Reg Pridmore
Encyclopedia
Reginald Charles Pridmore III (born July 15, 1939 in London, England) is a former motorcycle
road racing
national champion. He is remembered for winning the first AMA Superbike Championship in . He is the father of retired AMA racer Jason Pridmore.
Pridmore began racing in England in the early 1960s winning his first race at Silverstone
. As a young man, he made the decision to sell all his possessions and move to the United States. He settled in Southern California
and soon began competing in local motorcycle events, racing four-stroke production-based machines.
In 1976, the A.M.A.
introduced a new national championship for production-based bikes. Riding a BMW
R90S sponsored by BMW's American importer, Pridmore impressed the motorcycling world by winning the national championship against more advanced Japanese machinery. The following year he raced a Kawasaki Z1000
and claimed the first A.M.A. superbike victory for a Japanese manufacturer. Pridmore went on to win the A.M.A. Superbike Championship in and . He was 39 years old when he won his final championship, making him the oldest A.M.A. Superbike champion. He retired after the season.
After his retirement, Pridmore operated one of the top motorcycle riding schools in the United States. In 2002, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
.
He now lives in Santa Paula, CA where he owns a hangar at Santa Paula Airport KSZP. He keeps his motorcycles, a Scout airplane and a small hangar museum there.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
national champion. He is remembered for winning the first AMA Superbike Championship in . He is the father of retired AMA racer Jason Pridmore.
Pridmore began racing in England in the early 1960s winning his first race at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
. As a young man, he made the decision to sell all his possessions and move to the United States. He settled in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
and soon began competing in local motorcycle events, racing four-stroke production-based machines.
In 1976, the A.M.A.
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
introduced a new national championship for production-based bikes. Riding a BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
R90S sponsored by BMW's American importer, Pridmore impressed the motorcycling world by winning the national championship against more advanced Japanese machinery. The following year he raced a Kawasaki Z1000
Kawasaki Z1000
The Kawasaki Z1000 is a four-cylinder motorcycle in the streetfighter or standard style.-History:Kawasaki introduced the Z1 motorcycle in 1972. Four years later they introduced the Kz900. The original Kawasaki Z1 was the first series of Japanese motorcycles with the combination of four cylinders,...
and claimed the first A.M.A. superbike victory for a Japanese manufacturer. Pridmore went on to win the A.M.A. Superbike Championship in and . He was 39 years old when he won his final championship, making him the oldest A.M.A. Superbike champion. He retired after the season.
After his retirement, Pridmore operated one of the top motorcycle riding schools in the United States. In 2002, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
.
He now lives in Santa Paula, CA where he owns a hangar at Santa Paula Airport KSZP. He keeps his motorcycles, a Scout airplane and a small hangar museum there.