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{{Short description|American speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| image = File:SLNSW 21248 Motorcyclist Wilbur Lammy Lamoreaux taken for Empire Speedways.jpg
| image =
| caption = Lamoreaux in 1937
| nationality = {{flagicon|USA}} USA
| nationality = American
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1907|2|26}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1907|2|26}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1963|5|11|1907|2|26|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1963|5|11|1907|2|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Roseville, Illinois]]
| birth_place = [[Roseville, Illinois]]
| retired = Retired
| nickname = Lammy

⚫
| career = [[Wimbledon Dons]]<br>[[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]<br>[[Birmingham Brummies]]
| years = 1937-1939<br>1948<br>1949
| years1 = 1937-1939
| career1 = [[Wimbledon Dons]]
⚫
| indivhonour = [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|NSW State Champion]]<br>Scottish Champion<br />[[AMA National Speedway Championship|AMA National Champion]]
| years2 = 1948
| indivyear = 1938<br>1939<br />1946
⚫
| career2 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
⚫
| teamhonour = National Trophy<br>London Cup
| years3 = 1949
⚫
| teamyear = 1938, 1948<br>1938, 1939, 1948
| career3 = [[Birmingham Brummies]]
| indivyear1 = 1938
⚫
| indivhonour1 = [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|NSW State Champion]]
| indivyear2 = 1939
| indivhonour2 = [[Scottish Open (speedway)|Scottish Champion]]
| indivyear3 = 1946
| indivhonour3 = [[AMA National Speedway Championship|AMA National Champion]]
| teamyear1 = 1938, 1948
⚫
| teamhonour1 = National Trophy
⚫
| teamyear2 = 1938, 1939, 1948
| teamhonour2 = London Cup
}}
}}


'''Wilbur Lamoreaux<ref name="ama">{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=210|title=Wilbur Lamoreaux|publisher=The AMA's Hall of Fame Museum|accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref>''' (born 26 February 1907 in [[Roseville, Illinois]], [[USA]] - died 11 May 1963) was a former international [[motorcycle speedway]] rider who qualified for three [[Speedway World Championship]] finals and never finished lower than fifth place.<ref name=bb>Buck, B (2007) ''Brummies Legends'', Pendragon Books. ISBN 0-9541671-2-0</ref>
'''Wilbur Leonard Lamoreaux<ref name="ama">{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=210|title=Wilbur Lamoreaux|publisher=The AMA's Hall of Fame Museum|accessdate=2008-09-30}}</ref>''' (born 26 February 1907 in [[Roseville, Illinois]], United States - died 11 May 1963) was an international [[motorcycle speedway]] rider who qualified for three [[Speedway World Championship]] finals and never finished lower than fifth place.<ref name=bb>Buck, B (2007) ''Brummies Legends'', Pendragon Books. {{ISBN|0-9541671-2-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=4 June 2023}}</ref>


==Early life==
== 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 Union]]. Whilst working at Western Union that he met fellow Pasadenans, brothers [[Jack Milne|Jack]] and [[Cordy Milne]].<ref name="ama"/>
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 Union]]. While working at Western Union that he met fellow Pasadenans, brothers [[Jack Milne (speedway rider)|Jack]] and [[Cordy Milne]].<ref name="ama"/>


==Career==
== Career ==
Nicknamed 'Lammy', he rode for the [[Wimbledon Dons]] from 1937 until the outbreak of [[World War II]].<ref name="Sandys">Sandys, Leonard (1948) ''Broadside to Fame! The Drama of the Speedways'', Findon, p. 22</ref> He won the Scottish Championship in 1939.<ref name="Sandys" /> During [[World War II]] he promoted speedway in the US, and in 1946 won the [[AMA National Speedway Championship|American National Championship]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="Sandys" /> After the war, he was persuaded by [[Arthur Elvin|Sir Arthur Elvin]] not to retire and rode for them [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] in 1948. In 1949 he spent a season with the [[Birmingham Brummies]],<ref name="bb"/> 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.
Nicknamed 'Lammy', he competed in California in the mid-1930s, and rode for the [[Wimbledon Dons]] from 1937<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000671/19370305/019/0019 |title=American Speedway Star for Harringay |website=Evening Despatch |date=5 March 1937 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref> until the outbreak of [[World War II]].<ref name="Sandys">Sandys, Leonard (1948) ''Broadside to Fame! The Drama of the Speedways'', Findon, p. 22</ref> He won the Scottish Championship in 1939.<ref name="Sandys" /> During [[World War II]] he promoted speedway in the US, and in 1946 won the [[AMA National Speedway Championship|American National Championship]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="Sandys" /> After the war, he was persuaded by [[Arthur Elvin|Sir Arthur Elvin]] not to retire and rode for them [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]] in 1948. In 1949 he spent a season with the [[Birmingham Brummies]],<ref name="bb"/> 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 Individual Speedway World Championship|1938 World Champion]] [[Bluey Wilkinson]] in both the 1938 Three and Four Lap [[Australian Individual Speedway Championship|Australian Championships]] at the [[Sydney Showground Speedway]]. In 1938, Lamoreaux also won the [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|NSW State Championship]] at the Sydney Showground.<ref>http://www.vintagespeedway.com/Titles.html</ref>
Wilbur Lamoreaux also rode in Australia during his career, finishing second to [[1938 Individual Speedway World Championship|1938 World Champion]] [[Bluey Wilkinson]] in both the 1938 Three and Four Lap [[Australian Individual Speedway Championship|Australian Championships]] at the [[Sydney Showground Speedway]]. In 1938, Lamoreaux also won the [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|NSW State Championship]] at the Sydney Showground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vintagespeedway.com/Titles.html|title=Titles}}</ref> He also represented the [[United States national speedway team|USA]] in test matches against the [[Australia national speedway team|Australians]] at other tracks around the country including the [[Sydney Sports Ground]] and [[Motordrome (Melbourne)|Olympic Park]] in Melbourne.


== World Final appearances ==
== World Final appearances ==
* [[1937 Individual Speedway World Championship|1937]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - '''2nd''' - 25pts
* [[1937 Individual Speedway World Championship|1937]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - '''2nd''' - 25pts
* [[1938 Individual Speedway World Championship|1938]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - '''3rd''' - 20pts
* [[1938 Individual Speedway World Championship|1938]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - '''3rd''' - 20pts
* [[1949 Individual Speedway World Championship|1949]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 5th - 9pts<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5</ref>
* [[1949 Individual Speedway World Championship|1949]] - {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 9pts<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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* [http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=210 The AMA's Hall of Fame Museum - Wilbur Lamoreaux]
* [http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=210 The AMA's Hall of Fame Museum - Wilbur Lamoreaux]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Lamoreaux, Wilbur
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American speedway rider
| DATE OF BIRTH = 26 February 1907
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Roseville, Illinois]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 11 May 1963
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lamoreaux, Wilbur}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lamoreaux, Wilbur}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1907 births]]
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[[Category:Wembley Lions riders]]
[[Category:Wembley Lions riders]]
[[Category:Birmingham Brummies riders]]
[[Category:Birmingham Brummies riders]]
[[Category:American expatriate speedway riders in England]]

[[Category:People from Roseville, Illinois]]

{{US-sport-bio-stub}}
{{speedway-bio-stub}}

[[pl:Wilbur Lamoreaux]]

Latest revision as of 14:19, 1 September 2024

Wilbur Lamoreaux
Lamoreaux in 1937
Born(1907-02-26)26 February 1907
Roseville, Illinois
Died11 May 1963(1963-05-11) (aged 56)
NicknameLammy
NationalityAmerican
Career history
1937-1939Wimbledon Dons
1948Wembley Lions
1949Birmingham Brummies
Individual honours
1938NSW State Champion
1939Scottish Champion
1946AMA National Champion
Team honours
1938, 1948National Trophy
1938, 1939, 1948London Cup

Wilbur Leonard Lamoreaux[1] (born 26 February 1907 in Roseville, Illinois, United States - died 11 May 1963) was an international motorcycle speedway rider who qualified for three Speedway World Championship finals and never finished lower than fifth place.[2][3]

Early life

[edit]

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 Union. While working at Western Union that he met fellow Pasadenans, brothers Jack and Cordy Milne.[1]

Career

[edit]

Nicknamed 'Lammy', he competed in California in the mid-1930s, and rode for the Wimbledon Dons from 1937[4] until the outbreak of World War II.[5] He won the Scottish Championship in 1939.[5] During World War II he promoted speedway in the US, and in 1946 won the American National Championship in Los Angeles.[5] 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,[2] 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. In 1938, Lamoreaux also won the NSW State Championship at the Sydney Showground.[6] He also represented the USA in test matches against the Australians at other tracks around the country including the Sydney Sports Ground and Olympic Park in Melbourne.

World Final appearances

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Wilbur Lamoreaux". The AMA's Hall of Fame Museum. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  2. ^ a b Buck, B (2007) Brummies Legends, Pendragon Books. ISBN 0-9541671-2-0
  3. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  4. ^ "American Speedway Star for Harringay". Evening Despatch. 5 March 1937. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ a b c Sandys, Leonard (1948) Broadside to Fame! The Drama of the Speedways, Findon, p. 22
  6. ^ "Titles".
  7. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
[edit]
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