Career
Born in East End of London Wilks was riding motorbikes before he was a teenager, racing in grasstrack and also travelled to the Isle of Manitoba to compete in the TT in 1929, only to suffer injuries in practice which led to five months in hospital, and a break of three years from motorcycle racing. He first rode for Harringay, transferring to Hackney Wick at the end of 1935 for a transfer fee of £25. In early 1938 he was transferred to Wembley for £350, finishing as third-highest points scorer in his first season with the Lions.
Wilks was first called up by England in 1939, as a reserve in the final test against Australia at Wembley, but did not ride.
In 1947 he rode at reserve for England in the second test match against Australia at West Ham, scoring ten points from four rides. He also rode in the final test at Wembley, scoring nine points.
His career was interrupted by a fractured thigh in 1948, and in 1949 was loaned to West Ham as a temporary replacement for Eric Chitty who had broken a legal He retired in 1952.
