Moretonhampstead’s Club Chairman Tony Jones, Interviewed by Mike Naish

Mike Naish: Where do you originate from Tony?

Tony Jones (TJ): “I grew up in Chard in Somerset, I left school at sixteen and joined Westland Helicopters as an apprentice. I qualified in 1987 as an aircraft systems fitter and gained my HNC in Engineering, the same year as I got married.”

MN: How did you become interested in competition motorcycling?

TJ: “My first bike was a Yamaha V70 Step-thru, I was eleven years of age at the time but it was a couple of guys in work who got me interested in competition when I was an apprentice. By this time I had a XR250 Trail bike to ride to work, so I entered it in the trail bike class of a Yeo Vale trial in 1983. I quickly went on to enter it in enduros and rode from 1983 to 1985 in the clubman class.”

MN: I see from your scrapbook you did quite well.

TJ: “At Court Farm Buckland Newton Four Stroke scramble in 1984, I won all three of my races on the 250 Honda in the trail bike class. I had two 250cc Hondas and then a 200cc Kawasaki. I stopped doing enduros in 1985.”

MN: What happened in 1985?

TJ: “I liked the speed events so much that I decided to have a go at Scrambling. I purchased a 250cc Maico and later I had the 500cc model. Later I moved on to a Suzuki RM250 and then a Yamaha YZ250. I rode for five years, I never set the world on fire but I just enjoyed my riding.”

MN: And after that?

TJ: “I went back to enduros for a couple of years riding in the expert class before moving to trials in 1992.”

MN: Have you had any particular achievements you would like to tell us about?

TJ: “I was runner up in the South West Clubman’s trials championship in 2004. I also have ridden in the Weston Beach Race three times in 1984, 1986 and 1988. The club also supports local events like the Dunsford Carnival and this year it is Christow. We set up an arena trials course to demonstrate trials.”

MN: What do you do for a living Tony?

TJ: “I’m a Farmer with livestock and market garden vegetables, eggs and I also work for Huish Horses doing engineering and maintenance.”

MN: Why do they call you Bambi, are they getting back at you for your club notes?

TJ: “I guess so but I just report things that people tell me. With regards to ‘Bambi’, I suppose it is because of my long legs, I’m 6six feet four inches. I probably look awkward when I’m riding.”

MN: And the future?

TJ: “Just to continue riding and enjoying my motorcycling. Moretonhampstead is a great club to be with.”

‘Tony Jones’ is the copyright of Trials Guru and Mike Naish.

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