Leading the1981 Junior TTAbout Steve Tonkin
After 20 years as a professional restorer, and with nearly 100 Classic Motorcycles built to concours condition, it feels great to know that my customers have never had a problem with their bikes, that probably has something to do with the fact I used to race bikes, and the first rule in racing is that to finish first...first you have to finish!
I learnt to ride on a rigid Matchless 500cc in 1964, and got a BSA Bantam 125cc when I was 16 years old. After progressing through a 250 Matchless and 350 Triumph, I got a Velocette Viper, then a Venom, and finally a brand new Thruxton in 1970. That had to go to fund my first race bike, a 750 Norton Commando which proved to be competitive and reliable.
Flying over Ballaugh Bridge on my 750 Seeley Norton 1974
Then I tuned my own 750 Seeley Commando, which prooved to be faster than the John Player Norton when I raced it at Brands Hatch at the end of 1974. I then changed to Yamaha Strokers, and they gave me numerous wins on the short circuits and top six placings at the Isle of Man TT. I won the 250cc Junior TT in 1981 on an Armstrong, and I also won the British 250 Championship in 1980, 1981 and 1982. I then retired in 1984.
After 13 years as a professional racer, I had learnt a great deal about machine preparation. I always restore customers' machines as if they are my own, which is probably why they perform so well! My restorations are built to be ridden - HARD!
Classic Bike magazine featured a Goldstar that I had restored to concours condition. I rode it between 80-90mph all the way from my workshop in Lancashire to John o'Groats, then down to Lands End in one day and returned home the next. I covered over 1700 miles in less than 48 hours! And all without laying a spanner on the bike, checking the oil or adjusting the chain! Oh and by the way, the bike did a Genuine 120mph!