- Inducted in 2008 -
Thirty three years of Land Speed Racing. To some, 33 years doesn't sound like a lot, but for Mike, it has been a lifetime of racing. Mike 'first started his life long enthusiasm for Land Speed Racing (LSR) at the early age of 17. His 'first mentor to LSR was George Purser his auto shop teacher. Instead of working on the normal high school auto shop projects, Mike spent his shop time working on a Corvair (his mentors' car). His first car race engine was a small block Chevrolet that was cut in half and ran on 90% nitro methane in the Corvair. After high school, Mike went to work in a VW machine shop building off-road and drag racing engines. Because of this influence, Mike and his good 'friend "Big Mike" Brehm purchased their first LSR vehicle, a 1956 VW Karmann Ghia. In 1977-78, Mike and Mike became the "Pair-O-Mike Productions" set 11 records in12 events earning the number 2 place in points for EI Mirage both years, missing the number 1 position by only 5 points each year.
From 1979 -81 Mike ran the Ghia alone and set records at both EI Mirage and Bonneville. In 1982, Mike teamed with Gerard Collier and continued to run the record setting Ghia with Gerard's larger displacement engine. In 1984, Gerard built a VW powered lakester and they become "C&M Racing". Initially they used the engine and transmission from the Ghia in the lakester and set several records at EI Mirage with the air cooled engine. But by 1986 they had installed an alcohol injected, turbo charged, nitrous oxide powered water cooled 1.5L VW engine in the car. This vehicle held the VW Land Speed Record at Bonneville for 12 years at 199.902 mph, just narrowly missing the Carr & Kaplan fuel lakester record of 201 mph.
Mike has helped many racers set a number of records at EI Mirage, Bonneville, and Muroc in a variety of vehicles and with many different racing teams. In 1993, Mike ran the VW lakester while helping Rich Manchen with his new Chevy powered lakester. Mike tuned the Chevy engine for a record setting run which gained Rich Manchen entry into the EI Mirage 200 mph club. In 1994, Mike and Rich joined forces to run the Chevy powered lakester at EI Mirage which landed Mike a spot in the "dirty 2" club. Mike and Rich later also ran the USFRA meet at Bonneville and Rich gained a 200 mph club membership. Unfortunately, at the same event, Mike drove 2 62 mph and crashed the lakester as it exited the course during his qualifying run the next day.
When Mike made it back to the salt, he teamed with Rich Manchen and Lee Kennedy running the big block Chevy powered Alfa Romero in 1997. It was during this time that Mike honed his tuning skills with nitrous oxide and gasoline. The Alfa set records at all six events at EI Mirage that year and earned the team the coveted number one points position in 1997. In 1998 the team returned to Bonneville setting the AA/MS record putting Lee Kennedy in the Bonneville 200 club.
Mike returned to the salt in 1999 as a driver teaming with Paul Stanley and Julian Doty. This was with the newly fendered VW Lakester (nicknamed the "Stinkliner") that turned it into a streamliner. It ran a diesel engine and set a record in Diesel Streamliner class that still stands today. In 2000, he continued the tradition with his latest addition to the Volkswagen racing family, a VW Rabbit Truck. Mike and wife Pam have set records in several classes, including diesel, production and modified categories.
By 2001, Mike had begun to seriously help Wilson and Waters with their beautiful 1929 Roadster, and has since been instrumental in tuning the vehicle for the 'fuel roadster records. In 2003, Mike drove the roadster at Bonneville and finally made it into the prestigious 200 MPH club with a record of 232. Mike continues to help many people accomplish their LSR dreams, on the salt and at EI Mirage by tuning engines, general assistance, and answering questions. However, his 'first love for LSR was and still is Volkswagens.
Mike has worn many hats for the SCTA and the Sidewinders Club over the years. He started out as the treasurer for the Sidewinders Club for over 10 years. His next position was the Inspection Chair (SCTA) in 1996. In 1997-98, he served as Treasurer for the SCTA and in 1999 he landed the Vice President's job. Mike has also served as President of the SCTA in 2000, 2001 and 2006. Today, he still holds a place on the SCTA board of directors and is the point-of-contact for all rule changes for the organization. Mike was instrumental in designing and implementing the timing system and results database that is in use today. He is heavily involved with the event communications, ensuring communication for all officials, workers, and timing slips for the competitors. His most important job at any event, however, is the host of the White Goose Bar.
