McAuliffe was born in 1933 in the village of
Clydach near Swansea. In 1948, he moved to
Pontardawe and appeared in court following a motorcycle offence where the magistrate suggested that he find an appropriate place for his motorcycling. After moving to London he began training at Rye House and gained his first contract with
Eastbourne Eagles. McAuliffe won the
Southern Area League Riders' Championship, held at
Rye House Stadium on 30 September 1956. Later, he became a protege of fellow Welshman
Freddie Williams He joined
Oxford Cheetahs in 1967. His greatest moment came when he reached the final of the
Speedway World Championship in the
1963 Individual Speedway World Championship. He was capped by Great Britain just once. ==World final appearances==