Canadian Grand Prix
Canadian Grand Prix
IVAN J. WAGAR
CANADA IN THE FALL, as any tourist bureau will relate, is the most glorious time to be there, but at Mosport, Ontario, cold, damp, windy weather turned out in full force to greet visitors from such sunny places as Italy, California and Southern Rhodesia. Even the Englishmen complained! Nevertheless, the first FIM World Championship race in many years to be contested on the North American Continent promised a first look at exotic factory racers for thousands of race fans, and Mother Nature's worst efforts were lost in a flood of enthusiasm.
For the knowledgeable types, the race was significant in that two championship titles were still at stake, an unusual situation for a race so late in the season. In the 250 class, Mike Hailwood required a win in order to stave off Phil Read. In the 500 class, Hailwood was much worse off as Agostini needed only to finish in the first six to retain his crown, despite what the grossly misinformed announcer insisted upon all through race day.
The heavens opened for Thursday practice, and with the rain came several spills. Ralph Bryans, number two on the Honda team, caught a neutral as he crested the brow into the second turn, which led to a 100-mph crash and a twisted back. Another victim was Ron Grant, who had taken over Gary Nixon's Triumph entry when the latter was forced to ride Oklahoma City half-mile to cinch the AMA plate No. 1. Phil Read managed to lose it on the bumpy exit from the last turn.
Friday's practice also was wet and very cold, but there were no crashes among the notables. The majority of riders seemed content to do three or four laps and stop to get warm — all except Ago, who appeared to be trying to wear out his practice machine.
Qualifying for final grid positions was accomplished by lining up part of the field in each class and sending them off for three laps, and the middle lap was timed by a battery of stop watches. The whole thing was very orderly and official, with starter Dave Clark flagging the starts as if they were the real thing. But when Ralph Bryans' 250 lot came up, the system went to pieces. Dave, who did an excellent job all weekend, raised the flag and Bryans took off, followed by a few other riders, who probably thought Ralph had seen something they hadn't. There were still a half-dozen on the grid, however, and when Dave lowered his arm in confusion, they went on their way. This appeared to be the easiest group for the timers to score, as the riders were well spread out.
Race day was still another example of Canadian 45-degree weather, but some 6000 hearty souls paid to see an otherwise excellent day's racing. The international program started with the 25-lap 125 race. Yamaha is to be congratulated for sending a machine for World Champion, Bill Ivy, because the races were held in a displacement sequence, and an injury in the 125 race might have put him out of the 250 class, in which he was greatly needed as backup for Read. But, with no other factory machines in the race, Bill had only to ride around at his own pace, sitting upright most of the time, and give spectators a look at the incredibly quick little four cylinder.
Although he made two pit stops for water in his radiator, Ivy won by two laps over Tim Coopey, on an almost standard Yamaha 100-cc twin. Mosport regulars were shocked to learn that Ivy had peeled almost two seconds from the existing motorcycle lap record — on a 125, no less.
The 32-lap 250 race was delayed 45 minutes while gas was brought out from town in a varied assortment of containers; it seems the circuit gas pump had run dry!
As the flag dropped to start the 250s, Hailwood had the Honda lit, and was climbing aboard before most riders had started to push. Ivy was right on Hailwood's tail, and pulled a terrific wheelie in second gear as they accelerated away from the pack. At the end of the first lap Hailwood led Ivy by 30 ft., but they had already pulled out 2 sec. on Read, who was followed by Ron Grant and Frank Camilleri. Canadian Champion, Yvon du Hamel, was fortunate to have a Yamaha RD 56, and came through in 8th place, but going very quickly. Left on the grid after the whole field had disappeared was Ralph Bryans, who gave the spectators a thrill as his Honda screamed through the back markers.
Lap after lap Hailwood and Ivy continued their wheel-to-wheel dice. The Yamaha actually was faster, gaining two or three lengths on the short front straight. Nevertheless, Hailwood gained back six lengths each time they went through the very difficult off camber first turn. Grant and Camilleri engaged in a real scrap, but the latter's Yetman frame handled appreciably better than Grant's standard TD-1 chassis. By the fifth lap, du Hamel on the RD had passed the two of them, and was fourth behind Read.
On Lap 12, Hailwood and Ivy had lapped everyone except 3rd place Read, who already was so far out of contention that his only hope was a dropout by one or both of the lead pair. Hailwood really started to put some effort into the game on the 22nd lap, and wobbled violently as he came out of the last turn. Then, drama: Ivy, with two laps to go, pulled in the pit lane to retire. One of the four pistons had started to seize. Read became 2nd and Bryans, although a lap down, had passed the remainder of the field to take 3rd.
A five-lap sidecar demonstration, plus other sundry activities gave Hailwood almost half an hour to thaw before the 40lap 500 bash. His only true rival, Giacomo Agostini, had spent the day, thus far, well bundled up, and appeared eager to get the show on the road. Ignoring the two factory multis on the grid, there were plenty of good machines and excellent riders to present a fine show. Mike Duff flew in from Europe with Tom Arter's best G50. Fred Stevens brought the Ray Cowles G50 which was originally entered for John Hartle, until Hartle's crash in England the previous week. Ivor Lloyd came out of retirement again, and was mounted on a Hansen G50, as was Andreas Georgeades. Harley-Davidson factory rider, Walt Fulton, also was mounted on one of the famous Matchless singles. Both Yvon du Hamel and Ron Grant were aboard genuine Daytona Triumphs. Two other rapid Daytona machines were the Honda 450s of Mike Manley and Don Haddow.
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As might be expected, the two factory machines screamed away from everyone at the start. Agostini led at the end of Lap 1, and it soon became apparent what Hailwood was up to; that is, to sit on Ago's tail and worry him, hoping for the Italian to make a mistake that would keep him out of the first six finishers. Fred Stevens retired at the pits on the 4th lap — a long trip for such a short ride. Duff, a non-qualifier, had started from the very rear of the grid, and was riding in his usual smooth, stylish manner passing the entire field to scrap with 3rd place Grant at the 10-lap mark.
Toronto's Mike Manley had been riding very well in 3rd place for the first half dozen laps, but crashed on the 11th lap, dislocating a hip. Then, on the 13th tour, Grant fell at the same place, but rejoined the race a lap later, only to retire for good at the pits 10 laps later. By the 19th lap, Hailwood realized his plan was doomed, so he. passed Agostini and pulled away. Ago is too cool-headed to throw a championship down the drain for the sake of an impressive dice. The leaders had been lapping at 6 to 8 sec. slower than Hailwood's 250 times.
In the next seven laps, Hailwood stretched his lead to 22 sec., and Duff was 59 sec. farther behind Ago. For the remaining 14 laps, Duff lost only 3 sec. to Agostini, who lost an additional minute to Hailwood.
The two Hansen G50s were the only machines lapped once in the race.
All personnel connected with the Canadian Grand Prix are to be congratulated on a fine job. The whole program went off without a hitch, save the lack of gas incident, which was not the fault of the people connected with the Canadian Motorcycle Association. Pete Zepka, the AMA timer, was on hand to assist CMA's invaluable Tony Miller with the ultra-important chore of timing and scoring. Pete remarked how much easier it is to keep track of riders at Mosport as compared with Daytona.
Most important, the Canadian Grand Prix proved a buffer for the hard core FIM and AMA camps, and that harmony can exist between the two organizations. ■
Elapsed time of winner: 46 minutes, 39.0 seconds. Fastest lap during race: Lap #24, Ivy, Time — 1:45.9
Elapsed time of winner: 52 minutes, 31.0 seconds. Fastest lap during race: Lap #17, Hailwood, Time — 1:36.8
Elapsed time of winner: 73 minutes, 28.5 seconds. Fastest lap during race: Lap #8, Hailwood, Time — 1:42.7
