Career
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". Johnson was born at Aston Manor, 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.
Vic Johnson started cycle racing in 1902 when he joined the "Rover Racing Community College".
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".
lieutenant only lost its world status when the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) changed the rules in 1948 and it was superseded by a slower time.