A VW rallying legend, George passed away on Sunday night, the 4th of March 2012 at 10.15 PM at the age of 83.

He was best known for competing in his Beetle in the AMPOL Trials and MOBIL Trials, as well as all of the” SYDNEY to LONDON “marathons. 

He also competed in many other cars, most notable was the outright win in 1964 “ARMSTRONG 500” , known to most as” BATHURST 500” in a FORD CORTINA GT, sharing a drive with BOB JANE .

The funeral will be held in a Victorian country town of KYNETON.

For further details contact his widow
SOPHIA ( 03 ) 5429 1277,   

or JOHN WATT  e-mail   beetleman53@iinet.net.au

Sad news.

George and I competed in two races together, where we each drove Beetles. One time at Warwick Farm, in a Touring [Appendix J] car race, and again in the 1963 Armstrong 500 at Bathurst. He beat me both times......RIP, George.

Hey Dave,

Would you please check that e-mail address for John Watt, and re-post it. Could be the 'case'?

Cheers, Greg

Try iinet as I'm sure its not 11net

RIP George

sad news

Sorry to hear this. George was very helpful when I was putting the 'Knowing Australian VWs' book together in the early '90s, and we ended up devoting a chapter to George and his VW exploits over the years.

George Reynolds was Eddie Perkins' brother in law (Eddie was Larry's father). George and Eddie were involved with competitive VW driving from the very earliest days - they drove a 30-hp 1100cc Beetle across Australia, Perth-Melbourne, in 39 hours in 1953! He was one of the founding members of the Volkswagen Club of Victoria. George used to race Beetles at the old Altona circuit in Melbourne, and at Gnoo Blas in Orange. George and Lance Perkins were second overall at the 1957 Ampol Trial (behind winner Jack Witter in another VW), his best Trials result. He was 10th in 1958. He and Eddie Perkins drove one of four VWs in the first Armstrong 500 at Phillip Island in 1960 but he did not finish. He and Greg Cusack drove the only VW to compete in 1961, finishing fifth in class. In 1962 George and Jim McKeown won Class D in their Beetle, and seventh overall, the last year the Armstrong was run at Phillip Island. In 1963, as Greg mentioned, George and Jim McKeown finished third in Class A behind the Ferguson/Ford VW and the Little/Holland Mini 850. In 1964 he moved to the GT Cortina and won the event outright with Bob Jane; Beetles were outclassed by then (Vauxhall Vivas finished 1-5 in the VW's class). George was also involved in Vee racing for years, both in Australia and in Europe.

I'll try to touch base with Watty and get a tribute put together for the next Club Veedub magazine.

Here is his VW in the 1993 London-Sydney.

Greg

I think i have fixed the Email address beetleman53@iinet.net.au

try that

From memory I think I meet George on several occasions He certainly was a true VW person

Thanks Dave, that seems to work OK.

Those of us who raced Beetles 50 years or more ago are getting a bit thin on the ground now.

And on top.

True - but Greg and Barry Ferguson are still going strong.

Greg do you know if Greg Cusack is still alive? Last I heard he had retired to the Gold Coast, years ago. I also wish I knew what happened to VW drivers Eddie Perkins, Laurie Whitehead, Ray Christie, Theo Borrer, Bob Foreman and Jack Witter, to name a few.

Here is a shot of George and his copilot Ivan Tighe before the start of the '58 Ampol. They finished 10th. That trial was won by Don Garard in an FC Holden.

Hi

Its very sad for his family, my condolences. It is good that his stories have been told and passed on to VW fans everywhere.

Steve

RIP george. all the best to those left behind.