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John "Tiger" Louis R.I.P.


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An all round motor cyclist who already had a successful career in scrambling behind him before he even took up Speedway. It’s not easy to successfully make the transition from one discipline to the other but Tiger did it,  reaching the World Final within 3 years. I think he carried on successfully in Speedway till he was about 40, which was quite old to stay at the top in those days.

So, more than just a Speedway rider , a great all-rounder and a great enthusiast. A credit to the sport.

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One of Englands finest, and without doubt Ipswich Witches greatest ever rider. 

 

In fact theirs no doubt whatsoever that the emergence of the at the time 28 year old John Louis as a Foxhall 2nd half speedway rider near the end of the 1969 season who before had never sat astride a speedway machine before, then almost unbelievable rise up to 4th in the 1972 Wembley World Final 3 years later and top level service for the Witches until his 1981 departure to Halifax moulded Ipswich into one of the hotbeds of speedway.

Johns swansong as a rider was as King's Lynn number one in 1983-84 when despite being in his 40's, well past his best and in an era when the top flight of British speedway was the strongest League in the planet he topped the teams averages in both seasons.  

R.I.P John Louis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Very sad to hear of his passing. Condolences to his family. As mentioned, John was a latecomer to the sport, having been an accomplished scrambles rider, but soon rose throught the ranks! Amazing! RIP

Edited by Ray Stadia
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Always find it amazing that the only person who brought any glory to Hackney was one who as a rider caused us much pain riding for our arch rivals Ipswich.

God bless John, a true legend and gentleman.

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Shocked and saddened at the news, you'll always be remembered John, my thoughts are with Chris and all the family. You were a bit special on a bike.

RIP John Louis

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RIP John..

Lovely bloke, when I was working for a rider back in the day he always made a point of coming over and saying hello to me despite me being just a spanner for an away rider although we did guest a bit for Ippo..

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On 4/6/2024 at 6:22 PM, Goldhawk said:

My first memory was of seeing Tiger at Romford in 1970. A GREAT rider and he is Ipswich Speedway ! RIP Tiger Louis a modern day Speedway Legend.

I remember being at Romford for JL's first race at that track. The track boundary was a brick wall with hundreds of coats of paint 'to soften the blows'. On his first race there, JL was out of the gate and brushing the wall all the way round. I loved watching him practice, at Ipswich, before he got into the team. He would go flat out and go through the fence, then slightly slower and still through the fence, then a bit slower and got round safely. That's how he worked out the fastest line without coming off. Incredible to watch and, as others have said, a gentleman off the track.

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  • 3 weeks later...

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