THE FLYING MACKENZIES
Trio of brothers follow their father into ranks of motorsport pioneers
Glen, Larry and Dan MacKenzie grew up in Burnaby on two wheels.
Their father, Dayton, was a motorcycle racing champion and gave his three boys the opportunity to share his passion.
His wife died suddenly when his youngest son Dan was only four years old.
Dayton dedicated himself to raising his boys himself, his way, which meant going to the motorcycle races most weekends.
“OK boys, get in the car, it’s race day,” the career truck driver would say almost every Saturday morning.
He told his sons they couldn’t ride motorcycles until they mastered the unicycle. One after another, the boys learned in a day and amazed neighbours with their one-wheel prowess while riding to the store to bring back groceries.
Dayton MacKenzie started his sons off with a BSA Bantam motorcycle for backyard riding. He delivered a strong safety message by unconventional means. He had his boys lie down and he drove a light bantam motorcycle over their legs.
“That’s what pain feels like,” he told them with the warning to be extra careful.
Dayton was the B.C. scrambles champion from 1954 through 1956. In the 1960s, he was sponsored by Fred Deeley Ltd., riding a BSA Goldstar.
He was a top dirt flat track racer and track record holder at many tracks and raced a factory Harley Davidson KR 750 for Fred Deeley Ltd. throughout western North America including the Sacramento Mile and Ascot Speedway in Gardena, California.
He raced on the indoor and outdoor tracks at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. But middle son Larry got more media attention than his father and other racers by doing a wheelie on his bicycle around the entire outdoor track.
Each one of the MacKenzie brothers would become motorcycle racing champions.
For the first time, the Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneer Society will honour the sons of an inductee.
On Sept. 24, Glen, Larry and Dan MacKenzie will follow their father by being inducted at the GVMPS ceremony. Dayton MacKenzie was inducted in 2002 in the society’s second year.
Motorsport pioneers are generally considered to have contributed, or began their contributions, at least 40 years prior to induction in disciplines including Hot Rod, Custom Car and Drag Racing; Sports Car and Road Racing; Oval Racing; Motorcycling; Power Boating; Racing Supporter and others.
As the oldest MacKenzie brother, Glen started campaigning Yamaha 100cc dirt bikes and quickly advanced to the 250cc classes on local dirt track ovals at the Pacific National Exhibition and the nearby Callister Park along with Queen’s Park in New Westminster and the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
He competed in professional motocross racing and snowmobile racing all across Canada riding factory machines for Fred Deeley Ltd. and Yamaha Motor Canada.
While a leading contender for the number one motocross plate in 1973, an accident between Glen’s street motorcycle and a car resulted in Glen spending a year in hospital. His injuries ended his motorcycle and snow mobileracing career.
Five years later, he began racing and developing karts for Yamaha Canada, racing in B.C. and Washington state in the Gold Cup circuit. As a top contender, he helped Yamaha dominate and change the kart racing scene while becoming the B.C. and local track champion many times.
Larry, the middle brother, competed for 11 years rising from the 100cc junior class while racing a Harley Davidson for Fred Deeley Ltd. He also raced Honda motorcycles for Clarke Simpkins Honda and Yamaha motocross bikes sponsored by Yamaha Canada in major events across Canada including National Championships and World Championships.
In motocross competition, Larry won the Canadian National Senior Championship in 1973 in two classes and then went pro level in 250 and 500cc national and world championship races. In 1975, he was sixth overall in a 125cc world championship race — the first Canadian to rank in a 125cc world event.
He won the White Memorial Trophy in 1976 earning more points than any other rider in the country in all forms of Canadian Motorcycle Association competitions: flat track, road racing, trials, ice racing and motocross.
In 1977, while having his best racing year to date and leading the 250cc pro class, a racing accident in Puyallup, Washington, resulted in a bike landing on his leg which put him out of competition. But only three months later, he came back to win both the 125 and 250 pro classes at Mission Raceways Molson Canadian Motocross Series riding Yamaha factory bikes.
Dan, the youngest brother, followed right along in motocross starting in the 100cc class and working up to 125 and 250cc classes, eventually racing the pro class for Yamaha Canada.
In 1977, Harley-Davidson introduced a 250cc two-stroke production motocross bike to the world. Dan was chosen to race the bike for Trev Deeley Ltd in Canada.
After retiring from motocross, he took up motorcycle ice racing some 20 years later. He is a multiple B.C. and Alberta ice racing champion, plus six-time Canadian National ice racing champion.
To this day, Dan is a fierce ice-racing competitor and is the main organizer and promoter of motorcycle ice racing on Stake Lake near Kamloops. As a very accomplished off-road rider, he also helps crew for competitors in the Baja 1000.
The Greater Vancouver Motorsport Pioneers induction ceremony takes place at Shannon Hall, Cloverdale Fairgrounds, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. It is open to all enthusiasts.
For more information visit gvmps.org