The Ganadiam Scene

THE GANADIAM SCENE

EVE WHITE

ALL THE NEWS which we read about Mike Duff and his excellent riding, tends to overshadow the exploits of another Canadian, Gunter Sauren of Hamilton. Gunter, married and with two children, is riding for his second season in European moto-cross events, and this year has shown a marked improvement in form. Much of his riding seems to have been done in very muddy conditions, and he has placed consistently well in many events in France, Austria and Germany.

He was one of the riders selected for the British Grand Prix at Hawkestone Park, and he says he found the course even harder to ride than last year. Judging by movies we have seen, that makes it very hard. Gunter placed 11th overall, a good position when one considers that the cream of the crop, complete with works machines, always rides this motocross.

Gunter has finished events right behind such well known riders as Harris, Curtis and Burton, and now finds no difficulty in arranging starts for himself. Gunter says, “The Moto-Cross here is wonderful, but all that travelling involved is hard work and in the long run expensive and nerve wracking, with all the crowded traffic in Central Europe.”

The National Championship Corduroy Enduro, organized by the British Empire Motor Club was an almost clean sweep for the visitors from USA. Grand Champion was Sal Scirpo from Hartford, Conn., riding a 250 Harley. The event was run in perfect weather. On the Saturday the machines covered the set route of about 90 miles in the morning and again in the afternoon. On Sunday a different route through the Haliburton Highland trails, rivers, over beaver dams and through deep mud covered 116 miles.

The sidecar champions, Clare Mathies and Walt Wilson with their 600c.c. Matchless faced the difficult going with great determination. At one point the trail was so narrow that they had to up end the outfit to get it between two trees. They brought the only championship trophy to Ontario.

RESULTS OF THE CORDUROY ENDURO:

Grand Champion: Sal Scirpo, Hartford, Conn., 250 Harley, 63 points.

Best Opposite Class: Eugene Esposito, Brooklyn, N.Y., 500 Triumph, 81 points.

Lightweight Champion: Don Lohnes, Bennington, Vt., 250 Greeves, 78.

Mediumweight Champion: Norman Smith, BrecksvlIles, Ohio., 500 Triumph, 103.

Heavyweight Champion: AI Garratt, Cleveland, Ohio, 600 Matchless, 108.

Sidecar Champions: Clare Mathies & Walt Wilson, CampbelIviIle; Ont., 600 Matchless, 581.

Team: The Wrecking Team, N. Smith, S. Scirpo, A. Garratt, 274.

Best Novice: Paul Goulet, Lansing, Mich., 500 Triumph, 140. •