Iâ??m guessing that few, if any, on this list will recognise the name of David
Gleed. Until he retired DAVE worked for Standard-Triumph and BL/MG Rover. He
came to prominence when he worked in the Competitions Dept in Coventry and
along with the late Ray Henderson and a few other unsung stalwarts, got to work
on the rally cars under Ken Richardson and travelled several times as part of
the Works Team at Le Mans and many of the European rallies. DAVEâ??s stories of
starting and working on the Sabrina engined cars were legendary - and he had
many. DAVEâ??s automotive love was his long door TR2 that got taken out and
blasted around Coventry and district whenever the mood took him - which was
often. His thoughts on MVC 575 being cosseted like a piece of Meissen porcelain
were mostly very apt and hit the mark, though perhaps not printable.
I got to renew my friendship with Dave when I was organising event days for ST
at BMIHT and I always knew heâ??d be the first to book space for his stand
where he sold unobtanium. No one knew his sources and heâ??d never divulge them
but if you found yourself really stuck for a vital NLS component, Dave was the
man to ask. Heâ??d find it, though there was always the chance heâ??d already
got it stashed away in his storeroom and usually several more than just one.
He died rather suddenly earlier this month at age 86 with his devoted wife and
fellow stall worker Margaret at his side. The Triumph fraternity has lost a
truly remarkable, kind, generous, caring, knowledgeable and incredibly funny
man who was imho one of the true â??Motor industryâ?? greats of the post war
years. An unsung hero if ever there was one and although Iâ??m eight years his
junior, thereâ??s no doubt in my mind that Triumph enthusiasts the world over
have lost someone who was really special and truly one of a kind. Bless you my
lovely funny friend. You wonâ??t set your overalls sleeves on fire doing a cold
start on a Sabrina engine now. God just wonâ??t allow that to happen in that
Competitions Dept on the other side.
Jonmac
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