norbold 7,053 Posted August 28, 2017 Eighty two years ago today, in the scratch race final at New Cross, Ron Johnson ran into the fence on the back straight and fell. With less than two yards separating him and second man, Tom Farndon, the latter had little time to take avoiding action, though those that were there that night say that Tom deliberately tried his best to turn away from his fallen skipper, choosing instead to plough into his machine. Tom and his bike were thrown into the air and flung a considerable distance before Tom landed on his head. Both riders were rushed to hospital. Sadly, Tom never recovered consciousness and died two days later. A sad and tragic end for the rider who, at the age of just 24, had achieved everything there was to achieve in speedway and who seemed unbelievably to be growing in stature and getting even better. Of course, we will never know what the future might have held in store for him - there are those who are certain that the way he was progressing he could well have won all three pre-War World Championships and come back for more afterwards - but already he had achieved enough to be counted amongst those who always find themselves listed amongst "the greatest ever".Was he as good as Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Peter Craven, Ivan Mauger, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock? We will never know of course and everyone will have their own opinions but to take his place on that list at the age of just 24 is a major achievement in itself.R.I.P., Tom. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,241 Posted August 29, 2017 Eighty two years ago today, in the scratch race final at New Cross, Ron Johnson ran into the fence on the back straight and fell. With less than two yards separating him and second man, Tom Farndon, the latter had little time to take avoiding action, though those that were there that night say that Tom deliberately tried his best to turn away from his fallen skipper, choosing instead to plough into his machine. Tom and his bike were thrown into the air and flung a considerable distance before Tom landed on his head. Both riders were rushed to hospital. Sadly, Tom never recovered consciousness and died two days later. A sad and tragic end for the rider who, at the age of just 24, had achieved everything there was to achieve in speedway and who seemed unbelievably to be growing in stature and getting even better. Of course, we will never know what the future might have held in store for him - there are those who are certain that the way he was progressing he could well have won all three pre-War World Championships and come back for more afterwards - but already he had achieved enough to be counted amongst those who always find themselves listed amongst "the greatest ever". Was he as good as Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Peter Craven, Ivan Mauger, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock? We will never know of course and everyone will have their own opinions but to take his place on that list at the age of just 24 is a major achievement in itself. R.I.P., Tom. A rider I would very much liked to have seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted August 29, 2017 A great rider and a era that should never be forgotten at that time there were some great riders around. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Split 176 Posted August 31, 2017 (edited) Eighty two years ago today, in the scratch race final at New Cross, Ron Johnson ran into the fence on the back straight and fell. With less than two yards separating him and second man, Tom Farndon, the latter had little time to take avoiding action, though those that were there that night say that Tom deliberately tried his best to turn away from his fallen skipper, choosing instead to plough into his machine. Tom and his bike were thrown into the air and flung a considerable distance before Tom landed on his head. Both riders were rushed to hospital. Sadly, Tom never recovered consciousness and died two days later. A sad and tragic end for the rider who, at the age of just 24, had achieved everything there was to achieve in speedway and who seemed unbelievably to be growing in stature and getting even better. Of course, we will never know what the future might have held in store for him - there are those who are certain that the way he was progressing he could well have won all three pre-War World Championships and come back for more afterwards - but already he had achieved enough to be counted amongst those who always find themselves listed amongst "the greatest ever". Was he as good as Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Peter Craven, Ivan Mauger, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock? We will never know of course and everyone will have their own opinions but to take his place on that list at the age of just 24 is a major achievement in itself. R.I.P., Tom. Sadly, both the English riders on your list lost their lives while racing, Edited August 31, 2017 by Split Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,053 Posted August 28, 2019 Lest we forget. 84 years ago today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,241 Posted August 28, 2019 48 minutes ago, norbold said: Lest we forget. 84 years ago today. A rider I would have liked very much to have seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Split 176 Posted August 29, 2019 My mother was there that night and was so upset that she couldn't bring herself to ever attend another meeting. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andout 649 Posted August 30, 2019 17 hours ago, Split said: My mother was there that night and was so upset that she couldn't bring herself to ever attend another meeting. My Mother and Father were there too......and for the Memorial Service......Must have been a very sad time for all Speedway. My parents continued to go four or five times a week and of course take me to New Cross when they reopened in 1959. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Celticman 21 Posted December 31, 2019 Seems odd to think that he would be 109 years old now....yet still remembered with reverence 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,053 Posted December 31, 2019 2 hours ago, Celticman said: Seems odd to think that he would be 109 years old now....yet still remembered with reverence Yes indeed. We often discuss greatest riders ever, greatest Britons and so on. Now whether Tom Farndon could be reckoned the greatest ever is, of course, open to speculation and there are many rivals for both accolades (greatest ever and greatest Briton), but what I think is not in doubt is the legendary reputation Farndon left behind him due to his personality and, to use a word that probably wasn't around in his time, sheer charisma. He was idolised in his day in a way that no other rider before or since has been. I think that has much to do with why his memory lives on. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Celticman 21 Posted December 31, 2019 51 minutes ago, norbold said: Yes indeed. We often discuss greatest riders ever, greatest Britons and so on. Now whether Tom Farndon could be reckoned the greatest ever is, of course, open to speculation and there are many rivals for both accolades (greatest ever and greatest Briton), but what I think is not in doubt is the legendary reputation Farndon left behind him due to his personality and, to use a word that probably wasn't around in his time, sheer charisma. He was idolised in his day in a way that no other rider before or since has been. I think that has much to do with why his memory lives on. On a real longshot I checked youtube to see if there was a clip of him racing. No luck. Too bad as there are clips of boxing going back before then Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bavarian 763 Posted December 31, 2019 7 minutes ago, Celticman said: On a real longshot I checked youtube to see if there was a clip of him racing. No luck. Too bad as there are clips of boxing going back before then nothing on YouTube, but there is a book about him 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,848 Posted December 31, 2019 (edited) Didn’t he appear in the film Money for Speed ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Speed And thought he was to be seen in a test match v Australia ? Edited December 31, 2019 by iris123 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 20,848 Posted December 31, 2019 Got a few names wrong here, but I think Tom Sanders is our man https://www.britishpathe.com/video/england-wins-final-speedway-test 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites