Speedway stars’ day off

An interesting photo supplied by speedway historian BRIAN DARBY shows two stars of the pre-war era, American Wilbur Lamoreaux, seated on the OHV Norton, and Australian ‘Bluey’ Wilkinson, the 1938 World Champion who was born at Millthorpe, near Bathurst. The photo was possibly taken in Australia, where both riders competed in 1938, the year that Wilkinson won both Three and Four Lap Australian Championships at the Sydney Showground Speedway, with Lamoreaux second each time. Wilkinson retired from racing in 1939, only to lose his life in a road accident in Sydney the following year, while the American continued post-war, finishing in 5th place in the 1949 World Final at Wembley, London despite an engine failure in one heat.

Tightly packed houses now cover this corner – originally known as Robin Orlando – at Oran Park. The left hander was a difficult proposition to get right, with a tightening radius and an ascent to The Dogleg. The shot dates from 1972 on what was a club day between Manly, St George and possibly other clubs, and depicts two of the top exponents of the Lightweight production category, always a ferociously fought affair, Jeffrey Sayle and Alan Hales. The latter was more closely associated with Suzuki, initially through his sponsorship by Stan Coleman (who lost his life at the circuit in November, 1972), but on this occasion both are mounted on Yamaha RD250s. In the background are the overhead lights that were installed for night car racing.