Canadian Grand Prix

September 30, 1967 Mosport Park (near Bowmanville, ON)

The Centennial Year was the only time a motorcycle Grand Prix, contributing to a World Championship, was held in Canada. The Championship races (125cc; 250cc; 500cc) were held at Mosport Park (near Bowmanville, ON) on September 30. The race programme (http://www.vrra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1967-GP-Program-rev1.pdf) notes that:

The races are being supported by the Federal Centennial Commission as a celebration of Canada's Centennial, and in addition to a grant to bring the riders from Europe, they have donated a large trophy, plus gold, silver and bronze medals for the winners and smaller centennial medals for all contestants.

[Q. Was this the same as the Fitness and Amateur Sport Directorate funding that supported other international sports events in Canada?]

Although British riders won all three of the Grand Prix races, Canadians placed well against well-known European riders in their home Grand Prix: Mike Duff finished third in the 500cc race; and Tim Coopey and Robert Lusk finished second and third respectively in the 125cc race. The best known Canadian rider, Yvon du Hamel from Québec, started all three races and his best finish was fourth in the 500cc race. There is no record that du Hamel was of Indigenous heritage, so it is unfortunate (and a sign of the times) that he is pictured in the programme (http://www.vrra.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/1967-GP-Program-rev1.pdf) wearing an Indigenous head dress.

As with the Canadian Grand Prix F1 motor race held at the same track a month earlier, hand held camera footage of the race (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr5-VzzMaQY) shows track conditions that are unsafe compared to current standards for motorcycle racing tracks.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the only Canadian motor cycle Grand Prix the Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA) held a major Sesquicentennial motor cycle event at Mosport Park, now named Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, on the weekend of August 11-13, 2017            http://www.vrra.ca/?page_id=3599   

References:

Cathcart, A. (2018). Remembering the Canadian GP. Motorcycle Mojo Magazine, February 14

https://www.motorcyclemojo.com/2018/02/remembering-the-canadian-gp/

Lenatsch, N. (2017). The 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Mosport Grand Prix blew my mind. August 22

https://www.cycleworld.com/50th-anniversary-1967-mosport-grand-prix-blew-my-mind

http://www.motorcycling.ca/event/canadian-grand-prix-50th-anniversary/

http://www.vrra.ca/?page_id=3599

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Canadian_motorcycle_Grand_Prix

Images:

See Cathcart and VRRA (above)