Reynolds curbs his enthusiasm at Bathurst

Ford driver David Reynolds is trying to choose his words carefully these days in the wake of his whopping $25,000 fine for offensive comments.

If only David Reynolds had thought of it days ago.

His bank manager certainly would have thanked him.

"Call me David 'no comment' Reynolds," the Ford star smiled after turning around a tough week to claim a maiden Bathurst 1000 pole ahead of Sunday's Great Race.

V8 Supercars joker Reynolds received $5000 for emerging from atrocious qualifying conditions to top the Great Race grid on Saturday.

He needed it.

Reynolds was fined $25,000 for an offensive remark directed at an all-female team at Bathurst earlier this week - one of the biggest financial penalties seen in Australian motorsport history.

Considered the V8 class clown, Reynolds took his left field humour too far when he described the Renee Gracie-Simona de Silvestro team as "the pussywagon".

He later apologised.

Reynolds was on his best behaviour with media after claiming his maiden Bathurst pole on Saturday - almost overzealously so.

As he began to describe the miserable qualifying conditions, Reynolds said: "When the rain started to, um, I have to choose my words carefully here...."

And asked if the fine had made him take a more conservative approach with media from now, Reynolds said with a smile: "Maybe".

A cheeky journalist even tried to get a reaction from Reynolds by claiming the Ford driver "wasn't pussy footing around" at qualifying.

Reynolds couldn't help but laugh, yet still didn't comment.

"That's 25 grand right there," quipped Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin, sitting beside Reynolds at the post-qualifying press conference.

Yet Reynolds may not have to dig too deep to pay his whopping fine.

A crowd funding appeal through website GoFundMe has already raised $2,000 in less than 24 hours to pay Reynolds' penalty.

Almost 60 fans and friends of Reynolds have coughed up cash - many women.

Reynolds' mate Sam Robertson set up the appeal.

"As a friend I would like to help him get through this unfortunate misunderstanding and leave him in good spirits to get back to taking out the Bathurst 1000," said Robertson on the website, according to speedcafe.com.

"I'm sure each and everyone of you not only support Reynolds because he's one hell of a driver, but also because he is one down to earth and funny lad."

The Great Race starts at 1100 AEDT on Sunday.


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Source: AAP


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