Hall of Fame Road Racings https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/ en Steve Baker - Class of 2014 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2014/steve-baker <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Steve Baker - Class of 2014</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/1" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Tue, 10/24/2017 - 19:46</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">Blazing the path of a true Canadian champion</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>As a youngster Steve Baker enjoyed riding dirt trails around his home town of Bellingham, Washington. By the time he was 16 he had taken up racing and was honing his skills up and down the West coast of the United States and Canada. In short order, Steve became the top ranked novice short track and Junior TT rider in the country.</p> <p>By 1971 Yamaha’s race director <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2014/bob-work">Bob Work</a>, who had been following Steve’s dirt track success, offered him a ride on a TD2 sponsored by Canadian importer, <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2006/trevor-deeley">Trev Deeley</a> Ltd. Steve took to road racing naturally and by 1973 had won his first Canadian 250 Expert Championship. In the ensuing three race seasons, Baker blazed the path of a true champion, producing 9 more Canadian National plates. Bob Work speaks of Steve’s innate ability to learn a new track very quickly but to run at the front and finish the race, the bike also has to be very well prepared. The team of Baker/Work were the stuff.</p> <p>Steve had success road racing in the US as well, supported by Yamaha Motor Canada. In 1975 Steve recorded a 2nd at the Daytona 200, 3rd in the 250cc 100 mile race and returned in 1976, making the podium again with a 3rd in the 250cc class. Baker then went on to earn his first AMA national win at Loudon, NH and capped the weekend off with a 250GP win. He duplicated that performance in August that season at Laguna Seca Raceway, again winning the National and the 250GP. These results placed Steve 2nd overall in the series behind Kenny Roberts.</p> <p>In 1977, Baker started the year impressively by qualifying on the pole for the Daytona 200. He went on to win the rain-shortened 200 miler and the International Lightweight 250 Grand Prix event as well. From there he competed in both the newly formed Formula 750 World Series and the 500cc World Championship Grand Prix. With wins at Daytona, Spain, England, Austria and Belgium, Steve Baker and the Canadian Yamaha Team secured the Road Racing World Championship in the Formula 750 Series and finished runner-up to Barry Sheene in the 500 World Championship.</p> <p>For that extraordinary season, Steve Baker and Team Yamaha were also recipients of the International Ambassador Award for their outstanding promotion of Canadian motorcycle racing.</p> <p>The close of 1977 brought an end to that Cinderella season. Yamaha did not renew his contract so Steve spent 1978 contesting the 500cc World Championships on a privateer Suzuki. At the end of that season, Baker suffered a devastating accident at the Mosport circuit in Canada. That crash left him with a broken arm and shattered his left leg for the third time. Soon afterward, Baker decided to retire from racing.</p> <p>Today Steve maintains an office in the motorcycle dealership he owned near Bellingham, WA. Since 2007 Steve has been traveling to Europe regularly as a rider for the Yamaha Classic Race Team based in Holland. This has provided him the opportunity to reconnect with many of the riders he competed against during his GP career and ride the 1970’s Yamaha race bikes ranging from the TZ125 to his favorite the OW-31 TZ750.</p> </div></div> </div> Tue, 24 Oct 2017 23:46:22 +0000 admin 145 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Roger Beaumont - Class of 2017 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2017/roger-beaumont <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Roger Beaumont - Class of 2017</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/1" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Fri, 01/19/2018 - 14:22</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">We’ll never know what more he may have achieved</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Born in England in 1938, Roger like most young English lads had a good childhood with lots of activity. His cycle influence began at home where his Dad rode bikes until an accident took the life of a close friend. At 14 years of age, Roger rode on a bicycle racing team. Yes, a group of lads raced pedal bikes on an oval track which entertained a full house every time. The bikes had only one pedal and were fitted with special tires and handle bars. The riders were equipped with team sweaters and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.</p> <p>His older brother had a motorcycle which Roger would borrow… this probably starting his career which he grew to love so much. He would start the bike by running along with it in the field, however, stopping was something done in a somewhat unusual manner. He would keep running the bike until the tank ran dry as he was too short to touch the ground.</p> <div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video element-container-wrapper"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qHLSW91ZS7A?autoplay=0&amp;start=0&amp;rel=0"></iframe> </div> <p> Roger then began collecting different bikes which he would ride through the many fields and when he started to work, travelled back and forth on a Frances-Barnett 197cc. While still in England he rode trials and did some scrambling until moving to Canada in 1957. Roger was chosen to be on the first Canadian/US Challenge scramble team running at Grafton, Vermont and Copetown, Ontario and was chosen again the following year.</p> <p>His real competition began in 1957 when he scrambled with an old Norton then, when winter arrived, ice-raced for the fun of it and that summer tried his hand at dirt tracking.</p> <p>From Nortons, Roger went to a Velocette which he began road racing and found out that this was his favourite type of racing. His Manx Norton bought in 1962 brought him many victories and in 1965 he won the National Championship Road Race (and the #1 Plate) and repeated the effort the following year on a Triumph Bonneville. In 1965 Roger placed 3<sup>rd</sup> (Hailwood was 1<sup>st</sup>) in the US Grand Prix at Daytona and won FIM World Points Championship, 500cc Class.</p> <p>In 1966, he and a friend, <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/hodgson-award/2008/david-lloyd">Dave Lloyd</a> another Manx rider, toured Europe where he learned many new things from the world’s best riders. Corners became just part of the race whereas before they were the most difficult part of the track. Roger’s best performance was at Hockenheim, Germany when he placed 8<sup>th</sup> overall and was the first private entry.</p> <p>Roger has had many Canadian victories which his 75 trophies prove but his most remembered race was in 1967 in the World Championship Grand Prix at Mosport where he diced with another well-known Canadian rider with European experience, <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2007/mike-michelle-duff">Mike Duff</a>. It was a short duel all the way and Roger said it was the fastest he had ever had to ride.</p> <p>Roger was a quiet, well mannered fellow married to a lovely girl and they had three children. He was a Quebec resident but moved to London, Ontario in 1968 and took a job with Raymond Burke Ltd., distributor for Triumph. Burke sponsored Roger with much success as he won almost every race he entered. In the Unlimited Class, he rode a Bonneville and used a stock machine for the Production Class.</p> <p>Over the years, Roger raced many circuits with many top quality machines. His biggest ambition was to ride the Isle of Man a few more times. He rode it for the first time in 1966 at an average speed of 92MPH and wanted to be among the few names who average over 100MPH. In 1970 Roger finished third overall in the running for the White Trophy with most of his points coming from road racing.</p> <p>In 1967, <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2009/bill-sharpless">Bill Sharpless</a> had a test-ride on the Triumph distributor’s factory TR100 but never felt confident with its clip-on bars. Roger tried it but didn’t like the handling either so he swapped the motor into his Manx frame and won several races.</p> <p>With the help of <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2006/raymond-gref">Ray Gref </a>who made possible the status of the record attempt in 1968, Roger set an FIM/CMA land speed record of 167 MPH at Bagotville, Quebec riding a Burke Triumph – 650 Bonneville.</p> <p>Roger died suddenly of a heart attack on October 30, 1979. He was only 41. He accomplished much in a short period of time and we’ll never know what more he may have achieved.</p> <p>Roger was well known to road racers in Canada and his friend and competitor, John Davies, established the Vintage Road Racing Association Roger Beaumont Award in his memory. It is awarded annually to the individual who best exemplifies the spirit and intent of the sport and whose dedication and commitment have contributed to the <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/hodgson-award/2009/vintage-road-racing-association">VRRA </a>club and vintage road racing.</p> </div></div> </div> Fri, 19 Jan 2018 19:22:18 +0000 admin 226 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Alec Bennett - Class of 2024 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2024/alec-bennett <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Alec Bennett - Class of 2024</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/23" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Vada</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Sat, 03/01/2025 - 18:05</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">Canada&#039;s Most Successful Racer</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Alec Bennett was born on April 21, 1897, in Craigantlet, Northern Ireland. His family moved to Canada in 1905. By 1911, Alec was working as a telegraph messenger, likely sparking his interest in motorcycles. In 1913, at just 16, Bennett was already racing on BC's dirt tracks, winning several races and the British Columbian Championship. His dirt track experience honed his riding style, contributing to his success on the Tourist Trophy circuit on the Isle of Man.</p> <p>Bennett joined the Canadian Army in 1916, serving as a motorcycle dispatch rider before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. After the war, he returned to Canada but moved to England in 1920 to pursue a career as a motorcycle test rider and racer. Sunbeam hired him after an impressive test ride.</p> <p>Bennett's first race for Sunbeam was the 1921 Senior Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, where he finished 4th despite a severe concussion. He later identified a fault with Sunbeam's valves, leading to his first major victory in the French Grand Prix at Le Mans.</p> <p>In 1922, Bennett dominated the Senior Tourist Trophy, winning by a wide margin and setting a new lap record. He also won the French Grand Prix at Strasbourg for the 2nd time. However, when Sunbeam's team manager chose another rider as the firm’s number one, Bennett left the team.</p> <p>In 1923, Bennett joined Douglas, working on innovations like the flat twin engine and front disk brake. Despite numerous mechanical issues, he finished 10th in the Senior TT and won the Welsh Championship.</p> <p>By 1924, Bennett had started a motorcycle dealership in Southampton and became a freelance rider. He saw potential in Norton’s new 490cc pushrod ohv racer and signed on to race for them selectively.</p> <p>Alec Bennett, a formidable figure in motorcycle racing history, excelled in both Senior and Junior TT races. His triumph in the Senior TT saw him win with an average speed of 61.64 mph, besting the previous record by 3.33 mph, and finishing 87 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. Despite the rigorous demands of the TT, post-race inspections confirmed Bennett’s bike remained in perfect condition. Bennett continued his victorious streak by clinching wins at the French GP and Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.</p> <p>Sunbeam extended an offer for Bennett to join their motorcycle and Grand Prix automobile racing teams. He had never raced cars before and declined to remain loyal to his Norton deal. In 1925, despite a fall that initially dropped him to 6th place, Bennett fought back to secure a 3rd-place finish in the Senior TT. His races on the continent saw him retire from the French Grand Prix but win again at the Belgian GP.</p> <p>Between 1921 and 1925, Bennett primarily competed in the Senior or 500cc Class, the premier motorcycle racing category in England and Europe. By 1926, he ventured into the Junior or 350cc class, seeing potential in Velocette’s new 350cc ohc road bike. An agreement with Velocette, where he was only paid upon winning, led him to transform the bike into a racer. Bennett’s efforts bore fruit as he triumphed in the Junior TT by a significant margin, setting new race and lap records. Although he retired from the Senior TT due to clutch issues, he secured another win for Norton in the 500cc French GP.</p> <p>In 1927, with a growing family and business, Bennett restricted his racing to British events, riding an OK in the lightweight race and the 350cc Velocette in the Junior TT, though mechanical issues forced him to retire from both. However, he rode Norton’s new CS1 to victory in the Senior TT and later won the Senior class of the Brooklands Grand Prix.</p> <p>Bennett’s 1928 season was limited to races on the Isle of Man, where he retired from the Lightweight TT due to mechanical failure and the Senior TT. Despite these setbacks, he won the Junior TT with a remarkable performance, setting new records. This success prompted Velocette to release a production replica of Bennett’s winning bike, which achieved great success both on the road and track.</p> <p>From 1929 to 1932, Bennett continued racing with Velocette in the Junior TT and Sunbeam in the Senior TT. Although he finished 2nd and 3rd in these races, press speculations suggested he was past his prime. Realizing the increasing demands of his business, Bennett retired from racing. He later returned briefly in 1932 for the Junior TT as an amateur, finishing 8th before retiring again.</p> <p>Bennett also competed in the International Six Days Trial, earning a gold medal in 1923, becoming the first Canadian rider to do so.</p> <p>By the early 1950s, Bennett’s business, Alec Bennett &amp; Sons, flourished, employing over 100 people and dealing in various vehicles. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, Bennett capitalized on war surplus motorcycles, refurbishing and selling them at a profit.</p> <p>Alec Bennett passed away in 1973 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy as the most successful motorcycle racer of his time, with an unmatched record in European Grand Prix and Tourist Trophy races. Newspaper and magazine accounts of Bennett’s races referred to him as a Canadian, an Irish Canadian and an Ulster born Canadian. Although there was no such thing as Canadian citizenship in those days, there is no doubt that Alec Bennett raced as a Canadian. To this day, no Canadian rider has come close to matching Bennett’s record, cementing his status as the most successful motorcycle racer Canada has ever produced.</p> </div></div> </div> Sat, 01 Mar 2025 23:05:40 +0000 Vada 414 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Steve Crevier - Class of 2018 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2018/steve-crevier <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Steve Crevier - Class of 2018</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/23" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Vada</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Wed, 01/23/2019 - 23:18</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">As well as enjoying a very successful career, Crevier is also the most flamboyant and outspoken racer of his era</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Steve Crevier is the most successful racer from the legendary mid-1980s British Columbia scene, his career launched from the “mountain high” Westwood venue outside Vancouver at the height of racing’s popularity on the “left coast.” Born in Montreal, Crevier started off moto crossing in B.C. and soon cut his pavement teeth on Yamaha’s famed two stroke twin RZ350, earning the nick name “Squid Kid” while still a front-running teen-ager.</p> <p>As well as enjoying a long-lasting and very successful career, Crevier is also perhaps the most flamboyant and outspoken racer of his era, impressive given that Crevier rose to road race fame at the same time as popular Hall of Famers <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2016/miguel-duhamel">Miguel Duhame</a>l and Jon <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2011/jon-cornwell">Cornwell.</a></p> <p>Crevier turned Pro in 1985, at the same time as Yamaha’s potent new five-valve FZ750 arrived in dealerships, including his long-time supporter Pacific Yamaha.  The next year, Crevier got an ex-<a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2011/rueben-mcmurter">Rueben McMurter</a> FZ750 Superbike, and stunned the racing scene by defeating National star <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2008/michel-mercier">Michel Mercier</a> at Sanair International in Quebec in Crevier’s first appearance at that track.</p> <p>For the next two years, Crevier competed in Canada and the U.S., in Superbike, SuperSport and 250cc Grand Prix class Yamaha equipment.  In 1989, Crevier lead Yamaha Canada’s program with the new OW-01 “homologation special” Superbike, new Production class FZR600, as well as a Team Ciampini Aprilia 250cc Grand Prix machine.</p> <p>1989 was Crevier’s breakthrough season with tuner <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2018/rick-hobbs">Rick Hobbs</a>, sweeping all three of the top classes in the Motoplan-Castrol Canadian National Championship.  Crevier was also top Canuk at the Mosport World Superbike round, earning big financially from his dominant campaign as well as scoring a prize car! </p> <p>After the North American season, Crevier competed in the Australian and New Zealand Superbike races, and won a race at the invitational event in Mexico City.</p> <p>That success lead to a full-time factory ride with Yoshimura-Suzuki in the U.S.A. That deal came apart mid-season and Crevier returned to join the Canadian Kawasaki squad and still manage to grab the Grand Prix crown on the Aprilia.</p> <p>In 1991 Crevier rode for Two Brothers Honda on Bridgestone Tires in the U.S. He dominated on Dunlop rubber for Canadian Kawasaki and did the same in 1992.  In 1993 Steve clinched his fourth Canadian Superbike title, and ran his own program on a privateer Weld-Rite Kawasaki Ninja 600 in the U.S., earning a remarkable seven podium placings.  Steve also rode in the prestigious Suzuka Eight Hour race in Japan for the first time.</p> <p>That brilliant effort meant a second factory opportunity in the U.S. in 1995, joining the famed Muzzy-Kawasaki squad, earning podiums in Superbike and SuperSport.  This helped Steve to join Camel-Honda in 1996, where he was team-mate to arch-rival <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2016/miguel-duhamel">Miguel Duhamel</a>.</p> <p>While Crevier had a number of strong finishes in his first works Honda campaign in 1996, a serious water craft accident interrupted his season and would continue to affect his health for years to come.  1997 went better, Crevier taking fourth overall in both Superbike on the RC45 and Supersport on the CBR600F3.</p> <p>In an ironic twist, Crevier returned to Yoshimura-Suzuki in 1998 and had his “career year,” earning the Champion’s crown on the GSX-R600 in the ultra-competitive SuperSport category and developing the new TL1000R twin in Superbike, placing a strong seventh overall.  The next year, Crevier was 10<sup>th</sup> overall in Superbike and seventh in SuperSport with the number one plate on his Suzuki.</p> <p>Crevier returned to Canada in 2000, joining the Honda team run by Hall-of-Famer <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2012/alan-labrosse">Alan Labrosse</a> with tuner Peter Snell and earned his fifth Superbike title on the new RC51 twin; the next season he repeated while also winning the Sport Bike number one on the CBR600F4.  Unfortunately, 2002 was spoiled by an early season broken ankle caused by a mechanical failure.</p> <p>Then Crevier moved to the Montreal-based Diablo Paintball Suzuki squad, eventually earning the 2005 Sport Bike title on a Diablo-Honda – Crevier was usually the rider to beat in 600cc class action across North America.</p> <p>In 2007 Crevier moved to the Fast Company Yamaha Canada team, and finished the season with three wins in a row on the factory YZF-R1 tuned by Scott Miller, ending a close second behind Jordan Szoke in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.  Considered the favorite heading into 2008, Yamaha downsized their program and Steve would not win another Superbike race, ending his career with a then-record 26 victories and six overall National crowns.</p> <p>A move to the new Buell twin attracted lots of attention in 2008, and Crevier took an incredible third in the bike’s debut at Calabogie, ON.  However, that program ended the next year, and Crevier would never again compete in the premier category.</p> <p>Harley-Davidson launched a new spec series for their XR1200 twin in 2011, and Steve earned that series title for the Motosport Plus squad of Kingston two years in a row, also showing well in the same class in the U.S.A.</p> <p>Now 53 years old, Crevier lives in the lower mainland of B.C. with partner Lindsay and their young family.</p> </div></div> </div> Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:18:40 +0000 Vada 271 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Steve Dick - Class of 2024 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2024/steve-dick <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Steve Dick - Class of 2024</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/23" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Vada</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Sun, 03/23/2025 - 15:53</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">Wow, a Track! He could speed legally and avoid the law</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Steve Dick, born in 1955 in Chatham, moved to Edmonton in 1963. His father's influence and the bustling motorcycle scene around their home sparked his passion for motorcycling. At 14, he obtained his motorcycle license and, with his brother, bought a Suzuki 50, quickly realizing the freedom that motorcycles offered.</p> <p>By 15, Steve purchased his first new motorcycle, a Honda CB100, and embarked on a solo trip from Edmonton to Chatham through the USA. His enthusiasm grew as he upgraded to various and more powerful bikes, eventually attracting police attention with his high-speed rides on the Kawasaki 900 Z1. At 20, a chance encounter at an Edmonton accessory store introduced him to motorcycle racing at the Edmonton International Speedway. What a concept, he could speed legally!</p> <p>Steve's first track experience was challenging, but the support from fellow competitors helped him immensely. They got him organized and set up to enter 3 events where he finished runner-up in the final. He was hooked! At only his second race at the same track, he watched <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f98f4e12-f238-4f8d-b1e3-7f92e45c3490" href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2014/steve-baker">Steve Baker</a> make a clean sweep of his 3 classes at the Canadian National Championship. Inspired by racing legends, he began travelling to Westwood in BC as well as Ontario and Quebec achieving notable success. His dedication led him to win multiple championships, including the Canadian 125GP championship in 1980 with a unique bright orange monocoque chassis for a can am 175 motocross engine. Unconventional in appearance, this unique bike suited Steve’s small stature and riding style.</p> <p>Steve's reputation for versatility caught the attention of a dealer, who provided him with a 6-cylinder Honda CBX1000 for national competitions. Travelling across Canada with this ill-handling monster, Steve finished third in the Canadian Superbike Championship. He also cemented his reputation of being able to ride pretty much anything to a title.</p> <p>The first of two CMA Superbike National Championships came the following year, after moving to Calgary. Moving to BC in 1982 allowed Steve to attend more events at Westwood as well as US races at Seattle and Portland, Oregon. He traveled the Canadian CMA National circuit again that year and won his second National Superbike title.</p> <p>No longer enjoying the income from oilfield work, coupled with starting a family, 1983 saw Steve settle down in Vancouver. He won several regional championships at the local tracks in Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. As the Canadian National Road Racing Series flourished in the late ‘80s, Steve started traveling again, resulting in two National Superbike race wins, lap records at Westwood and Shannonville, and top 3 in both the Superbike and 750 Production Championships. Highlights included Superbike racing in Japan, South Africa, an AMA Supersport podium at Daytona and top-6 finishes at the ’88 &amp; ’89 Suzuki World GSX-R Cup Finals in Jerez, Spain.</p> <p>At the age of 34, and having been passed over for “factory rides” Steve retired from racing professionally at the end of the 1989 season and settled in Toronto. However, he couldn't stay away from the track for long and was soon back in Vancouver.</p> <p>Steve was inspired to race in a “one-off” road race at the Chilliwack airport due to the extreme performance of the new crop of sport bikes in 1997. The following year, the Canadian National Superbike Series was back in BC at the airport. Steve lead for a number of laps and eventually finished 4th in the Supersport race.</p> <p>The local Westwood Motorcycle Club was able to secure a race date at the Mission Raceway track in 2002. After a race-long battle with friend and multi-time Canadian National Champion, <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="66b20072-d245-48eb-8130-ad4599957b02" href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2018/steve-crevier">Steve Crevier</a>, Steve Dick was lured back to the track for the 2003 season. At the age of 48, Steve proceeded to win 3 more regional titles. He backed that up in 2004 with 5 more titles. That same year, he tuned for Amateur 600 Supersport rider Jeremy Leduc, who went on to win the Championship. An injury shortened a winning 2005 season and the decision to retire from active competition was made at the end of 2006.</p> <p>Remembering how others had helped him get started, Steve had always been great at reciprocating with younger riders. A fixture at both private &amp; club-sponsored race schools as early as 1978, he was always patient &amp; positive with those coming up through the ranks. With his 100-watt grin, coaching promising riders was an enjoyable passion and “pay-it-forward” to the sport and the people in it.</p> <p>He has assisted the careers of Canadian stars (and future Hall of Famers) Steve Crevier, Brett McCormick and Royce McLean. When not racing, Steve also volunteered countless hours on behalf of some of Canada’s other road racing organizations. </p> <p>He now lives in Oliver BC, Canada’s Wine Capital and the home of Canada’s newest road race track, Area 27. Since he passed the racing bug onto his son Brandon, Steve enjoys riding privileges at the private track thru his son’s membership. Steve has been helping new riders with track orientation and working with the Area 27 management as a safety advisor.</p> <p>Steve has also discovered cross-country and Adventure riding and traveled to Alaska a few years ago on his V-Strom 650. Steve still finds it hard to believe his fate, that after 22 years of racing, over a 30 year period, he has a 5-minute drive to the best track in Canada. He knows he’s a lucky guy!</p> </div></div> </div> Sun, 23 Mar 2025 19:53:47 +0000 Vada 422 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Don Haddow - Class of 2013 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2013/don-haddow <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Don Haddow - Class of 2013</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/1" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Wed, 10/25/2017 - 12:19</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">A Christmas present of “Thrills of the Speedway” kindled a lifelong passion</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Don Haddow credits his lifelong passion for motorsports to a childhood Christmas present from an aunt. “Thrills of the Speedway” was the title of the book, and his aunt seems to have anticipated Don’s interests well. It recounted the exploits of early stars such as Louis Chiron, Tazio Nuvolari and Sir Malcolm Campbell. While the book has lapsed into obscurity, it kindled a need for speed that fuelled Don’s later success on two wheels, four wheels and on skis.</p> <p>Growing up in Toronto, in the early postwar years Don began to hang around the shop of a prominent racer and businessman named Chuck Stockey. Stockey had negotiated the rights to import Velocette and Vincent motorcycles from England and Don would hold a light and try to make himself useful while Chuck assembled the new motorcycles out of their crates.</p> <p>Don badly wanted his own bike and at the age of 15 took a summer job working on lake freighters to earn the money. Stockey had taken a used Matchless single in trade for a new Vincent and this became Don’s first motorcycle. A month later came Don’s first motorcycle crash when he was rear-ended at night by a car. He gained a concussion and gravel rash on his head and shoulders, while the Matchless went for repairs to the AJS-Matchless importer, Harry Firth in Toronto’s east end. Every time Don would telephone Firth’s to find out when his bike would be ready he was told that the needed parts were still “on the water.” He found out later that his father had told the shop to delay the repairs, hoping he would lose interest. Eventually the bike was ready in December and Don rode it through the winter of 1947.</p> <p>When he finished school, Don worked on oil tankers to raise funds for a used MG TC that he entered in the sports car races at Edenvale, an airport circuit near Stayner, Ont. His ambitions were thwarted, though, when he learned the prices of competitive machines like the Allards and Jaguars that he aspired to. Motorcycles seemed like a better deal, and Don turned to a used 500 cc Triumph T100C with twin carbs, low bars and a sprung rear hub. Bingo, his first race win at Edenvale at the age of 23.</p> <p>A change of handlebar, gearing and rear tire would make the Triumph into a dirt tracker, and Don entered a variety of races in Ontario and Quebec with much success. He also took to the trails with a ride in the <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2008/bemc-british-empire-motor-club">British Empire Motor Club</a> winning team entry of the 1955 <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2013/corduroy-enduro">Corduroy Enduro</a> on a twin-cylinder Matchless, and gained a senior class win in 1956 at the Ontario championship scramble at Peterborough.</p> <p>In 1957 Don bought a new Triumph T100R and was rewarded with the Canadian championship in the expert class at Harewood Acres, near Jarvis, Ont. A few weeks later he placed second in the 25-lap final of the BEMC Indian Summer Trophy Races, again on the Harewood airport circuit. He was a non-finisher on the beach at Daytona but also raced at Laconia, Marlboro and Watkins Glen with what he describes as limited success.</p> <p>Don’s career was taking off. He was invited to ride a factory Triumph at Daytona in 1961 by Rod Coates, service manager for the Triumph Corporation. He had to take time off from his winter job as a ski instructor in Quebec but recorded the fastest qualifying time and pole position for the race. Don was mentally counting his race winnings when the Triumph stopped with a broken condenser wire. Coates had also arranged for Don to ride a Yamaha TD-1C in the 250 cc race, but his seventh place finish was disqualified as he’d missed an unknown check of engine numbers 10 minutes before the race.</p> <p>Coates offered him the Triumph for the rest of the season but Don suffered a broken leg skiing at Mt. Tremblant and the ride went to <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2009/bill-sharpless">Bill Sharpless</a>. Late in the season he rode Oscar Liebmann’s hand-built BMW Rennsport special at Harewood and narrowly beat <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2015/al-johnson">Al Johnson</a> on a Norton Manx to win the Indian Summer Trophy Race.</p> <p>In 1963 Don received an invitation from <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2007/mike-michelle-duff">Mike Duff</a> to ride the Isle of Man TT on the Matchless and AJS race bikes that Duff had bought through Harry Firth; Duff was being sponsored by the legendary Tom Arter and would be riding Arter’s own machines. Don gained a 17th place finish and bronze replica on the 350 cc AJS 7R in the Junior TT but a moment’s inattention led to a crash at Glen Helen while riding the Matchless G50 in the Senior. Don spent a week in hospital before flying home.</p> <p>Don also received a first class award in the Canadian winter rally in 1962 and competed in sports car hillclimbs in the legendary Jordan Special, a home-built car with alcohol-fuelled Vincent engine. It was invariably the fastest machine on the hill, regularly defeated Ludwig Heimrath in his Porsches and still holds the hill records at Hockley Valley and Rattlesnake Point.</p> </div></div> </div> Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:19:12 +0000 admin 158 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Peter Kellond - Class of 2014 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2014/peter-kellond <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Peter Kellond - Class of 2014</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/1" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Tue, 10/24/2017 - 19:35</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">Setting lap records at almost every race </div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Pete Kellond’s racing career began at Abbotsford Airport in 1957, competing on his street motorcycle, a 1957 500cc BSA Clubman Gold Star. At that first meet Pete finished 3rd overall and 1st Junior.</p> <p>The Westwood Racing Circuit in Coquitlam, B.C. opened July 26, 1959.  It was there the Sports Car Club of British Columbia (SCCBC) held its opening event which included motorcycles as a demonstration class. Pete competed on his Gold Star and again finished 3rd overall and 1st Junior.</p> <p>The British Columbia Motor Cycle Racing Club grew out of these competitions. Later the name was changed to Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club and Peter Kellond served as first treasurer and eventually achieved the status of Lifetime Member.</p> <p>In late 1960 Pete demolished the Westwood lap record by a full 2 seconds aboard a Manx Norton. Over the next four years Peter became a local legend, establishing lap records for both the 500cc and the unlimited classes at his home track, Seattle International Raceway, and Portland International Raceway.</p> <p>Pete held Westwood’s club championships for 500cc, 650cc and unlimited class yearly until 1964. However, by late ‘65 the more modern two stroke Suzuki and Yamaha bikes and the 750cc Norton Commando proved too quick for the Manx. Pete managed to repeat the 500cc championship but it became obvious he would need to change machines to remain competitive.</p> <p>Pete retooled his race program in 1966 racing new Suzuki Factory 50cc TR50 and then the 250cc TR250. He still holds the lap record at Westwood for the 50cc class at 1 min. 28sec. Kellond continued to campaign the Suzukis throughout the ‘67 and ‘68 season, attempting to win the championship and set 250cc lap record along the way. It was proving very difficult to compete on the same level as the new Yamaha factory race bikes.</p> <p>In the late 1968 <a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2006/trevor-deeley">Trev Deeley</a> approached Pete to compete on the new factory TD2 250cc and TR2 350cc race bikes at Daytona. Subsequently Deeley continued to sponsor him for the 1969 Westwood race season and select US races.</p> <p>Daytona in 1969, racing the AMA 200 mile National, Pete finished 8th and then 6th in the 100 mile 250cc Combined race. In September, at the California Sears Point National, Pete finished 5th in both the 90 mile and the 125 mile events.  Back home Pete won the 500 cc Canadian Championship, and set lap records at almost every race many times lowering his own records in the 250cc, 350cc and the unlimited classes.</p> <p>During these years of competition Pete and his brother Geoff had meticulously prepared all his race bikes. Pete never suffered an engine failure during all those races, a testament to their mechanical skills. Pete officially retired at the end of 1970 undefeated but only after again lowering the Westwood lap record down to1 min 17.5 seconds, crashes notwithstanding.</p> <p>Twenty years later, September 15, 1990, a final exhibition was held before the permanent closer of Westwood. Pete raced his original 1959 Norton Manx to 1st Place in the 500 class and 3rd overall. A fitting end to a great Canadian racing career.</p> <p>Pete’s wife Valerie worked the switchboard at many of the motorcycle races at Westwood. Pete and Valerie have now been married 42 plus years and live in North Saanich, B.C.</p> </div></div> </div> Tue, 24 Oct 2017 23:35:19 +0000 admin 141 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Clive Ng-A-Kien - Class of 2019 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2019/clive-ng-kien <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Clive Ng-A-Kien - Class of 2019</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/23" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Vada</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Sat, 01/25/2020 - 14:39</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">Clive Ng-A-Kien, is a five times Canadian 250 Grand Prix Champion</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>Clive Ng-A-Kien, is a five times Canadian 250 Grand Prix Champion, having won the Canadian National title for five consecutive years from 1980 to 1984.  He captured those five National Championships at a time when the 250 Grand Prix Class was one of the premiere road racing classes in both Canada and the United States.</p> <p>Born in Guyana, South America, Clive got his first motorcycle at the age of sixteen, a 50cc Yamaha.  He won his first Amateur race on that Yamaha and quickly graduated the following year to a 100cc Suzuki for road racing while also racing grass track.  He won the Guyanese Grass Track Championships three years in a row, from 1973 to 1975.  At the same time, Clive showed his versatility as a rider and also captured the Guyanese Dirt Track Championships on a modified Kawasaki in 1974 and 1975.</p> <p>Clive’s family immigrated to Canada at the end of 1975. The following year the talented young Guyanese rider was back racing this time on a Yamaha TA 125 out of West Hill, Ontario Yamaha dealer, Ernie White.  He was consistently running in the top five as a first year junior rider.  In 1977 Clive remained a junior class rider but moved up to a new Yamaha TZ250 and won both the Canadian 250cc and 500cc championships. </p> <p>1978 would see Clive move up to the Expert class where he finished third at the September 1978 Canadian Grand Prix 250 race. Later that year he notched two podium finishes at the International event in Jamaica with a first and a second place showing. </p> <p>1979 would see Clive enter the International Lightweight race at Daytona where he brought his Yamaha home in 28<sup>th </sup>with mechanical issues.  Clive rebounded with top finishes in Canada, the USA and Guyana later in the year including track records in the 125cc and 250cc Grand Prix classes at Mosport. He also took two wins at the International Road Race in Guyana that fall.</p> <p>1980 was Clive's breakout year as he won both the 250cc and 500cc championships while racing in the WERA series in the United States.  Clive repeated his 250cc Championship in 1981.  He was again the best 250cc Grand Prix rider in 1982 notching his third consecutive National Championship while also acquiring a Yamaha TZ750. He then began work at Yamaha Motor Canada who became a sponsor of his road racing program.</p> <p>1983 did not start out well as a result of a crash at Daytona and another while racing at the Isle of Mann.  He did rebound later in the season recovering to capture his fourth National 250 Grand Prix championship at the last round of the series at the Sanair circuit in Quebec.  Clive continued his winning ways in 1984 to take yet another 250 Grand Prix title in a year that saw the end of his quarter liter racing in favour of moving to the Superbike class.  </p> <p>With the support of Snow City Cycle, Yamaha Motor Canada and Canadian Tire, Clive moved to a Yamaha FZ750 Superbike for the 1985 racing season.  He was racing against the very best riders of the era including Hall of Famers, Michelle Mercier and Rueben McMurter and made a number of podiums and the top ten by the end of the season.  The 1986 season saw Clive run consistently in the top 5 in the Superbike Class but at the end of the year Clive retired from road racing.  He did briefly come out of retirement in 1994 to return to where it all started for him as a teenager. He raced in the Guyanese Road Racing Series where he won all 5 races at the South Dakota Circuit.  He returned the following year but a crash that resulted in a separated shoulder ended the final chapter on his road racing career.</p> <p>Recently Clive has served as Team Manager and mentor for up and coming Guyanese racer, Elliott Vieira who contested the CSBK Sportbike Championships.</p> </div></div> </div> Sat, 25 Jan 2020 19:39:14 +0000 Vada 319 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Al Perrett - Class of 2018 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2018/al-perrett <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Al Perrett - Class of 2018</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/23" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">Vada</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Fri, 01/25/2019 - 13:33</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item">From the day that Al was offered a ride on a 250 BSA, he was hooked</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>From the day that someone offered Al Perrett a ride on a 250 BSA, he was hooked. He was only 14 but thought that motorcycles were awesome. Motorcycles however, would have to wait as his love of skiing got in the way. He competed from the age of 16 until he was 22, even trying out for the Olympics in 1961.</p> <p>Al tried working at various jobs but was not enthused and his brother suggested he go into the motorcycle business. In 1966, he borrowed $4000 from the bank, bought five little Suzukis and opened a small shop in Richmond. It didn’t take long before he moved to larger quarters selling Yamahas. Money was tight but Al bought out Tyne Side Repairs, a long-time established dealership. This purchase saved his bacon as he had truck loads of parts for sale and was soon able to pay off the bank as well as Deeleys for the Yamahas. He was even able to move to a larger location.</p> <p>Al purchased a Montessa and started motocross racing at Totem Raceway in Aldergrove. MX was OK but Al’s preference was cross country and he raced the Ashcroft cross country event numerous times, coming close but never winning.</p> <p>In 1972, Al sold his Yamaha shop and moved to Kamloops starting Kamloops Honda. Now he was able to compete more and won his first cross country race.</p> <p><a href="https://canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2018/daniel-amor">Dan Amor</a> talked Al into going to the Six Days Trials in Italy in 1974. All he had was an XL350 which he put aluminum bars on, Koni shocks and a Snuff-or-not muffler. He made it to day 5 but crashed, landing in the hospital for a couple of days. Al thought this was such a great event that he continued to race the ISDT over the next decade. At the Isle of Man in 1975, he earned a Bronze medal and a Silver in Austria in 1975. He entered the 1977 Czech event and the 1980 one in France but broke down both times and did not finish. Day 5 must have been his unlucky number as his DNF’s and crash all happened on that day.</p> <p>Al was so impressed with the ISDT events that he organized two-day qualifier events in Kamloops and encouraged a lot of the local riders to go to the 6 days. He also did a lot of trail work with many dedicated riders and organized many races over the years.</p> <p>In 1973 and 1975, Al was offered a Harley-Davidson franchise and turned it down. In 1977, Don James made him an offer he couldn’t refuse – 6 prepaid Harleys, no interest, pay when you sell them and ship them back collect if it doesn’t work out. This was one of Al’s best business decisions.</p> <p>In 1986, a disastrous fire destroyed the business. Robyn Muglich, a longtime employee and Shirley Perrett worked tirelessly with Al without pay, to salvage as much as they could. Things worked out and the business slowly grew and thrived again.</p> <p>Kamloops Harley-Davidson was the sponsor for the Harley Owners Group from 1988 to 2016. This chapter raised $850,000 for Muscular Dystrophy. Their poker runs have been amazing with one event raffling off ten Harleys. Over the years, the dealership donated many gifts as well as cash to local charities. These donations as well as the HOG events helped to support and benefit the community.</p> <p>In 1990, Al rode his first Baja 1000 and finished! He was hooked! He has competed in 17 Baja races with different team mates over the years winning class 50 and 60 numerous times. His last race was in 2012. Al grew to love the Baja and eventually bought some property and built a small house there where he spends his winters.</p> <p>In 2003, Al wanted to start a small ride for close friends and family at Sun Peaks. It is called “Round the Peaks” and has been an annual event ever since.</p> <p>Many riders have been inspired and encouraged by Al over the years which he didn’t realize until lately when people started to express this to him.</p> <p>Al is very proud that he survived 50 years in the motorcycle business through some very tough times. According to Malcolm Hunter, “His customer service is legendary and has been the cornerstone of his success from the start.” The business grew from 2-4 people and had 28 employees when he sold to Barnes Harley-Davidson in 2016.</p> <p>Al is grateful he could follow his passion for motorcycles as a career.</p> </div></div> </div> Fri, 25 Jan 2019 18:33:21 +0000 Vada 276 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca Dave Sehl - Class of 2013 https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca/inductees/2013/dave-sehl <span class="field field-name-title field-formatter-string field-type-string field-label-hidden">Dave Sehl - Class of 2013</span> <span class="field field-name-uid field-formatter-author field-type-entity-reference field-label-hidden"><span lang="" about="/user/1" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">admin</span></span> <span class="field field-name-created field-formatter-timestamp field-type-created field-label-hidden">Wed, 10/25/2017 - 11:20</span> <div class="field field-node--field-headline field-formatter-string field-name-field-headline field-type-string field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"> “You’d never know what Dad might bring home for me to race”</div></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field-node--body field-formatter-text-default field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden has-single"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item"><p>For Dave Sehl it almost seemed predestined that he would become Canada’s most successful competitor on the AMA grand national circuit of the early 1970s. He has motorcycle racing in his DNA. First in Canada as a privateer and then in the U.S. on the Harley-Davidson factory team, for a few shining years Dave Sehl ruled the half-mile dirt tracks like few others.</p> <p>Dave was a natural at motorcycle racing, and grew up in a family where twisting the throttle was a rite of passage. His father Wilf was a veteran of numerous forms of two-wheel motorsport, his older brother Jim set an example in his early teens and younger brother Doug was not far behind. Dave was competing in Steel City Riders club events as early as age 12, starting with a small Villiers-engined two-stroke and progressing to a Triumph Tiger Cub. “You’d never know what Dad might bring home for me to race,” he said. “He’d cook up a deal with Percy (Poole) and I’d have a new bike to race.”</p> <p>Racing with his brothers and fellow club members was plain fun and Dave progressed rapidly. He moved up to a BSA 250 and gained his first ice racing experience, then tried a Harley-Davidson 250 Sprint and a 500 cc BSA Gold Star. A short stint on a Poole Cycle Harley KR750 presented mechanical challenges, but once Dave graduated to the immaculate Triumphs built by his brother Jim things really started to click.</p> <p>Dave’s first success came in ice racing in 1966 when he won the CMA junior 500 national championship. In ’67 he was Canada’s top half-mile dirt track competitor in the senior class, repeating the win in ’68 as an expert. He topped that in 1969, winning on the ice again as an expert and taking the CMA No. 1 plate in dirt track. At Daytona in ’69, Larry Bastedo arranged for the loan of a 250 Yamaha road racer from Fred Deeley Imports but engine seizures kept him out of contention.</p> <p>It was Dave’s first year as an AMA expert and he caught the eye of a Harley dealer from Atlanta, Georgia, named Powell Hassel who admired his riding style and urged the factory’s race director,  Dick O’Brien, to give him a place on the factory team to replace Fred Nix, who had died in a dune buggy accident. Dave quickly was brought on board to join three other now-legendary riders, Mert Lawwill, Mark Brelsford and Cal Rayborn. Compared to the Jim Sehl Triumph to which he was accustomed, the early Harley XR750 seemed heavy and slow, causing Dave to struggle and even consider leaving the team.</p> <p>O’Brien came to the rescue with a call to race tuner Babe DeMay in Illinois and Dave’s fortunes began to turn around. The two personalities clicked as they worked together in the spring of 1970 in an intensely focused effort to make the bike competitive. The project consumed every waking hour over two weeks and Dave moved in with DeMay for nearly a year. The bike was ready the afternoon before the Louisville national and since DeMay had another obligation, Dave drove himself and the bike to the track alone.</p> <p>On race day, the iron-cylinder engine seized in practice and Dave coasted to a halt. Once it cooled, the engine loosened up but seized again in the first heat race. The only chance left to make the main event was through a semi-final and to Dave’s suprise, the engine ran strong and he won. He repeated the win in the final, giving him his first AMA national victory. It provided a huge boost and three weeks later Dave won again, this time another half-mile in Columbus, Ohio. He was on a roll, and over a five-year spell he won Louisville three times. “It was a nice track,” he says in retrospect. “Big and smooth, and nobody got in your way.” Over a five-year span Dave was on the Louisville podium all five times.</p> <p>Perseverance and talent were rewarded and in 1971 Dave placed fifth overall in AMA standings—his best year. At the same time, his dominance of Canadian racing continued and Dave took the CMA championships in 250 and 750 cc half-mile dirt track in 1970 and ’73. By then, though, O’Brien had reassigned DeMay and his crucial mentorship, not to mention his mechanical gifts, were no longer available to Dave. The national race wins stopped coming and eventually for Dave it was time to come home.</p> </div></div> </div> Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:20:27 +0000 admin 154 at https://d945.canadianmotorcyclehalloffame.ca