Jon Cook

Former Eastbourne Speedway co-promoter, Jon Cook, died on Bank Holiday Monday (May 3)

He was 55

Director of Eastbourne Speedway, Ian Jordan, said news of Jon’s death was “shocking and frankly numbing” for everyone involved at Eastbourne Speedway both from the past and right up to the present day. 

“Obviously, our thoughts are with Jon’s sons and his ex-wife and current partner; and all of his extended family and close friends and associates.

I’m sure that everyone involved with Eastbourne as Riders, Sponsors, Officials, Supporters, Staff and Management who have worked with and for Jon, or supported Teams he was involved with, including some halcyon days; will hear this news with great sadness on a personal level and want to remember Jon fondly for his commitment and work for both our Club and also The Lakeside/Thurrock Hammers and for the Sport in general.

Jon was a passionate and colourful character who lived his life to the full; and it will be much duller and less colorful without him. 

Margaret Dugard said on behalf of the Dugard family:

“We were all shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news about Jon.

“He had been a very good friend of our family and has been involved in the Sport for many years.

Our condolences go to his two sons, family and friends.”

Jon Cook

Jon first became co-promoter at Eastbourne Speedway in 1993 when he joined Len Silver.

He went on to hold the same role for a number of different companies which ran the speedway at Arlington Stadium.

He led the Eagles to their first successes in the top flight of British Speedway.

They were Premier League Champions in 1995 (the year of ‘one big league’) and became Elite League Millennium Champions in 2000.

In 2002, they topped the Elite League but were not crowned Champions, losing to Wolverhampton in the first ever Play Off Grand Final.

Jon also piloted the Eagles to cup success, winning the British League Cup in 1994 and the Elite League KO Cup in 1997 and 2002.

He left his role at Eastbourne in 2007 to take up a similar position with Lakeside.

He returned to Arlington in 2019 after the closure of Lakeside and became Head of Speedway as the Eastbourne Eagles moved up to the Championship.

At the same time, he became leaseholder of Arlington Stadium, with Martin Dugard, but stepped back from his speedway role because of a potential conflict of interests.

Jon lived close to the English Channel and for many years was a keen surfer.