Canadian Michael Duff crosses the finish at the 1961 French motorcycle Grand Prix 11th on a 500cc Matchless G50.
Michael Duff began his motorcycle racing career in 1955 at Edenvale, Ontario. As a private rider, or privateer, he was lucky enough to board the likes of a Matchless G50, AJS 7R 350, AJS Porcupine 500, Norton 500, Triumph 500, Royal Enfield 250 and a Bultaco 125. Then, in 1964, as a Yamaha works rider he rode the now classic RD56 250 and the RA97 125. He skillfully made a career of riding them to finishes on some of the greatest circuits and in some of the greatest races, including Brands Hatch, Silverstone, Northwest 200, Isle of Man, Imola, Daytona 200, Le Mans, Nurburgring and Thruxton. And let's not forget his Top-Ten Grand Prix finishes - Ulster GP, Finnish GP, Belgian GP, Swedish GP, Austrian GP, Spanish GP, Daytona USGP, Dutch GP, Czechoslovakian GP and the Italian GP.
Mike Duff moved to California in 1968 to take up a position with Cycle World magazine as an Associate Editor. Duff would continue to race in both Canada and the United States with mixed success, finishing third at the Daytona 200 in 1968. He won the Eastern Canadian Championship in 1969 before calling it quits to open his own Yamaha dealership.
In 1978, predicting a great slump in the motorcycle industry in Canada, he gave up the dealership and began a machine-shop business doing specialized machine-work on motorcycle engines, many for the dealers in the Greater Toronto area.
In early 1984, following many years of emotional pain and frustration, he closed the machine-shop business and made the decision to "...set up house-keeping as a woman...", changing her name to Michelle Ann Duff.
In 1996 she published, "Make Haste, Slowly", the Mike Duff Story by Michelle Duff. A 330 page race by race saga set on the Continental circuits of European racing from 1960 to 1967. An insiders view of a glorious era of racing, legendary riders and legendary bikes.
A must read for all motorcycle racing fans.
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