Ron Johnson (speedway rider), Date of Birth, Date of Death

Ron Johnson (speedway rider)

Australian speedway rider

Date of Birth: 24-Feb-1907

Date of Death: 04-Feb-1983

Profession: motorcycle racer

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Ron Johnson (24 February 1907 Duntocher, 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 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 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.