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[Mallory Dan]

Forgive me if we've discussed this chap before, I've done a BB search and very little comes up.

However, borrowing Roger Clark's 1973 A/Sports, he's all over them, appearing with various GRD related quotes/news most issues. I'm aware he was ex-Lotus, and set-up GRD with Jo Marquart amongst others. Where did he go after GRD folded in 1974-75? Anyone know him, and have any memories/stories of him? He certainly seems to have been well connected in the weekly press. At that time, again purely from reading these mags, it appears GRD were as big as March in the customer car stakes, with F2, F3, FAtlantics, 2-litre Sportscars, and rumours of F1 and F5000 too. Or was it all hype and bulls--t??

[Tim Murray]

I've just come across the announcement of Mike's death on the Club Lotus Avon site:

 

It is with regret that I have to tell you that Mike Warner died peacefully on 27^th October 2013 at the age of 76 after a long illness. Maggie Warner and their children Julian and Vanessa will arrange a private family funeral, and in due course a Memorial Service will be held in the local area near Bury St. Edmonds.

Mike Warner was a significant figure in the Lotus story. He began with Lotus as a qualified Inspector on the Elite assembly line at Cheshunt in the early '60s. Before long he joined the Purchasing Department and became Purchasing Manager several years later. By the end of the '60s Mike was Manager of Lotus Components, producing successful competition cars for the racing world including the Lotus 69 F2 car and the Lotus 47 racing version of the Lotus Europa. The company also designed and released the Series 4 Lotus Seven before all production ceased. Mike left Lotus, and with others established the GRD racing car production company which flourished until the mid-'70s.

In retirement, Mike enjoyed restoring and driving a wide range of vintage cars. He will be sadly missed at a number of old car events in East Anglia.

Warren King