Coaker was trained as an accountant and mechanical engineer, and had been a keen amateur
Formula Three competitor during the mid- to late-1960s. During this time he became friendly with fellow racers
Max Mosley and
Alan Rees, and racing car designer
Robin Herd. The four created March Engineering in mid-1969, the name of the team being derived from their initials: Max
Mosley,
Alan
Rees, Graham
Coaker, and Robin
Herd. Coaker was responsible for the workshop and manufacturing side of the new company, drawing on many years of experience as general manager of one of
Hawker Siddeley's automotive subsidiaries, The company's first manufacturing premises were actually in Coaker's own garage and it was here that the first March racing car, the March 693P, was constructed. Coaker left March in early 1971, and received a
March 712M Formula Two car as part of his settlement package. Unfortunately for him, Coaker died that May from
sepsis caused by injuries sustained when he crashed the car during practice for a
Formule Libre race at
Silverstone Circuit. ==References==