Mike Irons 1934-2022

Architect, engineer, racing car constructor and Monoposto competitor Mike Irons died last Tuesday, aged 87, three days after a fall at home left him paralysed from the neck down.

Irons made early U2 chassis for Arthur Mallock, but took issue with the Major’s proposal to pay when each ‘kit’ was sold.

His first Micron – based on a £160 prototype MRD/ Brabham chassis – was debuted by Roger Lea, with 1172cc Ford power, in the 1964 Monoposto opener. The combo appeared spasmodically until a 1967 crash in 1000cc trim at Silverstone.

Irons bought the remains, updated it and went racing, later fitting a 1500cc engine. It subsequently formed the basis of the Chambers brothers’ ‘Micron MK2C’.

Irons and Fred Place then built a monocoque Micron, which was ready in mid-1971. Having led the championship initially with a third and two seconds from the opening rounds in the ex-edward Reeves Brabham BT18, Irons finished fourth in the table.

With the later Micron, then the BT18 with 1000cc engines in 1972, he won the Class B title even before multiple injuries sustained at Crystal Palace’s final meeting ended his serious racing efforts.

Once recovered, Wavendonbased Irons built more Microns, including a front-engined one and another with transverse BMC power (Mini-micron). He was also on the design team of Aston Martin’s Bulldog.