The Early Years 1956-1963

David started rallying with a Mark 2 Ford Zodiac.  The first Rally was the Hastings Rally in which he won his class.  The Zodiac was replaced by a Borgward Isabella TS75 in which he competed in his first foreign Rally--the 1957  Tulip Rally.  I think he retired on this event.

Next came the 1958 Monte Carlo Rally in a MG Magnette With Johnny Reeves (Susan's Father).  They retired with a broken water pump.

David then bought a Triumph TR3A.  This was used on club Rallies and the 1959 R.A.C. Rally with Vic Elford as co-driver.  As the car had a 2.2 litre engine, they were put in the same class as the "Big Healeys".  for the Crystal Palace race (special stage) David was on the front row alongside the 2 works Healeys.  He finished 3rd in class.

David and Vic shared a very successful partnership from the late 1950's to the middle of 1961  and were reunited in 1964 but more of this in the Ford years.

On the 1960 Tulip Rally David won his class driving his privately owned and entered TR beating all the works cars.  This led to his first works drive on the 1960 Alpine Rally.  unfortunately they retired and Triumph scaled back their Rallying.

David and Vic were immediately signed by Marcus Chambers, Competitons Manager of B.M.C. to drive an Austin Healey 3000 on the very tough Liege-Rome-Liege Rally.  David finished 5th overall and along with Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom (who won the Rally outright) and John Gott and Rev. Rupert Jones who finished 10th they also won the Manufacturers Team Prize.

David was offered the job of Competitions Manager by John Thornley (the boss of MG) but turned it down because he wanted to continue driving.  David recommended Stuart Turner for the position.  Stuart was Manager from 1961 to 1967.

The Healey was to become a very successful car for David.  In 8 outings he only had one retirement and one finish outside the top10, including a class win on the 1960 German Rally with Stuart Turner who went on to become Competitions Manager of B.M.C. and later Ford.

For the 1960 R.A.C. Rally David and Vic shared an 850 Mini.  They were in the same class as Rally winner Erik Carlson in his 2 stroke Saab and on the final special stage at Brands Hatch in pouring rain and atrocious conditions David beat Erik.  He finished 6th overall and 2nd in class to Erik.

David Seigle-Morris - The Early Years 1956-1963
David Seigle-Morris - The Ford Years 1963-1965
David Seigle-Morris - The Later Years 1966-2005

Vic Elford The Cortina Years
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