Whatever happened to Dave Leach?

Does anybody know what became of Dave Leach? Dave was a fine racer and I used to follow his career with interest when he was a regular on the Island .
I know that he had a very serious accident, which I think occured in an Irish road race. I`ve often wondered what happened to him. Can anybody shed any light on this?

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CraigMuc
World superbike rider

he had a big one at tandragee i seem to remember years ago early nineties?, nearly splitting himself in two. he did come back to the roads for a few years. not sure what hes doing now. didnt he have a red helmet with yellow dots on it?

he will be riding during this years tt as a 4 times winner in the parade lap.

Some of the most iconic riders from TT history will be taking to the TT Mountain Circuit again in 2007. They and others will be riding legendary TT machines from Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, MV Agusta, Velocette, Benelli, Britten, BMW, Norton and many more. Among those already confirmed are -

€¢ Giacamo Agostini - 10 time TT Winner, 15 time World Champion, 122 GP wins
€¢ Phil Read MBE - 7 time TT winner, 8 time World Champion, 52 GP wins, Britain's most successful GP rider ever
€¢ John Surtees MBE - 6 time TT winner, 7 times World Champion, 38 GP wins, only man to ever win motor cycle and car world championships
€¢ Jim Redman - 6 time TT winner, 6 time World Champion, 45 GP wins
€¢ Geoff Duke OBE - 6 time TT winner, 6 time World Champion, 33 GP wins
€¢ Mick Grant - 7 time TT winner, 3 GP wins
€¢ Graeme Crosby - 3 time TT winner, 2 time World Champion
€¢ Chas Mortimer - 7 time TT winner, 7 GP wins
€¢ Charlie Williams - 8 time TT winner, 3 GP wins
€¢ Tony Rutter - 7 time TT winner, 2 GP wins
€¢ Luigi Taveri - 3 time TT winner, 3 time World Champion, 30 GP wins
€¢ Carl Fogarty MBE - 3 time TT winner, 4 time World Superbike Champion, 3 time World F1 Champion, 1 time World Endurance Champion
€¢ Philip McCallen - 11 time TT winner, only rider to win 4 TT races in a week
€¢ Dave Leach - 4 time TT winner
€¢ Robert Dunlop - 5 time TT winner, most North West 200 wins ever
€¢ Brian Reid - 5 time TT winner, 2 time World F2 Champion
€¢ Ian Simpson - 3 time TT winner
€¢ Rob Fisher - 10 time Sidecar TT winner
€¢ Mick Boddice - 9 time Sidecar TT winner

Dave or Fred as he was known a long time ago is a personal friend of mine and schoolfriend our business used to sponser him on a West Vale Yamaha OW01, I was there when he won his first TT 1000 Production on a Padgetts Yamaha FZR1000 in 1988. He was a talent up with the likes of Foggy and Hizzy, I was also at his bedside after the accident in 1992 he had horrific injuries, But he survived and i carried him up the steps in 1993 at the ballroom in the IOM for the presentation evening.

beetroot wrote

he will be riding during this years tt as a 4 times winner in the parade lap.

Some of the most iconic riders from TT history will be taking to the TT Mountain Circuit again in 2007. They and others will be riding legendary TT machines from Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, MV Agusta, Velocette, Benelli, Britten, BMW, Norton and many more. Among those already confirmed are -

€¢ Giacamo Agostini - 10 time TT Winner, 15 time World Champion, 122 GP wins
€¢ Phil Read MBE - 7 time TT winner, 8 time World Champion, 52 GP wins, Britain's most successful GP rider ever
€¢ John Surtees MBE - 6 time TT winner, 7 times World Champion, 38 GP wins, only man to ever win motor cycle and car world championships
€¢ Jim Redman - 6 time TT winner, 6 time World Champion, 45 GP wins
€¢ Geoff Duke OBE - 6 time TT winner, 6 time World Champion, 33 GP wins
€¢ Mick Grant - 7 time TT winner, 3 GP wins
€¢ Graeme Crosby - 3 time TT winner, 2 time World Champion
€¢ Chas Mortimer - 7 time TT winner, 7 GP wins
€¢ Charlie Williams - 8 time TT winner, 3 GP wins
€¢ Tony Rutter - 7 time TT winner, 2 GP wins
€¢ Luigi Taveri - 3 time TT winner, 3 time World Champion, 30 GP wins
€¢ Carl Fogarty MBE - 3 time TT winner, 4 time World Superbike Champion, 3 time World F1 Champion, 1 time World Endurance Champion
€¢ Philip McCallen - 11 time TT winner, only rider to win 4 TT races in a week
€¢ Dave Leach - 4 time TT winner
€¢ Robert Dunlop - 5 time TT winner, most North West 200 wins ever
€¢ Brian Reid - 5 time TT winner, 2 time World F2 Champion
€¢ Ian Simpson - 3 time TT winner
€¢ Rob Fisher - 10 time Sidecar TT winner
€¢ Mick Boddice - 9 time Sidecar TT winner

That is worth a trip to see on its own, one reason why the TT is such a great event and should continue dispite its critics.

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beetroot wrote

he had a big one at tandragee i seem to remember years ago early nineties?, nearly splitting himself in two. he did come back to the roads for a few years. not sure what hes doing now. didnt he have a red helmet with yellow dots on it?

I have his FM yellow helmet with red dots on it in my loft!

Dave is living on the Isle of Man and running a very good business near the airport, with his wife.

He is still riding bikes and is competitive in local enduro events in the sportsman categories.

To survive what he did and to still be riding in tough enduros on the Island he is doing remarkably well. 

Hi, just wondered if anyone had any contact numbers or address for dave and becky, I used to work for dave in Sowerby bridge 15 years ago and by ech what a laugh I had with him...! Still see is dad Clifford but would love to get in contact with dave...! Need a good piss up lol. Thanks all...! Dale from ripponden

Hi, I am Dave's ex-fiancee, we went out together from1989 to 1994.  I saw him win in the TT in 1990 and 1991.  I remember the day he phoned me when he crashed, he said not to worry and he thought he'd broken his ankle.  I flew out to see him and soon realised how serious it was.  I stayed in the hospital for the first week and stayed in Lisburn with Kenny and Kathleen for months, visiting him every day.  I was with him in the air ambulance that flew him back to Bradford and then he was transferred to Halifax.  We moved in together and got engaged in 1993.  We split amicably in 1994 after we grew apart.  I haven't seen him for years as I moved to Derby and got married and I heard he got married too though I didn't know he'd moved to IOM till I read this.  I have very fond memories of our time together.

Dale, i was at work the other day in our wahrehouse, and knock me over with a feather, who should walk through our loading bay doors but Dave Leach!!!  i couldnt believe it, he has a business over here and was dropping something off, i had a very quick chat with him ( he was my fav rider as a kid),  the lads at work say he pops in every month or so, i will ask at work the name of his business or pass on your message next time he comes in