Army veteran turned racing driver Mike Close is supporting this year’s Poppy Appeal launch in Newcastle.
Mike, 30, and fiancée Lyndsay from Northumberland run their own team in the BRSCC MX-5 Championship. It’s Mike’s third year on the track since leaving the Army in 2014.
Mike said: “I started racing in tribute to my dad after he died from pancreatitis a day after his 50th birthday, while I was serving my notice - it was a real shock. So from the life insurance I invested £10,000 in a race car in order to do something I really wanted.”
Mike, a product development engineer, is also studying motorsport engineering as a distance learning course with Staffordshire University.
Mike comes from a strong military background – his grandparents were in the military and his dad was involved with the cadets for more than 30 years. Mike said: “I joined the cadets as a young lad and natural progression took me through to the army. I joined up as an electronics technician and after my basic training spent the next nine years looking after Challenger 2 tanks.”
But Mike’s time in the forces was bitter-sweet. He said: “It was the best worst time of my life! I never went on tour, more by accident than design. I did all the pre-tour training for Afghanistan with the Royal Dragoon Guards but then got posted at the last second - the lad that took my slot didn’t come back, and that really affected me.”
But it was a physical injury that ended Mike’s love affair with the Army, when he snapped his leg in three places while skiing. Mike said: “That was the career-stopper for me, it was a very severe break and it was a dark time for me as I slipped into depression. But I strongly believe everything happens for a reason and, while on sick leave, I met my partner Lyndsey through a blind date arranged by my best friend and we’ve been together ever since.”
Mike said: “Despite the injury, I stayed in the Army for another couple of years and took part in the Royal British Legion’s first Battle Back rehab trials down in Lilleshall, which was incredibly inspiring and humbling.
“Battle Back did so much for me and helped me to climb out of depression, so I’m really keen to support the Royal British Legion and make people realise that it’s not just about poppies – it’s all year round, providing help to the Armed Forces community when they need it most. That’s why we carry the poppy on our team car, it’s our time to give something back.”
Despite the intensive rehab, Mike knew he would never regain full fitness – he said: “My leg was so weak that my knee, hip and back kept giving out, so I decided to get out of the Army rather than be tied to a desk for the rest of my military life.”
Fiancée Lyndsay said: “I contacted the Legion without Mike knowing, and just asked if there was anything Close Racing could do to help out, and I spoke to Danielle Neighbour in the Newcastle office, who is an angel.
“We’d love to invite any veteran with an interest in motorsport who needs a break from the real world and their own head to come and meet us. Who doesn’t like fast cars? And the adrenaline rush can really pick you up.
“We want to give back, maybe by inviting Armed Forces families to races, or letting them help out behind the scenes. We can put on track days, up to eight hours of driving, taking veterans and their kids out – they can put a suit on or even swap seats.”
Lyndsey added: “Mike was told he would never run again – so now he’s racing a car – he is physically and mentally strong, but it was the help of the Royal British Legion and Battle Back that put him in a much better place.”
Royal British Legion Community Fundraising Manager, Danielle Neighbour, said: “Mike has managed to turn his life around with the love of Lyndsay and the support of the Legion. We are so grateful to them for backing the Poppy Appeal in Newcastle this year. It’s great to be part of an organisation that people want to get behind and support.”
