[2] He became interested in cars from an early age and began to build up an encyclopaedic knowledge of motoring, leaving school in 1928[2] and immersing himself in automotive publications and the Brooklands racing scene.
In tandem with his journalistic work, Boddy drove the original HRG 1,497 cc (91.4 cu in) sports car at the Lewes Speed Trials on 4 September 1937 with a best time of 27.4 sec, finishing third in the novices class.
[6] Boddy was riding as passenger when Sydney Allard won the last speed event to be held in England prior to World War II.
Throughout World War II he was employed by the Ministry of Aircraft Production at Farnborough working on Air Publications, but he kept Motor Sport going in his spare time for the duration.
In February 1946 Motor Sport published a four-page "Obituary" for the Brooklands circuit, with the headline: "Built at his own expense for the nation's good, by the late Mr. H. F. Locke King - 1906.