When the car was in the staging lanes for the auction a pretty big crowd was milling around it, including a fat dude leaning on the passenger door with both hands. Eddie taps the guy on the shoulder and asks him politely to stop. The guy gets real belligerent, like "I'm a human being, don't touch me, I'll touch your stupid car all I want," etc. Real psycho. He finally left, but there was a serious concern that he would try to key the car or vandalize it.
He also had a red Hemi Cuda in his personal collection that had less than 5,000 original miles on it. He himself was a gambler, self appointed playboy and bought himself anyone and anything he wanted with the $$$ earned smoking people to death. In other words, he acted like pretty much any of us would if we were alive in the 60's and 70's and had access to his kind of money.
a feature on "mr tobacco" in garage magazine issue #18 sheds further light on dr. zach ... this story titled "cigarette city flash" penned by david burge is an excellent read! and supported by a bunch of cool photos courtesy of the reynolds family and eddie krusch kudos to you mr burge for presenting a neat insight to the facinating past of a unique individual> huge applause to you mr krusch for "buying the car back" last year and keeping it part of the winston-salem landscape
I was not a HAMB member when this topic was started. I knew Zach Reynolds very well. He was one of the greatest motorcycle drag racers I have ever known and since he was of small stature he had an advantage from the get go. He was truly a very rich guy who had no fear and bought anything he wanted. Ironically, he was a non-smoker. It was reported he was worth 30 million in the mid sixties when that was a lot of money. As far as I know he never worked a single day at R J Reynolds Tobacco Co. or anywhere else. We both had Harley drag bikes but he was almost impossible to beat with his riding abilities, light weight and LARGE wallet. But otherwise he was just your normal Joe. He owned several airplanes which he piloted, one a stunt plane that took his life. We all knew he would not live to senior status. His life was in overdrive constantly. He bought several new Muscle Cars each year during the sixties and never sold any. When they were sold at his estate auction all were mint low mileage cars including a REAL '65 Shelby 427 Cobra. I remember him driving it to Farmington Dragstrip right after buying it and having the engine blueprinted. Farmington was a 1/4 mile dragstrip back then. The Cobra had the factory tires, sidepipes....just as he had driven it in. I will never forget that day. He turned 11.80 124 mph. A very fast street legal car was a 13 second car back then. It was hands down the fastest street car in the Carolinas. I visited him at his Winston-Salem mansion several times and saw his awesome collection including the '64 Galaxie in person. I never saw it on the drag strip though. I remember Zach with fondness and he will forever be a part of my life during those times. I bought two of his Harley Dragbikes at the estate auction, bikes I had raced him on. I wish he was still around to talk to.
Thanks Frank, for the cool bit of history on Zach. Sad when someone checks out early, with the love for life, that you made mention of. Eric
I figured someone would mention the Garage Magazine article. Good read. Lots of info on the car and Zach's lifestyle.
I thought he did smoke. The Red Hemi Cuda had a ashtray full of Winston ciggarrette butts and the seller and buyer were going to leave them there.
I kinda lost touch with Zach when I got married in '69. If he started smoking it was after that. I don't remember him drinking adult beverages either. We were at Daytona Bike week in '66 and Zack piloted his twin engine plane with his wife and young daughter to Daytona (his chauffer drove down his Harley drag bike). We all gathered at the old Samsula airport, a closed down landing strip we used as a "make shift" drag strip before the Cabbage Patch. We were looking at each other's bikes and we hear this plane in a very loud dive. We look up to see this twin engine plane headed at us. We scatter and this plane pulls up and comes across us wide open about 200 feet off the ground. It was Zach's way of letting us know he was going to land. After he landed I asked him how friggin fast he was going when he buzzed us. "oh, about 200 knots" he said.
story re-counting the daytona episode above = cooler than cool how old/young was zach at the time of his death?
I'm not sure of his age.I thought he didn't smoke but in the Garage article,there were pictures of him with cigarettes in his mouth. Here is a good website on him. It is maintained by his daughter. The article in Garage is extremely interesting. http://www.zachreynolds.com/
He was born in '38, so would have been 40 or 41 at the time of his death. Incidentally, he was not piloting the plane -- that was Gary Cermak, an 18 year old neighbor kid who had just gotten his pilot's license and wanted to take Zach for a ride. The other people aboard were 12-year old Glen Cermak (the pilot's brother) and Bill Roberts.
You could promise me a very painful death, but if offered, I would gladly meet my fate in that car.... I'm all uh-tingle!
Great story and pics. Thank you! If I may ask: In your opinion how would the Turbonique Drag Axle gone over in a Unibody car? In your opinion is the Full Frame car say like Duece coupe, Galaxie, Chevelle, tri five Chevy actually more "Distinguished" to a HAMB Hot Rodder than a Unibody car? Thus far I own a 64 Falcon Sprint, 64 Cyclone and soon to be a 64 Galaxie. I know each one has its pluses however I do like the Galaxies bolt on and off features of core support, inner fenders, body off ect in lieu of the other cars spot welded construction. Thank You again.
I ran across this picture of Zach Reynolds "Flying Hog" Harley dragster while going through my junk. He raced it in the '60s. That is a young Reynolds next to his red and white Harley dresser somewhere on his Winston-Salem, NC estate. I thought you might like to see what he looked like when I knew him. The "Flying Hog" was one of the two bikes I mentioned buying at his estate auction nearly 30 years ago. No, I don't still have 'em.
Frank, My Name is Will Spencer and saw your post on Zach's Flying Hog.. I live in Winston and Zach was a good friend.. Our family's went back 4 generations, Gary his little brother and Bill were all my friends as well and I lost 4 good friends that Sept 4th day! anyway as time has gone on I have been able to find and own 6 of Zach's bikes that were sold in 1983 and want to know if you can help me with the 2 you bought at auction? Zach paid a Dollar to wash a bike and three to wash a car... he was King. Tobacco King That Is! I have the Bikes at my company JKS Motorsports in Welcome NC in the lobby with a couple of his cars. I love reading the stories on him and never have forgot all he tought me in my younger years.. it paid off. I saw the Flying Hog was on loan to a Museum up North and said it was on loan from you? anyway please give me a call 336 722 4129. Thanks Will PS I am trying to put as many of them as I can find back together.
Very interesting thread. About 10 yrs ago, I had been in negotiations with a guy from Winston NC for a vintage, Montesa powered, Rickman motocrosser. (I collect vintage dirtbikes) This bike was in as close to new condition as one could hope for. It had an 8 ball with several other odd symbols on the tank and was told it was part of Zach Reynolds collection. Some time after the write up in Garage Magazine appeared and learned much more about who Zach Reynolds was. I had passed on the bike but sure wish I had just went for it. Sounds like he was quite an interesting guy! Kurt
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