Mike Coombe has died

Mike Coombe, the former driver who latterly became familiar to many as the proprietor of Midland Racing Models in Rugby, has died. He was taken ill during the BRDC Christmas Lunch and sadly passed away on Christmas Eve.

The following was circulated to MRM clients via email, outlining his career behind the wheel;

Michael started club racing in 1962 with an Elva Courier, then raced an ex-works Le Mans Sunbeam Alpine in 1963. In 1964 he purchased an ex-works sunbeam Tiger Rally car (AHP 295B) which was converted to Modified Sports Racing with a Ford 289 Cobra race engine. This car was raced in club and national events from 1964-67, followed by a lightweight Lotus Elva in which he competed in both National and International events.

He also competed in the first year of the Formula 5000 in 1969 with a Cooper T66 Ford. In 1970 Michael raced a Porsche 906 Carrera (ex-Bill Bradey) in International 500 and 1000km events. In 1971 Mike raced a Lola T70 Mk3B in the 1000km races and the Interserie Championship. In 1972/3 he built his own March 3 litre DFV prototype for the 1000km races and the Interserie.

Mike Coombe retired from racing in 1973 and amongst many other activities he started a company called Midland Racing Models, which produced and built fine quality handbuilt models in resin and white metal.

Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

I had never heard of Mike, but he sounded like he had a very interesting career.

My condolencies to his family and friends

This is very sad news. Mike was a great character and full of wonderfull tales about his racing days. He raced in a some of the more wild and wooly events that still existed in europe during the late 60s and early 70s, such as Villa Reale, which really suited the kind of enthusiast he was. There was a piece in Autosport many years ago where he's quoted as filling the radiator of his T70 with local red wine as it has both a higher boiling point than water and a much nicer aroma...

I did quite a bit of business with him over the years with books and models and he was always a good guy to deal with, very entertaining and never short of a view on anyone or anything to do with motor racing. He was also proud as punch of being a BRDC member and cared deeply about the club and Silverstone circuit where he was a familiar figure in the paddock all year round.

No doubt he's up there now, in the BRDC's celestial branch, getting in a round in for Gerry Marshall and Tony Lanfranchi.
We'll miss you Mike.