Tom raced raced on the national circuit in the early 80s and was a Kawasaki factory rider from 1981-1982. He won several pro class championships at the Florida Winter Series as well as finishing on the podium at the Mid-Ohio 125 USGP and several nationals.

Best Finishes
Second overall in 1980 St Petersburg 125 National and 1981 Washougal 125 National

The picture is from the 1980 USGP and that's a factory Honda that he's flying through the mud. To find out the story behind this ride and his rise to a national star, check out Tom Benolkin's Story.

Currently
Tom still lives in Minnesota and is still rides the occasional Vintage race or comes out and embarasses many of us with his old bike at a modern race.

This is his latest project, what the Penton website thought "may be the lightest 125 Penton in the world". They are probably right. There is titanium everywhere, aluminum bolts, nuts, and washers wherever possible, titanium axles, aluminum wheel bearing spacers, and even a billet aluminum exhaust manifold. These photos are from the "Supergarage".

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