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Anonymous
5 years ago

We first met David in February 1979 at Rowrah. It was my first time driving a kart as a Junior, and we had no idea what to do. David took time from his day to help us out, and even test drove the kart for me as it hadn't turned a wheel. After confirming that all was safe, he explained how we would start it, and offered helpful hints to a complete novice. Almost 40 years on, I still remember him as a super fellow, and he couldn't have been nicer. he was a great driver and an even greater person.

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Neil Smith
11 years ago

Thoughts are with your family today.

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Neil Smith
11 years ago

Thoughts are with your family today.

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Phil Steptoe
13 years ago

As a mechanic for reynard racing I have Fond memories of David,when he was driving for 'Reynard FF2000 works team 1979' alongside Mike o'brien (Dukes pallets and Girobank) He won the Shell championship that year... Will post some photos from that time...

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A perfect gentleman off the tack and a true race on it. A sad loss to his friends in the world of motorsport but a sadder loss to his close friends and family. Truely one of a kind.

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David at work
15 years ago

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alan hamill
15 years ago

sadly missed probably by all us motorsport fans he is up beside colin now rip david

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james
15 years ago

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james
15 years ago

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james
15 years ago

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james
15 years ago

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Anonymous
15 years ago

My meeting with David was very brief in the days he raced for Nissan. He shook my hand and came across as a very friendly gentleman. My thoughts are with his family for such a very sad loss. kindest regards from NZ.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Goodbye my friend and rest in peace; a truly tragic loss. Our thoughts are with your family.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

i have just learned of your passing,you will be missed i thank you for the joy you have given my kids,plus bits of your cars,they will treasure these forever,it was fun meeting you at limerock usa when we spent a lot of time together

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Anonymous
15 years ago

It is a great loss he was a fantastic person and a great driver my thoughts are with his family

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Anonymous
15 years ago

the sad loss of a true scottish gentleman.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I met David at Knockhill in preparation for the Honda CRX Challenge and went with the team to Brands Hatch for the first race Spent the weekend with the team drinking and having a laugh. David was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He will be sadly missed by us all

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I never knew David personally but often saw him with his son at Classic car events and race meetings where we had a trade stand selling memorabilia and he often stopped to look for programmes and souvenirs of his racing career. He was such a genuine, nice family man, my condolences to all his family

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Anonymous
15 years ago

My family knew of David from his karting days and we were all shocked and saddened by the tragic news. He was fantastic to watch and the sport has lost a great racer and a great man. Sincere condolences to Davids family and also of the others who lost their lives.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

A sad day for all that knew and met David, great memories knowing him through work and play at G & G,CRX racing and DLR .

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Another great Scot When I started writing the feature on Jim Clark in this issue - a man I prize as the greatest F1 driver of all time – I never dreamed I would end it paying tribute to another great Scot. A man who was godfather to my son Sam, and to whose elder son Graham I fulfill a similar role. This is personal, so if that makes you squeamish, read something else. Friendship doesn’t get closer than that. Sunday had started with the prospect of flight to Bahrain, become chaotic with the News of the World allegations about Max Mosley, and ended in the frustration of irregular internet access in Dubai. I saw a story on aol about a plane crash, but kept losing the line and didn’t access it. Hours later, in Bahrain, I received the sort of phone call that leaves you numb. The news that David Leslie had been among those who perished when their Cessna Citation had lost an engine on take-off from Biggin Hill on Sunday afternoon. ‘DL’ was not a Formula One driver, though he did drive the Durex Chevron B41 in the Aurora F1 series in 1979. But he could have been. He had the speed in Formula Three to lead races despite his Hope Scott Racing team’s tiny budget in 1981, and he put the pretty little Magnum 833 on the pole for the opening race of 1983 at Silverstone. Martin Brundle was one of the guys behind him that day, and so was an upcoming Brazilian called Ayrton Senna da Silva, who was so miffed he could only assume that David was cheating. But David was never the sort of guy who had to resort to underhand behaviour. Sure, he ribbed the hell out of me the time I wrote a Karting magazine column erroneously describing him as Tom’s godfather, and he never let me live that down. But he was as honest as he was Scottish. The Leslies lived in Carlisle for a long time after he moved down from his native Dumfriesshire, before they settled near Banbury. When he and Jane, the niece of Lola founder Eric Broadley, first got together, one of his earliest comments to her was: “Racing comes first.” Man, we used to tease him about that. And his habitually taciturn, “Aye, how do?” greeting. How many times did we drive home from dinner with them, or from the occasional holiday, and for Trish to say to me, “Did you know DL is driving at so and so…?” And she would know far more about his plans than I, the so-called pro journalist, had ever been able to winkle out of him. At Cadwell Park one year somebody parked a motorcycle right in the Jedi team’s camp. Just as I was about to go into my usual crass sort of ‘Which idiot left that there?’ routine, up popped DL with that bearded grin of his, having ridden over from Banbury specifically to watch Tom race. I can still see the doubt on his face as we watched him overtaking Adam Saward going into the Mountain, something neither of us had ever seen done previously, before Adam negated the bold and successful move by simply pushing Tom on to the grass on the exit. David rarely gave much away, but I think he was impressed that day. I certainly was. A champion in Formula Ford and a star in sports and touring cars, DL was also a great guy, a devoted family man, and a racer to the core. He and his Dad, ‘Father David,’ discovered David Coulthard in 1989 when he drove for their Formula Ford team, and nurtured the careers of Le Mans winner Allan McNish and Indianapolis 500 victor Dario Franchitti. I’ve never had to write quite this sort of valediction before. It hurts terribly. As a racer, David Leslie was great; but as a mate he was even greater. As a family, we are eviscerated by his loss. This weekend, as everyone else talks of the Bahrain GP or scandals involving other motorsport figures, I want the world to know how fiercely, fiercely proud we are of a man who was truly worth knowing. David Tremayne Taken from Bahrain GP issue, Grand Prix + ezine

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Anonymous
15 years ago

All the way back to Caldew Gate and the Garage, One of the nicest and most unaffected men I have ever know. He deserves his memory and his many friends, all of whom will miss him terribly. My sincere condolances to his family

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I sat next to you in a 12 car night navigational rally in the 70's. I was pretending to navigate and you were driving the wheels of a Fiat 127 "demonstrater" borrowed from your dad's garage in Carlisle. We met by chance 30 odd years later at Oxford Services and you were the same uncomplicated lovely guy. We spent 30 minutes catching up on 30 years. You will be sadly missed David.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Gail and I remember the last time we spoke with you, in the paddock at Le Mans. We will treasure this memory forever. A sad loss for motorsport, but an even greater loss to the wider world. A nicer. kinder gentleman will be hard to find. RIP David, Gail and Adrian Streather, Switzerland.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

As the Nissan BTCC press officer back in the mid-ninetees, I have very fond memories of David and Anthony Reid. Somehow they made cold, wet weekends at the likes of Croft circuit bearable. My heart goes out to Jane and the kids.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I had the pleasure of meeting David many times at Bloxham School via our sons freindship and he always took the time for a chat. A lovely gentlemen and a racing legend. God Bless Nick Cleaver

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Anonymous
15 years ago

A true gent and sportsman, always had time for a chat, David you will be sadly missed around the paddocks of Britain. Rest in Peace

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Type your memory in this box and click Next I was at sliverstone watching btcc at time, when david was driving for Nissan primear team he was trying tobuy a modle of Honda in witch he drive I ask him about the race he told me alot about it , he sign aprogramme for me at the time .I thoght wot a true gentleman he wil be miss .

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Anonymous
15 years ago

i remember david for his quiet,shy,demeanor when he used to come down to a little clay pigeon shoot that we held on the solway marsh.he arrived with a fellow called gorden who worked as a salesman in the garage that david,s dad ran. i remember he seemed to enjoy himself and actually donated a few trophies 2 of which i won and still have to this day.my condolences to his family. i,m glad to have met him.not forgotten

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Anonymous
15 years ago

David, you were a true gentleman who will be greatly missed. It was an honour to know you and a great pleasure to work with you. Life should never end like this. I hope you know how many people respected you and how grateful people are that you were part of their lives. To often in life people leave us before we get the chance to say thank you and good bye. RIP x

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Anonymous
15 years ago

a true legend what a sad loss of a truely respected man

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Anonymous
15 years ago

First had the pleasure of meeting David and his lovely parents at Donington, back in his TC days, a really genuine guy who always made the time and effort to speak to fans. Our thoughts are with all the families affected by this tradgedy.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

A great loss to the world

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Anonymous
15 years ago

knew david, and competed against him in kart racing.a most likable and presentable person who always had time to say hello even when in the busy touring car pits.sadly missed and my thoughts go out to his dad,dave.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I was Davids personal trainer when he raced with Proton PSP in BTCC, a true gentleman and friend...it was a pleasure knowing and working with you.....

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Tragic news for british motorsport a gentleman driver in everyway .So sad that he was going to race for appex jaguar this season in gt3. I hope they win at silverstone for him. R.I.P

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Memories of Mosport, Canada and Silverstone. David, your are in a better place but remain in our hearts forever. We miss you dearly.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

David, Blue RP24 and David senior great memories for FF1600 RIP

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Another great loss to the world of motorsport, he will be sadly missed. I was fortunate to meet him once when he drove for Nissan. R.I.P David.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

You were one of the few, genuine, down-to-earth motorsport drivers. First met you at TWR - you filled in for Rickard at a Volvo PR track day. You will be sorely missed by those many people you always had time for.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I started watching the BTCC at Silverstone from 1997, And was fortunate enough to meet David on two occasions, the first was a picture with David and his signature on my programme, the second was he signed another programme for my son who had only been born a few weeks earlier. A fantastic racing driver and one that has left me with fantastic memories. Thankyou, And deepest condolences goes from me to Davids wife and family. Take Care..

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Anonymous
15 years ago

The last time I saw you was at Oulton Park. Though very busy, you took time for me to take a photograph!. Lovely man, you will be sadly missed.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I met David at Limerock Park in the US back in 2001. We were just there to see the racing and were talking to him in the paddock about the car. I remember thinking..."this guy doesn't need to be talking to us". He seemed so down to earth and genuinely friendly to us, complete stangers who just loved racing. That really impressed me and I was a fan from then on...He will be missed, my condolences to his and all those family members affected by Sundays accident.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Had the great privilige to work with David at Team PSP and he was the nicest guy you could meet on the circuit. No airs and graces or arrogance, just out and out nice. My thoughts are with Jane and their two sons, and the families of all the other victims of this horrendous tragedy.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I used to watch you race when I was at Donington Park and you were the best driver that I could remember I have still got your autographs you gave me in the Pit Lane Walk about and also I have got Toca 1 & 2 Touring cars featering you when you was at Nissan This has Hearbroken myself and the motorsport world My Heart, thoughts, Sympothies and prayers go out to your Family I will Always remember you for the rest of my life, I was your Number 1 fan and always will be And I hope That One Day We will met Again Good Night David God Bless you may be gone but you will never be Forgotten You Are A Big Legend R.I.P My Hero!

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I used to watch you race when I was at Donington Park and you were the best driver that I could remember I have still got your autographs you gave me in the Pit Lane Walk about and also I have got Toca 1 & 2 Touring cars featering you when you was at Nissan This has Hearbroken myself and the motorsport world My Heart, thoughts, Sympothies and prayers go out to your Family I will Always remember you for the rest of my life, I was your Number 1 fan and always will be And I hope That One Day We will met Again Good Night David God Bless you may be gone but you will never be Forgotten You Are A Big Legend R.I.P My Hero!

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Anonymous
15 years ago

A great friend of almost 30 years, and a true gentleman. Motorsport has lost another hero. My condolences to Jane, Graham and James.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

I worked with David at Honda, 12+ years ago and remained great friends; I sorely miss his infectious laughter and smile; my heart goes out to Jane, Graham and James, I am so sorry for your loss. Fondest thoughts from Caroline

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Anonymous
15 years ago

Raced karts with David and his father (David Leslie Snr, better known as The Flying Scotsman) in the 1960's. Both were top karting champions around the UK kart tracks. David Jnr. was a great ambassador for motor sport. I still can't believe this has happened. My condolences to David's family and to the other families who lost loved ones in this tragic accident.

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Anonymous
15 years ago

A great loss to all who new him. I have fantastic memorys from working with him at the garage in Carlisle. Sleep well David

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