Mike’s passion for racing and engineering began in childhood, starting with karting and an early instinct to win. From a young age he worked tirelessly, splitting long shifts between the Silent Bloc factory and David Argent’s shirt shop, selling Ben Sherman shirts. Driven by a desire to work for himself, he later rented a small unit at Bolney Grange where he began restoring Lotus cars. 

In 1971, after reading a feature in The Sunday Times about a Lamborghini Miura, Mike set himself an ambitious goal: to own a supercar within five years. He pushed even harder, and through relentless dedication, he achieved exactly that. 

Life was full and fast. While building his first home with his new wife Jill, he still found time to pursue engineering, a talent inherited from his father, Bill, a gifted engineer and inventor. But there were never quite enough hours in the day. 

Carrera Sport was founded in the late 1970s on the same site it occupies today. From the beginning, the workshop became a gathering place for owners — a true, back-to-basics environment that reflected authenticity, craft, and enthusiasm. 

Over the years, the front shop evolved too. It featured V12, Carrera Sport and Lambo Bull branded clothing, and later expanded into a specialist motorbike shop. During the resurgence of the Carl Fogarty era, it focused on importing Ducati 916s and producing unique custom parts. 

Mike went on to establish the Lamborghini Club UK. It started with just six members, with the inaugural meeting held in a Brighton restaurant. The first membership card, beige with green lettering, marked the beginning of a community that brought together enthusiasts who shared the same passion for Lamborghinis. 

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Carrera Sport hired Goodwood Circuit and filled every bank holiday Monday with supercar track days: fast cars, friends, barbecues in the pits, and long sunny days, another era entirely. 

In 1990 came an iconic race: from London to Venice, competing against the Orient Express in a charity event that captured the attention of the press. Mike won, beating the train into Venice by 60 minutes in his Countach LP400 S a car he purchased in the 1970s and one that will remain in the family forever. 

As the years passed, Mike’s personal collection grew: Countachs, Diablos, Porsches, 1967 Mustangs, 1970s Mercedes, and many more each car with its own story and meaning. 

Trips to the Lamborghini factory in Italy often became unforgettable road adventures: week-long convoys of Countachs or Diablos, long dinners with friends, and cherished memories. Many gatherings took place at Luciano Pavarotti’s Europa 92  a hidden spot near Modena where a simple lunch often drifted into dinner, the hours disappearing without notice. The sign now hanging on the workshop wall came from one of these later factory visits. 

There are countless stories spanning Carrera Sport’s history and Mike can recount every one with remarkable detail.