Biography
John De Gruchy began his motorcycle
racing career in 1957, entering Trials events in Southern Ontario. By
the time he stopped, in 1974, he had won more than 100 Canadian
Motorcycle Association and American Motorcycle Association events. He
was a six-time Canadian national Trials champion - the first coming in
1960 and the last in 1971. He was also proficient at Scrambles and was
an Expert Class rider in road racing. His involvement as a racer
inevitably led to his long-term commitment to the policy making process
within the C.M.A. and he held various executive positions until his
retirement at the end of 1975. He was president of the C.M.A. Ontario
Region for six years during the 1960s and EARLY '70s and vice-president
twice. Mr. De Gruchy co-authored the C.M.A. Training Course program in
1966 to introduce new riders to the sport. He was a member of the
C.M.A.'s national executive for seven years and was national president
in 1967, Canada's Centennial year. His involvement as president resulted
in Canada being awarded an FIA-sanctioned World Championship Motorcycle
Grand Prix, which was held at Mosport in the summer of 1967, and won by
Mike Hailwood. It was Canada's first, and only, motorcycle Grand Prix.
Three times, in 1969, 1970 and 1972, he was awarded the Ontario
Achievement Award for his contributions to amateur sport.