I remember watching Dave Coyne in Formula Ford back in the early '80s and he seemed to win as he pleased. Last time I saw him, he was driving a TVR Tuscan. Did he reach his natural level or was he a great lost talent?
Dave Coyne
Started by
Maindrian Pace
, Oct 22 2004 10:31
24 replies to this topic
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#2
Alan Cox
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 09:22
I suspect that he reached his natural level - he was certainly competent and went reasonably well in F3, but I seem to recall that he moved up and down the formulae which was no pathway to further his career. I don't know whether he was a bit brash and may not have made it too easy for himself.
#3
Andrew Kitson
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 11:04
Dave was a very hard racer but too hard on occasion. He deserved more success I think. I remember when he came back to FF1600, everyone said he was overweight, past it etc, but he came back and won races! The Festival victory in 1990 stands out as most impressive.
Another memory is from Thruxton in 1989. I was friendly at the time ( still am) with Gil de Ferran. Gil was driving the works Reynard in FF and Dave was in the Swift. Dave pushed Gil off the circuit on the exit of Church on the last lap, but moved over on him to push him onto the grass on the inside. Dave won the race from a furious Gil.
I was filming the race on my handycam and captured the moment albeit in the distance from the chicane. Gil asked me to be a witness as he put in a protest. Sid Offord listened to my version of events but did not want to look at video evidence as there was not a TV to plug it into, so not everyone present could see. After a long evening with a deserted paddock the result stood. Typical of many a hard fought FF race.
Another memory is from Thruxton in 1989. I was friendly at the time ( still am) with Gil de Ferran. Gil was driving the works Reynard in FF and Dave was in the Swift. Dave pushed Gil off the circuit on the exit of Church on the last lap, but moved over on him to push him onto the grass on the inside. Dave won the race from a furious Gil.
I was filming the race on my handycam and captured the moment albeit in the distance from the chicane. Gil asked me to be a witness as he put in a protest. Sid Offord listened to my version of events but did not want to look at video evidence as there was not a TV to plug it into, so not everyone present could see. After a long evening with a deserted paddock the result stood. Typical of many a hard fought FF race.
#4
MCS
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 13:58
I remember him first switching to cars from karts.
He started in the Dunlop Star of Tomorrow FF1600 series and was held in very, very high esteem by those he had raced against previously in karts, so I was initially intrigued more than anything as to just how brilliant he actually was!
He was certainly very quick, but he never seemed to totally dominate and seemed to be destined to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for much of his "career" - in other words, he never quite got the break that he probably deserved.
I often wondered in the early days whether he was better suited to bigger formulae and I think I'm right in saying he eventually did drive bigger, more powerful cars but either there were budget deficiencies or simply not enough drives (i.e. races) available for him to be consistently quick.
Would that be right?
Mark
He started in the Dunlop Star of Tomorrow FF1600 series and was held in very, very high esteem by those he had raced against previously in karts, so I was initially intrigued more than anything as to just how brilliant he actually was!
He was certainly very quick, but he never seemed to totally dominate and seemed to be destined to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for much of his "career" - in other words, he never quite got the break that he probably deserved.
I often wondered in the early days whether he was better suited to bigger formulae and I think I'm right in saying he eventually did drive bigger, more powerful cars but either there were budget deficiencies or simply not enough drives (i.e. races) available for him to be consistently quick.
Would that be right?
Mark
#5
TFBundy
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 15:46
Didn't Ayton Senna cite Coyne as one of the four best drivers he'd ever raced against?
Dave was certainly a fabulous talent in a car but - what shall we say? - demonstrably not the most diplomatic person out of it. Which possibly accounts for his [lack of] career progress.
When he finally got into a big car - in British F3000 in 1991 with GJ Motorsport - he was instantly competitive but I also remember that he told mutual friends that even he found 175mph odd round the back of Thruxton was quite as fast as he wanted to go! Quite so!
By the way when Gachot got busy with the Mace and missed the Belgian GP that year the same mutual friends were part of a movement trying to persuade EJ to put Dave Coyne in the second Jordan 191 - which would have changed the course of motor racing history in so many ways!
Dave was certainly a fabulous talent in a car but - what shall we say? - demonstrably not the most diplomatic person out of it. Which possibly accounts for his [lack of] career progress.
When he finally got into a big car - in British F3000 in 1991 with GJ Motorsport - he was instantly competitive but I also remember that he told mutual friends that even he found 175mph odd round the back of Thruxton was quite as fast as he wanted to go! Quite so!
By the way when Gachot got busy with the Mace and missed the Belgian GP that year the same mutual friends were part of a movement trying to persuade EJ to put Dave Coyne in the second Jordan 191 - which would have changed the course of motor racing history in so many ways!
#6
David Beard
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 16:06
Originally posted by TFBundy
Dave was certainly a fabulous talent in a car but - what shall we say? - demonstrably not the most diplomatic person out of it. Which possibly accounts for his [lack of] career progress.
The lack of diplomacy out of the car didn't hold up one or two F1 characters....
I do remember Coyne being very highly regarded in karting. Those who are VERY good in karts rarely fail when racing cars.
(Stands back and awaits correction)
#7
MCS
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 17:50
Originally posted by TFBundy
Didn't Ayton Senna cite Coyne as one of the four best drivers he'd ever raced against?...
...By the way when Gachot got busy with the Mace and missed the Belgian GP that year the same mutual friends were part of a movement trying to persuade EJ to put Dave Coyne in the second Jordan 191 - which would have changed the course of motor racing history in so many ways!
Oh, God, I'm so depressed...why didn't EJ listen
Mark
#8
Twin Window
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 19:37
I can think of over 100,000 reasons why he didn't listen, and they all came courtesy of Mercedes Benz...Originally posted by MCS
Oh, God, I'm so depressed...why didn't EJ listen
#9
MCS
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 19:44
Originally posted by Twin Window
I can think of over 100,000 reasons why he didn't listen, and they all came courtesy of Mercedes Benz...
I know, I know, it's just that there are times when I pathetically wish that things had turned out differently...
Mark
#10
Twin Window
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Posted 23 October 2004 - 19:49
Yeah, tell me about it! Like Tommy in a McLaren or a Tyrrell for 1983...
Did you get my PM?!
Did you get my PM?!
#11
Geza Sury
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Posted 16 October 2005 - 18:10
Well, I was very surprised to learn this from the October issue of Motor Sport! There's an excellent article in it about Dave crammed with other interesting facts. I didn't know either that he was in line for a drive in the Pacific Formula One Team towards the end of the 1995 season. He even had a seat fitting!Originally posted by TFBundy
By the way when Gachot got busy with the Mace and missed the Belgian GP that year the same mutual friends were part of a movement trying to persuade EJ to put Dave Coyne in the second Jordan 191 - which would have changed the course of motor racing history in so many ways!
#12
Mallory Dan
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Posted 17 October 2005 - 16:46
Coyne was great in various C2 Argos in Interserie/German races. I wonder how he'd have gone at Le Mans in a Jag perhaps. I can't see him and Tom W hitting it off though !!
#13
petefenelon
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Posted 17 October 2005 - 20:59
Originally posted by Mallory Dan
Coyne was great in various C2 Argos in Interserie/German races. I wonder how he'd have gone at Le Mans in a Jag perhaps. I can't see him and Tom W hitting it off though !!
Is there any driver that Walkinshaw ever actually liked (and vice-versa)? Even people who did several seasons with him seem to respect him, at most, but it seems that there was very little warmth either way. And I don't think I've ever heard anyone tell a tale that implies he has anything even approaching a sense of humour...
#14
Twin Window
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Posted 17 October 2005 - 21:01
I don't know about him liking anyone in particular (not many liked him, that's for sure), but he always sucked up to ex-F1 drivers.Originally posted by petefenelon
Is there any driver that Walkinshaw ever actually liked (and vice-versa)?
It was a standing joke at work for years; we used to refer to him as 'Star-f***er'!
#15
Richard Jenkins
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Posted 24 July 2009 - 21:46
Dave Coyne made a surprise & rare return to racing at the Silverstone Classic this weekend. Nice to see.
#16
petestenning
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Posted 25 July 2009 - 09:03
Dave Coyne also drove F3000 in the UK series and this tipifies why he did not get on with many .
He was in the race at Brands Indy circuit trying to crowd out an Italian driver i think he spun at Clearways and ended up on the edge of the gravel but not in it . he sat in the car and the marshalls could not move the car , Suspect he held the brakes on but no way of telling i had to ask to stop the race.
Race was stopped car fires up and rejoins the grid unaided .
Certainly not popular with the marshals , but i do have to say that was a common occurence in those races , stop on the track in a dangerous position and get the race re-started hence not lossing those places .
Pete
He was in the race at Brands Indy circuit trying to crowd out an Italian driver i think he spun at Clearways and ended up on the edge of the gravel but not in it . he sat in the car and the marshalls could not move the car , Suspect he held the brakes on but no way of telling i had to ask to stop the race.
Race was stopped car fires up and rejoins the grid unaided .
Certainly not popular with the marshals , but i do have to say that was a common occurence in those races , stop on the track in a dangerous position and get the race re-started hence not lossing those places .
Pete
#17
ghinzani
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Posted 25 July 2009 - 09:08
Dave Coyne made a surprise & rare return to racing at the Silverstone Classic this weekend. Nice to see.
What did he drive?
#18
Alan Cox
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Posted 25 July 2009 - 11:29
Bizzarely, in a Jaguar XK120 FHC in the race for production Jaguars.What did he drive?
#19
Mondiale 41
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Posted 25 July 2009 - 20:22
He also raced Stock Rods on the short ovals after his "tarmac" career was over. Andrew mentioned his win in the 90 Festival, that was some drive as he was in a Swift FB90 which was a hound of a car, particularly as the RF90 Van Diemen was such a good chassis. His defensive skills were there for all to see as he made his car as wide as possible to hold off future f1 driver Jules Bouillion and the much missed Fionn Murray in the Fulmar Reynard.
A terrific talent who certainly wasn't the normal jockey sized single seater pedaller!!
A terrific talent who certainly wasn't the normal jockey sized single seater pedaller!!
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#20
Bill Becketts
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Posted 25 July 2009 - 22:00
He very nearly got singed today in the XK120.
Petrol from the Cap spilt out and down through the Boot onto the exhaust resulted in a cockpit full of flames and a resulting spin.
Motors TV were there but I don't know if they caught that one.
Petrol from the Cap spilt out and down through the Boot onto the exhaust resulted in a cockpit full of flames and a resulting spin.
Motors TV were there but I don't know if they caught that one.
Edited by Bill Becketts, 25 July 2009 - 22:01.
#21
Chezrome
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Posted 25 July 2009 - 22:05
I can think of over 100,000 reasons why he didn't listen, and they all came courtesy of Mercedes Benz...
Aaah, come on. And that Schumacher threw the whole Jordan team on their asses with his times during testing was unimportant, surely?
#22
rdmotorsport
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Posted 26 July 2009 - 15:38
Dave was at GJ Motorsports when I was working there he was at first in the F Renault team and then moved up to F3000 and at times gave the late Paul Warwick a run for his money.
Graham Warren(GJ) rated him highly and to be fair he was quick (although Niel Cunningham was in the same team and just as quick) but needed direction, I am convinced if he had employed the right manager he would have managed to get on to a Grand Prix grid.
Rodney Dodson.
Graham Warren(GJ) rated him highly and to be fair he was quick (although Niel Cunningham was in the same team and just as quick) but needed direction, I am convinced if he had employed the right manager he would have managed to get on to a Grand Prix grid.
Rodney Dodson.
#23
PMac
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Posted 26 July 2009 - 21:18
I was lucky enough to be working as a hack when Coyne was doing his stuff in the late 80s/early 90s, and was always impressed by his pace and aggression. Unlike other regular drivers, though, he never really 'courted' me, as other drivers did (I was covering British FF1600 for Motoring News). He was the benchmark other , younger drivers were aiming at, and he mixed it with the best of them (Higgins, Palhares, Sospiri, Dean, etc). I agree with the earlier comment about his being more suited to the bigger cars, and he looked at home in British F3000.
The last time I saw him race was at Wimbledon Stadium a couple of years ago. He was bloody quick in a Superstox, a formula with a high power-to-weight ratio and in which a certain amount of physical contact is encouraged. No surprise there. He won the race I saw, albeit starting from near the front (as he was a 'new' driver and classified as a rookie, he started alongside the 'real' rookies and left the field for dead). I understand, as he accumulated the points, he continued to do well as they started him further and further back on the grid.
The last time I saw him race was at Wimbledon Stadium a couple of years ago. He was bloody quick in a Superstox, a formula with a high power-to-weight ratio and in which a certain amount of physical contact is encouraged. No surprise there. He won the race I saw, albeit starting from near the front (as he was a 'new' driver and classified as a rookie, he started alongside the 'real' rookies and left the field for dead). I understand, as he accumulated the points, he continued to do well as they started him further and further back on the grid.
#24
rdmotorsport
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Posted 28 July 2009 - 13:48
I was lucky enough to be working as a hack when Coyne was doing his stuff in the late 80s/early 90s, and was always impressed by his pace and aggression. Unlike other regular drivers, though, he never really 'courted' me, as other drivers did (I was covering British FF1600 for Motoring News). He was the benchmark other , younger drivers were aiming at, and he mixed it with the best of them (Higgins, Palhares, Sospiri, Dean, etc). I agree with the earlier comment about his being more suited to the bigger cars, and he looked at home in British F3000.
The last time I saw him race was at Wimbledon Stadium a couple of years ago. He was bloody quick in a Superstox, a formula with a high power-to-weight ratio and in which a certain amount of physical contact is encouraged. No surprise there. He won the race I saw, albeit starting from near the front (as he was a 'new' driver and classified as a rookie, he started alongside the 'real' rookies and left the field for dead). I understand, as he accumulated the points, he continued to do well as they started him further and further back on the grid.
forklifts????????????????????????????????????
#25
ghinzani
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Posted 28 July 2009 - 16:14
forklifts????????????????????????????????????
Yeah I saw that - judging by the width of Dave when I last saw him perhaps one would be needed to get him in a single seater now. Then again that might have been excageratted by the second hand car dealers suede and fur jacket he insisted on wearing! When you say they tried to get him on the GP grid...
