Mike Cook, Senior (21 November 1952 – 26 October 2023)
The quest for land speed world records is a voyage into the unknown, where barriers are broken and dreams are realized. None of this is possible without the stage first being set by passionate and dedicated people like Mike Cook. A visionary in the land-speed community, Mike Cook brought FIM Land Speed World Racing to new heights through his promotion of competition events at Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats, and the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. FIM joins the land-speed racing community in remembering Mike Cook’s indelible contributions to the sport in the wake of his passing on 26 October, 2023. He weas 70 years old.
Mike Cook’s success as a promoter stems from his roots as a racer and competitor, himself. Son of Doug Cook, famous for the Stone Woods & Gook Gasser drag cars, Mike was a passionate motorsports enthusiast who always said racing was “born in his blood.” Throughout his life, Cook participated in drag racing and circle-track racing, but is best known for his efforts in land-speed racing. Cook built and raced cars, himself, and went on to serve as president of the SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) and become an SCTA Wheels of Fame recipient.
In 2006, Mike established Mike Cook’s Bonneville Shootout, an event dedicated solely to FIM- and FIA-sanctioned land speed attempts. Though the years, this premier event enabled many teams the time and conditions they needed in order to reach World Record speeds, including the current all-time two-wheel land speed record of 376.363 set in 2010 by Rocky Robinson and the Ack Attack streamliner.
In 2017, FIM Land Speed World Records quite literally reached new heights upon traveling to the Bolivian Altiplano. Mike Cook was behind the first-ever FIM-sanctioned event on the Salar de Uyuni the biggest salt flat in the world. The Top Of The World Land Speed Shootout was a groundbreaking moment for land speed racing and saw a number of FIM World Records fall. This event was followed in 2018 by another event in Bolivia, Cook’s Top Oil Land Speed Shootout, which saw more new FIM World Records.
Born on November 21, 1952, Mike Cook passed away in his home at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife, Penny, children Staci and Mike Jr., and grandchildren Ashton, Courtney, Rachel and Logan. He is remembered fondly by members of the FIM Land Speed World Records community.
“Some people work tirelessly to fulfill their own dreams. Others have the vision and perseverance to help friends achieve theirs. Mike did both with tremendous heart. He will be remembered as a champion land speed racer, successful event promoter and overall lover of the sport of land speed racing. Heaven just got a little faster and louder.”
Erin Sills, FIM Land Speed World Record holder
“Going after the all-out two-wheel land speed world record is attempting the impossible, but because Mike had these Cook Shootouts, it made it possible to do it on my time and within my means. He saw what I was doing and he was behind it. It was very obvious that the guy was a racer. It was very refreshing to have a real official who was a real racer, not just a pencil pusher. For that, I really appreciated him. He definitely brought a lot to the land speed racing scene, and he did it for us, the racers.”
Denis Manning, owner, Bub 7 Streamliner
“When we first went to Bonneville in 2004 we didn’t know anything [laughs]. We weren’t part of the land speed thing at all. We just showed up there with this bike. But Mike and his crew were the nicest people to us. They helped us in every way they could and encouraged us. He was a real enthusiast and promotor of the sport and I can’t say enough good things about Mike. He was a great guy and very professional the way he ran his events.”
Mike Akatiff, owner, Ack Attack Streamliner
“Running a two-wheeled streamliner, there are very few events suitable for our needs. Mike Cook and his crew produced some of the most memorable speed trials events including The Shootout, and even our first adventure in Bolivia. He worked tirelessly putting the racers and their teams before himself, making sure everything was the best it could possibly be. It was Mike that gave us the extra motivation in 2010 to stay the extra day after blown up engines and countless failures. ‘What are we here for?’ he asked Mike Akatiff. We responded a day later with the ultimate two-wheel land speed record that stands to this day. The Great White Dyno will never be the same without him.”
Rocky Robinson, FIM Land Speed World Record holder
A GoFundMe has been established to help the family with final costs.
https://www.gofund.me/79a5a871
A celebration of life will be held for Mike Cook, Sr. on 18 November 2023 at his home in Norco, California.
Jean Turner