Yvon Duhamel #17

Sadly my friend and racer Yvon Duhamel passed away recently. I had many great times with the Duhamels and saw YD perform his magic on the Team Obsolete Bikes he rode. Finally YD asked for a ride in 2002 at the old Laconia track and I brought up the old White Commando, YD launched the bike like he owned it and just flat out left everyone in his dust. I got to pit crew for him a few times and finally had the honor of him riding my equipment on the original Laconia track. He may have very well set the fastest lap time of all time on the Commando, for sure very few ever could beat YD, when his equipment was up to snuff. God speed YD, a true champion of motorcycling and snowmobiles and multi time hall of fame racer.

I watched him go around Laguna Seca a few times. I don't ever remember seeing him in the paddock with anything but a smile on his face.

Honda was out testing tires or something when I captured this shot of him. Turn 2 exit maybe.

That is Yvon's son Miguel riding for HRC.



Here is a very good homage to YD from people who knew him well. It starts at about the 12 minute mark. Little did I know that YD also rode a Commando in his Kawasaki leathers like he did on mine. History sometimes repeats , a multi time winner for the Norton team. But it was fitting he wore the leathers of the brand he did so much for and let the good times roll once more for Norton at the Laconia track. A picture of YD at the 39:30 mark on a Norton.

May God keep him well.

He was said to be utterly fearless and was the one rider other recers prefared not tohave to tangle with.. Its good he lived to see old age though sad he has died.

Carl H said:

That is Yvon's son Miguel riding for HRC.



Here is a very good homage to YD from people who knew him well. It starts at about the 12 minute mark. Little did I know that YD also rode a Commando in his Kawasaki leathers like he did on mine. History sometimes repeats , a multi time winner for the Norton team. But it was fitting he wore the leathers of the brand he did so much for and let the good times roll once more for Norton at the Laconia track. A picture of YD at the 39:30 mark on a Norton.

Click to expand...

I did not know him at all. Sorry about the error Carl and Yvon. Yes it was Miguel. It was a tire test day not a race when I took that pic.

I need to stay off the internet for the safety of all, but I probably won't.

No problem, very few racers have family that races and YD was forever young and put many years in and many generations of racers.

In the 1973 Transatlantic Trophy Series Yvon tied with Peter Williams on 84 points as joint top scorer. And on tracks I'm fairly sure Yvon had not raced on before!
Farewell to one of the great riders of the time.

Couple of photos from the 1973 Transatlantic Trophy race at Mallory Park 1973 from this site https://daveriley.weebly.com/mallory-park-1970s.html
Photos courtesy of Geoff Smith. Yvon is No. 5 (see previous post for rider numbers).





Not sure what happened to the fairing - Art 'The Dart' Baumann (No. 6) still has his.
Great memories.

Andy