Obituary of Michael Lorimer Cook

Long-time Wayne resident, Michael L. Cook, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 27. The writer and avid British sports car enthusiast, model airplane buff, and loving, husband, brother father and grandfather was born in Winnipeg, Canada on May 20, 1933. Mike graduated from Denison University in 1955 and became an American citizen in 1957.

Mike began a lifetime career in the British car industry in 1958, working on every major marque including Triumph, MG, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rover and Austin Healey. Serving in both advertising and publicist roles, Mike managed press around numerous new cars launches and oversaw publicity for the competitive racing program featuring the legendary Group 44.

Retiring in 1991, Mike began a second phase of his career as a free-lance automotive writer, editor and consultant. A born story-teller, he was the editor of automotive club magazines Jaguar Journal and The Vintage Triumph, and author of three books The Triumph Spitfire, (1981), The Illustrated Jaguar Buyers Guide (1997) and Triumph Cars In America (2001). Mike was also in charge of the Jaguar Land Rover North American Archives. In June, 2017, he was inducted into the British Sports Car Hall of Fame.

Mike lived his passions. He raced a TR3, Spitfire, TR7 and TR8 in Sports Car Club of America events. He built and flew model airplanes, and was an active member of the Brooklyn Skyscrapers, the Old Time Eagles and the Academy of Model Aeronautics. He won first place in Open Free Flight 1/2a Gas category at the National Model Airplane Championships in 1965.

Mike lost his beloved wife, Carol Ann in 2007, and is survived by his sister Linda, daughter Jennifer, three sons Drew, Tim and Geoff and 16 grandchildren.

Donations in Mike's name may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org or the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

There will be a celebration of Mike's life in the spring.