John Thurston
Record type: Motorsport Biographies
Biography: Age 40. John (Curly) Thurston, comes from Scunthorpe, Lincs., is a furnace charger driver in a steelworks. His first-ever race was the 1953 Junior Manx, and since then he has kept to the Island, riding in the Clubman's and M.G.P. events. He finished 56th in the 1956 Junior Manx and 45th in the Senior, and in 1957 he was 38th in the Junior, whilst in 1958 he was 58th in the Junior. He has collected nine Finishers' Plaques, including one last year for his 41st position in the Junior. His machine is a 1959 model, with this year's "mods." He writes: "This will he my last ride — except for a Pools win, of course!--as I was married early this year in the I.o.M, to a Manx Miss, and we will be setting up home towards the end of September at Broughton, near Brigg, Lincs." (TT Special, 7 September 1961, p.13).
Junior – Norton
Age 39, John Thurston comes from Scunthorpe, Lincs., and is a furnace charger driver in a steelworks. His first-ever race was the 1953 Junior Manx, and since then he has kept to the Island, riding in the Clubman's and M.G.P. events.
He finished 56th in the 1956 Junior Manx and 45th in the Senior, and in 1957 he was 38th in the Junior, whilst in 1958 he was 58th in the Junior. He has collected eight Finishers’ Plaques, including one last year for his 63rd position in the Junior.
This year’s Junior will be his first ride on a Norton and John says that he is “very honoured to help make the number up.”
(TT Special, 8 September 1960, p.24.)
Competed in
| Race | Position | Time | Speed | Machine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Junior MGP | 41 | 2:50:23.00 | 79.73 | Norton |
| 1959 Junior MGP | 63 | 2:57:23.00 | 76.57 | BSA |
| 1958 Senior MGP | R | 0 | BSA | |
| 1958 Junior MGP | 56 | 3:16:32.00 | 69.12 | BSA |
| 1957 Senior MGP | R | 0 | BSA | |
| 1957 Junior MGP | 38 | 2:52:56.00 | 78.55 | BSA |
| 1956 Senior MGP | 45 | 3:00:47.00 | 75.13 | BSA |
| 1956 Junior MGP | 56 | 3:03:47.00 | 73.91 | BSA |
| 1955 Senior MGP | 53 | 3:07:02.00 | 72.63 | BSA |
| 1955 Junior MGP | R | 0 | Norton | |
| 1955 Clubman Junior TT | 17 | 1:36:42.20 | 60.25 | BSA |
| 1954 Senior MGP | 30 | 3:23:56.00 | 66.01 | BSA |
| 1954 Junior MGP | R | 0 | BSA | |
| 1954 Clubman Junior TT | 22 | 2:00:18.00 | 75.28 | BSA |
| 1953 Junior MGP | 34 | 3:04:09.00 | 73.76 | BSA |