Campbell started racing at 16 and within two years ventured to the mainland where he was placed against top competition in graded racing.

Over the following seasons Campbell enjoyed significant success in production bike racing at state and national level before securing a factory ride.

In 1981 he came to prominence by winning the prestigious New Zealand six-hour endurance race and in the years that followed was invited to race in Superbike events in Asia and Europe.

As a Team Honda Australia lead rider Campbell was recognised by Honda Japan and was invited to test new revolutionary and technologically advanced bikes on a number of instances.

From the mid-1980s to the early-1990s Campbell competed in limited rounds of the World Superbike and 500cc Grand Prix championship with distinction and while he wasn't able to secure a full-time ride with a factory team in the premier class there were many who felt he had the talent and could have made the grade if given the chance.

During his outstanding career Campbell won three Australian Superbike championships, an Australian Castrol six-hour production bike race, the New Zealand equivalent, an Australian Grand Prix, a Malaysian Grand Prix, the Swann International series (beating world champion Wayne Gardner), an Australian endurance championship and two Australian Road Racing championships.

He also placed in numerous national and international championships, scoring many pole positions and lap records.

As a further indication of his outstanding career Campbell became the first motorsport person to be inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame.

After retiring from competitive racing Campbell maintained his involvement in the sport as an active member of the Tasmanian Motor Cycle Club, particularly mentoring at clinic days and guiding riders to be safer on the road.