Herring and his wife Lee. Gordon invited them to the races at Englewood. The next night, they found themselves at the Colorado State fair in Pueblo, at the Big Car Races.
Jack Kline (Standing, first on the left.)
Jack worked for at Roger Mauro's Rambler dealership. Roger was flexible with jack on race days. As a result, Jack became a permanent mechanic in the Herring pits and traveled with the BCRA and IMCA across Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.
Jack Kline (Seated)
In 1959 Gordon
Herring won the
BCRA Championship and took 6
th place at Pikes Peak. in 1960 Herring finished second in the B
CRA and was 4
th in the Hill Climb. Herring won his second
BCRA Championship in 1961 and finished 13
th at the Hill Climb. Herring did it with the help of his team, and Jack Kline. Jack maintained the
Offenhauser engines and had extensive knowledge of the various configurations that Herring ran in his cars. Herring was very particular with his vehicles. After each race day, his crew disassembled and "Freshened Up" the
Offenhausers, preparing for the the next race.
Jack's Midget Car
In 1964 Jack had to return to work while Herring and his crew continued on to the Minnesota State fair to run with the IMCA. In the first race Herring and another car touched, but it appeared there was no damage done to the vehicle. In the next race Herring was barreling down the backstretch when the rear strut broke and launched the vehicle upside down on the guardrail. Herring did not survive the unfortunate accident. Jack always felt guilty for not being there to catch the damage to the strut in time. Subsequently, Jack bought the Midget. Jack continued to wrench on the Mauro Midgets and became one of the best mechanics with the new Volkswagen, Chevy II, and Cosworth engines.
From 1959 to 1976 Jack Kline was one of the best Midget and Sprint mechanic on the BCRA and Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association. Jack was "Mechanic of the Year" with RMMRA in 1971 and retired from being a racing mechanic in 1979.
Now, 31 years later he has been inducted in the BCRA Hall of Fame.
WAY TO GO JACK ON A FABULOUS BCRA MECHANIC CAREER!
Written and posted by Tim Northburg - Sales / Internet Manager
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