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{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider (1941–2024)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{About|the Speedway rider and promoter|the businessman and US ambassador|John J. Louis, Jr.|the British admiral|Sir John Louis, 2nd Baronet}}
{{About|the Speedway rider and promoter|the businessman and US ambassador|John J. Louis, Jr.|the British admiral|Sir John Louis, 2nd Baronet}}

{{Infobox speedway rider
{{Infobox speedway rider
| image = John Louis.jpg
| image = John Louis.jpg
| name = John Louis
| name = John Louis
| nickname = Tiger
| nickname = Tiger
| nationality = {{ENG}}
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|6|14}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1941|6|14}}
| birth_place = [[Ipswich]], England
| birth_place = [[Ipswich]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2024|4||1941|6|14}}
| retired = retired
| death_place =
| years1 = 1970–80
| years1 = 1970–1980
| career1 = [[Ipswich Witches]]
| career1 = [[Ipswich Witches]]
| years2 = 1970
| years2 = 1970
| career2 = [[Newport Wasps]]
| career2 = [[Newport Wasps]]
| years3 = 1970
| years6 = 1981–1982
| career3 = [[West Ham Hammers]]
| years4 = 1971
| career4 = [[Oxford Cheetahs]]
| years5 = 1971
| career5 = [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley Lions]]
| years6 = 1981–82
| career6 = [[Halifax Dukes]]
| career6 = [[Halifax Dukes]]
| years7 = 1983–84
| years7 = 1983–1984
| career7 = [[King's Lynn Stars]]
| career7 = [[King's Lynn Stars]]
| indivyear1 = 1971
| indivyear1 = 1971
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| indivhonour4 = [[British League Riders' Championship|British League Riders' Champion]]
| indivhonour4 = [[British League Riders' Championship|British League Riders' Champion]]
| indivyear5 = 1971, 1978, 1979
| indivyear5 = 1971, 1978, 1979
| indivhonour5 = [[Second City Trophy]]
| indivhonour5 = Second City Trophy
| indivyear6 = 1972, 1979
| indivyear6 = 1972, 1979
| indivhonour6 = [[Star of Anglia]]
| indivhonour6 = Star of Anglia
| indivyear7 = 1974
| indivyear7 = 1974
| indivhonour7 = Superama
| indivhonour7 = Superama
| indivyear8 = 1975
| indivyear8 = 1975
| indivhonour8 = [[Pride of the East]]
| indivhonour8 = Pride of the East
| indivyear9 = 1975, 1978
| indivyear9 = 1975, 1978
| indivhonour9 = [[Golden Sovereign]]
| indivhonour9 = Golden Sovereign
| indivyear10 = 1975
| indivyear10 = 1975
| indivhonour10 = [[Golden Gauntlets]]
| indivhonour10 = Golden Gauntlets
| teamyear1 = 1970, 1971
| teamyear1 = 1970, 1971

| teamhonour1 = [[British League Division Two Knockout Cup|British League Div II KO Cup winner]]
| teamhonour1 = [[British League Division Two Knockout Cup|British League Div II KO Cup winner]]
| teamyear2 = 1972, 1974, 1975
| teamyear2 = 1972, 1974, 1975
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}}
}}


'''John "Tiger" Louis''' (born 14 June 1941)<ref>Oakes, P.(2004). ''British Speedway Who's Who''. {{ISBN|0-948882-81-6}}</ref> is an England international [[Motorcycle speedway]] rider<ref>Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}}</ref> who rode for [[Ipswich Witches|Ipswich]], [[Newport Wasps|Newport]], [[West Ham Hammers|West Ham]], [[Oxford Cheetahs|Oxford]], [[Wembley Lions (speedway)|Wembley]], [[Halifax Dukes|Halifax]] and [[King's Lynn Stars|King's Lynn]] during his career. He is the father of [[Great Britain national speedway team|Great Britain]] International [[Chris Louis]].
'''John Charles Louis''' (14 June 1941 – April 2024) was an English international [[motorcycle speedway]] rider.<ref>Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}}</ref> He was the father of [[Great Britain national speedway team|Great Britain]] International [[Chris Louis]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Montague|first=Trevor|title=The A-Z of Sport|year=2004|page=524|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0-316-72645-1}}</ref> He earned 54 international caps for the [[England national speedway team]] and four caps for the Great Britain team.<ref name=URI>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=21 December 2023}}</ref> He later managed the England national team from 1994 to 1998.


==Career history==
== Career history ==
Ipswich born Louis started his motorcycling career in [[Motocross|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. In 1972 Ipswich gained admission to the top flight by purchasing West Ham's licence and Louis spearheaded the Witches team, making his [[Speedway World Championship|World Final]] debut at London's [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in [[1972 Individual Speedway World Championship|1972]], finishing in 5th place.
John Charles Louis was born in [[Ipswich]] on 14 June 1941.<ref>Oakes, P.(2004). ''British Speedway Who's Who''. {{ISBN|0-948882-81-6}}</ref> He started his motorcycling career in [[Motocross|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<ref>{{cite news |title=Reg Wilson finishes eighth in speedway riders' finals |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=4 October 1971 |access-date=16 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19711004/012/0012 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and was a leading rider in the division, competing in the silver helmet races.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001928/19710804/166/0021 |title=Over 4,000 thrill to Louis-kennett duel |website=Eastbourne Gazette |date=4 August 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2024}}</ref>


In 1972, Ipswich gained admission to the top flight by purchasing West Ham's licence and Louis spearheaded the Witches team, making his [[Speedway World Championship|World Final]] debut at London's [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in [[1972 Individual Speedway World Championship|1972]], finishing in 5th place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19720916/226/0027 |title=John Louis |website=Daily Mirror |date=16 September 1972 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19720918/273/0014 |title=Mauger retains title from unlucky Olsen |website=Reading Evening Post |date=18 September 1972 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2024}}</ref>
Louis finished fourth at the [[1974 Individual Speedway World Championship|1974 World Final]] at the [[Ullevi|Ullevi Stadium]] in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]] and improved to third in the [[1975 Individual Speedway World Championship|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 Speedway World Team Cup|1972]] and [[England national speedway team|England's]] [[1974 Speedway World Team Cup|1974]] and [[1975 Speedway World Team Cup|1975]] winning teams.


John Louis was [[Speedway World Pairs Championship|World Pairs Champion]] in [[1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1976]] with [[Malcolm Simmons]] and finished sixth in his last [[1976 Individual Speedway World Championship|World Final]] appearance in [[Poland]]. He also captained Ipswich to the [[British League]] title in [[1975 British League season|1975]] and [[1976 British League season|1976]]. Louis was also the [[British Speedway Championship|British Champion]] in 1975 (Chris Louis would win the British Championship in 1998 and 2000 making them the first father-son to do so).
Louis finished fourth at the [[1974 Individual Speedway World Championship|1974 World Final]] at the [[Ullevi|Ullevi Stadium]] in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden and improved to third in the [[1975 Individual Speedway World Championship|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 Speedway World Team Cup|1972]] and [[England national speedway team|England's]] [[1974 Speedway World Team Cup|1974]] and [[1975 Speedway World Team Cup|1975]] winning teams.


He was [[Speedway Premier League Riders Championship|British League Division Two Riders Champion]] in 1971 and [[British League Riders' Championship|British League Riders Champion]] in 1979. In 1981 Louis joined Halifax, spending two seasons at [[The Shay]] before signing for a season at King's Lynn in 1983. He retired from riding in 1984 and is now the promoter of the Ipswich Witches.
Louis was also the [[British Speedway Championship|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 [[Speedway World Pairs Championship|World Pairs Champion]] in [[1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1976]] with [[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]] and finished sixth in his last [[1976 Individual Speedway World Championship|World Final]] appearance in Poland. He also captained Ipswich to the [[British League]] title in [[1975 British League season|1975]] and [[1976 British League season|1976]] and the [[British League Pairs Championship]] with [[Billy Sanders]] during 1976 and 1977.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Mirror |date=20 October 1976 |access-date=16 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19761020/226/0031 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
He retired as the promoter of Ipswich in 2019.


Louis won the [[British League Riders' Championship]], held at [[Hyde Road (speedway)|Hyde Road]] on 20 October 1979.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=The People |date=21 October 1979 |access-date=4 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002454/19791021/046/0046 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In 1981, Louis joined Halifax, spending two seasons at [[The Shay]] before signing for a season at King's Lynn in 1983.
⚫
==World Final Appearances==


== Retirement and death ==
⚫
===Individual World Championship===
Louis retired from riding in 1984 and became the promoter of the Ipswich Witches. He retired as the promoter of Ipswich in 2019.
⚫
* [[1972 Individual Speedway World Championship|1972]] – {{flagicon|GBR}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] – 5th – 11pts

Louis died in April 2024, at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite web |title=John "Tiger" Louis 1941–2024 |url=https://ipswichwitches.co/john-tiger-louis-1941-2024/ |website=Ipswich Witches Speedway Club |access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref>

⚫
== World Final appearances ==
⚫
=== Individual World Championship ===
⚫
* [[1972 Individual Speedway World Championship|1972]] – {{flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] – 5th – 11pts
* [[1974 Individual Speedway World Championship|1974]] – {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Gothenburg]], [[Ullevi]] – 4th – 9pts
* [[1974 Individual Speedway World Championship|1974]] – {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Gothenburg]], [[Ullevi]] – 4th – 9pts
* [[1975 Individual Speedway World Championship|1975]] – {{flagicon|GBR}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] – '''3rd''' – 12pts + 3pts
* [[1975 Individual Speedway World Championship|1975]] – {{flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] – '''3rd''' – 12pts + 3pts
* [[1976 Individual Speedway World Championship|1976]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Chorzów]], [[Silesian Stadium]] – 6th – 9pts
* [[1976 Individual Speedway World Championship|1976]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Chorzów]], [[Silesian Stadium]] – 6th – 9pts


===World Pairs Championship===
=== World Pairs Championship ===
* [[1975 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1975]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] (with [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]]) – 4th – 20pts (13)
* [[1975 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1975]] – {{Flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], [[Olympic Stadium (Wrocław)|Olympic Stadium]] (with [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]]) – 4th – 20pts (13)
* [[1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1976]] – {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Eskilstuna]], [[Eskilstuna Motorstadion]] (with [[Malcolm Simmons]]) – '''Winner''' – 27pts (17)
* [[1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1976]] – {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Eskilstuna]], [[Snälltorpet]] (with [[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]]) – '''Winner''' – 27pts (17)


===World Team Cup===
=== World Team Cup ===
* [[1972 Speedway World Team Cup|1972]]* – {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Olching]], [[Olching Speedwaybahn]] (with [[Ivan Mauger]] / [[Ray Wilson (speedway rider)|Ray Wilson]] / [[Terry Betts]]) '''Winner''' – 36pts (9)
* [[1972 Speedway World Team Cup|1972]]* – {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Olching]], [[Olching Speedwaybahn]] (with [[Ivan Mauger]] / [[Ray Wilson (speedway rider)|Ray Wilson]] / [[Terry Betts]]) '''Winner''' – 36pts (9)
* [[1974 Speedway World Team Cup|1974]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Chorzów]], [[Silesian Stadium]] (with [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]] / [[Malcolm Simmons]] / [[Dave Jessup]]) '''Winner''' – 42pts (12)
* [[1974 Speedway World Team Cup|1974]] – {{flagicon|POL}} [[Chorzów]], [[Silesian Stadium]] (with [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]] / [[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]] / [[Dave Jessup]]) '''Winner''' – 42pts (12)
* [[1975 Speedway World Team Cup|1975]] – {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Norden, Lower Saxony|Norden]], [[Motodrom Halbemond]] (with [[Malcolm Simmons]] / [[Martin Ashby]] / [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]]) – '''Winner''' – 41pts (8)
* [[1975 Speedway World Team Cup|1975]] – {{Flagicon|FRG}} [[Norden, Lower Saxony|Norden]], [[Motodrom Halbemond]] (with [[Malcolm Simmons (speedway racer)|Malcolm Simmons]] / [[Martin Ashby]] / [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]]) – '''Winner''' – 41pts (8)
<small>''* 1972 for [[Great Britain national speedway team|Great Britain]]. All others for [[England national speedway team|England]].''</small>
<small>''* 1972 for [[Great Britain national speedway team|Great Britain]]. All others for [[England national speedway team|England]].''</small>


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090505080417/http://www.speedwayinfo.co.uk/JohnLouis/ John Louis – Celebrating 40 years in speedway]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Louis, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Louis, John}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:British speedway riders]]
[[Category:British speedway riders]]
[[Category:British Speedway Championship winners]]
[[Category:British Speedway Championship winners]]
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[[Category:King's Lynn Stars riders]]
[[Category:King's Lynn Stars riders]]
[[Category:Halifax Dukes riders]]
[[Category:Halifax Dukes riders]]
[[Category:Wembley Lions riders]]
[[Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders]]
[[Category:Newport Wasps riders]]
[[Category:Newport Wasps riders]]
[[Category:West Ham Hammers riders]]

Latest revision as of 16:01, 22 September 2024

This article is about the Speedway rider and promoter. For the businessman and US ambassador, see John J. Louis, Jr. For the British admiral, see Sir John Louis, 2nd Baronet.
John Louis
Born(1941-06-14)14 June 1941
Ipswich, England
DiedApril 2024(2024-04-00) (aged 82)
NicknameTiger
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1970–1980Ipswich Witches
1970Newport Wasps
1981–1982Halifax Dukes
1983–1984King's Lynn Stars
Individual honours
1971British League Div II Riders' Champion
1975British Champion
1976Southern Riders' Champion
1979British League Riders' Champion
1971, 1978, 1979Second City Trophy
1972, 1979Star of Anglia
1974Superama
1975Pride of the East
1975, 1978Golden Sovereign
1975Golden Gauntlets
Team honours
1970, 1971British League Div II KO Cup winner
1972, 1974, 1975World Team Cup Winner
1975, 1976British League Champion
1976, 1978British League KO Cup winner
1976World Pairs Champion
1976, 1977British League Pairs Champion
1976Spring Gold Cup

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.

Career history

[edit]

John 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

[edit]

Louis 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

[edit]

Individual World Championship

[edit]

World Pairs Championship

[edit]

World Team Cup

[edit]

* 1972 for Great Britain. All others for England.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
  2. ^ Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 524. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.
  3. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  4. ^ Oakes, P.(2004). British Speedway Who's Who. ISBN 0-948882-81-6
  5. ^ "Reg Wilson finishes eighth in speedway riders' finals". Hull Daily Mail. 4 October 1971. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Over 4,000 thrill to Louis-kennett duel". Eastbourne Gazette. 4 August 1971. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "John Louis". Daily Mirror. 16 September 1972. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Mauger retains title from unlucky Olsen". Reading Evening Post. 18 September 1972. Retrieved 22 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Speedway". Daily Mirror. 20 October 1976. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Speedway". The People. 21 October 1979. Retrieved 4 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "John "Tiger" Louis 1941–2024". Ipswich Witches Speedway Club. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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