03-25-2012, 03:27 PM
Hello, I am Mike and I'm a lurker!
You wanted and introduction, so here goes.
The Early years
Ever since I was a small child. Motorsport has surrounded me.
My mother was secretary for Bath Motor Club. My Father was editor of the magazine and also a keen rally driver. Although by his own admission he gave Rallying his best shot and decided to be a mechanic instead.
Transportation for the family was a Full Spec. Lightweight Lotus Cortina Rally Car... Going to school or on holiday was always fun, although, We always waited up on Saturday nights -while he was out rallying- to see if we Would be walking to school again on Monday!
Even in those early days I was always building Soap Box Go-Karts and pushing them to the limits.
The Learning Curve
After Technical College I started working for local rally drivers in his spare time and was quickly snapped up by Nelson Engine Services, a company that supplied engines to some of the worlds top drivers.
I was trained by Sam Nelson, a legend in the field, and travelled the world with my work, World Rally Championships, exotic lands, interesting people.
In 1994 with my best friend I won the Autosport Pit stop challenge. A competition to change all four wheels on a racing car as quickly as possible.
We did it against tough opposition from BTCC mechanics and beat the Guinness record holders from Bridgestone tyres at the same time.
We still argue about which one of us 'won' the expensive and lavish Trophy, so it shares it's time commuting between our homes!
The Rewards
Following success in the WRC and various International championships I made the move to Scandinavia, where I ran the official Toyota Team Norway Rally Team and won the Championship.
A few lean years followed where I became a father, twice.
Year 1999 was time for a comeback. I worked at M-Sport and built the WRC Ford Focus that Colin McRae then drove to victory in the Safari Rally Kenya.
Followed by a contract in the USA where I ran a Formula Ford 2000 race team with great success and was Technical Director at a Racing School where I was also chief driving instructor.
The new millennium saw me back in Sweden to Develop, Enhance and Modify the Cylinder heads for the Pikes Peak Winning SAAB/Trollspeed/Per Eklund Saab 9-3.
I also unwittingly got roped into the final (36 hours straight) assembly and build of the record-breaking car.
The past few years have been concentrated on working as a consultant in the Aero Industry, and running Racing Green Motorsports. Developing Cylinder heads for Motorsport and Street use, as well as preparing Porsche 944 and 968 and running them in the Scandinavian long distance endurance-racing cup guiding IPM Racing through the minefield to a rewarding Podium Finish in the SLC Championship.
My spare time is spent now with my two grown up teenagers and my second batch of kids, riding (and tuning) British motorbikes and all sorts of performance cars, riding mountainbikes and generally trying to stay fit and healthy and enjoy life.
You wanted and introduction, so here goes.
The Early years
Ever since I was a small child. Motorsport has surrounded me.
My mother was secretary for Bath Motor Club. My Father was editor of the magazine and also a keen rally driver. Although by his own admission he gave Rallying his best shot and decided to be a mechanic instead.
Transportation for the family was a Full Spec. Lightweight Lotus Cortina Rally Car... Going to school or on holiday was always fun, although, We always waited up on Saturday nights -while he was out rallying- to see if we Would be walking to school again on Monday!
Even in those early days I was always building Soap Box Go-Karts and pushing them to the limits.
The Learning Curve
After Technical College I started working for local rally drivers in his spare time and was quickly snapped up by Nelson Engine Services, a company that supplied engines to some of the worlds top drivers.
I was trained by Sam Nelson, a legend in the field, and travelled the world with my work, World Rally Championships, exotic lands, interesting people.
In 1994 with my best friend I won the Autosport Pit stop challenge. A competition to change all four wheels on a racing car as quickly as possible.
We did it against tough opposition from BTCC mechanics and beat the Guinness record holders from Bridgestone tyres at the same time.
We still argue about which one of us 'won' the expensive and lavish Trophy, so it shares it's time commuting between our homes!
The Rewards
Following success in the WRC and various International championships I made the move to Scandinavia, where I ran the official Toyota Team Norway Rally Team and won the Championship.
A few lean years followed where I became a father, twice.
Year 1999 was time for a comeback. I worked at M-Sport and built the WRC Ford Focus that Colin McRae then drove to victory in the Safari Rally Kenya.
Followed by a contract in the USA where I ran a Formula Ford 2000 race team with great success and was Technical Director at a Racing School where I was also chief driving instructor.
The new millennium saw me back in Sweden to Develop, Enhance and Modify the Cylinder heads for the Pikes Peak Winning SAAB/Trollspeed/Per Eklund Saab 9-3.
I also unwittingly got roped into the final (36 hours straight) assembly and build of the record-breaking car.
The past few years have been concentrated on working as a consultant in the Aero Industry, and running Racing Green Motorsports. Developing Cylinder heads for Motorsport and Street use, as well as preparing Porsche 944 and 968 and running them in the Scandinavian long distance endurance-racing cup guiding IPM Racing through the minefield to a rewarding Podium Finish in the SLC Championship.
My spare time is spent now with my two grown up teenagers and my second batch of kids, riding (and tuning) British motorbikes and all sorts of performance cars, riding mountainbikes and generally trying to stay fit and healthy and enjoy life.
