Late News From Canada

LATE NEWS FROM CANADA

EVE WHITE

THE challenge team scramble match, mentioned in the last column, is going ahead into the final planning stage. The first “leg” will be held July 14 and 15 at Bell’s Cycle Ranch, Grafton, Vt. The lightweight match race will be on the 14th, and the 500cc on the 15th, along with a full program of other exciting races.

The International F.I.M. Canadian Grand Prix will be held at Mosport on July 2nd and regulations are now ready. You may obtain a copy by writing to: Secretary of the Meet, 28 Tromley Dr., Islington, Ont. The Mosport course is ideal for road racing, fully paved and with exciting hills and corners. Access to the infield is free, and the $2.00 admission is very little to pay for a full day of practice and racing for all classes. Letters of inquiry have already come from France, England and Japan, and the British Empire Motor Club, organizers of this big event, are looking to a really great day.

On July 1st, a scramble organized by the Northern Club will be held at Mosport, so a weekend of racing awaits the fans.

Mike Duff’s first race this season was at Le Mans, France, and in this International event he copped a second and a fourth. One British newspaper suggests Mike as a logical “factory” rider after his successes last year, and Canadians would indeed be proud if Mike is selected for this honour. Racing started early in the year at Westwood in British Columbia, where they have already held a practice day and race under auspices of the British Columbia Motorcycle Racing Club. Many riders from Seattle, Washington, compete at this course, joining the B.C. riders for exciting and challenging events featuring racing machinery as well as more stock models.

A few words about our type of events . . . road racing is held on airport or specially built road type circuits. All types of racing machinery are accepted, and many use streamlining to get the best possible performance. Classes vary from 200cc to 500cc (including 750cc side valve) and an unlimited capacity class which accommodates the larger machines. Wet or dry, road racing goes on.

Scrambles or moto-cross is cross-country racing over varied terrain, but not including the flattrack-type portions as featured in U.S. events. Many courses have muddy sections, and some have stream crossing; dust is kept to a minimum for the comfort and good view of spectators.

Half-mile track events and enduros are popular, the former chiefly in Quebec province, while Ontario has its Corduroy Enduro in which many U.S. riders compete each fall, and which has been won by the almost unbeatable John Penton for several years.

Next time I hope to include a report of the F.I.M. Spring Congress as well as some stories of our spring events, races, trials and scrambles.