The Norton Gang - George Kerker (90), Bill Manley (19) and Jack Simmons - on the now defunct Orange County International Raceway (better known as OCIR), a dragstrip converted to road-racing course.
The origins of AMA Superbike can be directly traced to the AFM Production class races in Southern California of the late 1960s and early ‘70s. Many of the top riders of the AFM days went on to stardom when the AMA launched the national series in 1976. Riders like Reg Pridmore, Wes Cooley, Steve McLaughlin, Keith Code and Cook Neilson are etched in history due to their success in AMA Superbike, but a trio of Norton riders, who were some of the earliest Superbike racers, quit before the series went national and as a result have been overlooked despite their major influence on the popularization of Superbike racing.
George Kerker, Jack Simmons and Bill Manley were better known to their fans, journalists and fellow competitors as the Norton Gang. Rather than run the conventional road racing machines of the era with clip-ons, fairings and rear-sets, the Norton Gang elected to race production Norton Commandos, high bars, low pegs and all. While in retrospect the Norton Gang were simply harking back to the traditional AMA Class C concept (production-based racing) the Norton Gang were consider rebels among the road racing traditionalists of the late 1960s.
Rider Files 
Prehistoric SuperMoto?
As a Norton owner (victim? … I use to tour on a Combat motored Interstate) I like this one
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Chip
Giant Supermoto. Those Nortons couldn’t have been light.
Larry
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OCIR was were I saw my first road race back in the fall 1968,that turn was coming off the drag strip,which was run up the strip towards the startline.
I can recall the boys hanging the backend out coming onto the straightway
Needless to say I was hooked for life
Gary
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Gary
You were lucky to be there and see the birth of Superbike racing.
Larry
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In those days I also got to see Rusty Brady before his Daytona crash which killed him,got to see Mclaughlin run his Honda 750 four thru the back esses between the trees and watch the frame flex as he pushed it hard(scary stuff for an 18 yr old)
Also got to see an Suzuki 50cc twin race,believe the rider was either Art Bauman(sp) or Ron Grant
Was riding an Bridgestone 350GTR in those days and met Mike Velasco when he raced Stones
Gary
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Looks like # 19 still has a headlight behind the number plate? Cool!
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Cal Bottum wants to contact Jack Simmons……….Where is this fast dude on the Norton??
Gene Chandler
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Jack Simmons can be found in the St. George, Utah area, don’t know his current phone #.
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did anyone personally know George Kerker?
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I have a 57 Racer Gold Star, painted all red with nice BSA Star bursts on tank, fenders, and oil tank. It also has a very unusual seat, when I got it it had a modified twin with twin carb head. I showed a picture of it to Dick Hammer at Del Mar a few years back and he said he thought it was Jack Simmons and it was on Louie Bandits dino. Someone else said it was built at A J Lewis’s shop. Someone else told me he thought it was painted by either Church or Preacher, I can’t remember which. If anyone out there remembers this bike I would sure enjoy hearing from them. I do have pictures if it would help you idenify it.
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Am doing a video documentary on the history of Orange County Int’l Raceway (1967-83). Would truly appreciate anyone having knowledge of photos or film of this facility, especially the motorcycle and road races conducted there. Please help in getting the word out.
Kind regards,
Don Gillespie
Dgillespie02@hotmail.com
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Hi Don .
I have a few pictures of road racing & drag races at OCIR form the 60’s – 70’s a few story to go with them I did lot testing at OCIR while working for US Suzuki Motors ,Corp. & Kawasaki motors Corp. USA in the racing Teams . Give me a call.# 813 727 4961 or 813 933 3043 . E – mail twjracing@verizon.net Tampa,Fl. est.anytime is ok I will be up till 1 AM .
April 29 2012 7.30 PM
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The end of an era last Tuesday. Jack Simmons passed away from complications of Multiple myeloma. He was my dear friend and mentor.
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Rode a 750 Honda 4 in the heavyweight production class back in 1970-1972. OCIR, Riverside, Carlsbad, etc. Never had anyone actually run into me on a RR course until Jack used me for a berm going into a left hander set up in the drag race pits at OCIR. As a youngster just getting his feet wet trying to hang with the big boys it was quite an eye opener.
RIP, Jack Simmons.
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Hello all , my name is steve schultz my dad was bill schultz he sold m/c for jack simmons suzuki , norton, ducati,ossa first time i saw him race was at long beach arena# 88, still my fav #, been riding with him a few times way back in 70s i was young dam he was a great person& he could ride i really miss those times, times change and they are all missed.
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