John "Tiger" Louis

John Berry - Second extract from his book 'Confessions of a Speedway Promoter'

By the end of his first season (1970), the Tiger had shown he was clearly the best rider in the second division and had also demonstrated through a series of guest bookings in Division One, that he could easily adjust to the big time.

Bob Radford, at that time tied up with the Newport promotion, also recognised this star quality but from many other directions came the back-stabbing put downs that he was an 'old man, just a flash in the pan'.

From a selfish point of view, I wanted John to stay at Ipswich another year, and he was not averse to the idea. Not that he didn't think he was ready for the top league but because he saw an opportunity to establish himself as a local celebrity, put a few bob in the bank and enjoy the opportunity to make a bit of a name for himself.

Riding for your hometown team is a double-edged sword, especially when things go badly, but Tiger was on the up and the benefits of local adoration at that time far outweighed any downside.

I spoke to Charles Ochiltree. He had been kind enough to loan Coventry juniors to us in our hour of need, and in return, I offered him John Louis for nothing, with the proviso he stayed on loan to Ipswich for the extra year. He haughtily rejected the idea, telling me 'thanks but no thanks' Coventry Speedway relied solely on it's own devices for their team needs, he told me. Just as well he didn't say yes!

While John was tearing all opposition apart in the second division in 1971, another local discovery was being unearthed in far off, Manchester; Peter Collins.

Collins caught the eye. Young, cheeky and also able to enjoy the freedom of not having to carry a team, he was given licence to simply go and have fun racing. No wife and family to support at that stage, and without a care in the world. Also, he was a Big City boy.

John Louis on the other hand was a mature family man. Whereas 'The Zoo' (Belle Vue) encouraged flair and style. Ipswich required technical correctness. a compact style and. like most tracks, a good starting technique and first turn strategy.

At Ipswich John did his 'fun thing' in 1971. From 1972 onwards, he was required to be the lynchpin of an unfashionable provincial rag, tag and bobtail team. Instead of giving him free licence, I required him to be the rock on which the team was built.

In short, John put Ipswich Speedway first, and his own personal ambitions on the individual front were always a secondary concern . For all of Peter's wonderful skill and flair, for all of my full appreciation of his ability, and for all the fact that he was as skilful and committed a team rider as I have seen, I do not think he could have done the job that John did at Ipswich. To be continued...

Roger Payne - submitted 15th May, 2009

John's World Team Cup Scores 1972-76

Headings key:
POS = Team finishing position, PT = Points scored by John