More Unscrambled One

Chris Ginn was a close friend of David’s, and he was somebody I drew on for stories about him. The following account didn’t make the final cut, but it is worthy of sharing here. 

‘We enjoyed our time racing in France and there were hundreds of little episodes. One time David took his dad, his auntie Margaret and Paul, and we were a bit on the drag (running late) because I was working. But I knew where we were going to stay, because we’d stopped there several times before (a lay-by in Northern France). I got even more delayed when I filled up my diesel van with petrol, just outside Folkestone. A policeman arrived and he said he knew somebody who could help me out. So, this chap came along and sorted things, but we missed our ferry and I had to catch the next one, which made me about three hours behind. I drove to our stop, and it was pitch black. So, I parked there, and at that time I used to sleep in the van. So, next morning I wake up and there’s David in his sleeping bag on the ground next to the trailer. David never liked to be huddled up in a crowd, God knows what he would have done if it had been raining, but he would have sorted something out!’  

Chris, who had a spell racing speedway with the Ipswich Witches remembered that David chanced his arm on the shale at Foxhall Road one evening. 'Barry Briggs said to David. "You’re a one-man speedway team.” And David said, “Well, I don’t piss about doing  just four laps.” Apparently he just kept going until he ran out of fuel, then he’d fill up and go out again. He even wore out a back tyre. He’d have gone on all night, but the mag platform broke on the Jap, which they always did. He was really into his speedway for a while and I think he could have done quite well. But he was too worried about hurting himself for scrambling.’  

Chris told me. “Next time you speak to Barry, ask him about the ‘one-man speedway team.” Sure enough Barry had this to say: ‘We had a day with him at the speedway at Ipswich, and he’d do twenty-five laps when we only had to do four! I’m sure with a little tuition Dave would have been able to become a good speedway rider; good motorcyclists listen and can do what you say easily, and he was very capable.’