John Charles Louis (14 June 1941 – April 2024) was an English international motorcycle speedway rider.[1] He was the father of Great Britain International Chris Louis.[2] He earned 54 international caps for the England national speedway team and four caps for the Great Britain team.[3] He later managed the England national team from 1994 to 1998.
 | |
| Born | 14 June 1941 Ipswich, England |
|---|---|
| Died | April 2024 (aged 82) |
| Nickname | Tiger |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1970–1980 | Ipswich Witches |
| 1970 | Newport Wasps |
| 1981–1982 | Halifax Dukes |
| 1983–1984 | King's Lynn Stars |
| Individual honours | |
| 1971 | British League Div II Riders' Champion |
| 1975 | British Champion |
| 1976 | Southern Riders' Champion |
| 1979 | British League Riders' Champion |
| 1971, 1978, 1979 | Second City Trophy |
| 1972, 1979 | Star of Anglia |
| 1974 | Superama |
| 1975 | Pride of the East |
| 1975, 1978 | Golden Sovereign |
| 1975 | Golden Gauntlets |
| Team honours | |
| 1970, 1971 | British League Div II KO Cup winner |
| 1972, 1974, 1975 | World Team Cup Winner |
| 1975, 1976 | British League Champion |
| 1976, 1978 | British League KO Cup winner |
| 1976 | World Pairs Champion |
| 1976, 1977 | British League Pairs Champion |
| 1976 | Spring Gold Cup |
Career history
editJohn Charles Louis was born in Ipswich on 14 June 1941.[4] He started his motorcycling career in scrambling and was tempted to have a go at speedway when Ipswich re-opened in 1969. He made his debut in 1970 and by the following year topped the national Second Division averages. He won the British League Division Two Riders Championship, held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 2 October 1971[5] and was a leading rider in the division, competing in the silver helmet races.[6]
In 1972, Ipswich gained admission to the top flight by purchasing West Ham's licence and Louis spearheaded the Witches team, making his World Final debut at London's Wembley Stadium in 1972, finishing in 5th place.[7][8]
Louis finished fourth at the 1974 World Final at the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden and improved to third in the 1975 World Final at Wembley - becoming the first British rider to stand on the World Championship podium since Peter Craven in 1962. Louis was part of the Great Britain Speedway World Team Cup winning team of 1972 and England's 1974 and 1975 winning teams.
Louis was also the British Champion in 1975 (Chris Louis would win the British Championship in 1998 and 2000 making them the first father-son to do so).
The following year, he was the World Pairs Champion in 1976 with Malcolm Simmons and finished sixth in his last World Final appearance in Poland. He also captained Ipswich to the British League title in 1975 and 1976 and the British League Pairs Championship with Billy Sanders during 1976 and 1977.[9]
Louis won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 20 October 1979.[10] In 1981, Louis joined Halifax, spending two seasons at The Shay before signing for a season at King's Lynn in 1983.
Retirement and death
editLouis retired from riding in 1984 and became the promoter of the Ipswich Witches. He retired as the promoter of Ipswich in 2019.
Louis died in April 2024, at the age of 82.[11]
World Final appearances
editIndividual World Championship
edit- 1972 –
London, Wembley Stadium – 5th – 11pts - 1974 –
Gothenburg, Ullevi – 4th – 9pts - 1975 – London, Wembley Stadium – 3rd – 12pts + 3pts
- 1976 –
Chorzów, Silesian Stadium – 6th – 9pts
World Pairs Championship
edit- 1975 – Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Peter Collins) – 4th – 20pts (13)
- 1976 – Eskilstuna, Snälltorpet (with Malcolm Simmons) – Winner – 27pts (17)
World Team Cup
edit- 1972* –
Olching, Olching Speedwaybahn (with Ivan Mauger / Ray Wilson / Terry Betts) Winner – 36pts (9) - 1974 – Chorzów, Silesian Stadium (with Peter Collins / Malcolm Simmons / Dave Jessup) Winner – 42pts (12)
- 1975 – Norden, Motodrom Halbemond (with Malcolm Simmons / Martin Ashby / Peter Collins) – Winner – 41pts (8)
* 1972 for Great Britain. All others for England.
References
edit- ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
- ^ Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 524. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
- ^ "Reg Wilson finishes eighth in speedway riders' finals". Hull Daily Mail. 4 October 1971. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Over 4,000 thrill to Louis-kennett duel". Eastbourne Gazette. 4 August 1971. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "John Louis". Daily Mirror. 16 September 1972. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Mauger retains title from unlucky Olsen". Reading Evening Post. 18 September 1972. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Speedway". Daily Mirror. 20 October 1976. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Speedway". The People. 21 October 1979. Retrieved 4 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "John "Tiger" Louis 1941–2024". Ipswich Witches Speedway Club. Retrieved 5 April 2024.