Post by administrator on Mar 27, 2009 20:26:13 GMT 1
THERE are few records of 'Bronco' Bill Reynolds achieving very much in British midget car records, but his name holds a coveted place in those of Australia and New Zealand.
And such was Reynolds ability to consistently win on tracks in Australia, that some down-under historians have even tried to get him recognised as being one of their countrymen. Certainly after quitting England and travelling first to New Zealand and then on to Australia in the 1938-39 winter, Reynolds had little to do with the British midget car scene.
His main season of British activity was in 1938, but by then Reynolds was becoming convinced that despite the hype surrounding the sport in Britain, that the way it was being run as a team sport would not succeed. He became increasingly convinced the 'every driver for himself' format that was pulling huge crowds in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa was the only successful format for midget car racing.
But it was only by chance that Reynolds set off for down-under. The New Zealand promoter at Western Springs in Auckland had originally wanted Cyril 'Squib Burton, but days before he was due to travel he badly injured his leg in a crash at Belle Vue. Knowing he could not travel, Burton recomended Reynolds as his replacement and the kiwis agreed.
So Reynolds headed down-under and was soon proving his worth in a four-wheel drive Skirrow against the then popular rear-wheel drive cars the Aussies, Yanks and Kiwis favoured. In New Zealand, he was the first driver to present a serious challenge to the visiting American stars Beale Simmons and Paul Swedberg.
When he made his debut in New Zealand at Western Springs in Auckland in January 1939, in his first drive a one-lap time trial Reynolds' 19.8 seconds broke the fastest time previously set by the American Roy Richter at 20.8 seconds. It was a time that stood for nearly 30 years. Then, Reynolds caused another major upset be twice beating the resident American ace Swede Lindskog. He also proved his four-wheel drive Skirrow was faster than the American's rear-while drive when he set a four-lap record of 82.2 seconds, one second faster than Lindskog's time.
It was another chance happening that took him to Australia. At the end of the kiwi season he was about to return to England when Australian driver suggested he tried racing in Australia. Reynolds agreed and was to become an Australian resident. And after moving on to Australia he became midget car racing's second world champion when he won from the Americans Swedberg (the first recognised world champion in 1938) and Simmons at the Sydney Sports Ground on Good Friday 1939. It was a title he was to win again in 1941 and 1958. And, to rub salt into damaged Australian pride, he won the Australian Championship in 1956.
In Australia, he drove at most of the main circuits, but his best performances were reserved for the Sydney Showground where between January 1947 and February 1959 he won 18 of 52 main feature races as well as placing in the first three in 20 other outings. Another rack where Reynolds enjoyed some excellent results was at Olympic Park in Melbourne where he rarely finished outside the first three in the 1939-40 season.
Before persuading British car builder Harry Skirrow to let him have a try in one of his midgets, Reynolds was a leading performer in British grass track racing and was on the verge of switching to motorcycle speedway. Reynolds admitted that he 'drifted into midget car racing.' He was working as a press photographer when he was sent to Lea Bridge to take photos of the midgets. Harry Skirrow persuaded him to get into a car and do a few laps - much to the amusement of the spectators. But Reynolds loved the thrill and immediately set up a deal to buy a car and he went to to win the English Championship at Stoke at the end of the season.
Lawrence 'Bill, Reynolds was 76 years old when he died on June 30 1988. It was the passing of a driver who holds claim to be the only truly international competitor produced by England.
And such was Reynolds ability to consistently win on tracks in Australia, that some down-under historians have even tried to get him recognised as being one of their countrymen. Certainly after quitting England and travelling first to New Zealand and then on to Australia in the 1938-39 winter, Reynolds had little to do with the British midget car scene.
His main season of British activity was in 1938, but by then Reynolds was becoming convinced that despite the hype surrounding the sport in Britain, that the way it was being run as a team sport would not succeed. He became increasingly convinced the 'every driver for himself' format that was pulling huge crowds in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa was the only successful format for midget car racing.
But it was only by chance that Reynolds set off for down-under. The New Zealand promoter at Western Springs in Auckland had originally wanted Cyril 'Squib Burton, but days before he was due to travel he badly injured his leg in a crash at Belle Vue. Knowing he could not travel, Burton recomended Reynolds as his replacement and the kiwis agreed.
So Reynolds headed down-under and was soon proving his worth in a four-wheel drive Skirrow against the then popular rear-wheel drive cars the Aussies, Yanks and Kiwis favoured. In New Zealand, he was the first driver to present a serious challenge to the visiting American stars Beale Simmons and Paul Swedberg.
When he made his debut in New Zealand at Western Springs in Auckland in January 1939, in his first drive a one-lap time trial Reynolds' 19.8 seconds broke the fastest time previously set by the American Roy Richter at 20.8 seconds. It was a time that stood for nearly 30 years. Then, Reynolds caused another major upset be twice beating the resident American ace Swede Lindskog. He also proved his four-wheel drive Skirrow was faster than the American's rear-while drive when he set a four-lap record of 82.2 seconds, one second faster than Lindskog's time.
It was another chance happening that took him to Australia. At the end of the kiwi season he was about to return to England when Australian driver suggested he tried racing in Australia. Reynolds agreed and was to become an Australian resident. And after moving on to Australia he became midget car racing's second world champion when he won from the Americans Swedberg (the first recognised world champion in 1938) and Simmons at the Sydney Sports Ground on Good Friday 1939. It was a title he was to win again in 1941 and 1958. And, to rub salt into damaged Australian pride, he won the Australian Championship in 1956.
In Australia, he drove at most of the main circuits, but his best performances were reserved for the Sydney Showground where between January 1947 and February 1959 he won 18 of 52 main feature races as well as placing in the first three in 20 other outings. Another rack where Reynolds enjoyed some excellent results was at Olympic Park in Melbourne where he rarely finished outside the first three in the 1939-40 season.
Before persuading British car builder Harry Skirrow to let him have a try in one of his midgets, Reynolds was a leading performer in British grass track racing and was on the verge of switching to motorcycle speedway. Reynolds admitted that he 'drifted into midget car racing.' He was working as a press photographer when he was sent to Lea Bridge to take photos of the midgets. Harry Skirrow persuaded him to get into a car and do a few laps - much to the amusement of the spectators. But Reynolds loved the thrill and immediately set up a deal to buy a car and he went to to win the English Championship at Stoke at the end of the season.
Lawrence 'Bill, Reynolds was 76 years old when he died on June 30 1988. It was the passing of a driver who holds claim to be the only truly international competitor produced by England.
(c) John Hyam 2009