Richard Coburn BEMC member Michael Adams was forced to switch to a back up F1600 ride after an accident at the MCO Ted Powell Races weekend.


BrITISh empIre moTor cLuB - www.Bemc1928.ca keeping motorsport on track in Ontario since 1928


George Rogers) were frustrated with the rules and regulations governing motorcycle competition. As a result, they decided to form their own club. At the time, motorcycle events were con-


I


trolled by a group of dealers who sold American bikes like Harley-Davidsons and Indians, and it seemed that every effort was made to disregard foreign bike builders like Triumph and Ariel. To make their dissatis- faction known, Oates, Edmundson, Griffen, Eagen and Rogers named their club The British Empire Motor Club (BEMC). Before WWII, BEMC organized many


motorcycle events. The very first event was a grass track scramble in Scarborough, ON. Trials were held in Caledon Hills near Caledon, ON and a road race was held on a 1.5-mile closed circuit course located in North York from 1931-1934. In 1935-1940, over 20,000 people annu-


6 WWW.CASC.ON.CA / WWW.BEMC1928.CA


n 1928, five Toronto area motorcyclists (James Graham Oates, John Edmund- son, Denis Griffen, Jack Eagen and


ally attended races on the sands of Wasaga Beach, ON before club activities were sus- pended for the duration of WWII. In 1939, BEMC opened their doors to automotive enthusiasts, but it was not until 1948 that a dedicated car club was formed. After WWII, Wasaga Beach was used one


final time for motorcycle races in 1949. After that, it was no longer available and the runways of an abandoned airfield in Edenvale, ON were used for racing. The first motorcycle race was held at Edenvale on May 24, 1950 and the first Spring Tro- phy Races, BEMC's first car event, were held on June 25 that same year.


CreaTion of The BemC indian summer Trophy raCes


Race events for bikes and cars continued


at Edenvale until 1955, the same year the first Indian Summer Trophy races were held. This was a combined car and motor- cycle event showcasing the diverse nature of the club. Fred Hayes, driving a Triumph


TR2, and Robert in a Vincent Greyflash won the feature races that weekend. The following year in 1956, BEMC


moved racing activities to Harewood Acres, near Jarvis, ON. In 1958, members of BEMC felt that a


purpose built, permanent road racing course was needed if motor racing was to continue to grow. A Development Commit- tee was formed and a 450 acre property was found north of Bowmanville, ON. An option was taken or the site in August of 1958 and in November of 1958, BEMC an- nounced the formation of a new company to be called Mosport Limited. The very first competitive event at Mo-


sport, now known as Canadian Tire Motor- sport Park (CTMP), was a motorcycle scramble held on May 24, 1959. In 1960, the first Indian headdresses


were awarded. Peter Ryan, driving a Porsche RS60, won the car race and Don Haddow won the motorcycle race in a BMW Rennsport. A full size Indian head-


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