Mike was a regular customer in my local bike shop and over the years I had become accustomed to his unflinching disdain for my ratty old bikes. His machines were always immaculate despite the fact that he rode all year round.

Mike died suddenly in mid-2002 and this coming Dragon Rally will be the first for us without him. At some point during the evening (and at subsequent Dragon's) my friends and I will raise a glass to a missing Dragoneer.

The last time I saw Mike, he was loitering around on his shiny MZ250. When I asked him what he was waiting for, he said, "I'm waiting to see if you need a lift, (he pointed at my bike) that heap is never going to bloody start!" But it did start and he rode off laughing.

Graham Carrick
January 2003

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