Victor Johnson (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Victor Louis Johnson, Vic Johnson, (10 May 1883 – 23 June 1951) was a British
track cycling racer
who, in 1908, won a gold medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics
; became 'World Amateur Sprint Champion' and the 'British National Quarter-mile Champion'.
In September 1909 he set three world records at Herne Hill Velodrome
, London, for quarter-mile, three-quarter mile and one mile. His quarter-mile time (28 seconds) stood as the world record for 21 years and as the British amateur record for 'at least 39 years'.
His lifetime achievements were celebrated in 1948 when Cycling Weekly
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
, which is now held in 'The Pedal Club' archive.
, Warwickshire
During the 1901 census Johnson lived at 22 Station Road, Erdington
, Warwickshire where his occupation was listed as carpenter
, his father, John T Johnson, was a bicycle maker
.
1908 was his break-through year when he won 60 races including the National Cyclists' Union (N.C.U.)
British National quarter-mile title; the World's Amateur Sprint championship in Leipzig
Germany; and the Olympic Games
660 yards sprint in London, completing a single lap of the track in 51.2 seconds. He also reached final of the Olympic Games 1,000 metre sprint
but suffered a puncture and was narrowly beaten into the silver medal position, but the race was declared void when the time limit was exceeded. Johnson rode a 'Rover Path Racer' and the 'very cycle that took him to victory' is on display in the Heritage Cycling Museum at the Heritage Motor Centre
in Gaydon
, Warwickshire.
In September 1909 he set three world records at Herne Hill Velodrome, London, - the unpaced standing-start quarter-mile, three-quarter mile and one mile. The '28 seconds' quarter mile time stood as the world record for 21 years and as the British amateur record for 'at least 39 years'. It only lost its world status when the Union Cycliste Internationale (U.C.I.)
changed the rules in 1948 and it was superseded by a slower time.
Johnson won the National Cyclists' Union (N.C.U.)
quarter-mile championships in 1908, 1911 and 1912. He also won the one-mile championship in 1910 and 1911; and the five-mile championship in 1911.
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
track cycling racer
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
who, in 1908, won a gold medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
; became 'World Amateur Sprint Champion' and the 'British National Quarter-mile Champion'.
In September 1909 he set three world records at Herne Hill Velodrome
Herne Hill Velodrome
The Herne Hill Velodrome is a velodrome or track cycling venue in south London. It is one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, having been built in 1891. It hosted the track cycling events in the 1948 Summer Olympics and was briefly the home of Crystal Palace F.C...
, London, for quarter-mile, three-quarter mile and one mile. His quarter-mile time (28 seconds) stood as the world record for 21 years and as the British amateur record for 'at least 39 years'.
His lifetime achievements were celebrated in 1948 when Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
, which is now held in 'The Pedal Club' archive.
Personal life
Johnson was born at Aston ManorAston Manor
Aston Manor was a local government district in what is now northern Birmingham, from the 19th century to 1911, when it was added to Birmingham.The Aston Manor Local Board of Health was formed in 1869, from part of the ancient parish of Aston...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
During the 1901 census Johnson lived at 22 Station Road, Erdington
Erdington
Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
, Warwickshire where his occupation was listed as carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
, his father, John T Johnson, was a bicycle maker
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
.
Career
Vic Johnson started cycle racing in 1902 when he joined the 'Rover Racing C.C.'.1908 was his break-through year when he won 60 races including the National Cyclists' Union (N.C.U.)
National Cyclists' Union
The National Cyclists' Union was an association established in the Guildhall Tavern, London, on 16 February 1878 as the Bicycle Union. Its purpose was to defend cyclists and to organise and regulate bicycle racing in Great Britain...
British National quarter-mile title; the World's Amateur Sprint championship in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
Germany; and the Olympic Games
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
660 yards sprint in London, completing a single lap of the track in 51.2 seconds. He also reached final of the Olympic Games 1,000 metre sprint
Cycling at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's sprint
The men's 1000 metre sprint was one of seven track cycling events on the Cycling at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. Its distance was the second shortest of the individual event distances...
but suffered a puncture and was narrowly beaten into the silver medal position, but the race was declared void when the time limit was exceeded. Johnson rode a 'Rover Path Racer' and the 'very cycle that took him to victory' is on display in the Heritage Cycling Museum at the Heritage Motor Centre
Heritage Motor Centre
The Heritage Motor Centre is a British motor museum and research centre, located adjacent to the Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Centre near Gaydon in Warwickshire, England. The centre is open to the public, and houses a collection of important vehicles, celebrating Britain's motoring heritage...
in Gaydon
Gaydon
Gaydon is a parish and village in Warwickshire, England, close to Leamington Spa. In the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 376.The village is at the junction of the B4100 and B4451 roads, a mile from Junction 12 of the M40 motorway, and is two miles north-east of Kineton.-Motor...
, Warwickshire.
In September 1909 he set three world records at Herne Hill Velodrome, London, - the unpaced standing-start quarter-mile, three-quarter mile and one mile. The '28 seconds' quarter mile time stood as the world record for 21 years and as the British amateur record for 'at least 39 years'. It only lost its world status when the Union Cycliste Internationale (U.C.I.)
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
changed the rules in 1948 and it was superseded by a slower time.
Johnson won the National Cyclists' Union (N.C.U.)
National Cyclists' Union
The National Cyclists' Union was an association established in the Guildhall Tavern, London, on 16 February 1878 as the Bicycle Union. Its purpose was to defend cyclists and to organise and regulate bicycle racing in Great Britain...
quarter-mile championships in 1908, 1911 and 1912. He also won the one-mile championship in 1910 and 1911; and the five-mile championship in 1911.
The Golden Book
Vic Johnson's achievements were celebrated in 1948 when Cycling WeeklyCycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
.