Page 8 - 2019 NM Spring

changed their name to Smokers, had cars and drag racing in their work all month to get ready for a
Inc. in 1948, putting their primary blood, and many began to take dry lake race, then go over there
focus on drag racing. their cars to the dry lakes to and you never had what you needed
satisfy their need for speed. But if problems arose. We made
The club members were in order to run at the dry lakes and everything at home.”
considered outlaws by the locals, establish a speed record, you had
since they grew up racing on the to be in an official club that was a In 1948 the club incorporated
streets of Bakersfield in the early member of the Southern California and changed their name to the
40’s. In retrospect, they were Timing Association (SCTA). So, Smokers, Inc. At that point in time,
the true pioneers of drag racing these diehard racers formed the they decided they needed to find
in Southern California. This Bakersfield Coupe and Roadsters someplace in their own neck of the
was a tumultuous time for the Club in 1947 in order to comply woods to race on a regular basis.
Country, with many leaving to with the requirement. Santa Ana, California had a drag
serve during World War II. But strip, but many of the members
for those that were fortunate to The dry lake racing was fun, but were wanting a location closer to
return from their military service, often very frustrating. Hut Watkins home to race on a regular basis –
hot rods and racing became even was one of the club members that the drive to Santa Ana was just too
more popular. These guys still often went to the dry lakes. “You’d Continued on page 11

Fire the Next Pair! Famoso bleach-box gate keeper Kevin Sinichko gives the signal to light them up and blaze the tires.
8 Nitro Madness Magazine Spring 2019