Jackie Beeton

Record type: Motorsport Biographies

Biography: Age 45, Jackie Beeton is a motor engineer from Louth, Lines. Although he is one of the best known of British sidecar drivers, he began his racing career as a solo peformer on the grass-tracks in 1931. He decided that something was needed "to keep the bike upright" and so, in 1934, he hung a sidecar on the machine and took to the three-wheeler classes, mixing grass and road racing. He packed in grass racing altogether in 1947, and now concentrates entirely on the road. Living so near to Cadwell park, it is natural that Jackie is a regular performer there, and his victories include the 500 c.c. sidecar Cadwell Championship in 1938, '39, '47 and '48, and the Unlimited c.c. Sidecar T.T., improving upon this to finish fourth, at 65.45 m.p.h. in the 1955 event and collected fifth place in the 1956 event averaging 65.54 m.p.h. In 1957 he was fourth again - at 66.97 m.p.h - and in 1958 he went one better, third at 67.33 m.p.h.

After the T.T. he was fifth in the Sidecar class of the Belgian GrandPrix. and several seconds and thirds at short circuit meetings such as Aintree, Crystal Palace, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Silverstone. His luck was not good in the last year's Sidecar T.T., but at least he finished -15th at 61.68 m.p.h.- and after the T.T. he scored several places in the Sidecar races at Silverstone, Snetterton, etc. He is entered by Watsonian Sidecars Ltd. (TT Special 13 June 1960, p.10.)

Sidecar – Norton

Age 41, Jackie Beeton is a motor engineer from Louth, Lancs. Although he is one of the best known of British sidecar drivers, he began his racing career as a solo performer on the grass-tracks in 1931.

He decided that something was needed “to keep the bike upright” and so in 1934 he hung a sidecar on the machine and took to the three-wheeler classes, mixing grass and road racing. He packed in grass racing altogether in 1947 and now concentrates entirely on the road. Living so near to Cadwell Park, it is natural that Jackie is a regular performer there, and his victories include the 500 cc sidecar Cadwell Championships in 1938, ’39, ’47 and ’48 and the unlimited cc sidecar Championships in ’49 and ’51.

His exploits are certainly not confined to Cadwell and he is a consistent winner at Brough, Snetterton, Scarborough and many other circuits.

He was 7th in the 1954 Sidecar T.T. improving upon this to finish fourth at 65.45 mph in last year’s event.

Under the “Hobbies” heading he says ‘No time for any hobbies’.
(TT Special, 4 June 1956, pp.8-9.)

Competed in

Comments