Ron Johnston

Ron Johnston
Personal information
Nationality	New Zealand
Date of birth	(1930-12-31) 31 December 1930
Place of birth	Dunedin, New Zealand
Date of death	28 July 2014(2014-07-28) (aged 83)
Current club information
Career status	Retired
Career history
Belle Vue Aces	1950-1961
Individual honours
Johnnie Hoskins Trophy New Zealand Champion	1959 1952
Team honours
Britannia Shield National Trophy	1957, 1958, 1960 1958

Ron Johnston (born 31 December 1930 - died 28 July 2014) in Dunedin, New Zealand was a former speedway rider who rode for the Belle Vue Aces. He also rode in four World Finals (1955, 1957, 1958 and 1960) during his career finishing a best 5th in 1960.^[1]

Career

Johnston began riding at the Tahuna Park track in Dunedin in 1949. He moved to England in 1950 and joined the Belle Vue Aces. In his first season he was at first loaned out to the Belfast Bees and the Sheffield Tigers before establishing himself as a member of the Belle Vue team. He captained the team from 1957 until his retirement at the end of 1961. Under his captaincy Belle Vue won the Britannia Shield three times, and the Daily Mail National Trophy in 1958.

Johnston won the 1952 New Zealand Championship, and he rode for Australasian teams in England and on the continent.

World Final Appearances

• 1955 - London, Wembley Stadium - 12th - 6pts
• 1957 - London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 9pts
• 1958 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 8pts
• 1960 - London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 10pts

References