The Canadian Scene
THE CANADIAN SCENE
EVE WHITE
FOR THE SECOND YEAR in succession, Canada's high point award, the White Trophy has gone to a rider from Quebec Province. Winner for 1963 is Jean-Marc Houde of Quebec City, a member of the Quebec Moto Club. Jean-Marc started racing at the age of 16, and placed third in the semi final 1/2 mile at Three Rivers. He is the fifth rider in the family having to follow the achievements of Rene, Bet-rand, Fernand and Yvon, all well known competitors.
By 1963 Jean-Marc was classified as senior, and during that year he entered 55 events, being in first place 43 times. He holds the '63 National Championship 1/2 mile title in the senior class, as well as the Quebec Provincial title for scrambles. He rides a 500cc BSA Gold Star and in 1964 will compete in the expert class. He is a mechanic by trade, and does most of his own tuning and preparation. He is one of a large family of nine children, five boys and four girls, and now at the age of 20 can look forward to continuing success.
Mike Duff, after placing fourth in the World Championship race at Daytona, and so gaining three points towards the 500cc title, has returned to England with his wife and baby son. Mike had hoped to ride a Harley at the A.M.A. races at Daytona, and negotiated with the Harley facto'ry. However, they were not able to promise him a top flight machine, and unless he could be competitive in machinery with the factory riders, there was no point in Mike making the trip to race in March.
There is plenty of work ahead of him in England, as he and Tom Arter get to work on the 500cc Porcupine AJS which has been out of action for several years. The machine has been given to Tom Arter by the factory, with permission to work on it in any way. Mike tried it out at Brands last year, and was amazed at the handling qualities of the machine. One of its problems has always been poor starting and idling, but with a new carburetion systém put in by Arter, Mike found the Porcupine started and idled in excellent fashion. The machine is now entered for the Silverstone Hutchinson 100 in a try-out to see whether it will be the mount for Mike for the Isle of Man T.T. races. After Mike's fourth place in the T.T. last year (behind the three four cylinder jobs) many eyes will be turned on him this year, especially if the Gileras are not running.
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Ivor Lloyd, winner of many 500cc races in Canada during the past few years is planning to race at the A.M.A. races and then follow up with a ride at Sebring. Ivor will ride for Bob Hansen of Honda, though his machines are not yet settled. Ivor is talking of riding the Isle of Man also, and if so, Canada will be able to field a very strong team, though with so many riders going to compete, it might be a hard job to choose just who is the best.
Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, scheduled for July 4, makes many riders wonder why Canada doesn't have a world championship event. The only difficulty is money, or rather the lack of it. We have an excellent course, a club well known for its organizing ability, and facilities at Mosport as good or better than most other courses. To start with, the organizing club must pay an F.I.M. official's expenses to come and look at the course and to inspect the standard of organization. In Europe, this cost is comparatively small, there being a suitable official in almost every country. But the pay fare and expenses for someone to come this far, is a bit much. Daytona, with its big stock car set-up, and plenty of money for a budget to cover this type of expense, has little difficulty in getting a championship.
If the club did manage this expense, then there would be the question of bringing over the top three champions and their machines for each class we run. It is not always understood that it is an individual club, the British Empire Motor Club, which runs the Grand Prix and which has to foot all the bills.
The British Columbia centre of the Canadian Motorcycle Association is getting going on a full year's programme which includes several scrambles. Last year they were almost wholly confined to road races, but the extension of their plans, makes a more attractive competition picture. They are also working hard to promote co-operation with the A.M.A. clubs in the area, and for the first time in many years, the enthusiasts will only have to divide their loyalties between their machines and their families, instead of having to worry about one association versus the other. Victoria, on the island, is also showing more interest in C.M.A. events, and possible affiliation, so the situation for the western riders is very much improved. •
