Billy Mills (racing driver), Date of Birth, Date of Death

    

Billy Mills (racing driver)

South African racing driver

Date of Birth: 03-Jan-1898

Date of Death: 16-Sep-1937

Profession: racing driver, racing automobile driver

Nationality: South Africa

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


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About Billy Mills (racing driver)

  • William Arthur Frank 'Billy' Mills (January 3, 1898 – September 16, 1937), was a South African racing driver) Billy Mills was born in South Africa in 1898.
  • His father was a transport rider, and then a farmer in the Umlaas Road area.
  • Mills was among the tough motorsport pioneers in South Africa, racing a series of ‘cutdown’ modified American saloons and then an imported Aston Martin Ulster in the early South African Grand Prix.
  • The Ulster, one of just 21 built, was bought from the works on 7 July 1936 at a cost of £1,100.
  • However, he was arguably better known for his long-distance, record-breaking efforts back in the 1920s, notably the ‘runs’ from Durban to Johannesburg and Pietermaritzburg to Durban using Chryslers and De Sotos.
  • Mills was also among the early South African aviation pioneers, owning a Leopard Moth based at Oribi airfield.
  • He competed in two South African GPs both at East London, in 1936 in his converted Plymouth two-seater 'Pyroil Special', finishing sixth and in 1937 in the Ulster retiring on lap one.
  • He placed thirteenth in the 3rd Kimberley 100 held on the Paardeberg Road Circuit on 5 October 1936, and sixth in the 1st Coronation 100 held on Maritzburg’s Alexandra Park Circuit on 31 May 1937.
  • Mills did not finish the 1st Bloemfontein Blue Riband held on the Brandkop Speedway on 2 August 1937, and finished sixth and seventh in the two heats making up Silver Springbok Trophy on the Lord Howe Circuit on 21 August 1937.
  • Mills died suddenly in Pietermaritzburg in September 1937, aged just 39 years and nine months, from heart failure brought on by influenza and pneumonia.
  • His grandson is Dr.
  • Greg Mills, an expert in international affairs.

Read more at Wikipedia

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