[1] At the age of 17, his riding talent earned the attention of local motorcycling star Bob Foster who helped him obtain a 350cc AJS in 1946.
[1][2] In 1948, he signed a contract to ride for the BSA factory racing team joining his teammate and brother-in-law, Jeff Smith.
[1][2] In 1950, Draper led a British team to victory in the Motocross des Nations event in Sweden, which was considered the Olympics of motorcycling.
[1] He joined the Norton racing team in 1952 and nearly won a second time at the Scottish Six Days Trial but, tire troubles held him to a second-place finish.
[1][6][7] In the 1956 500cc European Motocross Championships, he finished second to countryman, Les Archer, Jr.[8] Draper's motorcycle competition career extended into the 1960s; he also represented the United Kingdom in the International Six Days Trial.