Does anybody have any info on Dave Metcalfe?

[mowgli]

Quick biography of Dave Metcalfe.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y79/GroupB/Vauxhall/103255.jpg
He was a works Nova & Astra 16v rally driver & spent most of the late eighties producing giant killing results. he once finished the manx international in 3rd in a grpA nova. 1st, 2nd & 4th were full tarmac spec Cosworth Sierras!!!!!

He unfortunately died in a road accident whilst shaking down a calibra turbo 4x4 in 1992.

Can anyone help me to fill in the gaps...
Is there a biography??

[fearless]

I remember that day in 1992 - He was/is my hero - I read about it in motoring news - couldn't believe it, I was gutted - he was'nt even driving the calibra - he was hit by another car !!

It's amazing how all these famous rally drivers (Burns/Mcrae/McKinstry) end there life outside their chosen dangerous career !!


Dave

[mowgli]

my best memory of him was when gm stuck him in an astra 16v for the rac & he rolled it in kielder (I think) live on 'Top Gear Rally Report' with live in car tv feed.... As it came to a halt, His Co-driver said ' what the f uck was that in aid of?'

[craig green]

Agree. Dave was a legend, sadly I know little more other than his works drives in Novas & Astras.

http://www.scottish-rallying-archives.co.uk/metcalfe_90.htm

[burgo]

hmmm look where the fuel filler is on that one above

[Lynsey]

Dougie has some posters in his room with him on them :D

[SGA33]

He was one hell of a driver.I went to belguim to watch a rally and there was him and a local driver bernard munster in novas and they were both absolutly flying.On some of the stages both the novas were quicker than the group a 4x4 cars and two wheel drive cosworths.And this was before wide arch maxi cars and the like
The man was/still is a legend:cool:

[fearless]

hmmm look where the fuel filler is on that one above


Grp A Tarmac spec Nova's ran an internal petrol tank located in the spare wheel well - because they used a rear adjustable anti-roll bar that fitted where the original tank went - so that explains the location of the fuel filler cap :thumb:


Dave

[burgo]

Grp A Tarmac spec Nova's ran an internal petrol tank located in the spare wheel well - because they used a rear adjustable anti-roll bar that fitted where the original tank went - so that explains the location of the fuel filler cap :thumb:


Davelegend

[tom reid]

I had the pleasure to meet and chat to him at a rallycross meet at Brands, a few weeks before he died, a real nice guy.

[craig green]

Theres pictures of him in the Grp-A build manual alongside the Grp-A works Nova lineup.

[mowgli]

I have to admit I still like the look of revolution 5 spokes....

[soup1]

I remember that day in 1992 - He was/is my hero - I read abou t it in motoring news - couldn't believe it, I was gutted - he was'nt even driving the calibra - he was hit by another car !!

It's amazing how all these famous rally drivers (Burns/Mcrae/McKinstry) end there life outside their chosen dangerous career !!


Dave


what has happened to mckinstry, is he not still alive and kicking and hiring wrc's ?????lol

[stark]

I think he may mean the Fishers!!! :lol:


Can anyone help me to fill in the gaps...

Anything specific you want to know? Otherwise I'd be typing for hours.

[craig green]

I have to admit I still like the look of revolution 5 spokes....

Even when they are kerbed that badly? lol

[meritlover]

iam sure he is pictured on the opening page of the nova gpA build manual. however i may be wrong.

edit, iam sorry mr green has already added such information

[fearless]

I think he may mean the Fishers!!! :lol:




Yeh - sorry thats who I meant - Bertie Fisher and two of his children died in a helicopter crash in 2001 - he's another tarmac legend


Dave

[mowgli]

Anything specific you want to know? Otherwise I'd be typing for hours.

In my opinion, I think nova history seems to have overlooked him, I can remember watching british rally championship shows & seeing his little rocket ship regularly embarassing people with twice the power & twice the driven wheels.
I did buy something of ebay & I know he was a works driver from 87 onwards & actually worked for Atkinsons motorsport building & prepping gm rally cars. he felt put out when everybody got an astra 16v & he got the nova, cos he'd actually developed the astra for the stages, so maybe he had a point to prove, but anyone who watched him drive knew what a talent he was.

[stark]

How do you mean Nova history overlooked him?

He is one of the reasons why Nova's became so successful - same as Colin was for Subaru. Anyone that knows anything knew he was a great driver, just that the opertunities weren't always dished out in his favour.

Atkinson's never built any of the works cars, they were a private operation, totally seperate to GM Dealer Sport.

[mowgli]

How do you mean Nova history overlooked him?

He is one of the reasons why Nova's became so successful - same as Colin was for Subaru. Anyone that knows anything knew he was a great driver, just that the opertunities weren't always dished out in his favour.

Atkinson's never built any of the works cars, they were a private operation, totally seperate to GM Dealer Sport.

try googling him then.....

Honestly, I know he was the man in a rally nova, & could have been awesome had he had the chance in a 4wd car, but the info on him is very scarce, maybe we should put this right......

I never said atkinsons were building works cars.
All the gm dealer sport stuff was done in house at milton keynes.they did make sure that everybody else could build a works spec car, which is why the build manual was done.

[stark]

A popular motoring author wanted to write a book about Dave Metcalfe after his death, but his wife felt that Dave would not want that. I suppose this is the reason there is no website etc as people have respected his wife's wishes.

There is plenty of information out there on Dave and the works cars. The build manual however tells you how to build a group a car, not a works spec car. The works cars are quite different to the manual.

There is a common misconception on what "Group A" actually means. Total Vauxhall and for sale adds / ebay etc are full of supposed Group A parts and cars, but these are purely aftermarket upgrades. A rally cam for instance is an aftermarket item, not neccessarily a GrpA cam. Not a go at you Mowgli, just a general rant!

[fearless]

As a liitle treat for you all - I've scanned in this old article about Dave Metcalfe :thumb: printed in Cars and Car conversions from way back in October 1990 (Shows how old I am lol ) - I kept the mag because it's got some really good features about nova's in it - Its well worth a read ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/fearlessmotorsport/ccc10901s.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/fearlessmotorsport/ccc10902s.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/fearlessmotorsport/ccc10903s.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/fearlessmotorsport/ccc10904s.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/fearlessmotorsport/ccc10905s.jpg



If I get chance I'll scan the other articles (Grp A Nova build at Hockley's & a Race Prep nova)


Found this old advert for Atkinsons Motorsport (If only the decent parts were as cheap now !!!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/fearlessmotorsport/ccc10906s.jpg



Dave

[meritlover]

i have questions regarding the differences between the GpA and GpN 1600 air flow meter. im assuming the difference is that it flows better, but how is this done and how is it calibrated to suit?

[craig green]

I would have thought the Grp-A AFM has different software inside.

Changing the air flap spring tension is easy if you want to. Go through the top.

[meritlover]

yes chaning the spring tension is easy, however this means for the same air flow, the flap will be in a more open position, this has in effect shortened its 'range' and make it less suitable for a high flow engine. seeing as the internals is just a pot and a wiper arm. is the pot of a higher resistance? or is the complete unit bigger, with hoghervolume chambers and larger flap?

[craig green]

I'd say the pot will have a higher resistance.

I've got an alleged 'superchipped' Nova GTE AFM here, though I didnt get the ECU with it..... pretty useless but it was free.

[meritlover]

but even if the pot has a higher resistance, there will be less physical tavel for the flapper, which will make it almost useless at high rpm/ load bands and pressure pulses in the inlet will cause it to flutter due to the weak spring.

[craig green]

Something for a Grp-A engine discussion IMO.

[meritlover]

you are most probably correct mr Green. if admin could move the associated posts and enter them in a new topin in 'Mechanical' i would be a very happy meritlover!!!

[Zeus]

Sorry to bring this up from the depths(I signed up after seeing my hosted pic in the link). Dave was my all time hero, I wanted a gte so bad after seeing the way he drove that car. I will always have Manx 1989 etched into my memory :thumb: Does anyone know if the car survives?

[AlexW]

The car was certainly around untill 2003, Picked from the DVLA website:
Date of Liability 01 11 2003

[phunkynova]

Probably the next best person to ask about Dave Metcalfe after his wife must be Ian Grindrod his navigator I'm sure he has some good story's and tail's of near moments

[letvalva]

my first gsi had an atkinsons air flow and ecu, miles more responsive than standard, there is and atkinsons 20xe ecu that does the rounds too and i dont think it has a rev limiter, if it does its higher than any one dares rev a car with it on lol

[matt_vaughan]

Just bought the above CCC off eBay. Cant believe I found it. I will reproduce the articles for the club section for our members reading. If anyone has any other articles that they would like this to be done with, let me know or post me the magazine and Ill happily do it. It would be great to build up a library of Nova articles and information.

[Andrewj]

Hi everyone... I'm s huge huge nova and ex works fan.. Does anyone please know where I could get a copy

a ex works build manual.. There was a chap on here that had one in digital form but I can't find his name
thsnkyou everyone and nice to meet you sll

[TugSR]

I have an original build manual Andrew - drop me a PM if you are interested ?
Cheers
Paul
:thumb:

[Southie]

Hi everyone... I'm s huge huge nova and ex works fan.. Does anyone please know where I could get a copy

a ex works build manual.. There was a chap on here that had one in digital form but I can't find his name
thsnkyou everyone and nice to meet you sll
Digital version here:
http://www.opel-blitz.lv/files/NovaCompetitionBuildGuide.pdf

[boffer8]

I have an original build manual Andrew - drop me a PM if you are interested ?
Cheers
Paul
:thumb:

Pm'd you regarding :d

[Levy9]

Some articles on Dave Metcalfe's tragic accident from the Westmorland Gazette.

https://s14.postimg.org/zbkqc6w0t/Dave_Metcalfe_Dec_1992.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/zbkqc6w0t/)

https://s18.postimg.org/bpxh9cdbp/Dave_Metcalfe_April_1993.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/bpxh9cdbp/)