Testimonial Meeting - Sunday, 19th August 1979
Ipswich Present: 42
John Louis (C): 3, 3, FX, 3 = 9
Preben Eriksen: 0, 2, 1, 2 = 5
Kevin Jolly: 3, FX, 3, 3 = 9
Mike Lanham: 3, 1, 1, 0 = 5
Milan Spinka: 0, 2, 2, 1 = 5
Nigel Flatman: 3, 2, 1 = 6
Andy Hines: 0, 2, 1 = 3
Ipswich Past: 36
Billy Sanders (C): 2, 3, 0, 0 = 5
Ted Howgego: 1, 0, 3, 2 = 6
Terry Betts: 1, 1, 3, 1 = 6
Peter Prinsloo: 1, 2, 1, 2 = 6
Phil Herne: 2, 3, 3, 2 = 10
Colin Cook: 2, 0, 0 = 2
Dave Gooderham: 1, 0, 0 = 1
Quote taken from meeting programme, by Bob Radford (Speedway Star):
I started watching speedway in 1963, and not until 1975 did an Englishman take a place on a World Championship Final rostrum. That man was, of course, John Louis - who roared to third place in the white hot, bumpy dustbowl that was Wembley that September.
In short it was the first time I felt proud to be English at a World Final. Because it was at Wembley, and because John Louis beat Ivan Mauger in the run off for third place, it was the more enjoyable. And all the harder for him.
Back in my less successful managerial days at Newport, I gave John his first senior booking - at Leicester. He scored nine points and soon proved that he was both professional and competitive at any level. His rise to stardom was one of the most meteoric I can recall, and enjoyable to watch.
Perhaps these days many would do well to look at John. Whether it be in the glorious summer heat of Scandinavia or in freezing fog for an indoor meeting in Hamburg, John has been a credit to his club, his country - and himself.
I have admired the skills of many British riders, but few have made me proud of this country. International stars from wherever have an important part to play, but there is nothing like the local boy making good. Remember always that the Ipswich success over the years, the absolute stability of speedway at Foxhall, owes more to John Louis than words can adequately express.
Tiger Tales by Ron Bagley, also taken from meeting programme.
If you happened to ask me how long have I known John Louis then I would have to go back a long way before his speedway debut. We both starred our working lives as apprentices in the same Ipswich engineering company. The world of scrambling was John's domain at that time and he was rapidly making a name for himself, in fact several names - mostly from opposing riders who not always appreciated his determination to get to the top
Years passed by, John Berry and Joe Thurley brought back our favourite sound to Foxhall Stadium, the new Witches were on the road.
One fine day in 1969 that same John Louis, now working behind the counter (standing on a box of course) in the Dave Bickers emporium, talked me into talking him into riding my bike in a second half race. I can't rmember the bang on the head but I must have had one to go along with the idea - well I had seen him ride a motorcycle and I should have known better - John did four of the most spectacular first time laps ever seen at Foxhall Stadium - I uttered prayers I never realised I knew and the rest is history. The year of the Tiger was upon us.
