Grand Prix of Holland

GRAND PRIX OF HOLLAND

A RECORD CROWD of nearly 200,000 watched a full scale Dutch TT on the medium-fast 85 mph circuit of Assen. Close racing and surprising results added up to make it a perfect day.

The Dutch have their own ideas about the order of events, so they let the threefifties go first. Jim Redman on the only Honda four in the field grabbed the lead when the flag fell, and never was in danger of losing it, riding around in the sunshine at just the speed he preferred.

Mike Hailwood on the small MV four had an equally lonely ride to second place, but behind him the boys were really after the prize money. Bruce Beale chased Italy’s Remo Venturi, Bianchi mounted, until his production Honda packed up in the eleventh of twenty laps, just when he looked all set to snatch third place from Remo. Paddy Driver, on a Tom Kirby AJS, took fourth, and was followed by Mike Duff on another Ajay, which during the closing stages sounded pretty rough.

HONDA, SUZUKI WIN 50s

Poor Hans Anscheidt, still on the twoyear-old 12.5 hp Kreidler, was out on his own against the Honda/Suzuki force. Mitsuo Itoh grabbed the lead from Anscheidt, but back from lap one came Ireland’s Ralph Bryans in the lead, his Honda chiming like a good Honda should. Hugh Anderson and Itoh followed closely, and Anscheidt’s Kreidler was already in a hopeless position.

Jolly little Isao Morishita, after a bad start, gradually moved his Suzuki up to second place behind Bryans and led teammate Itoh comfortably. Retirements brought Anscheidt up to fourth spot, which he nearly lost when his fuel supply failed in the last lap. But the only man who might have passed him was Cees van Dongen, who had been given a works Kreidler, and he closed the throttle not to rob his team leader of a precious point.

A DING-DONG 250cc BATTLE

Phil Read on a Yamaha was away first, followed by Jim Redman’s Honda and Mike Duff on another Yamaha. Tommy Robb’s third place Yamaha held off Gilberto Milani’s Aermacchi and Bert Schneider on the first Suzuki. Three laps down, and Redman pulled ahead.

Everything that happened behind the leaders lost its shine, however, because of the tremendous battle between Read and Redman. Both bikes were timed with equal top speed, but the Yamaha had a slight edge in acceleration. On the straight before the pits Phil usually gained ten or more yards over the Honda, but on the last mile before the finish Jim always won them back, outbraking the Yamaha.

HEINZ-J. SCHNEIDER

Positions changed frequently, but most of the time Read was ahead, and when he had made up thirty yards, lost when lapping a slower rider, everyone expected him to win. He led all through the last tour, then, two curves from the end, Redman held off his braking and sneaked past. The Yamaha’s acceleration brought Read near to victory again as he gained five feet during the last thirty yards, but the sixth foot remaining was enough for Jim to win. Tommy Robb took the second Yamaha to third spot ahead of Tarquinio Provini, who had to suffer being lapped in front of the grandstand crowd, and Mike Duff.

125cc RACE

It was Jim Redman’s task in his third race of the day to hold off the opposition. Phil Read repeated his assaults on the Honda flyer, riding a brand new Yamaha twin, outstanding in both performance and reliability. The leaderboard six soon split up in groups of two, Jim and Phil swapping places frequently until, two laps from the end, Redman established a secure lead. Behind them, Ralph Bryans and Bert Schneider fought it out, Bryans’ Honda getting the better in a last lap effort.

CALDERELLA HAS PROBLEMS

From start to finish it was a Mike Hailwood/MV procession. Only spice in the game, Argentinian Benedicto Calderella, was a real challenge for just a lap, until he took to the grass on the last curve and had to correct a 100-plus wobble, which cost him some nerves.

Remo Venturi came up marvelously on his Bianchi twin, ousted Paddy Driver from fourth and, after passing Phil Read, found himself second. Calderella apparently changed from fourth to third instead of fifth gear in front of the pits, which caused the engine to scream shrilly before it went silent forever.

SIDECAR UPSET

Fresh from his Isle of Man win, Deubel’s BMW was the first to fire, but Colin Seeley immediately took the lead from him, with Chris Vincent and Pip Harris astern. Back from the first lap came Florian Camathias in second place, strongly challenged by Chris; Deubel was already well to the rear. Just before Seeley was given the “go slow” signal from the pit, Camathias lost his runner-up position to Vincent, who drove more on the grass verge than on the track.

In the eighth of fourteen laps the Gilera’s carburetors caught fire, and drivers who passed the scene reported wonders of Florian jumping about in burning leathers. Firemen kept the damage low, but now there is little chance of seeing the Gilera win the title in the two remaining races. •