norbold Posted May 2, 2022 Report Share Posted May 2, 2022 1 hour ago, Split said: Was it Ron Johnson who lost a finger when it got stuck in the bike's chain while he was working on it? Maybe it was another incident but whoever the rider was he was rushed to hospital and when the doctor asked where the finger was he was told it was still stuck in the chain. Somebody had to go back and get to in order for the finger be reattached to the injured hand. Maybe it's apocryphal but I do remember reading that story in The Speedway Star years ago. Yes, it was in 1930, Crystal Palace v. Hall Green. He described what happened, “In the middle of a match race with Huxley [in the second half], the breather on my crankcase worked loose. I put my left hand down to feel if the oil was coming out. Instead the primary chain whipped off the tops of two fingers. On talking the glove off there were the tops inside! The blood was pumping out, but grabbing my left wrist with the other hand I stopped the flow by pressure and walked across to the ambulance tent, which at the Palace, was situated in the middle of the grass centre. I was soon fixed up.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted May 4, 2022 Report Share Posted May 4, 2022 Long before my time, but it looks to me a bit sad that Ron tried a comeback when he was so old. Maybe sometimes it pays to quit when you are ahead and be remembered that way. What say forumlanders?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted May 4, 2022 Report Share Posted May 4, 2022 43 minutes ago, BOBBATH said: Long before my time, but it looks to me a bit sad that Ron tried a comeback when he was so old. Maybe sometimes it pays to quit when you are ahead and be remembered that way. What say forumlanders?? Absolutely BOBBATH. A very sad end for one of the all-time greats. The only upside was that it meant I actually got to see my team, New Cross's all-time hero ride - a rider who had started riding speedway in Australia before the sport even came to England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted May 5, 2022 Report Share Posted May 5, 2022 A clip from the wartime Speedway Derby at Belle Vue where Johnson was pipped to the win by Eric Chitty, who got a 15 point max. Johnson on 14 https://www.britishpathe.com/video/speedway-derby-dublin-issue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted May 6, 2022 Report Share Posted May 6, 2022 Out of interest, and off topic, but in that war time season 1942 there is an unattached Candian rider, J. Fergusson listed . Rode in a pairs meeting with Eric Chitty for instance. Any info on the rider at all ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andout Posted May 6, 2022 Report Share Posted May 6, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, iris123 said: Out of interest, and off topic, but in that war time season 1942 there is an unattached Candian rider, J. Fergusson listed . Rode in a pairs meeting with Eric Chitty for instance. Any info on the rider at all ? J. Fergusson......that's a new one for me.....I'll do some checking. Not so new.....Know nothing about him unfortunately except the "J" was Jimmy and yes he was Canadian......I have asked around to see if anyone else knows anything. Edited May 6, 2022 by andout 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted May 6, 2022 Report Share Posted May 6, 2022 Could this be the same J. Fergusson? https://cmhf.ca/alice-jim-fergusson/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andout Posted May 6, 2022 Report Share Posted May 6, 2022 25 minutes ago, BL65 said: Could this be the same J. Fergusson? https://cmhf.ca/alice-jim-fergusson/ Unlikely there could be two, so I would say its a good possibility.......I'll keep checking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I like Slant Posted May 7, 2022 Report Share Posted May 7, 2022 “Whaler” Joe Ferguson Scottish junior in the 40’s 50’s? reputed to have signed up on a whaling ship to earn money to feed his speedway ambitions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andout Posted May 7, 2022 Report Share Posted May 7, 2022 OK so I have heard from the Expert on Canadian Pre-War Speedway riders and this one got to him too....Here are the two replies I have had from him. "Jim Ferguson was a rider who rode speedway long track and road racing around the time of Chitty and Pepper in Canada. Did not know he was in England racing." "Still, it was little surprise in 1931 when speedway or short track racing was introduced to Canada that Eric was on the quarter-mile track at the old Ulster Stadium in east Toronto, where he shared the honours with Jim Ferguson. Taken from Eric Chitty page on the Canadian hall of fame. I have a photo of Mr Ferguson somewhere in my files." So, not much at all known about this rider, I will post the photo if my friend finds it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midgetracer Posted May 11, 2022 Report Share Posted May 11, 2022 I am sure that I saw Ron Johnson in his last official race. On August 31st 1960 Edinburgh were riding at Poole. Ron Johnson, despite his age, had returned that season for a comeback. Ian Hoskins, the Edinburgh promoter had given him a few rides, but he had not been successful. He rode in the second half at Poole that night. About halfway through the race he suffered a very heavy fall, and was carried off on a stretcher. It would seem that his injuries were not serious, but I think that this was his final official ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted May 14, 2022 Report Share Posted May 14, 2022 On 5/11/2022 at 1:11 PM, Midgetracer said: I am sure that I saw Ron Johnson in his last official race. On August 31st 1960 Edinburgh were riding at Poole. Ron Johnson, despite his age, had returned that season for a comeback. Ian Hoskins, the Edinburgh promoter had given him a few rides, but he had not been successful. He rode in the second half at Poole that night. About halfway through the race he suffered a very heavy fall, and was carried off on a stretcher. It would seem that his injuries were not serious, but I think that this was his final official ride. Ron Johnson rode the following week, on 3rd September, in the Edinburgh round of the Provincial Riders' Championship. He scored three points from five rides, but those three points were a win in his fourth ride against Jimmy Gleed, Jimmy Cox and Dave Dodd. He then fell in his last ride. On 14 May 1963 he rode a series of three match races against Phil Bishop in the second half at New Cross. Johnson won 2-1. I think those were his last official rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonas H Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 According to this article by Peter White, Ron Johnson's last race was at Sheffield in the second half towards the end of 1963. https://www.speedwaypast.com/stories/larger-than-life-ron-johnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonas H Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 According to this site, Johnson amassed a fortune during his speedway career and the film “Once a Jolly Swagman,” starring Dirk Bogarde, was based on his life. https://wais.org.au/hallofchampions/ron-johnson/ Never heard about that before, true or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 Not sure about the film but I have read that he both amassed and spent a fortune. At one time he was said to have been living at some top London hotel but didn’t look after his money and apparently died penniless. Others may be able to fill in more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 Thanks for that info, Jonas. I'd be very interested in learning more about that appearance at Sheffield. I have looked at the Speedway Researcher site, but they have no record of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 10 minutes ago, norbold said: Thanks for that info, Jonas. I'd be very interested in learning more about that appearance at Sheffield. I have looked at the Speedway Researcher site, but they have no record of it. Speedway Researcher site shows in the Sheffield A to Z that Ron Johnson was in a demonstration race at the end of the 1962 season. I suspect this was his last appearance there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 (edited) 2 minutes ago, BL65 said: Speedway Researcher site shows in the Sheffield A to Z that Ron Johnson was in a demonstration race at the end of the 1962 season. I suspect this was his last appearance there. Thanks BL, which means the match race series at New Cross in 1963 I quoted were probably his last rides. Edited June 2, 2023 by norbold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonas H Posted June 2, 2023 Report Share Posted June 2, 2023 Speedway Star had a very interesting four-page story about Ron Johnson in their December 31 issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 6, 2023 Report Share Posted June 6, 2023 On 6/2/2023 at 10:25 PM, Jonas H said: Speedway Star had a very interesting four-page story about Ron Johnson in their December 31 issue. Did it mention 1929 and this incident ? Fines of 2 pounds for assault and 15 pounds for dangerous driving, with costs and his license forfeited, and disqualification from driving for 2 years, were imposed on Ronald Johnson. Evidence was given that Johnson in a sports car, drove at a terrific speed over Serpentine bridge, cutting between two cars which had to apply their brakes violently. In taking a sharp turn Johnson's passenger was thrown out and injured. The evidence stated Johnson became very excited when arrested and kicked the constable !!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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