Barry Charles Hart - born 1946 in the United Kingdom. Raced British and Japanese motorcycles 1965 – 1969 while studying Mechanical Engineering at Kingston University.

Unable to afford a close ratio gearbox, he worked out a revolutionary new way to design one incorporating fewer parts, costing less and of even higher quality, leading to Worldwide demand and the formation of Barton Motors designing and manufacturing close ratio gearboxes, racing engine parts and eventually complete bikes that won TT’s and Internationals.