BRITISH CAREER: (1948) Bristol; (1949-55) Swindon; (1960-61) Swindon.
CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 271 (177 League; 22 National Trophy; 2 Queen's Cup; 12 Southern Shield; 6 Festival of Britain Trophy; 4 Autumn Cup; 43 Challenge; 4 Four-Team Tournament; 1 Three-Team Tournament) Rides: 994 Points: 1,353 Bonus: 183 Total: 1,536 Average: 6.18 Maximums: 12 (8 full and 4 paid).
CLUB DEBUT: 23 July 1949 versus Oxford (Home) Challenge; 0 points (4 rides).
KENNETH ROBERT JONES was always known simply as Bob and, indeed, was a very special man, worthy of the title ‘Mr. Swindon Speedway'. He was the first rider to sign for the Robins when racing began at the Abbey in 1949, and was determined to make a regular team place his own. He duly made his club debut in the opening challenge match versus Oxford on 23 July, although he unfortunately failed to score from four rides.
He plugged away, though, and his efforts were to bear fruit, particularly on 27 August in that initial year, when Swindon played host to Plymouth in another challenge. The track surface had been changed from cinders to red shale and this really suited Bob's style of racing. In the first heat of the match, he set a new track record of 77.4 seconds and went on to finish as the Robins' top scorer in a crushing 63-20 defeat. As has been well chronicled, Swindon took over the remaining fixtures of Hull late in the season, joining the Third Division of the National League. The Robins completed the final thirteen matches of the term, with Jones remaining ever-present to register 72 points and an average of 6.08.
In 1950, Oxford made the short journey to Blunsdon for a National Trophy tie on 22 April, and Bob was on fire, netting a paid 13-point tally and equalling the track record of 76.8 seconds, which had been established by Bill Kitchen at the back end of the previous season. Perhaps the most memorable night of his career occurred later that year on 24 June, in a Third Division match against St Austell. In heat five, he broke the Blunsdon track record, returning a time of 76.4 seconds. He then lowered his own record in heat nine of the same match, setting a new fastest time of 76.2 seconds!
In 1951, a very proud ‘Joner' was awarded caps at England ‘C' level against both New Zealand and America and, towards the end of the season, he was elected captain of the Swindon side. It was a fitting honour to a man who wanted only success for the Robins. Throughout his racing career, which ended in 1955 (apart from odd outings in 1960 and 1961, when the team was short-handed), Jones accumulated plenty of points, but unfortunately didn't manage to land any silverware with the side.
However, in 1956, having been appointed team manager, Bob steered his charges to the Second Division Championship. He generated a fine team spirit and, with his particular mechanical expertise to back it up, the Swindon team was going places. In 1957, following the amalgamation of the two speedway leagues, the Robins were again crowned Champions and another success for Jones was recorded. Managerial changes over the years saw him serve the club as team mechanic and many a rider, be it a World Champion or raw novice, had reason to be grateful for Bob's magical touch.
Swindon raced to the British League title in 1967, with Jones filling the role of team mechanic, so another success was his although, as was his way, he made light of the part he had personally played in it. In the early 1980s, he took on another new role, namely that of machine examiner, a post he held and dealt with in his usual professional manner until the end of 1991, when he finally retired from active service. It was then that he took on the role of spectator and began to watch the fortunes of the Robins from a comfortable seat in the stand, rather than the hurly-burly of the pits area. Every so often the pits would call, however, as a rider needed his help...and who better than Bob to give advice?
No one in the proud history of Swindon Speedway did more for it than he, as many riders over the years would be happy to testify. Right up until he passed away at the age of 77 on 8 December 1996, Jones proudly claimed that he had never missed a home meeting at the Abbey Stadium in forty-eight seasons. In his latter years, Bob continued to participate with the Veteran Riders' Association at various tracks around the country on his famous 1930 Rudge and 1950s Jap machines and, aged 70 plus, he was still winning exhibition races.
Jones was always modest about what he had done for Swindon Speedway, but he did have a whole host of stories to tell over the years. Indeed, many a young fan or rider would listen; spellbound, to tales of yesteryear from the man who knew. Naturally, Bob's spirit lives on at the Abbey, of course.
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DATE OF BIRTH: 11 June 1919, Swindon, Wiltshire.
In 1951, a very proud ‘Joner' was awarded caps at England ‘C' level against both New Zealand and America and, towards the end of the season, he was elected captain of the Swindon side. It was a fitting honour to a man who wanted only success for the Robins. Throughout his racing career, which ended in 1955 (apart from odd outings in 1960 and 1961, when the team was short-handed), Jones accumulated plenty of points, but unfortunately didn't manage to land any silverware with the side.
No one in the proud history of Swindon Speedway did more for it than he, as many riders over the years would be happy to testify. Right up until he passed away at the age of 77 on 8 December 1996, Jones proudly claimed that he had never missed a home meeting at the Abbey Stadium in forty-eight seasons. In his latter years, Bob continued to participate with the Veteran Riders' Association at various tracks around the country on his famous 1930 Rudge and 1950s Jap machines and, aged 70 plus, he was still winning exhibition races.
