In 1947, he started professional cycle racing as 17 year old and as a result never raced as an amateur. In 1951 the
Sporting Globe organised a public fundraising scheme to help send Beasley,
Dean Whitehorn,
Peter Anthony, and
Eddie Smith to Europe to race. In 1952, he raced in the
Paris–Nice race and finished 28th. He subsequently was offered a contact by the Luxembourg international team and raced in the
1952 Tour de France. He was eliminated from the race after Stage 2 after having a fall and mechanical problems. In
1955 Tour de France, Beasley and fellow Australian
Russell Mockridge were part of the Luxembourg international team. Beasley withdrew after Stage 3 after suffering the effects of food poisoning after a seafood meal in
Le Havre just prior to the race. In 1951 Beasley rode in the
Tour of the West, a five-stage race over in the Hartley Team with
Clinton Beasley, and
Keith and
Max Rowley. John won stage 3 and the general classification. Beasley retired in 1961 after winning the Wonthaggi 140 mile Handicap Race. In 1961, he took over running the family business Beasley Cycles in
Footscray, Victoria after his father died. He was a mechanic for the Australian teams at
1982 Commonwealth Games and
1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In 2000, he was awarded the
Australian Sports Medal. ==References==