Tributes paid to Isle of Man TT stalwart Dave Wells
Monday 31 October 2011
TT
Tributes are being paid to popular Isle of Man TT veteran Dave Wells, who died in a racing accident at the weekend.
Wells, who was seen alongside Roy Hanks in the number 9 Sidecar outfit at the 2011 TT, succumbed to injuries suffered while racing at Mallory Park on Saturday.
He started his TT career in 1988 and notched up two wins, eight other podium finishes and another 10 top six places. As well as a fine racer, Wells is remembered as a popular competitor and friend by the road racing and sidecar paddocks.
Manx Grand Prix and Southern 100 press officer Phil Edge, a long-time regular in the TT press office, paid this tribute.
“Dave Wells was a devoted TT competitor having ridden in the Sidecar races every year since 1988, with the exception of 2001 when the TT races were cancelled due to the foot-and-mouth epidemic in the UK.”
“However, the Yorkshireman commenced his Isle of Man career nine years earlier at the popular Southern 100 Road Races in 1979, not as a Sidecar Passenger, but as a Sidecar Driver with Tony Smith in the chair – the pair finishing in 18th position in their race and taking a creditable seventh in the Consolation race.”
“In 1987 Dave, moved out of the driver’s seat and became passenger to Howard Langham taking ninth and 11th positions in the two-leg Southern 100 Sidecar Championship races.”
“Twelve months later (1988) Dave partnered Neil Smith in his TT debut, taking 14th place in Sidecar race B.”
“1989 saw him move into the chair of Howard Langham for that year’s TT, before joining forces with Mick Boddice in 1990, a pairing that lasted through to 1998 when Mick Senior retired and Mick Junior took over the drivers seat in 1999.”
“Millennium year (2000) saw him team up with Roy Hanks, a partnership that has continued ever since.”
“Dave Wells along with Mick Boddice (Snr) achieved a long time ambition in 1991 when they were invincible in both Sidecar TT Races on their Ireson Honda outfit.”
“Dave was to stand on the TT podium one more time, with Roy Hanks in 2006 having taken third place in the Sidecar B race. They had finished fourth in A race.”
“Dave Wells competed in 42 TT races between 1998 and 2011, taking victory twice, finishing second three times; third five times and finishing in the top six another 10 times during a 23-year TT career.”
“On the Southside Billown Course, Roy Hanks and Dave finished third three times in Southern 100 Sidecar Championship in 2000, 2007 and 2009 and were runners up in the Sidecar Championship in 2002, behind Dave Molyneux and Craig Hallam and in 2006 behind Nicky Crowe and Darren Hope.”
“There will be a massive void in the TT paddock in 2012, but one that that will be all the more richer with the fond memories of Dave Wells for his professionalism and enjoyment he provided for sport he loved and lived for – Sidecar Racing. A very special Guy!”