Best of British: Steve Wheatman
The man behind Team Classic Suzuki who has a love for Barry Sheene’s strokers
Like many mid-1970s teens, Steve Wheatman grew up on Suzuki ’strokers and idolizing Barry Sheene. Little did he know but one day he would own the world’s largest collection of ‘Suzi’ racers (including five exSheene machines), regularly rub shoulders with Schwantz, Mamola and Spencer and own Team Classic Suzuki, which gives a whole new generation the chance to see these great bikes – and riders – in action. “I pinch myself all the time,” he tells us, understandably.
By the turn of the century, after working tirelessly, borrowing money from friends and great personal and financial risk, Steve had become a hugely successful businessman trading mining machinery in Africa. “We signed some very large contracts which meant that for the first time, some of the toys I’d always wanted became affordable,” he recalls from his Northamptonshire base. “There was certainly no plan to ever turn it into what it is now, but I’d always had bikes and in the early 2000s found I could afford a nice road bike – so went out and bought a brand new R1.”
Business continued to prosper and another opportunity arose. “It was unfortunately when Barry Sheene had recently passed away and a bike came up for sale with a Sheene connection – an RG500 Mk1 – so I bought it – just perhaps to parade it or fire it up now and then and listen to it…”
Another followed – an ex-Keith Huewen RG500 – then an event in Rugby, in Sheene’s honour, organised by the ACU. “It was the first event I ever took any bikes to. They were looking for ex-Sheene bikes so we took the Mk1. I also met Steve Parrish and Mick Grant – it gave me a few connections and I started to collect more bikes.” Next came the 2008 Bikers’ Classic at Spa-Francorchamps. “It was quite a commitment. We took six or seven RG500s, had some
‘I met Steve Parrish and Mick Grant and began to collect more’
celebrity riders, Boet van Dulman, Tepi Lansivouri… there was also Ferry Brouwer [of Arai Europe and Yamaha Classic Racing – Ed] with his Yamaha set up – which was fantastic. We were like the new kids on the block but he was really helpful and we became almost a double act: he’d turn up with Yamahas, I’d turn up with Suzukis and for a few years we carried on like that. I added to the collection, got a few famous factory race bikes, some genuine Sheene bikes and went on from that. We’ve basically attended every Bikers’ Classic meeting since…”
‘A bike came up for sale with a Sheene connection…’
Spa was also where the ‘Team Classic Suzuki’ tag originated. “It was about 2009 or 2010. Ferry was organising things and the previous year we’d entered as the ‘Steve Wheatman Classic Race Team’. He said ‘You can’t call it that, we’ll call you ‘Team Classic Suzuki’! To be honest, Suzuki GB initially weren’t overjoyed, but they saw the attraction, especially as their vintage parts programme fitted in perfectly and we became very closely allied.”
Then the next major turn came in 2010. “We decided to do a bit of proper racing, because it had always been parades, so got involved with the Manx GP.”
Success there (see right) led to continuing involvement in both the Classic TT and also sponsorship at the TT and mainland, regular attendance at historic events such as Goodwood and the hugely impressive array of bikes and activities that defines Team Classic Suzuki today.
“We’re fairly happy where we are. The collection is as big as we want – although we’ve always kept an eye open for a special bike – and we try to limit events to one per month during the summer.
“Next time out is Scarborough followed by Goodwood, Spa and more, be sure to check them out – Covid permitting!”