Mirando's governance took motorcycle racing to great heights

The first Motorcycle Club was formed in March 1947 by enthusiastic motorcycle riders, past and present, who were well educated on the rules and regulations laid out by the international governing body for motorcycle racing, the Federation International Motorcycling (FIM).

It was first named as the Ceylon Motor Cycle Club (CMCC) and the inaugural meeting was held at the Hameedia Hotel, Bambalapitiya, not in existence now.

Wally De Zylwa was elected the first president and the committee comprised of Carlo Garth, Peter Fernando, Andrew P. Mirando (known as the father of CMCC), and a host of other well read gentlemen who were passionate towards the sport. They were men with integrity who always adhered to the rules and regulations laid out by FIM whenever they conducted motorcycle races.

At the beginning races were conducted at the Ratmalana airport until Mirando persuaded the Kalutara GA to allow the CMCC to run motorcycle races at the abandoned Katukurunda airstrip.

Andrew Mirando was considered a genius in organising motorcycle races and would go out his way to take riders to participate overseas. The first such trip was in 1950 when Mirando organised a team to participate in a race held in the Isle of Man in England.

The first motorcycle race team to go to India was in 1956 managed by Mirando. Zacky Dean, W.P. Indraratne, Chandra de Costa and Trim Seneviratne formed the team. They travelled by train to Talaimanner and the ferry to Danuishkodi where their bikes were off loaded on the sandy beach. This place was only half a kilometre away from the onward train station.

Zacky Dean's Norton Manx was bogged down in the sand and would not reach the station in time. But the determined Mirando went ahead and convinced the Railway Station Master and the engine drive to delay the departure by 15 minutes to allow Zacky Dean to arrive on time.

That was the beginning of a six week racing tour of India from where the Ceylonese riders brought back numerous trophies while gathering fame and reputation for the country.

Mirando efficiently managed three such six week tours to five Indian racing venues from Madras (Chennai) up to Bombay (Mumbai). Acting as the god father to the riders, Mirando managed to arrange with the five organising clubs to fully sponsor the expenses of the Ceylon racing team from one circuit to another.

"Mirando's passion for the sport made him ambitious to keep the country's flag flying high and his efficient organising ability was most appreciated by riders and the Indian racing clubs alike," said Chandra de Costa the champion rider in Sri Lanka and India.De Costa questions the efficiency, passion and knowledge on the rules of FIM by the present set of officials governing the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club.

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