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Ron Johnson (speedway rider)
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Ron Johnson (speedway rider)
Ron Johnson (born Ronald Johnston; 24 February 1907 – 4 February 1983) was a speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1945 (unattached) and in 1946 whilst with the New Cross Rangers.
Johnson emigrated to Australia with his parents when he was just a child. He started racing at the Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia in 1927 (the same year the venue first held racing), before his travelling to the UK with promoter Johnnie Hoskins in 1928 to start a career with Crystal Palace. Johnson initially struggled on British tracks that were half the size of the ones he was used to (the Claremont Showground, which doubled as the speedway, was some 550 metres (600 yd) in length, while other Australian tracks of the day, usually showground tracks, ranged from 450 metres (490 yd) to 610 metres (670 yd) in length). In 1931, he won the British Match Race Championship, defeating Claude Rye, retaining the title against Syd Jackson before losing it to Tiger Stevenson. In 1933 he was runner up in the Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship.
In 1934, he joined the New Cross Rangers, with whom he retained connections throughout his career. During his time with New Cross, he lived at The Dorchester with his wife Ruby and lived an opulent lifestyle.
He qualified for the 1937 Speedway World Championship final as reserve, but did not ride. He also qualified for the 1939 Speedway World Championship final which was never held due to the outbreak of World War II.
The speedway scenes from the 1933 film Britannia of Billingsgate were shot at Hackney Wick Stadium and featured some of the leading riders in Britain at the time including Johnson, Colin Watson, Arthur Warwick, Gus Kuhn, Tom Farndon and Claude Rye.
Johnson's career was beset with injuries. In 1935 he was involved in a crash which saw teammate Tom Farndon suffer fatal head injuries at New Cross. Johnson had multiple lacerations to his arm which kept him from competing in the Star Riders' Championship final.
Up until 1949 he had lost a toe (after a crash at Exeter in 1929) and the tops of two of his fingers (after catching them in his chain in 1931) as results of track injuries. However, on 1 August 1949, he had a huge crash at Wimbledon. He was following his teammate Cyril Roger for a 5-1 heat win. Roger wobbled in front of him and Johnson fell. As he got back onto his feet he was hit by Wimbledon rider Cyril Brine and knocked down, suffering a fractured skull. He also suffered a near fatal blood clot. This clot may have been jolted loose, thus saving his life, by one stretcher bearer who was walking out of step with the others when Johnson was removed from the track. Doctors wanted Johnson to stay in hospital for six months but he discharged himself after a month.
Johnson attempted a comeback in 1950 but was nothing like the rider he was before the near-fatal accident. His form did not improve in 1951 so dropped down a division to ride for the Glasgow Giants. His form failed to improve there so retired and returned to Australia.
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Ron Johnson (speedway rider)
Ron Johnson (born Ronald Johnston; 24 February 1907 – 4 February 1983) was a speedway rider who won the London Riders' Championship in 1945 (unattached) and in 1946 whilst with the New Cross Rangers.
Johnson emigrated to Australia with his parents when he was just a child. He started racing at the Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia in 1927 (the same year the venue first held racing), before his travelling to the UK with promoter Johnnie Hoskins in 1928 to start a career with Crystal Palace. Johnson initially struggled on British tracks that were half the size of the ones he was used to (the Claremont Showground, which doubled as the speedway, was some 550 metres (600 yd) in length, while other Australian tracks of the day, usually showground tracks, ranged from 450 metres (490 yd) to 610 metres (670 yd) in length). In 1931, he won the British Match Race Championship, defeating Claude Rye, retaining the title against Syd Jackson before losing it to Tiger Stevenson. In 1933 he was runner up in the Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship.
In 1934, he joined the New Cross Rangers, with whom he retained connections throughout his career. During his time with New Cross, he lived at The Dorchester with his wife Ruby and lived an opulent lifestyle.
He qualified for the 1937 Speedway World Championship final as reserve, but did not ride. He also qualified for the 1939 Speedway World Championship final which was never held due to the outbreak of World War II.
The speedway scenes from the 1933 film Britannia of Billingsgate were shot at Hackney Wick Stadium and featured some of the leading riders in Britain at the time including Johnson, Colin Watson, Arthur Warwick, Gus Kuhn, Tom Farndon and Claude Rye.
Johnson's career was beset with injuries. In 1935 he was involved in a crash which saw teammate Tom Farndon suffer fatal head injuries at New Cross. Johnson had multiple lacerations to his arm which kept him from competing in the Star Riders' Championship final.
Up until 1949 he had lost a toe (after a crash at Exeter in 1929) and the tops of two of his fingers (after catching them in his chain in 1931) as results of track injuries. However, on 1 August 1949, he had a huge crash at Wimbledon. He was following his teammate Cyril Roger for a 5-1 heat win. Roger wobbled in front of him and Johnson fell. As he got back onto his feet he was hit by Wimbledon rider Cyril Brine and knocked down, suffering a fractured skull. He also suffered a near fatal blood clot. This clot may have been jolted loose, thus saving his life, by one stretcher bearer who was walking out of step with the others when Johnson was removed from the track. Doctors wanted Johnson to stay in hospital for six months but he discharged himself after a month.
Johnson attempted a comeback in 1950 but was nothing like the rider he was before the near-fatal accident. His form did not improve in 1951 so dropped down a division to ride for the Glasgow Giants. His form failed to improve there so retired and returned to Australia.