Reg Armstrong
Armstrong at theIsle of Man TT races in 1962
Nationality	Irish
Motorcycle racing career statistics Grand Prix motorcycle racing Active years 1949 –1956 First race 1949 Isle of Man 350ccJunior TT Last race 1956 500ccNations Grand Prix First win 1952 Isle of Man 500ccSenior TT Last win 1956 500ccWest German Grand Prix Team(s) Velocette,AJS,Norton,Gilera Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points 47 7 29 0 2 129

Harold Reginald Armstrong^[1] (1 September 1928 – 24 November 1979^[2]) was anIrish professionalGrand Prix motorcycleroad racer. He was born in Dublin^{[citation needed]} to Frederick and Margery Armstrong,^[1] grew up inRathfarnham and raced for theAJS,Velocette,Norton,NSU, andGilera factory racing teams. He then became team manager forHonda's racing team in1962 and1963,^[3] and they won five world championships in that time. He was also in his lifetime a sales agent for NSU, Honda, andOpel. He competed inGrand Prix Motorcycle World Championships and at theIsle of Man TT, usually placing highly. He died in a road accident in 1979.

Reg Armstrong was born in a nursing home at 37 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin,^{[citation needed]} on September 1, 1928. Armstrong did not have a privileged background but, his father started a successful motor factoring business in Dublin and supported his early motorcycle racing as much as he could. A cousin, Harry Lindsay taught him to ride duringthe Emergency (asWorld War II was referred to in theRepublic of Ireland) and both rode 16H Nortons. Both joined the IrishDefence Forces, with the petrol ration a prime consideration.

In 1946, Armstrong rode a pre-warNorton Manx at theBangor Castle races inNorthern Ireland. His was fifth in his second race, a handicap event, theMid-Antrim 150, and then failed to finish at theSkerries 100. He put in an entry for the 1946 Manx but was refused as his 18th birthday was on the same day as the race. He borrowed a 500 cc engine and put it into his Norton, and entered the 1947 Senior Manx race without success.

In the 1948 Skerries 100 he rode a Tom ArterAJS 7R to success, boosting his confidence enough to purchase aTriumph GP, with the help of his cousin Harry. He set fastest lap at theCookstown 100 on that Triumph, at 74.79 mph, and at the 1949 Cookstown 100 raised it to 75.84 mph.^[4]

AJS soon invited him to ride anAJS Porcupine atAnsty, and he managed to come fourth. AJS then signed him for the inaugural1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Armstrong took fourth in theSwiss Grand Prix, fifth at Belgium, fifth in the Netherlands, third at theUlster Grand Prix, sixth atMonza, and crashed atSilverstone.Freddie Frith was 350 ccworld champion, with Armstrong finishing in second.

At the1950 Isle of Man TT Armstrong came sixth in theSenior TT on aVelocette. He came sixth in the 500 cc class, and seventh in the 350 cc class for the1951 Grand Prix World Championship, and was then offered a place for the1952 season on the Norton team. Armstrong won his first ride for Norton, the 500 cc class in theLeinster 200. He then won the German Grand Prix, and the Isle of Man Senior TT. It was Armstrong's most successful season so far, coming third in the 500 cc 1952 World Championship, and second in the 350 cc.^[5]

In the Republic of Ireland, Reg was now the agent for NSU and Honda. From1953 to1955, Armstrong rode successfully for Gilera and NSU. In 1953 he came second on a Gilera in the 500 cc class, and second in the 250 cc class on an NSU. In the1954 he came fifth on a Gilera in the 500 cc class, and ninth in the 250 cc class on an NSU. In 1955 he came second on a Gilera in the 500 cc class. In the1956 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season he came fifth on a Gilera in the 500 cc class, but growing business interests demanded more of his time and he announced his retirement from motorcycle racing.

In 1962, Honda asked Armstrong to become their racing team manager. They won three World Championships that year and two more the following year. By now, however, Armstrong'sRingsend plant ceased assembling NSUs and changed over toOpels, Armstrong now being the Irish agent for them. In 1964 Reg tried his hand at car racing driving with limited success. He became a good clay pigeon shooter, representing Ireland in the 1978 World Championships, held in Korea.

On 24 November 1979 the 51-year-old Reg died in an accident outsideAvocawhile returning to hisAshford home.^[6][1] He is buried inEnniskerry.^[1]

1949 point system

Points system from 1950 to 1968

5 best results were counted until 1955.

(key) (Races initalics indicate fastest lap)

• Reg Armstrong career profile

• 1926 births
• 1979 deaths
• Irish motorcycle racers
• 125cc World Championship riders
• 250cc World Championship riders
• 350cc World Championship riders
• 500cc World Championship riders
• Isle of Man TT riders
• Road incident deaths in England
• Motorcycle road incident deaths
• Motorsport people from County Dublin

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