Archie Bryde's interst in motor sport began in 1939 when he was 6th in the Saloon Car Class of the RAC Rally (Jaguar) and also contested the Lewes Speed Trials in an SS100. He also ran in the practice session of a race at Brooklands in 1939, (Alta, ENV Gearbox).

From 1948-51 he raced a Jaguar XK 120 at various venues including amongst others; Goodwood, Brands Hatch, Silverstone etc. He also raced a Cooper 500cc in the UK in 1951.

In 1952 Archie raced an Allard J2X (Chrysler) at Monaco, Reims, Boreham and others in the UK. Also in this year Ward Thomas took Archie's Cooper 500 to victory in the GP des Frontieres at Namur. Furthermore Archie acquired the prototype Cooper Bristol (basically BMW powered,  (war reparations engine) ) which had its debut at Goodwood in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio.This car was driven by Archie at Silverstone,(Daily Express Trophy twice), Ulster Trophy Dundrod, Brands, Goodwood Charterhall,  Boreham, Castle Combe etc etc, and in the GP de France at Comminges where the car was not fast enough to beat the Scuderia Ferrari and Renault Gordini teams More importantly, as Archie recognised that while he was not a bad driver, there were faster drivers, it was driven at Dundrod quite successsfully by Mike Hawthorn, later World Champion, ( also GP de France Reims(7th) and French GP Rouen (retired) and the UlsterTrophy the year before he came with a Ferrari,  and by Reg Parnell,  at Boreham (1st),  British GP, Silverstone. (7th)  The car, being the prototype, was a little tired, and suffered many retirements due to various failures including conflagrations, one in the straight at Silverstone, (Daily.Express Trophy) where Archie  had been following Louis Chiron, whose tank was leaking. Only minor burns ensued, This extraordinarily versatile and tough car was sold to one Bernie Ecclestone, and thus did Archie end his racing career as a driver. The motor sport saga did not end here, as Archie, (whose company was Aston Martin Lagonda importer for Italy, ) did a deal with John Wyer the CEO of Aston Martin, whereby Archie's Swiss   company Autonautica  and Aston shared the production and costs of 24 Aston Martin Zagato cars. the first being for Jean Kerguen for Le Mans. Being in Milan, Archie was able to play a major part in the build of this series of Astons, some of which are still to be seen on the road and in historic races.