A famous time-keeper

A V Ebblewhite was about the best-known time-keeper and starter in this country before the war, when he also did all the handicapping at Brooklands and took his watches to other speed and flying events almost every weekend throughout the season. But his friend Arthur George Reynolds was another highly respected time-keeper.

He was working in his father’s London printing firm when he took up cycle-racing in the days of ‘penny farthings’. He gained many notable successes, such as riding one of these unsafe machines 10 miles in 38min 15sec. He continued on safety bicycles with the same dedication, on road and track. This led to motors, the first after seeing the 1896 Emancipation Run to Brighton. A Dfihp de Dion tricycle was followed by motorcycles, including a front-drive Werner and a Chapple. By 1900 these were replaced by a solid-tyred, tube-ignition 3 Xhp Benz, with whic he gained a certificate in the 1901 Southsea Run.

It was back to motorbikes in 1902, when Reynolds bought an early BAT, using it for trials, and its rider later gained awards for the 1905 Six-Day Trial and in the first MCC long-distance events. Although business kept Reynolds busy, he joined the Committee of the influential ACU. He used the BAT to follow trials as a mobile official.

On Vindec and Indian bikes Reynolds won six ‘golds’ in succession in those very tough MCC Edinburghs’, then a double journey from London and back of some 800 miles within 24 hours, with gas lamps and primitive tyres. Pressure of business curtailed this, but George was able, as an honorary ACU member, to organise many of that club’s events and he was largely responsible for the first Isle of Man U. Also, in 1904, he started the Essex MC, which became known for important Brooklands races after WWI. He was later a Committee member of the Motor Union, helped with dust trials in the days of unsurfaced roads, and was Official Timekeeper to the ACU and RAC.

In 1909 he founded the BMCRC, which raced motorcycles at Brooklands until 1939. A year later an accident put him out of action for a considerable period, and A Loughborough took over until George resumed in 1914.

The war saw Reynolds serving with the RAS C City of London Motor Transport Unit, driving army trucks. After that he had a large part in the running of the 1922 Royal Brooklands meeting, which earned £2500 for charity. Indeed he was well-known not only at the Track, but at Hendon as a Royal Aero Club time-keeper.