Ron Johnson Memorial

[asturmer]

Mitch Shirra showed promising form early on in the meeting with a win in his first outing, followed by a couple of thirds and a second place.Total of 8 points from 5 rides! His bike was stranded in Adelaide, so he rode on a loan bike which he and Paul Pinfold had to rebuild until 3 a.m on the morning of the meeting. The crowd were introduced to Peter Collins who received an enthusiastic reception when he and Glynn Taylor rode some demo laps in between the heats. This venue is already a winner and when the new senior track is built along side this one where part of the existing moto x track remains, this place will attract more international riders, taking us back to the old Claremont days!!

Scunthorpe Speedway Press Release:

 

Scunthorpe Scorpion’ Tai Woffinden claimed an impressive fourth in the Ron Johnson Memorial Meeting at Western Australia’s Pinjar Park on Saturday night.  The quality field included Steve Johnston (Oxford), Chris Holder (Isle of Wight), Jason Doyle (Poole), Tom Hedley (Newport) and Trevor Harding (King’s Lynn) who all competed in last month’s Australian Championships along with former British League riders Frank Smart, Mitch Shirra and David Cheshire.

 

Woffinden rode well to win three of his qualifying races and claim twelve points and a spot in the semi-final.  That race saw him finish second behind Frank Smart to make the Grand Final by defeating Tom Hedley and Trevor Harding.  The Final pitted ‘Wuffy’ against Steve Johnston (3rd in Australian Championship) and Jason Doyle (6th) along with Smart, the ex-Newport, Swindon and Exeter heat-leader.  Doyle led Johnston from the tapes with Woffinden and Smart close behind.  In a race where the proverbial blanket could have covered all riders for much of the race it was Johnston who edged home, closely followed by Doyle, Smart and Woffinden.

 

Afterwards Woffinden’s delighted father, Rob, claimed “The Grand final was amazing, unbelievably close racing.  Fourth place for Tai was a mega result in the strongest field in Western Australia for maybe 25 years”.

 

That was Woffinden’s last meeting in Australia before he returns to Britain to race for the Scorpions, and Rye House in the Premier League, at the beginning of March.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edited February 4, 2007 by asturmer

[Ozyace]

There's a full report and more in the latest Speedway Racing News, Rod Colquhoun wrote a real good article about staying here also. Be sure to check out the photo of the crowd and the yobbo sitting next to Johno on the back of his ute

[Guest]

Has this event been staged again since the 2007 event or is there any likelihood of it being revived for the 2016-2017 season in Western Australia?

Ron Johnson was one of the all-time greats of world speedway - it would be sad if he was to just be no more than a name in the record books.

I look forward to hearing a confirmation that the next West Australian season will see this championship back somewhere in the speedway fixtures list.