Wilbur Lamoreaux
Encyclopedia
Wilbur Lamoreaux was a former international motorcycle speedway
rider who qualified for three Speedway World Championship
finals and never finished lower than fifth place.
. Whilst working at Western Union that he met fellow Pasadenans, brothers Jack
and Cordy Milne
.
from the early thirties until the outbreak of World War II
. After the war, he was persuaded by Sir Arthur Elvin
not to retire and rode for them Wembley Lions
in 1948. In 1949 he spent a season with the Birmingham Brummies
, and also qualified for the Speedway World Championship
, ten years after his last appearance and forty two years of age, was the oldest competitor. He finished in fifth place, although an engine failure cost him his third rostrum finish in three finals.
Wilbur Lamoreaux also rode in Australia
during his career, finishing second to 1938 World Champion
Bluey Wilkinson
in both the 1938 Three and Four Lap Australian Championships at the Sydney Showground Speedway
.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider who qualified for three Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
finals and never finished lower than fifth place.
Early life
At an early age his family moved to Pasadena, California. Lamoreaux became a motorcycle enthusiast and he finally convinced his mother to allow him to buy an Indian Scout in 1923, when he was only 16 years old. He became a motorcycle messenger for Western UnionWestern Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
. Whilst working at Western Union that he met fellow Pasadenans, brothers Jack
Jack Milne
Jack Milne was an international Speedway rider. He became the first American to win a motorcycling world championship when he won the Speedway World Championship in 1937...
and Cordy Milne
Cordy Milne
Cordy Milne was an American international motorcycle speedway rider who finished third in the 1937 Speedway World Championship final, behind his brother Jack and second placed Wilbur Lamoreaux...
.
Career
Nicknamed 'Lammy', he rode for the Wimbledon DonsWimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...
from the early thirties until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he was persuaded by Sir Arthur Elvin
Arthur Elvin
Sir Arthur Elvin MBE left school at the age of fourteen. After a few different jobs joined the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Elvin was shot down over France and was a prisoner of war for two years...
not to retire and rode for them Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions (speedway)
The Wembley Lions were a motorcycle speedway team which operated from 1929 until their closure in 1971. Their track was located at Wembley Stadium, London. The original stadium which hosted speedway has been redeveloped.-Pre-war:...
in 1948. In 1949 he spent a season with the Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies
Birmingham Brummies are a British speedway team, who were reformed in 2006 and then accepted into the Premier League in 2007. The club race at Perry Barr Stadium ....
, and also qualified for the Speedway World Championship
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
, ten years after his last appearance and forty two years of age, was the oldest competitor. He finished in fifth place, although an engine failure cost him his third rostrum finish in three finals.
Wilbur Lamoreaux also rode in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
during his career, finishing second to 1938 World Champion
1938 Individual Speedway World Championship
The 1938 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1938 London, Wembley Stadium...
Bluey Wilkinson
Bluey Wilkinson
Arther George "Bluey" Wilkinson was an international speedway rider. Wilkinson was Speedway World Champion in 1938 after narrowly missing out on winning the inaugural Championship in 1936.-Early life:Wilkinson was nicknamed "Bluey" because of his red hair...
in both the 1938 Three and Four Lap Australian Championships at the Sydney Showground Speedway
Sydney Showground Speedway
Sydney Showground Speedway, originally known as the Speedway Royal and later the Speedway Royale but often referred to as just The Royale or The Showground, was a dirt Dirt track racing venue at the old Sydney Showground used from 1926 until 1996....
.
World Final appearances
- 19371937 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1937 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 2, 1937 London, Wembley Stadium...
-
United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 2nd - 25pts - 19381938 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1938 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 1, 1938 London, Wembley Stadium...
- United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 20pts - 19491949 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1949 Individual Speedway World Championship.-Qualification:# August 8, 1949 - London, Wimbledon Stadium# August 10, 1949 - London, New Cross Stadium# August 22, 1949 - Birmingham, Perry Barr Stadium# August 25, 1949 - London, Wembley Stadium...
- United Kingdom LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 10pts