Property experts will always tell you that it’s all about “location, location, location” and after a recent move this has certainly been the case for DAE. After having to relocate due to the much debated HS2 implementation, they have just opened a brand new head office just 11 minutes from Silverstone and it’s breathtaking, especially if you like Motorsport.
David Appleby launched the business 30 years ago after holding a life long passion in engineering. From an apprenticeship at Rolls Royce in Bristol he then specialised in research and development on military aircraft. In 1982 his focus moved to Rallying and in a in a TR8 he progressed from road rallies to becoming a tarmac stage specialist.
Rather than being just a hobby he decided that he would like to work in the motorsport industry and took a position at Austin Rover working as Tony Pond’s technician on the World Rally Championship with the Metro 6R4. When the cars were banned in 1987 David decided to use his knowledge of the 6R4 by setting up his own company as a specialist. He has over the years built many cars and even redesigned the 6R4 with his own DAM 4100 version.
After nearly 15 years working on the 6R4, he eventually sold the business and his contacts led him to behemoth of Prodrive, and a move into the more modern WRC Subaru. Starting with an S8 he progressed to a S9 & S10 which he rallied although only a few times a year, still with great success.
Further partnerships progressed and eventually led to a working partnership with Prodrive on the Aston Martin Rally GT and then on the Aston Martin GT4 Race Cars.
Today, and probably most importantly DAE provides the required technical support for the Invictus Games Racing GT4 Team, now of course supported directly by us.
Members started to arrive just after 9.30am, and after a welcoming cup of Coffee and breakfast roll they were officially welcomed by JEC Chairman Mike Horlor, and Events Manager Andy Webber.
After being split into two groups members then made their way through into the immaculate workshop area. Purpose built by DAE over the last couple of the years this space would now act as the beating heart of the business.
On one side of the workshop, in what could have been a restful slumber was one of the F-types from the Invictus Team. Whilst on the other a collection of Trimuph’s directly from David’s own collection, including a recently rescued rare LDV V8 Works Van (yes you did read that right!)
Whilst flanked in the middle two more F-Types kindly supplied by JDHT, namely the Bloodhound parachute test car, and the fearsome Project 7.
This brand new facility for DAE is of course the culmination of a lifetimes work within motorsport, and when walking around the building it becomes apparent that much like their work, that the attention to detail, and the passion behind what they do is without doubt part of the David Appleby Engineering DNA.
For the fifty members who attended it was most certainly an event well worth attending, that gave a unique insight into a world that few get the chance to experience from inside the pit lane.
To find out more about David Appleby Engineering please click here. You can also view the Invictus Games Racing Team website here, and follow them on Facebook & Twitter.
Also keep your eyes on the Club’s Magazine as a longer version of this article will be printed in the quarter of 2019.
