THE Southern 100 Committee has described sidecar racer Dave Wells as a "true supporter of Southern 100".

The 61 year old racer from Yorkshire died on Saturday following an incident at the International Sidecar Festival at the Mallory Park race track in Leicestershire. 

His racing partner Roy Hanks suffered minor injuries in the incident.

A spokesperson for the Southern 100 Committee said: "The paddock at Billown will feel a massive void come July 2012 without Dave Wells's presence although his personality and achievements over the years will remain in everyone's thoughts and he will be fondly remembered.

"The Committee and all associated with the Southern 100 express their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time and wish Roy Hanks a speedy recovery from injuries sustained in the racing incident."

Dave first raced at the Southern 100 in 1979 as a sidecar driver finishing 18th.

In 1987 the Yorkshire man moved out of the driver's seat and became passenger to Howard Langham taking ninth and eleventh positions in the two leg sidecar championship races.

In 1999 Dave, riding with Geoff Bell, took sixth place in the sidecar race and fourth in the championship race in the Southern 100 and in 2000 he teamed up with Roy Hanks – a partnership that continued ever since.

The duo finished third three times in the Southern 100 Sidecar Championship in 2000, 2007 and 2009 and were runners up in the Sidecar Championship in 2002 behind Dave Molyneux and Craig Hallam and in 2006 behind Nicky Crowe and Darren Hope. Dave and Roy also took sixth place in the opening sidecar race in the 2001 Southern 100.

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