Geoff Tanner
Record type: Motorsport Biographies
Biography: Age 33, Geoff Tanner is a motor cycle mechanic and comes from Walthamtstow, London. His first acquaintance with the Mountain course was in 1954, when he was fifth in the Junior Clubman's race; later that same year he rode a Norton into fourth place in the Junior Manx.
In 1955 he did the "September Double", winning both Junior winning both Junior and Senior Manx Grand Prix races—breaking the race and lap records in each. In the Senior race he became the first "Manx" winner to average over 90 m.p.h.
In the 1956 T.T. races, Geoff was a second lap retirement in both Junior and Senior races. In the former the cause was engine trouble whilst in the latter he was reported "touring in at Keppel." In 1957 he was seventh in the Junior T.T. at 90.23 m.p.h. (Silver Replica) and 28th in the Senior (Bronze) atter coasting home from about Kate's Cottage.
Geoff's last appearance in the T.T. was in 1958. Norton mounted, he finished third in the Junior at 91.54 m.p.h., with a Silver Replica, of course, but had to retire in the second lap of the Senior. This year's Lightweight T.T. will be his first race on a 250 c.c. machine. (TT Special, 16 June 1961, p18)
Mounts: Junior – Norton
Senior – Norton
Age 28, Geoff Tanner is the gardener from Walthamstow, London, who pulled off the “double” last September by winning both Junior and Senior Manx Grand Prix races – breaking the race and lap records in each. In winning the Senior race he became the first “Manx” winner to average over 90 m.p.h.
His first acquaintance with the Mountain course came in 1954, when he was fifth in the Junior Clubman’s race; later that same year he rode a Norton into fourth place in the Junior Manx.
He is sponsored this season, as last year, by G. K. Rae Ltd. of Chiswick, and spectators at Thruxton this Easter saw Geoff take third place in the 350 c.c. race and second in the 500 c.c. after a ding-dong scrap with Ivor Lloyd in each race. He was second in the 500 c.c. class of the recent North-West 200.
(TT Special, 8 June 1956, p.11.)
Competed in
| Race | Position | Time | Speed | Machine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 Senior TT | R | Norton | ||
| 1961 Junior TT | R | Norton | ||
| 1958 Senior TT | R | Norton | ||
| 1958 Junior TT | 3 | 2:53:06.40 | 91.54 | Norton |
| 1957 Senior TT | 28 | 3:31:38.80 | 85.57 | Norton |
| 1957 Junior TT | 7 | 2:55:37.60 | 90.23 | Norton |
| 1956 Senior TT | R | Norton | ||
| 1956 Junior TT | R | Norton | ||
| 1955 Senior MGP | 1 | 2:28:39.00 | 91.38 | Norton |
| 1955 Junior MGP | 1 | 2:33:33.00 | 88.46 | Norton |
| 1954 Senior MGP | R | 0 | Norton | |
| 1954 Junior MGP | 4 | 2:42:07.00 | 83.78 | Norton |
| 1954 Clubman Junior TT | 5 | 1:51:04.00 | 81.54 | Norton |