Doug McLachlan

Doug McLachlan

Born	8 September 1908 (1908-09-08) Sydney, Australia
Died	31 January 1987(1987-01-31) (aged 78) Bundeena, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Career history
1939	Sheffield
1946	Middlesbrough Bears
1946–1947	Newcastle Diamonds
1948–1950	Birmingham Brummies
Team honours
1948	National Trophy (tier 2)
1948	Anniversary Cup (Div 2) winner

Dudley Sutcliffe McLachlan (8 September 1908 – 31 January 1987) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He earned two international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[1]

Biography

McLachlan, born in Sydney, was the top scorer in Australia's 1939 spring league and was recruited by Sheffield Tigers manager Bluey Wilkinson.[2] He began his British leagues career riding for Sheffield during the 1939 Speedway National League Division Two season.[3]

After an enforced break due to World War II, where he remained in Britain, he rode for Middlesbrough Bears and Newcastle Diamonds during 1946.[4] The following season he averaged 8.54 for Newcastle.[5]

The 1948 season saw him switch to Birmingham Brummies, where he spent his final three seasons in Britain, winning the 1948 National Trophy.[6] In-between he reached the Championship round of the 1949 Individual Speedway World Championship.

He returned to Australia and became the promoter at Paramatta speedway.[7]

References

1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
2. "Bluey Wilkinson". Sheffield Evening Telegraph. 6 May 1939. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
3. "1939 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
4. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
5. "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
6. Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 978-0904584509.
7. "Transfer Deal". Evening Despatch. 4 January 1951. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.