Billy Mills

Who was Billy Mills?

William Arthur Frank 'Billy' Mills Born: 3 January 1898; died: 16 September 1937

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.