Dave Tasker was one of those rare characters who managed to make an impact wherever he went, and British motorsport can count itself very lucky indeed that he called many of our club championships and race circuits ‘home’.
Dave’s passion for motorsport was ignited during a stint working for Quaife Engineering, when he would volunteer as a marshal at Brands Hatch, earning the nickname ‘Mr Crossroads’ owing to his penchant for organising the club racing paddock.
The MG Car Club Championships would be a particular favourite of Dave’s, and it was here that he found not only his place in motorsport, but also put roots down in Lincolnshire with his own family.
Cadwell Park quickly became Dave’s second home, and along with Harewood Hillclimb and Blyton Park, Dave would become known as a larger-than-life start marshal, also taking on various committee roles at the North East branch of the British Motorsports Marshals Club (BMMC).
In fact, Dave’s passion for marshalling would take him to most of the UK’s race circuits, and he would also go on to join the marshal team at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix on several occasions.
Dave’s fellow marshals joined in an emotional and poignant Orange Army ‘flag guard of honour’ at his funeral in Grimsby in June, as we all remembered a friend and team mate whose legacy will power on, especially in the hands-on fire marshal training he pioneered at Cadwell Park.
Paul Woodford, who was Circuit Manager at Cadwell Park from 2017 to 2021, remembers a character who knew how to read the room, and the racetrack:
“I remember fondly, someone who knew just when to lend his energy to brightening up the paddock on challenging days,” recalls Woodward, “and who knew when to put an arm round his colleagues.
“I would spend many a happy evening at Cadwell following the racing, in the company of Dave and his partner Lynne. They started as valued colleagues, and both became treasured friends.
“I know I speak on behalf of everyone in our sport who came into contact with Dave Tasker, in paying tribute to a passionate, dedicated and professional enthusiast who always gave his all when he put on those orange overalls.”
