Ipswich Witches Speedway
  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
    • League Tables
    • Archive Results
  • Team
    • Rider Results
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
    • Info
    • Honours
    • Club Officials
    • Related Links
  • Contact
    • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors
    • Become A Sponsor
Ipswich Witches Speedway
  • Ipswich Witches Speedway
  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • League Tables
  • Archive Results
  • Team
  • Rider Results
  • Media
  • Club
  • Info
  • Honours
  • Club Officials
  • Related Links
  • Admission
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors
  • Become A Sponsor

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN LOUIS

Posted on

9 April, 2024
Witches co-promoter John Louis, with a silver commemorative plate, that was presented to him by Mayor Hamil Clarke MBE at a Civic Reception held at the Town Hall, Ipswich, on 21 October 1998. Picture: Steve Waller www.stephenwaller.com

By Peter Thorpe

The first time I came across the name John Louis was back in October 1962. I was reading the results of a Scramble meeting at Ayres Farm, Littleport, Cambs. The report read ‘A 21-year-old junior rider on a 250cc D.O.T. surprised a strong field of senior riders by taking second place overall in a three-race event. That junior was John Louis, and he continued to surprise in the world of scrambling over the next few years and picked up a few titles along the way.

The introduction of John Louis to Speedway is well documented elsewhere, his rapid rise to fame and his on-track achievements, both here and abroad only goes to endorse the thoughts of many. We were witnessing a rare talent, a racer joining the ranks of the very best in the sport in a remarkably short period of time.

John stayed loyal to Ipswich when he could have had the pick of almost any team in the country when his home club moved into the top division. That decision to stay with Ipswich helped the fairy-tale story of the Ipswich Speedway revival to continue. He had been breaking track records in the second division and now he was doing it in the first. An army of support had built for John and the team, it was a promoters delight to have Ipswich with John Louis, visit for league matches.

Off track John always had time for the fans wherever they were from, and that continued into his promoting days where he was just as popular as in his racing time.

Speedway supporters owe a debt of gratitude to JL for his ability to keep speedway running at Foxhall at times when it could easily have been lost.

The word legend gets handed out too easily but, the name John Louis sits very comfortably alongside Ivan Mauger, Ove Fundin, Hans Nielsen, Barry Briggs, Peter Collins. For John Charles Louis is a true speedway LEGEND never to be forgotten.

Recent Post

  • RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (A)
  • RACEDAY REPORT | IPSWICH 43–47 SHEFFIELD
  • ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL DATES CONFIRMED
  • RACEDAY GUIDE | SHEFFIELD (H)
  • SHEFFIELD V IPSWICH – POSTPONED

Search Categories

  • 2016 & 2017 Previews
  • 2016 & 2017 Reports
  • 2016 News
  • 2017 News
  • 2018 News
  • 2018 Previews
  • 2018 Reports
  • 2019 News
  • 2019 Previews
  • 2019 Reports
  • 2020 British Final
  • 2020 News
  • 2021 News
  • 2021 Previews
  • 2021 Reports
  • 2022 News
  • 2022 Previews
  • 2022 Reports
  • 2023 News
  • 2023 Previews
  • 2023 Reports
  • 2024 News
  • 2024 Previews
  • 2024 Reports
  • 2025 News
  • 2025 Previews
  • 2025 Reports
  • Aaron Summers
  • Adam Ellis
  • Anders Rowe
  • Ben Barker
  • Cameron Heeps
  • Chris Harris
  • Chris Louis
  • Competitions
  • Connor Mountain
  • Coty Garcia
  • Craig Cook
  • Dan Thompson
  • Danny Ayres
  • Danny King
  • Danyon Hume
  • David Bellego
  • David Wallinger
  • Drew Kemp
  • Edward Kennett
  • Emil Sayfutdinov
  • Erik Riss
  • Ipswich Town Football Club
  • Jack Thomas
  • Jake Allen
  • James Sarjeant
  • Jason Crump
  • Jason Doyle
  • Jason Edwards
  • Joe Jacobs
  • Joe Thompson
  • Jonas Jeppesen
  • Jordan Jenkins
  • Jordan Stewart
  • Justin Sedgmen
  • Keynan Rew
  • Krystian Pieszczek
  • Kyle Newman
  • Mark Riss
  • Michael Härtel
  • Morten Risager
  • Nathan Greaves
  • Nico Covatti
  • Nicolai Klindt
  • Niels-Kristian Iversen
  • Oliver Greenwood
  • Paul Starke
  • ReRun Productions
  • Richard Lawson
  • Ritchie Hawkins
  • Rohan Tungate
  • Rory Schlein
  • Supporters Club
  • Tai Woffinden
  • Tom Brennan
  • Track Shop
  • Troy Batchelor
  • Tru Mix
  • Tru Plant
  • Tru7 Group

Find Previous Articles

A TRIBUTE TO JOHN LOUIS

Posted on

9 April, 2024
Witches co-promoter John Louis, with a silver commemorative plate, that was presented to him by Mayor Hamil Clarke MBE at a Civic Reception held at the Town Hall, Ipswich, on 21 October 1998. Picture: Steve Waller www.stephenwaller.com

By Peter Thorpe

The first time I came across the name John Louis was back in October 1962. I was reading the results of a Scramble meeting at Ayres Farm, Littleport, Cambs. The report read ‘A 21-year-old junior rider on a 250cc D.O.T. surprised a strong field of senior riders by taking second place overall in a three-race event. That junior was John Louis, and he continued to surprise in the world of scrambling over the next few years and picked up a few titles along the way.

The introduction of John Louis to Speedway is well documented elsewhere, his rapid rise to fame and his on-track achievements, both here and abroad only goes to endorse the thoughts of many. We were witnessing a rare talent, a racer joining the ranks of the very best in the sport in a remarkably short period of time.

John stayed loyal to Ipswich when he could have had the pick of almost any team in the country when his home club moved into the top division. That decision to stay with Ipswich helped the fairy-tale story of the Ipswich Speedway revival to continue. He had been breaking track records in the second division and now he was doing it in the first. An army of support had built for John and the team, it was a promoters delight to have Ipswich with John Louis, visit for league matches.

Off track John always had time for the fans wherever they were from, and that continued into his promoting days where he was just as popular as in his racing time.

Speedway supporters owe a debt of gratitude to JL for his ability to keep speedway running at Foxhall at times when it could easily have been lost.

The word legend gets handed out too easily but, the name John Louis sits very comfortably alongside Ivan Mauger, Ove Fundin, Hans Nielsen, Barry Briggs, Peter Collins. For John Charles Louis is a true speedway LEGEND never to be forgotten.

Recent Post

  • RACEDAY GUIDE | BELLE VUE (A)
  • RACEDAY REPORT | IPSWICH 43–47 SHEFFIELD
  • ROWE MOTOR OIL PREMIERSHIP PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL DATES CONFIRMED
  • RACEDAY GUIDE | SHEFFIELD (H)
  • SHEFFIELD V IPSWICH – POSTPONED

Search Categories

  • 2016 & 2017 Previews
  • 2016 & 2017 Reports
  • 2016 News
  • 2017 News
  • 2018 News
  • 2018 Previews
  • 2018 Reports
  • 2019 News
  • 2019 Previews
  • 2019 Reports
  • 2020 British Final
  • 2020 News
  • 2021 News
  • 2021 Previews
  • 2021 Reports
  • 2022 News
  • 2022 Previews
  • 2022 Reports
  • 2023 News
  • 2023 Previews
  • 2023 Reports
  • 2024 News
  • 2024 Previews
  • 2024 Reports
  • 2025 News
  • 2025 Previews
  • 2025 Reports
  • Aaron Summers
  • Adam Ellis
  • Anders Rowe
  • Ben Barker
  • Cameron Heeps
  • Chris Harris
  • Chris Louis
  • Competitions
  • Connor Mountain
  • Coty Garcia
  • Craig Cook
  • Dan Thompson
  • Danny Ayres
  • Danny King
  • Danyon Hume
  • David Bellego
  • David Wallinger
  • Drew Kemp
  • Edward Kennett
  • Emil Sayfutdinov
  • Erik Riss
  • Ipswich Town Football Club
  • Jack Thomas
  • Jake Allen
  • James Sarjeant
  • Jason Crump
  • Jason Doyle
  • Jason Edwards
  • Joe Jacobs
  • Joe Thompson
  • Jonas Jeppesen
  • Jordan Jenkins
  • Jordan Stewart
  • Justin Sedgmen
  • Keynan Rew
  • Krystian Pieszczek
  • Kyle Newman
  • Mark Riss
  • Michael Härtel
  • Morten Risager
  • Nathan Greaves
  • Nico Covatti
  • Nicolai Klindt
  • Niels-Kristian Iversen
  • Oliver Greenwood
  • Paul Starke
  • ReRun Productions
  • Richard Lawson
  • Ritchie Hawkins
  • Rohan Tungate
  • Rory Schlein
  • Supporters Club
  • Tai Woffinden
  • Tom Brennan
  • Track Shop
  • Troy Batchelor
  • Tru Mix
  • Tru Plant
  • Tru7 Group

Find Previous Articles

Find Us

Address
Ipswich Speedway
Foxhall Stadium
Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5TL

Contact
Email: enquiries@ipswichwitches.co
Phone: 07859 802828

Pages

  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Team
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors

Other Pages

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Find Us

Address
Ipswich Speedway
Foxhall Stadium
Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5TL

Contact
Email: enquiries@ipswichwitches.co
Phone: 07859 802828

Pages

  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Team
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors

Other Pages

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Find Us

Address
Ipswich Speedway
Foxhall Stadium
Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP4 5TL

Contact
Email: enquiries@ipswichwitches.co
Phone: 07859 802828

Pages

  • Home
  • News
  • Tickets
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Team
  • Admission
  • Media
  • Club
  • Contact
  • Raceday Shout-outs
  • Sponsors

Other Pages

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Copyright ® 2025

Ipswich Witches Speedway

powered by Painting Pixels Ltd.

Ipswich Witches Speedway
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}