Reggie McNamara

Reginald " Reggie " McNamara ( born November 7, 1888 in Grenfell, † October 10, 1971 in Belleville, New Jersey) was an Australian racing cyclist who took the U.S. citizenship later. He was one of the most striking personalities of the six-day races worldwide from 1911 until 1937. Overall, he played in his life 3000 track racing on three different continents with 700 victories and set numerous records. Because of its numerous crashes and injuries he was called "Iron Man".

Cycling career

At the age of 16 years, Reggie McNamara started as a cyclist on local events; to finance the appearance fee, he hunted kangaroos and selling their skins. Later he traveled through Australia and New Zealand to anywhere to race. In 1911, McNamara took part in his first six-day race in Sydney, finishing in third place with Frank Corry; In 1913 he succeeded in his first six-day victory, also in Sydney with Corry. With this victory, he fell on a racing manager who signed him to race in the USA.

In the course of his cycling career drove Reggie McNamara 109 Six Days, of which he won 19, with various partners, including Piet van Kempen, Pietro Linari and Bob Spears. Seven victories he won in New York's Madison Square Garden. His last victory he celebrated in January 1933 at the age of 46 years in Cleveland, together with the 26 -year-old Norman Hill, who was born in the year in which McNamara had begun with professional cycling.

1946 McNamara recapitulated in a review of his life that he had broken his collarbone 17 times due to falls, five times suffered a concussion, to the nose and broke his leg and had to be sewn around 500 times. The numerous falls also occurred because of his reckless driving style, with which he provoked many crashes itself. Told journalists he used to say: " (English" I had so many splinters [ in my body ] that I could build my own velodrome. " ) " I picked up enough splinters to build my own board track. "

Childhood and family

Reggie McNamara grew up in poor circumstances as one of 13 siblings in rural Australia. At the age of nine, he was bitten by a poisonous snake, then just decided it separated out one of his older brothers finger with an ax. The family owned a single bike, which the children had to share.

At the first training after his arrival in the United States McNamara crashed on the velodrome of Newark and was taken to the hospital. There he met a nurse, whom he married, and he was American. The couple had two daughters and settled in Belleville.

Even during his playing days was McNamara, who also intense doping was rumored, known for its large whiskey consumption. After the end of his cycling career his alcoholism became apparent. Friends finally got him a job as a doorman in " Madison Square Garden ", where he had once celebrated his greatest triumphs. At the age of 83 years Reggie McNamara died of a stroke.