Story
We are raising as much as possible for the funeral/on-going support for Dai's wife, Louise, and children Jac and Mia. Dai helped so many people after they had accidents whilst competing, now it's our turn to help his family after the terrible accident on SS8 of the Jim Clark Rally last Saturday.
The following words were written by Luke Barry for Dirtfish, we couldn't put it any better:
It never, ever gets any easier. It never, ever feels fair. But for a family that has gone through so much pain, the heart-breaking loss of Dai Roberts has been particularly tough to take.
The 39-year-old from Carmarthen, south Wales, lost his life competing at the Jim Clark Rally alongside James Williams on Saturday. The impact he made on the rallying community is immeasurable, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, professionalism and, above all, kindness.
Born into a rallying family, Dai’s route into the co-driving seat was almost telegraphed. First entering a stage rally at just 17, rallying took Dai far and wide as he racked up 300 event starts as a co-driver, and a further 40 as a keen driver. If there was a rally on, Dai was either competing in it or talking about it.
Everybody has a story about him – each and every one unique and now so dearly cherished. But all underpinned by one common theme: Dai’s big, big heart. Even when he didn’t have time to speak to you, he made time to speak to you.
Few shared such an unwavering passion for the sport. Whether it was his own desire to don the crash helmet, or his love for helping others with advice or in a time of need, Dai was a true ‘bobblehatter’ – and an incredibly well-regarded competitor.
As a co-driver, he was viewed as one of the best. Diligent, patient and crafty when needed, a race against Dai was hard, fair and worth having. As a driver he was pure entertainment – on the ragged edge, wringing the neck of a little Peugeot and putting it places it had no right being.
However it’s Dai’s work outside the car that will perhaps be best remembered. In the face of such extreme adversity, he soldiered on and helped ease the pain for others.
Gareth ‘Jaffa’ Roberts was like a brother to Craig Breen, but he actually was a brother to Dai. His passing at the Targa Florio Rally in 2012 was gut-wrenching for the entire family, yet Dai found the strength to not only continue his own rallying career, but to encourage Breen to do the same.
It’s a mark of the man that for Craig’s very first rally following the accident, it was Dai who got in the car with him.
Two years later, he then faced the most awful of circumstances when he and driver Timothy Cathcart crashed heavily at the Ulster Rally, and Timothy succumbed to his injuries. As a sport, rallying took so much from Dai – but it never stopped him giving back.
No matter the setbacks he faced, Roberts continued to give everything he had to rallying
In his brother’s name, he established the Gareth Roberts Fund, which over the years has aided countless competitors with the consequences of injuries in rallying. The work he did to lift others experiencing their deepest lows can never be underestimated.
The outpouring of emotion and online tributes since the heartbreaking news speak volumes. Dai improved lives. It’s a personal regret of mine that I never truly got to spend much prolonged time with him, but the moments we did share he was always warm, always friendly and always up for the craic. Dai was a winner on the special stages, but more importantly a winner in life.
Heaven’s service park has gained another of the good guys. Words cannot describe the sorrow we feel or the thoughts we share for Dai’s heartbroken and beautiful family, and also Williams’ as he makes his recovery, but we must take solace in the fact Jaff has been waiting for him and they’re finally reunited.
On weekends like this it can be difficult to justify our passion for a sport that can take away so much, so soon. But if Dai taught us anything, it’s the ability to get back up and continue realizing our own dreams, and doing our best to assist those of others.
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