Ron Johnson (speedway rider)
 |
|
| Born |
24 February 1907 Duntocher, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Died | 1983 (aged 75) |
| Nationality |
 Scotland Australia
|
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Deceased |
| Career history | |
| 1930-1933 | Crystal Palace Glaziers |
| 1934-1951 | New Cross Lambs/Rangers |
| 1951-1952 | Ashfield Giants |
| 1955 | West Ham Hammers |
| 1960 | Edinburgh Monarchs |
| Individual honours | |
| 1945, 1946 | London Riders' Championship |
| 1945 | Scottish Champion |
| 1956 | WA State Champion (Aust) |
| Team honours | |
| 1938, 1948 | National League Champion |
| 1931, 1934, 1937, 1947 | London Cup |
Ron Johnson (24 February 1907 , Scotland – 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 (Born Johnston) 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 Showgrounds, 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 1934 he joined the New Cross Rangers, with whom he retained connections throughout his career. It was only in the 1939 season that he began to show the form that would see him regarded as one of the top riders of his era.
Johnson's career was beset with injuries. In 1935 he was involved in a crash which saw team mate 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 team mate 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.
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