The Chnadian Scene

THE CHNADIAN SCENE

EVE WHITE

FOR THE FIRST TIME since the White Trophy was donated nine years ago, this high point trophy has been won by a rider from Quebec Province, Yvon du Hamel. Yvon came to prominence as a half-mile dirt track rider, and his wins in this field were sufficient to gain him the number one plate for 1961. However, last year he branched out first to road racing and later in the year to scrambles, and this fact enabled him to gain enough points to take the White Trophy and the number 1 plate as well. Points for all types of competition are included for the White Trophy, speed events only for the number 1 plate.

Yvon is 25 years old, married and lives in Montreal. Although French is his first language, he is quite proficient with English also. He has been riding BSA machines tuned by Marcel Nadeau, and it is a tribute to Marcel’s tuning as well as to Yvon’s skill that the award has come to them.

Rules and Regulations are available for the third running of the F.I.M. sanctioned International Canadian Grand Prix race. We would like to mention to riders from the U.S.A. that they are permitted to take part in this event by the A.M.A. as it is held outside the U.S. and so does not interfere with A.M.A. competition.

The course used will be at Mosport Park, east of Toronto, Ontario, and this lovely 2.4 mile road circuit has proved very popular with riders and a very hard test of riding ability. To win at Mosport has become the ambition of many Eastern U.S. riders, and organization of the Grand Prix by the British Empire Motor Club assures a good race and keen competition. Contact the Editor of CYCLE WORLD if you would like more details and he’ll pass on your letters.

For 1963 the organization of the Challenge Scramble will be an inter-club effort, with five clubs combining to advertise and put the show on the road. The last year’s challenge from the New England riders saw the Eastern Canadian contingent decisively beaten, but we anticipate a closer set of races this year. One leg will be held near Hamilton, Ontario and one at Grafton in Vermont.

The 1963 National Championship dates have been set, and July 1 will see the running of the National half-mile track championship to be held at New Hamburg, near Kitchener. This was a very popular event a few years back, but dropped off the calendar. Now, thanks to the co-operation of local service groups, it will be run again this year.

The National Championship road race will be run at Mosport, and August has been selected for the month. However, the present negotiations whereby two clubs have leased Mosport for the year, means that dates set for later in the year have had to be re-organized. We’ll give you the date next month, and list the other championships too.

The Western Canadian Championship offers an opportunity for west coast riders to try Canada’s brand of road racing, as this event will be held at Westwood near Vancouver. This is a specially built road circuit, exciting to ride, with hills and sharp curves, and July 27 and 28 have been selected for this Championship.

A change in the rules for number 1 plates, will mean that the specialist in one type of racing competition will be able to gain recognition in that type of event. There will be three number 1 plates, one for road racing, one for halfmile track and ice racing and one for scrambles.

For 1963, several Canadian riders will carry the C.M.A. colors to European race meets. For road racing we have Mike Duff who will ride sponsored 7R A.J.S. and 500cc Matchless; Don Haddow who will ride G-50; Geoff Kellond who already has a new 350 Norton and is dickering for a 500; and Dave Jones with a 250cc Ducati. For moto-cross we have Gunter Sauren, whose entry in the British Moto Cross Grand Prix has already been accepted. A rider, little lauded in the U.S.A., who has been campaigning the moto cross circuits for the past two years is Ray McCarty. Ray is an ex-G.I. who married a German girl and makes his home in Germany. He raced under a C.M.A. license previously, but will ride with a MICUS license this year. Ray will be in the British Moto-Cross G.P. also, and we may see some friendly rivalry between the two riders, Gunter and Ray. •