Holloway - "A real racer"
When I was a little kid, my dad took me to lots of motorcycle dirt track races. This kid named Lynn Holloway from Plymouth, Iowa was fast. He didn't have fancy equipment or leathers. But, he could ride a motorcycle. Holloway was known at all the local races, and he rode a few nationals too. I'm pretty sure this is him in the photo above. I found it on the net one day. He's ready to go out for practice, heat, final, who knows? He's running with Doug or Dave Sehl and probably Scott Drake. Fast company in this one. I know Holloway rode John Tibbin's bike once or twice. Holloway died at a young age years ago from some weird sickness. But, his memory and legacy lives on with all who watched him race to victory ! Here in Iowa - ask an old timer about Holloway - and they will tell you a good story.
When I was a little kid, my dad took me to lots of motorcycle dirt track races. This kid named Lynn Holloway from Plymouth, Iowa was fast. He didn't have fancy equipment or leathers. But, he could ride a motorcycle. Holloway was known at all the local races, and he rode a few nationals too. I'm pretty sure this is him in the photo above. I found it on the net one day. He's ready to go out for practice, heat, final, who knows? He's running with Doug or Dave Sehl and probably Scott Drake. Fast company in this one. I know Holloway rode John Tibbin's bike once or twice. Holloway died at a young age years ago from some weird sickness. But, his memory and legacy lives on with all who watched him race to victory ! Here in Iowa - ask an old timer about Holloway - and they will tell you a good story.
Most definitely, that photo of #50 is Lynn Holloway. If he'd of only had a better ride the record books would've been different...
ReplyDeleteI saw him race in 1970 in Des Moines where he did quite well against what I believe was the initial outing for the HD XR's. They were heat-seizing up horribly & the only factory guys doing good were the ones that had brought their old backup bikes (WR's I think). I know of a race at the Mason City 1/2 mile track he won on a borrowed YZ 465 Yamaha, but I know not how. We were about the same height & the YZ's are darn tall...
He could smoke most anyone on corners. He taught himself to ride where nobody else would go (no "follow the leader" cornering like everybody else). He had to - so he could get in the clear... He scared the crap out of me numerous times just piling into the corner going full tilt, then a bit after 1/3 of the way in slam it sideways & slide like crazy. Power on all the way & be out front long before the corner's end. Still to this day, I've never seen anyone that can corner like Lynn could...
But coming out of the corner, he'd be out-hp'd on the straightaways. (Mostly running the 650 Triumph Bonneville against the 750's). It was painful to watch...
In 1979 or 80 he did get a partial season on a stock XR sponsored by a shop owner from Northern MN (up by Brainerd I believe). He put every effort towards it, got into super shape because he said he had to muscle the XR around as it handled like crap. He loved every minute of it. They could only make it to about 2/3 of the races, but Lynn still made 6th in the nation that year! Then the $ ran short & the bike had to be sold. That was a tough loss & I believe the last time he raced... Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to see him ride the XR.
He died in 93 of what I believe was emphysema that had it's roots into the Agent Orange he was exposed to in Nam.
He's dearly missed, but will never be forgotten...
Thanks for remembering him!
Almost none of what Higgins said about Lynns time riding my Harley is correct. It wasnt 79 or 80, it was 1982 and it wasnt a shop in Minnesota. It was me and my brothers shop in New Lisbon Wisconsin. It wasn't stock and it didn't handle poorly. And the bike wasn't sold because we ran out of money, I rode the bike after finally being able to pass the physical in 1984 from an accident I had in 1982. I posted a reply yesterday but I see it didn't make it to the blog
ReplyDeleteThank You for remembering Lynn he was a close friend of mine.
Thank you for such fond memories of my dad. I was watching the Harley Davidson movie and decided to google my dad's name. I have great memories of traveling the Midwest with my dad and Donna for the races. He was fearless and loved racing and all the friends he met along the way.
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