Exciting Motor-Cycle Contest

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 14

Exciting Motor-Cycle Contest

Jn the past the motor-cycle events held in conjunction with the Lady Wigram Trophy international car racing meeting have lacked the attraction of their fourwheel counterparts. But this year, with the entry of the world 125 c.c. world champion, Hugh Anderson (Ohinewai), interest in the two 25-mile races for the New Zealand airfield championships promises to rival that of the major car race. Anderson. New Zealand’s only reigning world champion in sport, will be pitting his tiny’ 125 c.c. works Suzuki against the Dominion’s leading riders, who will be racing machines up to four times the capacity. And yet he is expected to be untroubled to win the title for every class, 250 c.c., 350 c.c., 500 c.c. and open, all with the same little machine. Unfortunately this will possibly be one of the last opportunties for Christchurch enthusiasts to see him in action on his incredible Japanese machine, for he is considering retirement or a switch to motocross racing. Anderson has now won no less than four world motor-

cycling road racing titles, two in the 50 c.c. class and two in the 125 c.c. class. It is, nevertheless, only recently that his fellow-coun-trymen have become aware of his tremendous achievements in the exceptionally competitive fields of the sport overseas.

Press reports of his races overseas appeared too farfetched. It was difficult to believe that in 1963 Anderson lapped at the same speed on his 125 c.c. Suzuki in the Ulster Grand Prix as former multiple world champion, Geoff Duke, had achieved on a works 500 c.c. Norton 10 years earlier.

How was it possible that such a diminutive machine, apparently little more than a motorised bicycle, could set the 125 c.c. lap record on the Isle of Man at 96 miles an hour when the big four-cylinder M.V. Augustas were struggling to break the 100 miles an hour barrier. Only now is Anderson beginning to receive recog-

nition from New Zealanders for the ability which has almost started a revolution in favour of the smaller machines.

A fortnight ago, Anderson demonstrated for the first time in New Zealand his great ability on a 125 c.c. Suzuki, loaned to him as a personal favour by the Japanese firm. At Pukekohe he took a tumble in the main race for the national T.T. title. But he remounted when in twentieth position and proceeded to carve his way through a field which inclued several Isle of Man representatives, and finally finished a few seconds behind the winner, N. J. Landrebe (Dunedin), on a 500 c.c. Matchless.

In this race Anderson was officially timed at 136 miles

an hour down the straight while Landrebe’s fastest recorded speed on the much larger Matchless was only 123 miles an hour. The Suzuki is capable of even greater speeds. It has been timed at 160 miles an hour in Japan and can reach 140 miles an hour in a very short straight. There is not ar other machine in New Zealand, regardless of size, that can get anywhere near this’. In a later race at Pukekohe for the New Zealand junior T.T. title, Anderson walked away from a field containing machines up to 350 c.c. and to do so never

had to reach more than 111 miles an hour. Motor-cycles have been Anderson’s life. At the age of 12 he learned to ride his first motor-cycle and by the time he was 16 he was a regular competitor at grass track and scramble meetings around Ohinewai. He competed in the Isle of Man T.T. for a composite team containing one Australian in 1960 and the following year was chosen in the official New Zealand team. He then joined the Suzuki works and his first big international wins came in 1962 when he led home talented fields in both the 50 c.c. and 125 c.c. classes of the Argentine Grand Prix. This led to his promotion as Suzuki’s team leader.

A year later he won the world 50 c.c. and 125 c.c. titles. On his 50 c.c. machine, capable of speeds in excess of 90 miles an

hour, he won only two events, the German and Ar-

gentine Grands Prix, but he finished in the first three in practically every race. In the 125 c.c. class he swept all before him. His string of victories included the classics of France, Isle of Man, Holland, Northern Ireland, Austria and Finland. He retained his world 50 c.c. title in 1964 with wins in the American, French, Isle of Man and Finish Grands Prix. He just missed out on the 125 c.c. title after winning the American, Austrian and Northern Ireland classics. Last year he comfortably defeated the defending world 125 c.c. champion, Luigi Taveri, of Switzerland,

to win his second world title in the class. Had he not crashed in the Japanese Grand Prix he would have won tlie world 50 c.c. title as well.

The machine which Anderson will ride at Wigram has a two-stroke watercooled engine. Yet it can produce a maximum of 35 b.h.p., similar to that produced by a small family car of about eight times the size. This, the equivalent of 280 b.h.p. a litre, compared with the 100 b.h.p. a litre produced by the 2) litre Coventry Climax motors which power many racing cars.

It peaks at about 15,000 revolutions but its usable power range is only between 12,000 and 15,000 revolutions. Because of this a nine-speed gearbox, foot operated, is fitted.

Anderson says he often does not know what gear he is in. “I just keep an eye on the rev. counter and when another gear is needed 1 just bang it in. But it gets wearing having to come right down through the gears for the corner.”

In spite of its enormous power, the complete machine weighs only 1901bs and can be lifted by one man.

The great respect in which top New Zealand road racers hold Anderson was clearly demonstrated when “The Press” asked the current national senior and junior grand prix champion, T. R. McCleary, jun„ what he thought his chances of beating Anderson were. “1 won’t have a show in the wide world,” he said.

While Anderson Will naturally steal much of the limelight in the two 25-mile New Zealand airfield championship races at Wigram it will be a pity if other riders are not given recognition for their ability, because the fields are among the most talented ever to assemble for one meeting in New Zealand.

One of the most important entries is that of W. “Ginger” Molloy, who has been racing in Europe for the last three years with spectacular success. He is currently a works rider for the Spanish Bultaco factory and will be riding a 250 c.c. works machine

in both races. On a similar machine he took fourth place in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last year. It is powered by a twin cylinder water-cooled engine, capable of driving the lightweight frame to speeds well in excess of 100 m.p.h. Molloy plans to return to Europe in time for the next racing season Two members of the New Zealand team which competed at the Isle of Man last season, A. Dobbs (Napier) and B. Scobie (Te Awamutu), have entered on a 244 c.c. Bultaco and a 500 c.c. Norton, respectively. The New Zealand senior and junior Grand Prix winner last season. T. R. McCleary, jun., of Christchurch, is another notable entry. He will be riding the same 500 c.c. Manx Norton which carried him to such a convincing victory in the senior race last year.

N. J. Landrebe (Dunedin), who won the New Zealand senior T.T. at Pukekohe a fortnight ago. barely a few seconds ahead of Anderson, making up ground after an early spill, is another condidate for high honours. J. Wales (Hutt Valley) should also make his presence felt Both riders arc nominations for this season’s team to the Isle of Man.

Entries for the two races, which will be held over 11 laps are:—

New Zealand 350 c.e. and Open Airfield Championships. —R. G. Myram < lnvercargill>. Grooves 25ft: K. McCleary < Christchurch). Grooves 240: K I. Turner iTaradale) Norton 497; W. A McCleary i Christchurch). Manx Norton 350 P. C Schultx iTokoroa), Yamaha 250: C. Marsden (Dunedin). Manx Norton 500: I. McGregor (Otematata). A.J.S. 7R 345; D. M. King (Dunedin), Manx Norton 350: H. R. Anderson (Ohinewai). Suzuki 125; N F. Brown (Christchurch). Manx Norton 500: T. Kirby iChristchurch). Honda 312; B. R Algie (Kawerau), A.J.S. 7R 350- A. .1. Watkins (Springston). Norton 348; J. Wales Vtone): D. G. Damiano I Christchurch). A.J.S. 7R 350: B T Cowan (Christchurch). A. 7R 345; D. S. Bowie iChristchurch), B.S.A. 350: J. R Hubbard (Springston), B. 350: D. A. G. Bishell < Blenheim), B.S.A. 350: Miss D E. R. Foote (Dunedin), BS A. 500: N. J. Landrebe • Dunedin) Matchless 409: K. R Hanham (Christchurch). Manx Norton 500: R. J. Harris 'Christchurch). Velocette 250; K. R lordan (Dunedin). B.S.A. 500 G. M Spooner (Napier). Bultaco 196: R W. Gillard (Christchurch). Greeves 250; S. Clarke (Christchurch), Manx Norton 350: 1. G. Bcgbie (Tinwald). Triumph 650: W. R. Mitchell (Dunedin). Triumph 500; T R McCleary. Jun. (Christchurch), Manx Norton 500: A. Dobbs (Napier). Bultaco 244; G. Molloy (Huntly), Bultaco 250

New Zealand 250 e e and 350 e.c. Championships.—R p Myram (Invercargill), Grooves 250: K. McCleary (Christchurch). Greeves. 248: W \ McCleary (Christchurch). Manx Norton. 350; P. C. Shultz (Tokoroa), Yamaha. 248: C. Marsden (Dunedin). Manx Norton. 500: D. Adair (Otematatak A. ,R. 348; D. M. King (Dunedin). Manx Norton. 350; H. R Anderson (Ohinewai) Suzuki. 125; N E. Brown (Christchurch), Manx Norton. 500: T. Kirby (Christchurch) Honda. 312: B. R. Algie (Kawerau). A.J.S. 7R, 350: A J Watkins (Springston). Norton 345: J. Wales iPetone): D g’ Damiano (Christchurch). A.J.S. 7R. 350: B. T. Cowan (Christchurch). A.J.S. 7R. 345: I) s Bowie (Christchurch), BS A . 350: J. R. Hubbard (Springston). B.S.A, 350: D. A G Bishell ißlenheim>, 8.5. A., 350; Miss D. E. R. Foote (Dunedin). B. 500: N. J. Landrebe (Dunedin). Matchless. 499: K R. Hanhani (Christchurch). Manx Norton. 500: R j Harris (Christchurch). Velocette. 250; K. B Jordan (Dunedin). 8.5. A.. 500: G. M. Spooner (Napier), Bultaco 196: w A. Gillanders (Christchurch). Greeves. 250: S. Clarke (Christchurch). Manx Norton. 350: w. R Mitchell (Dunedin). Triumph 500; T. R. McCleary. Jun. (Christchurch), Manx Norton. 500: A. Dobbs (Napier'. Bui taco. 244. R. A. Anderson

(Harton). Yamaha. 250. G M loy (Huntly).