I've always had cars and bikes. My first car was an Austin Mini 1100 Clubman, when I was just eleven. I'm not quite sure what my parents where thinking when they agreed to let me buy it.  £90 later and a quick, gearbox crunching drive back from Guildford to Bookham and my journey with cars had begun.

Since then, I've attempted a full restoration on a VW Corrado, which was my passion for years, but I simply ran out of time and energy. It broke my heart to break it for parts but it was fun whilst it lasted. At that point is realised that running a business, having two kids and dealing with a bad back, I simply couldn't do the big stuff any more. It didn't stop me buying Betsy though; a 1986 Volvo 240 in Army green. It was supposed to be a temporary purchase just for a bit of fun whilst going to Leeds festival but she ended being part of the family for a few years.

Bikes are physically an easier project to work on so I don't ache quite as much, you can also finish things more quickly. I've had bikes for a number of years, my first being a Yamaha DT50 MX in black, when I was fifteen. My first restoration however, was in my later years though and started with, what is now my prized possession, a 1965 Ducati Brio 48 scooter.  Not my normal fire breathing superbike but an absolute stunner none the less. When I bought it, I really didn't realise quite how rare they were, especially the 48.

I continue to restore bikes, when I can, and try to blog about them as much as I can. I hope you enjoy my content.

Jim.