![]() "Mick was only given four months to live, three years ago, after four brain tumours - so he fought to the end he will be sadly missed by all the hot rodding / drag racing world, a well loved figure! He would always be the last man standing (or laying) in the bar, he would always be up for a laugh and a joke and just loved chasing motorbikes in his 550 bhp Cortina. "Mick was a long time member of the Bumpkin County Cruisers and the Detroit Spinner Drag Racing Team. Mick was one of them hot rodding good guys that always made time to chat to everyone and always wanted to know more about everyone’s car or dragster. "Mick was well known round the car show circuit and often found at Shakespeare County Raceway or Santa Pod in his 7.6 litre Mk2 Cortina which he owned since 1997. We were very sorry to hear of the passing of hot rodder and racer Mick Patey who died on 30th July. We send our deepest condolences to Arthur's friends and family. "Detroit Spinner Racing would like to thank all our sponsors, friends, followers, supporters, racers, family etc that made us all welcome! Arthur, thank you for all the laughter, fun and racing! You will be missed by so many." What an excellent year 2014 was for us, meeting new friends and racers along the way, winning the trophy, getting into the magazines,and a 73 year old Arthur Bonner strapped back in his home built race car running quicker than all the other volunteer drivers! "After 20 years sat up, we dragged it out of Arthur's garage, gave it a once over, replacing the bits we needed to, and out it came again at the Shakespeare County Raceway's Nostalgia Nationals in 2014, winning a NSRA trophy, with Arthur Bonner back behind the wheel again! On we went to the amazing Dragstalgia at Santa Pod Raceway and then the Hot Rod Drags at SCR. The car was then treated to a new chassis, the cylinder heads were changed for aluminium, lots more mods, and back it came again. Arthur upgraded the gearbox to a Fairbanks and the rear axle to a ford 9" but the car took a turn for the worse, ending up on its roof at Avon Park. "The Detroit Spinner and Arthur Bonner became a regular appearing car and racer, well known back in the day. He raced at Blackbushe, Santa Pod and Long Marston. ![]() At the age of 33, Arthur boxed the original chassis, installed the Pontiac engine, backed up by a Jag gearbox and Jag axle, and at the age of 35 (in 1976) was out competing and trying the combo in the Prefect. "Purchased for £20 in 1974, Arthur Bonner had a crazy idea of putting a Hemi in a Ford Prefect! A trip to West Drayton Salvage saw him coming away with a 400ci Pontiac engine as there were no Hemis available. ![]() "A true drag racing legend, Arthur will be sadly missed by all friends and family but will be up there in heaven, teaching them to weld and all about drag racing. We are very sorry to report the passing of drag racer and hot rodder Arthur Bonner who passed away in a hospice last night. ![]()
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