Download The Keith Beedie Story - Beedie Group

CHAPTER 2
Learning the
HARD Way
Reginald Beedie and a friend pose with her
Model T Ford in 1930.
MISCHIEF ON FOUR WHEELS
Keith was now a master of two wheels on his bike and eight wheels
on skates, but he was getting to the age when the four wheels on
a car were becoming increasingly intriguing. As an employee of
General Motors, Keith’s dad was entitled to a company car, so the
family always had a nice automobile. Unfortunately for Keith, it was
etched in stone in the company regulations that the car was never to
be driven by family members.
Th e temptation of the car in the garage proved too much for Keith,
particularly with his dad away so frequently on business. “I had my
own key made once while Dad was out of town,” Keith says. “My mom
was golfi ng all the time, so she was gone a lot. She didn’t take a lot of
notice of my comings and goings, so when no one was home, I took to
giving myself secret driving lessons.”
For a while, the car trips went off without a hitch. Keith would take
friends on joyrides or out on the town. Suddenly, however, a small
glitch appeared that made sneaking around in the company car a little
tougher for Keith. “One time another guy and I were out in Dad’s car.
We had picked up a couple of girls and were taking them on a drive
around Stanley Park. We found a place to park and get to know each
other a little better. All of sudden, just as we’re getting comfortable,
the horn started to blow non-stop.” Keeping a low profi le in a car you
shouldn’t be driving is made considerably more diffi cult by a broken
horn. It also put a quick end to the friendly mood for the two couples
inside. Keith frantically tried to silence the horn, but to no eff ect.
“Eventually I lift ed the hood and disconnected the battery cable.”
Th at stopped the horn, but it was clear that the outing was spoiled.
Unnerved, Keith anxiously reattached the battery, half-expecting the
off ending horn to restart. He was relieved to discover the car was back
to normal. “I wanted to get the heck out of there. I drove it home and
put Dad’s car right back in the garage.”
But Keith couldn’t leave the car alone for long. He
got his nerve back and tried again. In no time, he
was back to his sneaky car habits. “Once, I pulled the
car into the parking lot of the Safeway store at the
corner of 41st Avenue and Yew Street. I nudged the
back wheel on a curb, and would you believe it, the
horn started up again?” Keith panicked. Standing
out like a sore thumb in Stanley Park was one thing.
Kerrisdale, however, was a diff erent story, it was home
“I had my own
key made once
while Dad was
out of town.”
FROM TOP: Evelyn, circa 1930.
Joan in front of the Beedie
home, circa 1938.
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