JOHN DEAN REMEMBERED AT TOOWOOMBA – DECEMBER 27
By David Budden
In this, the 90th year of Speedcar racing in Queensland, it’s important to reflect on those who shaped Midget competition in the Sunshine state.
John Dean is one such person.
John loved Speedway and all things about it, so on Saturday night December 27 at Hi-Tec-Oils Toowoomba Speedway we pay tribute to John Dean. If you do the maths it works out to be a 60 year involvement with Speedway. From my recollection, I can’t recall a Saturday night apart from wet weather during those summer months that I didn’t see John at the Speedway.
He started racing a FE Holden in 1965 by 1971 John was racing Speedcars. During this time he was also one of the mechanics on Blair Shepherd’s Super Modified and when Blair was away on business, John would occasionally drive the car. When Blair retired, John bought the car, retained the black colour scheme and # 99. This the beginning of a stellar career in Super Modifieds and then transitioning into Sprintcars. That same black colour scheme and # 99, is still used today through the racing career of son Brock and granddaughter Hailey Ferguson.
The 1970s was an incredible time in Queensland for Super Modified racing with Ron Wanless, Bob Kelly, Gary White and numerous others providing thrilling edge of the seat racing. Those big cars’ nice sounding motors really set the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds alight. Speedway fans couldn’t get enough of the action as thousands packed into the Ekka every race night.
John was one of the stars of the era, winning his fair share of races. By 1979 when the Archerfield Astrodome opened and Super Modifieds had transitioned into Sprintcars, John was the winner of the very first Sprintcar feature race at the new venue. He was also there when it closed in 2023.
Behind the scenes John was an active committee member of the Queensland Super Modified / Sprintcar Association eventually becoming its president in a role he held for many years. Later on he also took a position on the committee of the Queensland Speedcar Racing Association which led to the president’s position and for a couple of years, he also sat on the management committee of Speedcars Australia.
In 2016 he was awarded Life Membership of the Queensland Speedcar Racing Association (QSRA) in recognition of his hard work for the sport. This was in addition to the Lufe Membership of the Sprintcar club he receivdsome years earlier.
He continued to support Brock’s racing endeavours and was enormously proud when he tasted success. John often said he enjoyed Brock’s racing more than his own because it was something they could do together and he couldn’t be happier when granddaughter Hailey started racing.
To spend 60 years actively involved in any sport is a remarkable achievement whether it be as a competitor, an administrator it would be far to say John did it all. He was very generous with his time and equipment while recognising talent, he gave John Kelly and Todd Wanless their first drives in a Sprintcar. He was also involved in the design and building of
Keith Hutton’s V4. His contributions to Speedway are immeasurable. When Brian Dillon promoted Speedway in Toowoomba John was right beside him to assist; he would later go on to promote Yandina Speedway and some events in Roma. John was a racer, there is certainly no doubt about that, but there was much more, he was a car owner, crew chief, sponsor, engine builder and mentor for so many.
There is so much more you could write about John Dean, to do him justice it would have to be in book form. “John Dean, a lifetime of Speedway well lived from 1965 to 2025”. As John would say: “Yours in Speedway” – John Dean.
