Percy Lambert was born in 1881, the son of Charles and Sarah Lambert. He entered Westminster City School in 1892[1] and lived in the Westminster area between 1893 and 1898. He later worked with his older brother, Harold Charles Lambert, in the motor trade. They sold Austin and later Singer cars in Westminster.[2]
Percy first raced at Brooklands motor racing circuit (near Weybridge, Surrey) in 1910 aged 29. He drove a streamlined Austin called "Pearly III". This is sometimes said to have been the source of his nickname, "Pearly Lambert"; but it is more likely that he acquired the nickname at school, in allusion to his "pearly white" teeth. In his short career he became a popular driver, winning seven races and being placed in six more.[3]
He drove a range of vehicles including Austin, Singer, Talbot and Vauxhall marques. As well as being a successful racing driver, he also enjoyed winter sports.[3]
Percy and Harold decided to enter vehicle manufacturing and jointly formed the Lambert-Herbert Light Car Company. Their first vehicle was a 10HP 4 Cylinder, that sold for £225.[3]
World recordedit
Lambert became the first person to cover a hundred miles in an hour. He set the record at Brooklands on 15 February 1913 in his 4.5 litre side-valve Talbot. He actually covered 103 miles and 1470 yards in sixty minutes.[2] There is a film of his exploits at the Brooklands Museum which was made on that day.[4]
The record was a huge publicity coup for Clément-Talbot (manufacturers of Talbot cars), and generated much public interest. It was achieved in a car with a fairly standard chassis and an engine of only 4.5 litres displacement, whereas the only other attempts on the record that had come close were in monster racing cars of 9.1 and 15 litres.[2]
Deathedit
Lambert was killed at Brooklands on 31 October 1913, while trying to regain his land speed record from Peugeot. He averaged over 110 mph for the first 20 laps, but a rear tyre disintegrated on the 21st lap and the car overturned. Lambert died on the way to the Weybridge Cottage Hospital. This occurred two weeks before he was due to marry his fiancée, having promised to give up racing thereafter.[2]
Lambert's funeral service was held at St Peters, Eaton Square.[2] He was buried at Brompton Cemetery, London, in a streamlined coffin to match his car.[citation needed]
The epitaph on his monument reads:
A modest friend, a fine gentleman and a thorough sportsman. The first man to cover 100 miles in one hour. Killed by accident at Brooklands Motor Racing Track whilst attempting further records.[3]
His ghost has reportedly been seen in locations around the club house at Brooklands.[3]
Notesedit
^"Memorable OWCs Page 2". Old Westminster citizens Association. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
^"Percy Lambert 100 miles in the hour Centenary". Brooklands Museum. 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
Referencesedit
Lambert, Andy (2009). "Percy E. Lambert, 1881–1913". Family Lambert. Andy Lambert. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
Donnelly, Tom (2013). "Lambert, Percy Edgar (1880–1913)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/97977. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Percy Lambert.
"A Percy Lambert Video – 1st person to travel over 100 miles in one hour". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
"STD Celebrates One Hour at 100 MPH, 100 Years Ago". Veloce. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
April 10, 2024
percy, lambert, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Percy E Lambert news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Percy Edgar Lambert 1881 31 October 1913 was the first person to drive an automobile a hundred miles in an hour Percy Lambert in 1912 Contents 1 Early life 2 World record 3 Death 4 Burial 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editPercy Lambert was born in 1881 the son of Charles and Sarah Lambert He entered Westminster City School in 1892 1 and lived in the Westminster area between 1893 and 1898 He later worked with his older brother Harold Charles Lambert in the motor trade They sold Austin and later Singer cars in Westminster 2 Percy first raced at Brooklands motor racing circuit near Weybridge Surrey in 1910 aged 29 He drove a streamlined Austin called Pearly III This is sometimes said to have been the source of his nickname Pearly Lambert but it is more likely that he acquired the nickname at school in allusion to his pearly white teeth In his short career he became a popular driver winning seven races and being placed in six more 3 He drove a range of vehicles including Austin Singer Talbot and Vauxhall marques As well as being a successful racing driver he also enjoyed winter sports 3 Percy and Harold decided to enter vehicle manufacturing and jointly formed the Lambert Herbert Light Car Company Their first vehicle was a 10HP 4 Cylinder that sold for 225 3 World record editLambert became the first person to cover a hundred miles in an hour He set the record at Brooklands on 15 February 1913 in his 4 5 litre side valve Talbot He actually covered 103 miles and 1470 yards in sixty minutes 2 There is a film of his exploits at the Brooklands Museum which was made on that day 4 The record was a huge publicity coup for Clement Talbot manufacturers of Talbot cars and generated much public interest It was achieved in a car with a fairly standard chassis and an engine of only 4 5 litres displacement whereas the only other attempts on the record that had come close were in monster racing cars of 9 1 and 15 litres 2 Death editLambert was killed at Brooklands on 31 October 1913 while trying to regain his land speed record from Peugeot He averaged over 110 mph for the first 20 laps but a rear tyre disintegrated on the 21st lap and the car overturned Lambert died on the way to the Weybridge Cottage Hospital This occurred two weeks before he was due to marry his fiancee having promised to give up racing thereafter 2 Burial edit nbsp Grave monument Brompton Cemetery LondonLambert s funeral service was held at St Peters Eaton Square 2 He was buried at Brompton Cemetery London in a streamlined coffin to match his car citation needed The epitaph on his monument reads A modest friend a fine gentleman and a thorough sportsman The first man to cover 100 miles in one hour Killed by accident at Brooklands Motor Racing Track whilst attempting further records 3 His ghost has reportedly been seen in locations around the club house at Brooklands 3 Notes edit Memorable OWCs Page 2 Old Westminster citizens Association Retrieved 14 June 2013 a b c d e Donnelly 2013 a b c d e Lambert 2009 Percy Lambert 100 miles in the hour Centenary Brooklands Museum 2013 Retrieved 14 June 2013 References editLambert Andy 2009 Percy E Lambert 1881 1913 Family Lambert Andy Lambert Retrieved 8 May 2020 Donnelly Tom 2013 Lambert Percy Edgar 1880 1913 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 97977 Subscription or UK public library membership required External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Percy Lambert A Percy Lambert Video 1st person to travel over 100 miles in one hour YouTube Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 STD Celebrates One Hour at 100 MPH 100 Years Ago Veloce 21 February 2013 Retrieved 14 June 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Percy E Lambert amp oldid 1184724293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
