How It All Started

The rally bug bit David at the early age of 16 in the late 1950s when every town had its own motor club and rallies were the rage. David determined to be part of this exciting sport and quickly became an effective and competent navigator. At 17 years of age, teamed with a son of a former international rally driver, also of his own age they won their first event. Many more successes followed, winning a national event at 19 years of age, by far the youngest crew ever and a record that still stands.

 

At 21 years of age, international star Pat Moss (sister of Stirling Moss) beckoned and their first outing produced the first of many wins together on English soil. Her then boyfriend (now husband) the great Eric Carlsson also beckoned for the British RAC rally and another outright win resulted in November 1962.

 

In early 1963 Triumphs competitions manager, Graham Robson, also an avid competitor at the time teamed David with another promising driver, Vic Elford, and a partnership and friendship led the pairing to a third place on the Tulip Rally and a season struggling with a uncompetitive car.

 

In 1964 a change of teams to Ford motor company produced 2nd on the circuit of Ireland, a win on the Alpine Rally and 3rd on the RAC rally.

 

1965 saw David take leave of absence to commence a business career but the lure of the sport was too strong and he rejoined Vic in 1966 on an experimental one-off in a Porsche on the Tour de Corse resulting in 3rd overall against all the major teams.

 

Porsche, amazed at this result for what was a low key effort promised their backing for the 1967 season give them a 3rd in the Monte Carlo, 1st on the Tulip Rally, 1st on the Lyon-Charbonnieres, 1st on the Geneva Rally, 3rd again in Corsica and victory in the European Championship.

 

1968 started with a win in Monte Carlo after which the partnership split amicably with Vic turning his attention to the track. A thin year followed with only two outings, 4th on the Acropolis with an untried driver followed by a win in Spain with Munari in a factory entered Lancia.

 

1969 produced only one event at years end, the RAC rally with Swedish driver Carl Orrenius in a factory Saab resulting in 2nd overall.

 

1970 started with a broken diff on the Monte and then David joined Alpine Renualt, the first non-French co-driver ever. Things started jumping with a win on the Lyon-Charbonnieres with Andruet, 2nd on the Acropolis with Vinatier, 1st on the Spanish with Nicolas and abandonned on the RAC when the car burnt out.

 

For 1971 David decided to concentrate on business and had decided to make Monte Carlo his "swan song", determined for a victory and paired with a driver (Ove Andersson) who had never driven a Alpine in competition previously, they won against all odds.

 

Today, David is still in close touch with his old friend and partner Vic Elford and they returned to Monte Carlo in 2008 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their famous victory in 1968 driving a Porsche (naturally) of that era, to this day the last all British crew to have achieved this feat and David remains the only Briton ever to have won this event in 2 different makes of cars.

 

Racing Career Results

Result Rally Country Year Manufacturer  
1stWales RallyWales1962Saab
1stRAC RallyGreat Britain1962Saab
1stCoupe Des AlpesFrance1964Ford
2ndIreland RallyIreland1964Ford
3rdRACGreat Britain1964Ford
3rdRally CorsicaCorsica1966Porsche
1stTulip RallyNetherlands1967Porsche
1stLyons CharbonnieresFrance1967Porsche
1stGeneva RallySwitzerland1967Porsche
 European Champion1967  
3rdMonte Carlo RallyFrance1967Porsche
1stMonte Carlo RallyFrance1968Porsche
1stTrofeo Del PlatteSpain1968Lancia
3rdAcropolisGreece1968Lancia
2ndRACGreat Britain1969Saab
1stRACESpain1970Alpine
1stLyons CharbonnieresFrance1970Alpine
2ndAcropolisGreece1970Alpine
1stMonte Carlo RallyFrance1971Alpine