Late News From Canada
LATE NEWS FROM CANADA
EVE WHITE
CANADIANS have thrilled to the riding of Mike Duff, who is still in Europe following the Continental “circus” of international events. We noted in the July CYCLE WORLD that Mike was picked by Nick Nicholls as a coming star, and the prediction has a great deal of foundation.
In the Isle of Man T.T. 350cc class, Mike placed fifth overall, riding AJS, and teamed with Roy Ingram and Dave Wildman to bring Canada the team trophy for the second year in succession. In the 500cc race, Mike was lying third on his Matchless when forced out by mechanical trouble. However he now has the distinction of being one of only ten riders who have lapped the Isle of Man course at over 100 mph. and he thus becomes a member of the exclusive “Ton-up Club.”
At Thruxton, following the T.T., Mike won the 350cc race and placed second behind Tony Godfrey in the 500cc event. His World Championship standing in the 350cc class is now fifth.
Canadians will have a chance to see Jody Nicholas in close action in the International Canadian Grand Prix to be reported fully in the next issue. Jody and Jess Thomas entered for this race, their first in Canada.
We have been trying hard to get sidecar racing going well, and each race sees one or two new outfits on the line. Rather a mixture of machines and c.c.’s, yet the class is definitely growing and improving in quality. It is a fine spectacle as far as the paying public is concerned, and if any U.S.A. riders are interested, we’ll be glad to see them on the line.
The teams for the Challenge scramble have been chosen, and the 500cc class Canadian team will be Roger Beaumont from Montreal, John Braden from Hamilton and Dave Smith from Toronto. The 250cc team will consist of Mike Binkley and Ray Boasman from Hamilton and Ron Wheatley from Montreal. The second leg will be at Mosport in August.
Lay-out teams for the Corduroy Enduro, the National Championship Run in the middle of September, are already working in bush country north of C'oboconk, Ontario. The Haliburton Highlands are getting used to the sight of machines negotiating the beaver dams, and finding old, forgotten logging roads. This is a hard event, but everyone who rides it wants to come back.
In September we have the running of a unique event, The Indian Summer Trophy Races w'hich feature sports cars and motorcycles on the same day. The winners of the two feature events receive authentic Indian head-dresses made by the Six Nations Indians. It’s Sept. 8th, if you like something a little different. •
