RENAULT SPECIALISTS
Steve
Tom’s son Steve grew up around the business and from an early age took a keen interest in the cars that passed through. Before he’d left school he already knew his own R5 inside out, nevertheless, after school he spent 4 years training in mechanics at Northumberland College, and continued to hone his skills alongside his Dad. He’s now been in the business for over 15 years and has witnessed the dramatic change in car mechanics, adding to the business hi-tech tuning skills and dealer-level diagnostics.
Steve picked up another trait of his father’s; a weakness for two-wheeled transport. Unlike Tom, however, who was heavily into scooters, Steve fell for pedal power and mountain bikes. He started racing mountain bikes at the age of 12 and developed a particular expertise in downhill events. This punishing category of the sport was especially hard on equipment and after many breakages Tom and Steve started designing and building their own bike frames. Riding their new ‘bullet-proof’ frames under the name of Mr Big Racing, Steve won the UK National Championship at the age of 15.
The results also attracted many buyers for the custom-built frames, as well as sponsors who took Steve to the World Championships travelling all over Europe and America. After years in the top ten worldwide he still enjoys riding his bike, but not to the extremes he used to.
After down hill racing, Tom and Steve transferred their need for speed to four wheels and took up drag racing with a modified Renault 21 V6 Turbo. In his Renault Alpine A610 3 litre V6 Turbo Steve clocked the quarter mile at 12.8 seconds.
Pit Stop Garage, Railway Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7AD. Tel: 0191 232 9532
Email: enquiries@barker-renault.co.uk
Proprietor: Thomas William Barker and Steven Thomas William Barker