Leslie was a huge all-round talent
Last updated 10:20, Friday, 04 April 2008
THE world of motor racing was shattered this week when David Leslie one of our greatest local racing drivers lost his life in an air crash at Biggin Hill aerodrome, just when he, was about to enter another phase of his successful career.
Rightly, praise has been heaped on 54 year-old David from some of the international greats from the sport to which I would like to add my own humble gratitude for his inspiring life.
While everyone has said what a great man he was and one who never had a bad word to say about anyone, even in the days when he drove in contact racing days of the British Touring Car Championship, nobody really highlighted that he was an all-round and huge talent, just like those from a previous era such as Sir Stirling Moss and Jim Clark OBE.
They and David drove a variety of cars from single-seaters to saloons and excelled in all of them, something lacking in modern day stars who concentrate on only one form of racing with the aim of making it in F1.
I do not diminish modern talent but to be able to be a champion in single seaters and saloons requires a very special sort of skill and bravery and David had it in spades.
I was privileged enough to supply some PR help in David's early days and I could kick myself for not taking up his greater offer because of other my commitments but I have followed his career with great interest and admiration.
Though Annan-born, David worked in the city's Grierson and Graham garage and supported local motorsport whenever his busy racing scheduled allowed.
His loss will be felt very deeply by everyone in motorsport, both locally and nationally, as he was one of the old school of gentleman racers for whom nobody had a bad word.
David's death is the third tragic loss in the last couple of years as firstly Cumbria's only F1 star, the late Cliff Allison died, and then Colin McRae was lost to world of rallying last year.
However, I am sure the dreams of F1 stardom in Langwathby's Oliver Turvey will take forward the flame of their memories to ease the grief of David's family, friends and supporters.
David was a very rare and great driver; I am proud to have known him and have been touched by his unassuming charm.
David's loss over shadowed the news from the second round of the World Rally Championship, the Rally Argentina, in which the locally-run BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team, as well as the Stobart Motorsport Team, had very mixed fortunes.
The M-Sport WRC Ford Focus entries of Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen with team-mats Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttlia suffered some mechanical problems and accidents, the latter finally ending Latvala's hopes on the last day.
However, Hirvonen managed to fight back to finish 5th which dropped him down to 2nd place in the championship, allowing great rival, Loeb, to lead by three points; Latvala now lies in 4th.
Meanwhile, there was a great drive from Stobart's Gigi Galli in a Ford Focus and who stormed to seventh on the rally to help maintain Ford's lead in the manufacture's points by three points ahead of Citroën, but Mathew Wilson had to retire on Stage 15 when doing well as a track control arm failed.
On Sunday Wigton MC are staging the MG Cumbria Roof of England Challenge when a marvellous entry of classic and modern classic cars will leave the Westmorland Service Area, north of Junction 38 of the M6 at 10am for a 90 mile tour of the Pennines.
On the same day the old RAC passage control, the Sportsman Inn on the A66 near Greystoke, will see the second meeting of rally enthusiasts for a natter and exchange of news.
Organised by ex-rally driver, Paul Gilligan, the first lunchtime meeting was a great success and though many of the 'gang' will be on the Challenge, Paul is looking forward to welcoming other enthusiasts to chew the fat at the lunchtime meeting.
