Meet the Man Who Can Fix *Anything* (And Races for Fun)

Forget Elon Musk – the real engineering genius isn't building rockets, he's rebuilding a 1982 Honda MB5 and regularly clocks 400 miles on a snowmobile in a *weekend*. This is David Beard, and the man’s brain works differently, bru. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t just *drive* cars, he dissects them, understands them, and then, naturally, makes them go faster. ## From Spanners to Speed: How a Mechanic's Son Became a Racing Legend Some guys are born with a silver spoon, others with a spanner in their hand. David Beard falls firmly into the latter camp. Growing up as the son of a car dealership technician meant he was surrounded by engines and gearboxes from day one. “I've never taken any of my cars to a shop. Okay, maybe once,” he admits. That’s a statement, hey? Most of us can barely change a tyre without a YouTube tutorial. But it wasn’t just about tinkering. Beard had a need for speed. He started with BMX racing as a teen, then moved onto 10 years of motocross competition. This wasn’t just for fun – it was building the car-control and racetrack skills that would eventually land him a gig at *Car and Driver*. This guy understands the physics of pushing a machine to its limit, which, let’s be honest, is more than you’ll find at most dealerships in Sandton. ## 1000 Cars Tested: What Does a Decade Behind the Wheel Actually Teach You? Ten years. That’s a long time to spend staring at dashboards. In his decade at *Car and Driver*, Beard has tested approximately one thousand vehicles. One. Thousand. That’s more cars than most people see in a lifetime. What does that kind of experience teach you? It’s not just about horsepower and 0-60 times (although he clearly knows those numbers inside and out). It’s about the *feel* of a car, the subtle nuances that separate a good vehicle from a truly great one. It’s about understanding how everything works together, and what happens when it doesn’t. It’s the kind of insight you can't get from a spec sheet, the kind of knowledge that makes him invaluable to *Car and Driver*. Honestly, you’d pay good money just to listen to this guy talk about suspension. ## Snowmobiles & Speed: This Guy's Weekend is More Intense Than Your Month Load shedding got you down? Beard’s solution? Ditch the grid and hit the snow. A lifelong Michigander, he’s a dedicated snowmobiler. And he doesn’t just *go* for a quick spin. He’s regularly racking up 400 miles in a single weekend. 400 miles! That's like driving from Joburg to Durban and back, but on a machine that only goes “109 mph,” which, apparently, is “a touch disappointing” for Beard. He rides a Ski-Doo MXZ XRS with 170 horsepower. Imagine the petrol bill, though. Still, it’s a lekker way to spend a weekend, isn’t it? While we’re battling Eskom, he’s carving through the Michigan wilderness. ## 3D Printing & Taco Trays? The Unexpected Side Hustle of a Car Guru This is where things get interesting. Beard isn’t just about high-octane thrills and precision engineering. He’s a maker, a tinkerer, a guy who finds solutions to everyday problems. And sometimes, those problems involve tacos. He’s got a 3D printer and, amongst other things, used it to create a custom taco tray for a 2024 Ford Maverick pickup. A taco tray. Jislaaik. It’s the small things, hey? It shows you he’s not just focused on the big picture – he appreciates the details. It’s the kind of practical ingenuity we need more of in this country. Forget fancy gadgets, give me someone who can solve a problem with a bit of plastic and a good idea. ## Restoring a Legend: The 1982 Honda MB5 Project – And Making it *Faster* So, what’s keeping Beard busy these days? He’s restoring a 1982 Honda MB5 motorcycle – a rare bike only sold in the US for one year. But this isn’t just about bringing a classic back to life. It’s about making it *better*. “Oh, and he's going to make it go faster. Of course,” the article states. Because, naturally, he is. It's in his DNA. He doesn’t just fix things, he improves them. It’s a philosophy we could all use a bit of, especially when dealing with, well, everything in South Africa. ## What Can We Learn From the Guys Who *Actually* Test Cars? Beard’s skillset isn’t just valuable to *Car and Driver*. It’s a reminder that understanding your vehicle – *really* understanding it – is crucial. In a country where car ownership is often a necessity, not a luxury, this is more important than ever. We spend a fortune on our cars, but how many of us actually know what’s going on under the hood? How many of us could diagnose a simple problem instead of immediately taking it to a mechanic? Beard’s approach – the willingness to get your hands dirty, the desire to understand how things work – is something we should all aspire to. It’s about taking ownership, not just of your vehicle, but of your knowledge. ## So, What's the Point? Why This Matters to the Average South African Boet David Beard isn’t just a car tester, he’s a problem solver, a racer, and a tinkerer. He represents a dying breed: someone who genuinely understands the mechanics of the world around them. He's a reminder that sometimes, the most impressive engineering isn’t about building something entirely new, but about taking something existing and making it better. His story is a call to action. It’s a reminder that understanding your car isn’t just about saving money on repairs (although that’s a definite bonus, especially with petrol prices the way they are). It’s about empowerment, about taking control, and about appreciating the ingenuity of the machines we rely on every day. So, is it worth getting under the hood of your car? Absolutely. Is it worth learning a little bit about how things work? Definitely. And if you're looking for inspiration, look no further than David Beard. But here’s the real question: if you could restore *any* classic car or bike, and make it faster, what would you choose? And more importantly, would you actually *do* it yourself? Click here to find out which vehicles are the best candidates for a full restoration project.