Steve Johnston
A fierce Australian speedway competitor who raced with distinction on the punishing shale tracks of Britain and on the world stage.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Australian speedway rider·Birthday: October 12·Generation X
Biography
Steve Johnston brought a classic Australian toughness to the shale ovals of British speedway. Hailing from Perth, he made the traditional pilgrimage to the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, quickly establishing himself as a formidable heat-leader. Johnston's style was that of a racer's racer—determined, physical, and capable of brilliant starts. He became a central figure for several top British clubs, most notably the Belle Vue Aces and the Oxford Cheetahs, where his loyalty and point-scoring prowess made him a fan favorite. While a world individual championship eluded him, Johnston consistently qualified for the sport's grand prix series and represented Australia in World Cup competitions, earning the respect of peers for his tenacity. His career exemplifies the globe-trotting, hard-knock life of a professional speedway rider who succeeded through sheer will and skill.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Steve was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Represented Australia in the Speedway World Cup, competing against the world's best national teams.
- Earned a permanent spot in the British Speedway Elite League for over a decade as a top scorer for clubs like Belle Vue and Oxford.
- Qualified for and competed in the Speedway Grand Prix series, the pinnacle of individual world championship racing.
Did You Know?
He began his speedway career in his native Western Australia before moving to the UK in 1992.
He was known for his distinctive helmet design, which often featured a kangaroo motif.
After retiring from riding, he served as a team manager for the Belle Vue Aces in the British Premiership.
“If the bike is working, you just get on the gas and race.”
