The Canadian Scene
THE CANADIAN SCENE
EVE WHITE
A rare treat for Canadian riders and fans was a weekend comprising road races on Saturday, scrambling on Sunday and the Monday holiday. Mosport was the scene of the first two events, and Cope-town near Hamilton hosted the third.
The Norton club's August Gold Cup races had an excellent entry, but a small crowd. In the lightweight races, two U.S. riders, Ron Dahler (Ducati) Rochester, N.Y. and Chuck Andrews (Ducati) also from Rochester gave an exhibition of close riding, and showed that lightweights are by no means the light part of the program. After some very hot riding. Dahler pulled off the win by a few feet.
The Unlimited race was another USA twosome as Philadelphia's Ed La Belle (650 Triton) and George Rockett (650 Triumph) tailed each other, with Rockett taking the flag. Canadians really came back in the 50()cc final for the August Gold Cup, and Fred Gailey (G50) in excellent form led away from the line. Following him, so close they were almost touching, were Ivor Lloyd (Manx), Ken King (Manx), Ed La Belle (Manx) and Roger Beaumont (Manx). Lloyd retired on the ninth lap as his rear suspension failed, and King and Beaumont closed up, with Lance Weil (Manx) from New York City filling in the top spots. George Rockett, this time on a 5()()cc machine challenged Ed La Belle and moved past ,him into fourth place on lap 18. Lance Weil put on a spurt and set a new 500cc lap record at Mosport at 1 min. 46.3 secs., lowering Ivor Lloyd's previous mark by .1 second.
Further down the field. Olie Howe, from Toronto, on a BSA, was riding well and in close contest with Fred de Santis from Syracuse, N.Y. and with Dave Lloyd of Toronto. When the flag fell the race went to Fred Gailey, second man being Roger Beaumont after a very consistent and hard ride, third place was Lance Weil and fourth George Rockett, just ahead of fifth place rider, Ed La Belle.
The sidecars were on view too. and a very interesting race among Lou Herrmann, BMW from Hamilton, George Davidson (AJS) from Toronto, Jacques du Pont (Norton) from Newcastle, Delaware and Bob Metcalfe from Hamilton saw a narrow win by the low slung du Pont/ Candy outfit from the Davidson/Ryan combination of more conventional height. This class is developing in a very encouraging way, and full scale sidecar racing is planned for '63.
The Challenge Scramble at Mosport on the following day, gave the crowds thrills of a different kind. A rough, winding, sandy course had the riders leaping and falling. The New England team had almost double the points gained by the Eastern Canadians, but the racing was close for all that. Joe Bolger and Timer Simonds were the most consistent winners, and both being USA riders, they gained plenty of points. The Canadian 500cc team suffered several changes due to injuries, when Fernando Pistone and Dave Smith both fell and had to be treated after their spills. The best of the Canadian 5()0cc riders, placing in second, were Dave Smith and Jack Hunt, while in the 250 class Ray Boasman gained two thirds.
The Monday action was for the Canadian National Championship and most of the USA riders stayed up for this event, and were joined by riders from Alberta as well as all the local contenders. The Champions were declared as follows: 200cc, Bill Wetzel, Painesville, Ohio; 250cc, Dick Gariepy, Barre, Mass.; 500cc junior, Norman Braden, Waterdown, Ontario; 500cc Senior, Mike Binkley, Hamilton, Ont.; 500cc Expert, Timer Simonds, Cromwell, Conn.
Canadian motorcycling suffered a sad loss in the death of Bob Webster while he was racing at Watkins Glen in the A.M.A. 150-mile Expert Championship. Bob was one of our most experienced road racers, representing Canada at the Isle of Man T.T. races, and twice winning the National Championship in the Expert class. He was a member of the British Empire Motor Club and of the Nortown Motorcycle Club. •
