NSU Rennmax 250cc factory racer Reg Armstrong WINNER 1953 Ulster Grand Prix 1953

Description

A superb and rare photo of the great Irish NSU factory rider
Reg Armstrong
, seen in
WINNING
action with his
250cc N.S.U. Rennmax factory racer
during the
1953
250cc
Ulster
Grand Prix
which was ridden on
August 15, 1953
. He would win the race!
Reg Armstrong would
WIN
the 250cc Ulster Grand Prix race with an average race speed of
81.76 mph
(
131,58 km/h
). His teammate Werner Haas would finish the race in
SECOND
position, and the third NSU factory rider, Otto Daiker, would finish the race in 5TH position. All 3 men were entered for the race by N.S.U. Werke Aktiengesellschaft. In 1953 and 1954 Werner Haas would become
250cc WORLD CHAMPION
on the NSU Rennmax.
Reg (Reginald) Armstrong
was born in
1926 in
Liverpool
, but he grew up in
Dublin
. He was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and raced for AJS, Velocette, Norton, NSU, and Gilera. He then became team manager for Honda's racing team in 1962 and 1963, and they won five world championships in that time. He was also in his lifetime an agent for NSU, Honda, and Opel. He competed in Grand Prix Motorcycle World Championships and at the Isle of Man TT, usually placing highly. He was born in
Liverpool
in 1926. His family returned to
Dublin
within a few years. 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 during the Emergency (as World War II was referred to in the
Republic
of
Ireland
) and both rode 16H Nortons. Both joined the Irish Defence Forces, with the petrol ration a prime consideration. In 1946, Armstrong rode a pre-war Norton Manx at the
Bangor
Castle
races in
Northern Ireland
. His was fifth in his second race, a handicap event, the Mid-Antrim 150, and then failed to finish at the Skerries 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 Arter AJS 7R to success, boosting his confidence enough to purchase a Triumph GP, with the help of his cousin Harry. He set fastest lap for at the Cookstown 100 on that Triumph, at 74.79 mph, and at the 1949 Cookstown 100 raised it to 75.84 mph. AJS soon invited him to ride an AJS Porcupine at Ansty, and he managed to come fourth. AJS then signed him for the inaugural 1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Armstrong took fourth in the Swiss Grand Prix, fifth at
Belgium
, fifth in
Holland
, third at the Ulster Grand Prix, sixth at
Monza
, and crashed at Silverstone. Freddie Frith was 350 cc world champion, with Armstrong finishing in second. At the 1950 Isle of Man TT Armstrong came sixth in the Senior TT on a Velocette. He came sixth in the 500 cc class, and seventh in the 350 cc class for the 1951 Grand Prix World Championship, and was then offered a place for the 1952 season on the Norton team. Armstrong won his first ride for Norton, the 500 cc class in the
Leinster
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. In the
Republic
of
Ireland
, Reg was now the agent for NSU and Honda. From 1953 to 1955, 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 the 1954 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 the 1956 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's Ringsend plant ceased assembling NSUs and changed over to Opels, 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
. In November, 1979 the 52 year old Reg died in an accident while returning to his Ashford home.
This is a very nice and very rare
non period
photo that reflects a wonderful era of 1950s motorcycle history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing!
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
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