Doug Nye

Doug Nye has been writing about motor racing and racing cars for more than 60 years. His career has in many ways paralleled Ferrari’s, and he still recalls interviewing The Old Man for BBC TV as having been one of its highlights.

Born in October 1945, Doug grew up in Guildford, Surrey, and was educated there at Pewley Grammar and George Abbot schools. But while studying for A-Levels he was instead offered a job with Motor Racing magazine, based at Brands Hatch circuit in Kent. Within two years, 1963–65, he became its Assistant Editor, then left to join the rival Motor Sport monthly and Motoring News weekly.

With them in 1968 he worked alongside the legendary Denis ‘Jenks’ Jenkinson and William ‘Bill’ Boddy; absorbing their shared sense of investigating racing history through painstaking research. That August he went freelance for Autosport and other racing periodicals worldwide. In his own words he has been ‘self-unemployed’ ever since.

He has filled such spare time by writing some 70 books of racing history, including standard works on BRM, Lotus, Ferrari, Cooper and McLaren. He has been an historical consultant for the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, the Brooklands Museum, The Silverstone Museum, The Revs Institute in Florida, USA, and for Bonhams Auctioneers. He is also co-founding consultant to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Revival and Members’ Meetings.

He lives in Farnham, Surrey — formerly Ferrari World Champion Mike Hawthorn’s home town — with his wife Valerie and they have two children and five grandchildren.