Mar03
Remember Reg King?
on March 3rd, 2010It was 20yrs ago on 26th February 2010 that Britain’s infamous Reg King passed away.
Reg’s son Simon has asked if all who remember him could raise a glass in memory of his father’s life and the stamp he made on the sport of water ski racing.
When I was 18 Reg drove for me in the first ever F2 European racing series in Austria, Spain and France, etc. He also pulled me in my first F1 races the following year.
Reg was Britain’s team captain for many years and anyone who is old enough to remember him will recall the dozens of incidents and hilarious stories that make him one of the most memorable guys the sport has had.
As I write this, I can’t help laughing at some of the comical moments we had.
20 years …doesn’t it go by in a blink.
To Reg!
Royston and I will raise a glass tonight. It will be a few days late, but that would be in keeping with Reg’s way! We remember him so well, brought a few cars from him in fact. Never to be forgotten.
Hi Simon,
Of course that we remember Reg, he allwais was very helpfully with us and he visit us with John Hoiles at home years and years ago. And we’d laugh a lot.
We remember his spetial strong caracter and all his work about races.
Tarrida’s family from Spain will raise a glass tonight.
Olivia
Remember him?! Nobody that ever knew Reg could ever forget him. Not only did he do a lot of great work for the sport, and gave alot of help to my brother, he also brought so much fun to it. I can’t help but smile when I think of him, so many fond memories. Cheers Reg! X
Reg and I spent countless hours together, trying to manage not only our hectic daily lives, but, along with 7yo Simon and 14yo Andy Coe, trying to maintain the Faberge sponsored race boat MACHO in ‘tip-top’ order for the pre-race ‘show-lap’!!
The escapades and adventures are too countless and perhaps risque for this page (maybe a Jeffrey Archer novel ??)
Needless to say I was very happy to have known RK1 and often recall the Hi’s and Lo’s of the sometime torrid Waterski lifestyle, of those early years.
Here’s to your memory Reg…….with a glass of Dom Perignon (what else?..)
Malc.
Simon, I will also have a couple of glasses of wine for Reg, He was an example to everyone to enjoy everything in life to the absolute full.!!I can relate to Robbies comments as I to smile at just a few of the memories of his life, I know how well he looked after Matt and Carl Johnson { USA} in the first Worlds.All I can say is if you met him , you wouldnt forget him,an unbelievable , larger than life character.
Paul Thompson
Simon,
It is without saying your Dad had a huge impact on my ski racing. Like Paul said he took care of us at the first worlds. From driving all night to get MACHO out of the garage to pull us at Welsh Harp to my memories of particpating in a few Euro Championship races.
Oh, if only the Rolls could talk!!!! Truly a getnleman always and a great competitor.
Reg you are always in our hearts
Carl Johnson
Simon,
you dad was truly a wonderful guy and one that myself and Kurt Schoen had lots of fun with.He may be gone from this world but he will never be gone from our thoughts ! Cheers to you Reg !! ……..Mike Avila
Hi Simon
Reg brought so much fun to so many people. For many years after his passing I expected him to turn up again, perhaps in a cunning disguise. I couldn’t believe he was gone.
I remember returning from a race with Ray Bryant, we were stuck in solid traffic on the motorway, when a flash car passed on the hard shoulder with it’s horn going. Reg leaned out of the window and shouted, it’s what the hard shoulder’s for dear boy.
I’ll raise a glass to him tonight
Cheers Dave Hamer
Reg, what a star! the sport is not the same without him! The photograph of Reg was taken at Doyles on the Beach in Sydney. February 1988. I was sitting next to him that day,enjoying lunch which we did many times!
Cheers Inspector !
Bunny
Dave, it was Hartlepool and I was stuck on the motorway and also saw it! Have to say it wasnt the only time either, he used to do that if some old fart was in the middle lane doing less than he thought they should, up the inside, lights on horn on, not so politically correct today but they were different times, oh so different!!!!! Cheers Reg, thanks for the memories, Steve Cox and the Black Knight racing team…..
Hi Simon
Must be 30 + years bud since we see each other in the good old days in the late 70′s when you and me was little bug..rs on the ski race curcuit,have so many great memories we traveld all over the uk and europe with you and your wild dad reg, yep have to say he was a bloody nutter as are f1 dads were back then.
Yep its a long long time ago your dad passed away and guess what my old mum dad John hutch and Betty hutch passed away within a few weeks apart of each other just over two years ago so bet you no what,they will be up there with all thee other old legends in the sport talking about the if only’s.
Well if any others read this and remember them old days or me andy hutch or my old family would like to say hello to you all.
Happy days simon hope your keeping fine
Hope to catch up sometime.. Hey have you found my skate board yet you droped in the harbour in spain jea that was about 1976 hey i was 11 and i know you was youger than me wow time has flown by…
Hi Simon, sorry for the late response.
Of course Reg was quite a caracter!! I have worked with him many times … since 1979 as Team Captains (and he often was TC for more than 1 country!). Have spend fantastic times with him … will raise more than 1 glass to his honour! We hope to see you again at the Diamond Race 2010!
Vera Van den Bossche (Belgium)