BUSY TIME AHEAD

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 13

BUSY TIME AHEAD

By

ROD DEW

The New Zealand international road racer. Paul McLachlan, of Christchurch, has specialised in the 750 racing class in recent years. This summer, however, he is extending his range of activities to include the very competitive 500 ciass and production racing. McLachlan has taken over the TZ.750 Yamaha formerly raced by Jon White, also of Christchurch. The machine, which has a New Zealandmade Frepin frame, was offered t.o hint by its new owner, Fred McLean, one of the men behind the Frepin frame. McLachlan, who already has one of the fastest Yamaha TZ75Os in the country, offered to race the machine if it was put in 500 cu cm trim.

McLean agreed and McLachlan had his first major success on the machine when he rode it into third place in the shortened Bryan Scobie Memorial race at Pukekohe last Sunday. “It is working out quite well,” McLachlan said. “The Yamaha is not as fast as the RGSOO Suzukis. It has about the same maximum power as the Suzukis but not quite the same spread of power. But it is reliable.” McLachlan has also agreed to race one of the new Suzuki X 7250 roadsters in production events.

And, although this bike is giving away a lot in engine capacity to the Yamaha RD4OOs it will have to compete against in the up to 410 class, he is delighted with its performance. “It is slightly slower than the bigger Yamahas but it handles better. On the street circuits, it is going to be really good.” The Suzuki has been provided by Doug Cresswell Suzuki, which is taking an increasing interest in motor-cycle competition this season. McLachlan’s main sponsorship, however, will remain with Tyre Pando and the International Harvester C.o. By racing in more classes, McLachlan hopes to help off-set the costs of another trip to America next year. He intends to go there a little earlier than usual this time and give himself plenty of time to settle in before starting racing. Last season he suffered a broken wrist when another rider brought him down, limiting his earnings. Because of his planned early departure, he retains no hopes of winning a New Zealand title in any of the classes he will contest this season. Nevertheless, he is particularly keen to show a clean set of tyre treads to the New Zealand open champion, Rodger Freeth (Yamaha), of Auckland, who beat, him narrowly for

the title last season. The two rivals will meet in the Radio Avon meeting arranged for Ruapuna Park on January 14. Freeth has substantially altered the TZ Yamaha he races and hopes that this will give him the edge. McLachlan believes that the new configuration will enable Freeth to gain jet starts but will handicap him everywhere else. Their clash at Ruapuna Park could well prove who is right. McLachlan has certainly shown excellent early season form. In the international meeting at Pukekohe on Sunday, he led home Trevor Discombe (TZ7SO Bakker-Yamaha) and Stewart Avant (RGSOO) in the first 10-lap open race. Discombe won the second race but McLachlan managed to hold off Avant to gam second place.

It must be a cause for disappointment that McLachlan will be unable to defend his open New Zealand grand prix title at Ruapuna Park at Easter. He has also put aside any idea of trying to lift his New Zealand outright speed record to 300km/h this season.

“I simply haven't got the time. I am not sure what I will be doing at this time next year but I will try and fit in another attempt then,” he said.