Born Hillingdon, Middlesex, August 1943
After leaving Bishopshalt Grammar School in Hillingdon, I became a trainee draughtsman with an engineering company. Subsequently I worked as a design draughtsman and project engineer, gaining valuable experience of a wide variety of manufacturing industries.
Thanks to my father's influence, I was interested in cars and motorcycles from an early age. I began motorcycle trials riding and grass-track racing as a teenager and then, together with my brother Don, got involved with Allan Herridge and drag racing cars in the mid-1960s. The three of us built and campaigned a Chevy-powered dragster called "Motovation" that won the 1968 British Drag Racing Championship. I later put together a couple of dragsters of my own, but gave up drag racing in 1980s and started racing cars - single seaters and saloons - on small oval tracks, finally ending (?) my competition driving career in 1990.
I started freelance writing part-time in 1971, with contributions published in a number of automotive magazines. I worked full-time for National Drag Racer Magazine (1972 - 73), first as Technical Editor, then Assistant Editor. Returning to engineering full-time and writing part-time, I was also Editor of UK Drag Racer Magazine from May 1982 to November 1983.
Joined staff of Street Machine magazine in May 1984 as Technical Editor, promoted to Deputy Editor in June 1987. Following an idea I had developed, in August 1988 Classic American magazine was produced as a one-off with myself as Editor and received a great welcome from readers.
In April 1989 Classic American was launched as a quarterly, becoming bi-monthly in January 1990. After several changes of ownership, due to takeovers, buy-outs, etc, I resigned from the post as Editor to return to freelance writing full-time.
American Car World magazine was the second title launched by CHPublications in April 1993, and I was once again in the Editor's chair. Due to problems with distribution, publication of ACW was suspended in May 1995, being re-launched by CHP in December 2001.
Launching yet another motoring title on the unsuspecting British public, in the meantime I had become Editor of Triumph World magazine in March 1995, I post I still hold and enjoy very much. Currently I am also Associate Editor of American Car World magazine and a freelance contributor to several other publications.
I took over as Secretary of the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain (UK Chapter of Society of Automotive Historians) from November 1998 to December 2001, and was Editor of SAHB Review newsletter from January 1998 to December 2001. I have been a committee member of Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs since January 2003, with responsibility for post-1945 American vehicles. I am a full member of the Guild of Motoring Writers.
Over the years I would like to think I have gained a reputation as being one of Britain's foremost authorities on classic American automobiles (I bought my first US car - a 1949 Ford Customline V8 saloon for £30 - in 1964). Since that old Fordor I have owned or driven every modern make of American car, but I do hold a particular affection for lesser known marques such as AMC, Crosley, Rambler, Studebaker, etc.
Currently I drive a 1962 Triumph Courier van (powered by a 2-litre, six-cylinder Vitesse engine) as a weekend warrior and a 1983 Triumph Acclaim for daily duties. Having recently sold an uncompleted restoration project I am now on the lookout for a new toy! Any offers?
Price: £14.95 plus £1.95 UK post and packing (cheques should be made
payable to T. Beadle)
