Funnily enough, Wilfred Steward Lamont, showing here, was also born in August, in 1908, on the 12th. And he was still a teenager when the first motorcycle thundered round a dirt track at the West Maitland Showground in December 1923, and, most people consider, gave birth to the sport of speedway which would so enthrall him as he grew.
West Maitland was also the first place he raced, in 1924, when he was only sixteen. Four years later he was sailing to England as part of a team of fellow Australians set to show their skills. Once in England he became "Billy" Lamont, or "Cyclone", and he decided to stay in England too, joining the "Dons", based at Wimbledon, in 1930.
Before that he had been shown on two cigarette cards. His first is always said to be card 15 of Ogden`s "Famous Dirt Track Riders", issued in 1929, the year he was voted "Most Popular Speedway Rider", and that also claims him to be "Probably the greatest of all the Dirt-Track riders, "Cyclone Billy Lamont" was born in Newcastle, New South Wales He started racing in 1924 at Maitland the first track built in Australia, and since that time has broken nearly every record in Australia, besides winning many of the most valuable trophies, Since coming to England to ride for International Speedways, he has broken several of our track records, including that of Stamford Bridge. When in action he is without exception the most thrilling rider to watch, as he invariably goes into the bends on full throttle."
The next card of him was issued in 1930 by J.A. Pattrieouex, part of the set called "Dirt Track Riders". This gives him yet another birthplace. The text there tells us that he is : "An amazingly popular and daring rider who is regarded by many experts as the most spectacular Australian who has ever ridden on a Speedway. Born in Rutherford, New South Wales, 22 years ago. At the age of 16 he held all track records at Newcastle, Australia. Later he put up new records at the Adelaide Speedway Royal. He came to this country with a determination to show the English "boys" a thing or two and he succeeded. His riding provoked admiration wherever he raced and before long he held dozens of records over here He has a distinctive style of riding which earned him the name "Round the Fence Lamont". Usually mounted on an A.J.S. machine."
I tried to find the reason behind that nickname. and think it refers to a very risky practise, when fans would hold their programmes out towards the track, and, as he raced past, ever and ever closer, the wind, and sometimes parts of his bike or body, would knock those programmes out of the hands of his adoring fans, and flutter them to the ground.
He also continued to ride for his home team, Australia, with whom he won two early dirt track world championships, way before they were called that, or run under any of what would become official rules. And he won the "Silver Helmet" in 1931. But in 1933 he joined the Clapton Saints, and two years later the Wembley Lions. Indeed, he rode for many teams until the start of the Second World War.
During that time he appeared on R. & J. Hill`s "Sports Series", issued in 1934, along with cards of fellow riders F. T. Hatton, Frank Arthur, F. W. Dixon, and one card which is reputedly just entitled "Motorcyclist". If anyone has that I would be interested to hear more. The set was issued in two formats, only one of which has a descriptive text, and the card of him in that version, number 2, reads : ""BILLY LAMONT, nicknamed "Cyclone" taking a bend at speed, in connection with Dirt Track Racing".
One of his last card appearances before the Second World War is in Godfrey Phillips "Sportsman - Spot the Winner" (1937, the same year as our card) where he is card 31. However there is no descriptive text here, just a game on the reverse in which you tell which horse is first past the post by moistening the card with the tip of your finger. And it would have been quite useful to hear of the later years of his career, for they are sketchy. We only know that in 1939 he returned to Australia, and did not even take his bike. And when he got there he got a job in a sugar refinery. He does not even appear to have joined the forces, and yet he was only thirty-one years old.
Our set, which proves that speedway was at an all time high, and so deserving of a full set only showing the riders. It is first catalogued in our original John Player reference book, RB.17, published in 1950, as :
- 181. 50. SPEEDWAY RIDERS. Small cards. Fronts in colour, with reproduction of autographs. Backs in grey, with descriptive text, adhesive. Home issue, August 1937., with special album.
By the time of its next appearance, in our World Tobacco Issues Index, six years later, the description has shrunk, to just :
- SPEEDWAY RIDERS. Sm. Nd. (50) ... P72-174
And that remains the same in the updated version, save a new card code, of P644-352.