Magic Mike Bell 27 May 2020 - Page 8

Cliff Ryan · 3 Jun 2020, 17:25 (Ref:3980024)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bauble

Sorted, luckily it was one of mine so easy to send HR copy. MOG magazine will have a five page spread 'Tribute' to Mike in the July edition. He was of course a Morgan owner and driver.

Thanks Bob 👍

**Peter Mallett** · 3 Jun 2020, 18:57 (Ref:3980029)

He'll be a long time in our memories Bob. He became a friend as soon as he was introduced.

morninggents · 3 Jun 2020, 19:21 (Ref:3980033)

Are the funeral arrangements known yet?
I know that under current circumstances few will be able/allowed to attend but some funeral directors can arrange virtual attendance via YouTube channels and I, for one, would like to 'attend' in this way.

Sideways Harry · 3 Jun 2020, 19:24 (Ref:3980035)

Very sad to learn of this news. Got to know Mike latterly through GTSCC races and he was always charming and chatty, not to mention helpful when the facilities in his truck came to the rescue in Paul Ricard. RIP top bloke.

andy97 · 3 Jun 2020, 20:01 (Ref:3980038)

Quote:

Originally Posted by morninggents

Are the funeral arrangements known yet?
I know that under current circumstances few will be able/allowed to attend but some funeral directors can arrange virtual attendance via YouTube channels and I, for one, would like to 'attend' in this way.

I am fairly sure that when Mick Hill passed away a few years ago, the funeral directors managed to do one last lap of Donington Park, with a few of his former cars in attendance in the pit lane.

Would be a great tribute if possible at Snetterton.

But thats just me idly musing.

Colin McKay · 3 Jun 2020, 20:38 (Ref:3980043)

If MSV agreed, a gathering at the circuit would be within the rules even if we can't attend the funeral. It would be the best send off possible in current circumstances. Does anyone here have a contact at Snet?

**Tim Falce** · 3 Jun 2020, 20:51 (Ref:3980046)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

If MSV agreed, a gathering at the circuit would be within the rules even if we can't attend the funeral. It would be the best send off possible in current circumstances. Does anyone here have a contact at Snet?

All details are here, it just needs one person to contact them rather than us all bombarding the circuit with calls or emails. If they are anything like Brands then they will be very approachable and where possible quite amenable. https://www.snetterton.co.uk/circuit-information.aspx

andy97 · 3 Jun 2020, 21:32 (Ref:3980054)

Mikes family need to want it, and the funeral directors need to be onside, obviously.

zefarelly · 4 Jun 2020, 13:07 (Ref:3980138)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I believe Mike was part of Ralliart back in the day, if so he would have known Richard.

That is my understanding, When we were at LeMans we discussed Mitsubishi, as I was a project manager for a signage company in 2005 when we did the corporate identity prohram for Colt Car Co which is the UK wing of MM, Ralliart was part of CCC, so we knew a few of the same people.

Nice one Iain.

Moneyseeker · 4 Jun 2020, 17:08 (Ref:3980193)

RIP MIke

Nice piece on Autosport..

https://www.autosport.com/historics/...-bell-19492020

Lancsbreaker · 4 Jun 2020, 17:33 (Ref:3980196)

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta

Phew .

Don't "Phew" too quickly, mate.........I spotted "beech" for "beach", but figured you'd put it in deliberately in Mike's honour

Great post, though......

GORDON STREETER · 4 Jun 2020, 17:39 (Ref:3980198)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

Don't "Phew" too quickly, mate.........I spotted "beech" for "beach", but figured you'd put it in deliberately in Mike's honour

Great post, though......

I spotted that and a few more

Lancsbreaker · 4 Jun 2020, 17:47 (Ref:3980200)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tel 911S

A bit more about Mike .

We had a few drinks together when he beat me to win the class on Flanders in 1987 , he did the Tulip [ Tulpenrallye ] in 1988 , & Ypres in 1989 .

Possibly from 1989 on was when Mike turned to circuit racing which is where everybody knows more about him .

I wonder if I bumped into him before - I did Ypres in 89 - co-driving a Mitsubishi Starion which retired with suspension damage.......

bauble · 4 Jun 2020, 17:47 (Ref:3980201)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

RIP MIke

Nice piece on Autosport..

https://www.autosport.com/historics/...-bell-19492020

And a bauble snap to go with it.

Lancsbreaker · 4 Jun 2020, 18:02 (Ref:3980203)

Hadn't looked at the tribute album for a few days - fantastic range of pics now, even if I'm in two of them

Well done to all who contributed, as well as thanks to Bauble for setting it up

Great memories of a great guy.

grantp · 4 Jun 2020, 19:28 (Ref:3980219)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

RIP MIke

Nice piece on Autosport..

https://www.autosport.com/historics/...-bell-19492020

Tsk, Tsk.

No mention of Tango the 924 or the RS2000 (well, a passing reference as "a couple of Ford Escorts".

Only joking Marcus.

It's a nice piece, as Moneyseeker pointed out.

midgetman · 4 Jun 2020, 20:02 (Ref:3980223)

It is perfect. Very well judged.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Tel 911S · 5 Jun 2020, 09:24 (Ref:3980287)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I wonder if I bumped into him before - I did Ypres in 89 - co-driving a Mitsubishi Starion which retired with suspension damage.......

I don,t keep records of all the events I did , let alone anyone else . But it looks like in 89 on Ypres Mike was in a 1.9 GTI , with Liz Jordan , [ who is very experienced on pace notes ] as his co-driver .
Finished in the 30s overall , which is a good result for that event as the competition is very high level there .

Colin McKay · 5 Jun 2020, 13:43 (Ref:3980328)

Small world. I know Liz, but didn't know she knew Mike.

**BertMk2** · 5 Jun 2020, 14:08 (Ref:3980334)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

Small world. I know Liz, but didn't know she knew Mike.

I know Liz too, she taught me the basics of co-driving and I co-drove for Mike Jordan one year at Longmoor. Just proves what a small world motorsport is - I guess this is why we feel the effects so much when we lose one of our own.

Tel 911S · 5 Jun 2020, 15:25 (Ref:3980349)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin McKay

Small world. I know Liz, but didn't know she knew Mike.

From memory , Liz was always based in Kent .
But she had a lot of experience , & had already done Ypres a few times .
So a guess that he asked a few people , made couple of phone calls & found the best possible available co-driver .

Ember Racing · 5 Jun 2020, 16:47 (Ref:3980362)

We had known Mike for some time before he joined Team Emberson at the start of the 2015 season. From then on he became an important part of our set up.

He and his immaculate truck transported our cars around Europe for 5 years. Taking us to Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Portugal and Hungary. His truck invariably arrived amongst the first at each track and once there he would look after the SLR and would help out with the other cars whenever he could too.

We would arrive at the truck to find his ready smile and tales of his exploits on his journey over, whether it be storms over the Pyrenees or traffic jams around Brussels. The truck became our base for the weekend with the back transformed into changing areas and his lounge area a place of refuge from the noise of racing or from the rain ( no wet shoes indoors).

As a team mate he was entirely invested in achieving success whether it be in qualifying or the races themselves. Catherine came to value his support and advice on the pit wall and he would judge the success of his own weekend by the results achieved. The drivers knew that they ‘couldn’t let Mike down’. He had high standards and expected them from others.

As a racer in his own right Mike was highly competitive. Gentlemanly and fair but skillful and sufficiently aggressive to get good results. And he absolutely loved being behind the wheel of a race car. Just to see his face after a good race was enough to see what it meant to him. Mike and I shared the drive in RU at Le Mans Classic in 2018 and we will never forget his excitement as he got out of the car or his joy at being able to race his Plus 4 ‘Baby Blue’ at the Spa Summer Classic in 2018.

Mike was a good man. Hard working, committed, reliable, straight and genuine. He was a fellow racer who became a friend. We will always remember his smile, his love of racing, his passion and knowledge about cars, his pride in his truck, his love of desserts, his love of an occasional glass of Champagne or a good Belgian beer and his love of Norwich Football Club. The team will miss him and being with him at the places he loved to eat. Figaro’s in Stavelot, The Auberge des Tilleulds near Dijon or La Lanterna in Imola. If you ever find yourself in any of these places remember to raise a glass to him.

We had fun with Mike and will miss him.

**Peter Mallett** · 5 Jun 2020, 17:14 (Ref:3980372)

Excellent post. Thank you very much for sharing.

gary396 · 5 Jun 2020, 19:25 (Ref:3980378)

Thanks for sharing such memories. Great post.

356sc · 5 Jun 2020, 19:30 (Ref:3980379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ember Racing

We had fun with Mike and will miss him.

Beautifully put John.

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