Record Fourth Win In Grand Prix

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31031, 11 April 1966, Page 3

Record Fourth Win In Grand Prix

The splendid form of the Christchurch motor-cyclist, T. R. McCleary, jun., left a high-class field no chance in the Dominion’s road racing classic—the New Zealand senior grand prix—held over 25 laps of the Ruapuna Park circuit yesterday.

McCleary, on his 500 c.c. Norton, led for all but two-thirds of the opening lap, and took the chequered flag almost 19sec ahead of L. May (Auckland).

It was his fourth win in the senior event, an achievement which will ensure him a place in New Zealand’s motor-cycling history. The race has never before been won four times by one rider. He now has by far the most impressive record of any New

Zealand rider resident in the Dominion. Since 1948 he has won 11 grand prix titles — four light-weight, three junior and four senior—and is the only rider to have won all three titles. Time Was Slower McCleary’s winning time for the senior race yesterday was 23min 31.6 sec, a particularly fine performance considering the strong north-west wind which blew up shortly before the start of the race. : It was, however, slower than his winning time of 22mln 29 sec last season. His considerable superiority over the other riders was reflected in his lap times. This year his fastest lap was 55.4 sec on his fourth, and to maintain his leading margin all he had to produce were regular 56sec Japs. Last season he broke the record with a lap of 52.8 sec, a time which still stands. Third man home was D. Schultz (Tokoroa), who had a particularly fine ride on an incredibly fast 250 c.c. Yamaha. Tight Finish The junior grand prix for machines up to 350 c.c. was the closest race of the day. After leading for 15 of the 20 laps, K. Turner (Wellington) was forced to concede the lead to L. May (Auckland', who retained it until the finish. Turner’s 250 c.c. Bultaco was obviously losing power as the race progressed and towards the finish he dropped back to third, behind J. Hubbard (Springston). T. R. McCleary, jun., the defending champion, made a poor start on his 350 c.c. A.J.S. but by the fifth lap he was in fifth position. Then mechanical trouble forced him to withdraw on the following lap. K. McCleary raced away from an exceptionally strong field to win the light-weight grand prix in effortless fashion, on a 250 c.c. Greeves Silverstone. His time for the 10-lap race was quite outoutstanding at 9min 15.2 sec. 42sec inside the winning time of G. Spooner (Napier) last year. 54.3 FASTEST LAP On the way to victory he turned in an exceptional lap time of 54.35ec which was the fastest recorded throughout the day regardless of engine capacity. The two other place-getters, Turner and T. R. McCleary, jun., were also well inside last vear’s winning time. Spooner, the defending title-holder, finished fourth. At the start of the main race, it was R. “Sonny”’ Clarke (Christchurch), riding T. R. McCleary’s 250 c.c. Bultaco, who swept into the lead. By the time he reached the hairpin bend he was 30 yards clear of the nearest opposition. Made Up Ground But T. R. McCleary quickly made up ground on the tiny Bultaco and with barely twothirds of the opening lap gone was leading. Clarke, riding brilliantly, managed to retain his second placing for three laps. However, it was only a matter of time. First J. Hubbard (Springston) went past on his 350 c.c. B.S.A. then May on his 350 c.c. A.J.S. iand finally Schultz on a 250 'c.c. Yamaha.

' These placing® remained unchanged until the sixteenth lap when Hubbard disappeared, leaving May in a secure second position, with Schultz and Clarke in third and fourth places. There was no further change.

The New Zealand sidecar grand prix of seven laps provided the most notable upset of the day. The combination which has been chosen to represent New Zealand at the Isle of Man this season, W. Russell and J. Kiff (Auckland), was well beaten into third place. The winners were G. Skilton and B. Larsen (Pahiatua) on a 650 c.c. Triumph. They demonstrated a marked superiority over the other combinations to record a very creditable time of 7min 15sec for the seven laps, an average speed of almost 60 miles an hour. Their fastest lap of 59.65ec was an outstanding effort. Results:—

New Zealand Senior Grand Prix (25 laps, 24 starters). —T. R. McCleary, jun._ 50(1 c.c. Norton, 23:31.6, 1; L. May (Auckland), 350 c.c. A.J.S. 7R, 23:50.4, 2: D. Schultz (Tokoroa), 250 c.c Yamaha. 24:1.6, 3; R. “Sonny” Clarke (Christchurch), 250 c.c Bultaco, 4: N. Brown (Christchurch), 500 c.c. Norton, 5 Fastest lap: T. R. McCleary, jun., 55.45ec, on fourth.

New Zealand Light-weight Grand Prix (10 laps, 17 starters). —K. McCleary (Christchurch), 250 c.c. Greeves Silverstone, 9:15.2, 1; K. Turner (Wellington), 250 c.c. Bultaco, 9:26, 2: T. R. McCleary, jun. (Christchurch), 250 c.t. Bultaco, 9:27.2, 3. Fastest lap: K. McCleary, 54.3 (class record).

New Zealand Junior Grand Prix (20 laps, 27 starters). —L. May (Auckland) 350 c.c. A.J.S. 7R, 19:4.2, 1; J. Hubbard (Springston), 350 c.c. 8.5. A., 19:9.5, 2; K. Turner (Wellington), 250 c.c. Bultaco, 19:16, 3. Fastest lap: Turner, 54.45ec, on the second.

New Zealand Sidecar Grand Prix (7 laps, 7 starters). —G Skelton and B. Larsen (Pahia tua), 650 c.c. Triumph, 7:15, 1; F SoWdt (Wanganui) and R. Yates (Napier). 500 c.c. Norton, 7:24.4, 2; W. Russelil and J. Kiff (Auckland), 650 c.c. Triumph, 7:25, 3. Fastest lap: Skillton, 59.65ec. Canterbury Sidecar Championship (5 laps, 4 starters). —G. Skilton (Pahiatua) and B. Larsen (Hutt Valley), 5:17.8, 1; G. Smith and R. York (Christchurch), 5:20.4, 2; G. de Maimanche and G. Bdnyon (Pahiatua), 5:22.6. 3. Fastest lap: Skilton, 61.2 sec, on the second.