Just two years ago he founded the specialist heavy haulage company DIW Transport Ltd and with his knowledge of heavy cranes and metal recycling his services were soon in demand. That knowledge and expertise was hard gained. There was no ‘silver spoon’ start to his working career after leaving school at Cults Academy.
He started with the John Lawrie Group which specialised in metals recycling, everything from small domestic scrap to dismantled oil rigs, before joining Whyte Crane Hire and later James Jack Lifting Services where he was trained in the deployment and operation of heavy lifting cranes. That was followed by ten years with Global Port Services before founding his own company in 2023.
But it was his off-site activities that brought him to a new and appreciative audience. He didn’t actually ‘follow’ in his father’s wheeltracks, he made his own. Dave Weston Senior was a very successful driver which culminated with victory in the 2006 Scottish Rally Championship when he won the national title.
The younger Dave chose a different path although his rallying was restricted by work commitments. After a couple of seasons in mini-cross he started modestly with a Ford Fiesta ST in 2007 when he turned 17 years of age. He popped over the Border for his first three events, away from the shadow of his experienced Dad, finished them, and thus fortified, entered his first International event, the 115 car entry, 1300km, 3 day, Wales Rally GB. Running car 119 he and Claire Mole finished 77th overall. A ‘reward’ run out in his Dad’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII on the following Grizedale Stages Rally in Cumbria resulted in a top ten finish, in eighth place overall!
He had the ability and the speed, so what was next? For 2008 a Group N Subaru Impreza N12 was acquired and its baptism was on his ‘home’ event, the Station Garage Granite City Rally. He and Aled Davies finished 16th overall before concentrating on events down south although he did contest the Speyside Stages with Ian Windress where they finished fourth behind David Bogie, Jimmy Girvan and Mike Faulkner. Impressive stuff. So he set his eyes on a return to Wales Rally GB, where he had earned a drive in the Stobart VK Ford Rally Team Ford Focus WRC05, a big step up from the GrpN Subaru. A sensible run earned him and Aled Davies an encouraging 33rd place finish.
It was back to the Group N car for the 2009 British Rally Championship where he had a whole string of top ten finishes and his first outright rally victory. That was on the Malton Forest Rally where he and Ieuan Thomas beat Tim Pearcey for the win – by 2 seconds! At the end of the season he finished fourth overall in the British Championship behind Keith Cronin, Mark Higgins and Alistair Fisher – illustrious company indeed.
The year 2010 started well with an eighth place finish on Rally Sunseeker then his second outright victory on the Border Counties Rally, but the rest of the year was punctuated with a few retirements including two unintended off-road excursions! He also spread his wings to tackle events in Belgium, France and Sweden with a best result of 30th on the Catalunya Rally in Spain.
Changes of job hampered his weekend rally outings and he did little in 2011, ‘12 and ’13 although he and Kevin Rae scored an impressive second overall on the 2012 Galloway Hills rally finishing 19 seconds behind Jock Armstrong.
The next two years proved rather more fruitful where he finished third overall in the 2014 national England/Wales based BTRDA Gold Star Rally Championship and then won it outright in 2015 with three wins, two seconds and a third place rally finishes. And just for good measure he also won his local event, the Granite City Rally. And what a triumph that was. He and Paul Beaton tied with David Bogie and Kevin Rae on identical times at the finish of the eight stage event. Whoever set the fastest time over the first stage would therefore clinch the victory – but they both scored identical times! So it was down to the Stage 2 times where Weston was ONE second quicker than Bogie. Epic stuff. Their pace had taken them almost two minutes clear of the pursuit led by Jock Armstrong.
His pace was never in doubt and who knows what might have been had he pursued a rallying career instead of the more sensible option? His times on the inaugural Rally of Scotland in 2009 were mighty impressive. The 19 year old was on the pace of IRC Champion Kris Meeke and former British champions Guy Wilks and Alister McRae before his Subaru was caught out on the streaming wet and slippery conditions. A non-finish, but quite an impression!
His serious and considered approach to rally driving often masked the streak of quiet humour which was always bubbling under the surface. He was as deft and dexterous on the levers and pedal controls of a heavy crane as he was with the steering wheel, paddles and pedals on a Subaru WRC, but called time on his weekend activities and hung up his driving gloves and helmet.
Other priorities had now taken over, not least of which was family life. He and Amy had three sons, Owen, Ollie and Lewis and to them we send our most heartfelt condolences, also to his Mum and Dad, Carol and Dave Snr, and his sister Shelley and brother Ryan, and the wider Weston family and his huge circle of friends.
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A celebration of David’s life will take place in Aberdeen Crematorium, Hazlehead (West Chapel) on Wednesday, December 3 at 10:00am. In honour of his happy, colourful life, guests are welcome to wear something bright. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, will be gratefully received and shared between Diabetes UK, Guts Charity UK, and the Scottish Ambulance Service at the chapel doors or via the following link:
https://davidiainweston.muchloved.com/
A very large attendance is anticipated although the venue has limited capacity. If you don’t live locally or would find travel difficult, joining the family via the livestream is warmly welcomed and will allow you to be part of the service without the challenges of distance or limited space. Your love and support mean just as much from afar.
For those wishing to join via the livestream please use the following link on the day.
https://shorturl.at/8Xub3
(This service is free of charge and will never ask for any form of payment.)
