Startline Ep 67 - Twenty-ish Bikes and a 100-Mile-an-Hour Dream: Jeff Smith
Startline with Beth Espey
Thursday, 29 October 2026 - 39 minutes
What does it take to keep chasing a dream when the finish line is never quite the end of the story?
In this episode, Beth sits down with classic motorcycle racer Jeff Smith to talk about a lifetime spent on two wheels, the friendships forged through racing, and the special place the Isle of Man holds in his heart.
From racing around a warehouse on a childhood mini bike with his brother to winning the British Endurance Championship and making his debut on the Isle of Man in 2014, Jeff’s journey hasn't been completely straightforward. There have been broken bikes, broken bones, financial sacrifices and plenty of adventures along the way - but never any shortage of enthusiasm.
Jeff shares what makes the Island so special, why the Classic TT is about far more than winning, and how receiving the Spirit of the Classic award in 2025 meant so much to him. We also hear about the people who have supported him, his plans for the 2027 races and the ambition that continues to drive him: achieving that 100-mile-an-hour lap.
And, of course, there’s plenty of humour along the way - including a rather flexible answer to the question of exactly how many bikes he owns...
This is a conversation about passion, perseverance, friendship and the joy of simply being part of something you love.
If you would like to follow Jeff on social media, he's on Facebook here and Instagram here.
The Startline podcast is brought to you in partnership with the Manx Motorcycle Club, the Promoter and Rights holder for the Manx Grand Prix. Startline is on Facebook and Instagram, so please give the pages a follow and keep up to date with the latest episodes and see some extra content, you can find some great photos on there.
And if you'd like to be part of the podcast, you can email beth@startline.im
