International motorcycle racer and expert shot. Born Harry Reginald 'Reg' Armstrong in Liverpool to Irish parents, he was brought up in Dublin, Ireland. His father ran a car dealership in the city and he was taught to ride a motorcycle during WWII. He started motorcycle racing in 1946 and came 5th in his first race. He continued to do well until in 1948 he was invited to ride a works AJS by the factory, on which he finished 4th. AJS then chose him to ride their motorcycles in the 1949 350cc World Championships when he finshed 5th beking the champion Freddie Frith. In 1951 he finshed 6th in the 500 class and 7th on the 350s. For 1952 he rode works Norton machines and did well to finish 3rd on the 500s and 2nd on the 350s. Between 1953 and 1955 he rode for Gilera and NSU having great success and often finishing 2nd in the World Championships. By then he became the official agent for Gilera and NSU in Ireland and as more and more time was taken up by his business he retired at the end of the 1956 season. In 1962 he was invited to manage the works Honda team and steared them to five World Championship titles. In 1964 he dabbled with motor racing with little success. An expert shot, he represented Ireland in the 1978 World Clay pigeon Championships in Korea. In November1979 after a days shooting, he was driving back to his home in Ashford, Wicklow, when descending the hill into the village of Avoca (made famous by the TV serial Ballykissangel), his car struck a telegraph pole with fatal consequences.
International motorcycle racer and expert shot. Born Harry Reginald 'Reg' Armstrong in Liverpool to Irish parents, he was brought up in Dublin, Ireland. His father ran a car dealership in the city and he was taught to ride a motorcycle during WWII. He started motorcycle racing in 1946 and came 5th in his first race. He continued to do well until in 1948 he was invited to ride a works AJS by the factory, on which he finished 4th. AJS then chose him to ride their motorcycles in the 1949 350cc World Championships when he finshed 5th beking the champion Freddie Frith. In 1951 he finshed 6th in the 500 class and 7th on the 350s. For 1952 he rode works Norton machines and did well to finish 3rd on the 500s and 2nd on the 350s. Between 1953 and 1955 he rode for Gilera and NSU having great success and often finishing 2nd in the World Championships. By then he became the official agent for Gilera and NSU in Ireland and as more and more time was taken up by his business he retired at the end of the 1956 season. In 1962 he was invited to manage the works Honda team and steared them to five World Championship titles. In 1964 he dabbled with motor racing with little success. An expert shot, he represented Ireland in the 1978 World Clay pigeon Championships in Korea. In November1979 after a days shooting, he was driving back to his home in Ashford, Wicklow, when descending the hill into the village of Avoca (made famous by the TV serial Ballykissangel), his car struck a telegraph pole with fatal consequences.
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