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After Mike passed away a thread was started on the Britishrally website, here is a copy of the messages left by his friends and colleagues.
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Shocked to hear last night that Mike Panes, better known as Scottie, has passed away. He will be sadly missed by all.
I've just heard that news too! I pass would mine and Stuart and Steve Clarke and all the guys at CC Groundworks condolences to the his family at this sad time. I last spoke to Mike at the Bill Gwynne stages last August. He was a very friendly chap and will be missed.
I heard the news last night, Mike was a great friend of mine and he will be a big loss. My condolences to Elizabeth and his family.
Mike will by missed by a great many of people in the sport.
As many of you may have already heard, Mike Panes passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon following a brief illness.
Not a great deal that can added that hasn't been said already. Mike will be missed by so many people in and out of the sport
Big, BIG sadness in the CC Groundworks camp.
Having known Mike the last couple of years it is barely believable that he has now gone.
I am absolutely shell-shocked. Scottie was great character in very many senses who has contributed greatly to the enjoyment of many - whether it be the many drivers he has sat with and helped, fellow competitors such as myself who always enjoyed a joke with him on events, marshals who appreciated his jovial nature or spectators. We shall all miss him.
I met Mike for the first time 4 years ago and since then we became very good friends. I also had the pleasure of working with him during his time with Chris Moore and Paul Alex. He was a larger than life character who was fun to be around. If he did not greet me with some sort of insult and a laugh after it I knew there was something wrong. A true pearl on a sandy shore.
Shocked and saddened at the news, have only known Mike since I became involved with ANCRO last year. A truly nice guy who gave me some sound advice which was right and greatly appreciated.
I'm still in total shock and disbelief after my phone call last night from Paul Alex. I must have known Mike and competed against him for 20 years. A great character and good fun to be around.
Another very sad day in the motorsport world.
It was a shock to find out the sad news last night, Mike was a gentleman and a scholar and I will truly miss our banter.
A tragic loss to the rallying world. Mike has been a good friend and competitor. We eventually had the opportunity to compete together briefly in 2003 and we had an absolute blast. Such a competent professional in the car and a total nutter out of it. I am sorry we never got the opportunity to repeat the experience.
A Sad loss to all he will be remembered I'm sure.
Mike was one of the friendliest competitors around who effortlessly combined professionalism as a co-driver with being able to have a laugh with everybody outside the car. Everybody knew him; he will be missed by all.
Such a sad loss. Im just waiting for the shock to dissapear and the reality to set in
Gutted to hear the news.
Mike will be missed by everyone that knew him and I too was shocked to hear this news.
I had the pleasure to meet Mike on a few occasions at different rallies last year and share a chat. I found him to be friendly very sound down to earth bloke, and he seemed to be a switched on co driver also, an all round nice guy. He will be missed.
Sincere condolences to his family and friends
Just like to add my condolences to the list known Mike over the last 10 or probably 15 years and he will be sorely missed by all.
A great loss to everyone who was fortunate to have met him, excellent character and always had time to talk to anyone he saw. Only knew him for 3 years but was a great help to me on several occasions. Will be sadly missed.
I've only just heard....devastatingly sad news.
He was a larger than life character who was fun to be around. If he did not greet me with some sort of insult and a laugh after it I knew there was something wrong --- Totally agree with you there....... First met Mike in Belgium about 5 years ago. Have not seen him since the Flatters last year where it was insults all day...
First met Mike on Manx National many years ago when he got the rough edge of my tongue and we became friends immediately and remained good friends. Yes he has graced the settee but never bore a grudge. The sport has lost an excellent co-driver a true competitor who always had time for you and one of its characters but above all we have lost a friend. It is sad and hard to realise that we will never see the cheeky smile again.
A great loss and he will be sadly missed, this weekend won't be the same, and it will be hard to come to terms with. Professional and fun to be with and always down to earth, Mike will be sadly missed by us all.
A true gent?! (Aye, he was really!).... a great laugh.... always smiling.... he got life right! Such a shame that a great guy be taken from us so soon.
Spent all day thinking about Mike.
I first Met Mike when he was co-Driving for Simon Mauger in the Puma- always such a nice bloke. Met him on many occasion since and he always had time for a quick hello.
A very sad day.
I knew Mike mainly from organising the Flatters and it was the '01 event which I will always remember. It was the foot and mouth year and I was on the first stage at the end of the Burma Road when Gareth Griffiths and Mike arrived backwards at high speed despite the fact that the road is fairly straight!! The car stopped and stalled and all you could hear was laughter coming from the cockpit!!! A real shame to have lost someone who was always happy and ready to speak.
Absolutely gob-smacked!
Have just heard the very sad news.
Having met Mike as firstly a co-driver, then as one of "my boys" he was truly a professional in the sport and a friend. Would always be objective if we bounced an idea through him before it was used in the Cup, and who else but Mike would be first to point out a gaffe on my part. But he did it with a smile and it was always accepted knowing it had come from impeccable preparation on his own part.
A total shock, a terribly sad time for his family, friends and rallying.
No words can express such a loss
I met Mike in about 1999, and competed against him and of course socialised with him…! He was a great bloke in many ways, a well-organised co-driver who was passionate but still enjoyed what he was doing.
I first met Mike on the Network Q in 98. He was in the last car on the road number 176, he was sitting with Sabrina Shaw who had only passed her test a few weeks before. I was in the next car, the last but one car, fulfilling my lifes ambition at the time competing on the RAC Rally.
That whole experience was fantastic and Mike became a great friend then.
Gob smacked............can't believe this when I switched the computer on.
Mike was a true character and a great sportsman, and we will all miss him. Always professional, always with a smile, and a great sense of fun. I only saw him briefly at the Sunseeker but my last real memories will be of Richard (Sykes) and Mike on the Wyedean sharing the car together and despite their problems on the day you could spot the car a mile away - from the grins.
Mike was a top bloke who took the time to teach me a lot about co-driving and had the generosity of spirit to help out even when we were direct rivals. He was one of the friendly, smiling, piss taking characters that truly defines the sport of rallying and sets it apart from other forms of competition. His loss is rallying's loss.
On behalf of Forresters Car Club and South Wales Automobile Club (S.W.A.C) what a great loss to the sport and all who knew him. A really nice guy and a shame some things get taken away, all too untimely.
On behalf of all members of SWAC, I would like to add our deepest condolences to Elizabeth and Mike's family.
Absolutely shocked….
When I received the news by Text message I thought it was a joke, and was waiting for the punch line - unbelievable! Just can't take it in.
I've just been reflecting on how long I've known Scotty and we go back to his days with John Morgan in the Nova back in the early 90's.
Heard the news from Ciara yesterday, and still I cannot believe it, I only spoke to him a few weeks ago.
I think it's fair to say all of us are still in shock. Have known Scotty so long I can't remember when I did first meet him. As everyone has said he was a good friend. I'm certainly going to miss those insults.
On behalf of all members of Pembrokeshire Motor Club
Would like to add my sincerest sympathy's to Mike's family.
Deepest sympathy to all his family.
The 1st time I met Scotty was on the 1983 Peter Russek Rally going to marshal with Amman & District MC his Mini conked out again on the way to the stage. A few years later he started to co-drive for John. They enjoyed success in the little Blue Nova with Scotty the optimist, keeping john in line--no mean feat. He always competed in a professional manner that reflected in their achievements against better and more powerful machinery. A good friend and will be missed by all who knew him.
If there was ever a question you needed answered, or a job done, you only had to ask and help was at hand. Whether it was motor sport or personal, advice was given freely and without prejudice.
Well I do not have the words to express my feelings at this time.
I Knew Mike Panes or as his friends new him Scotty for over 25 years and after "Blue" went to the scrap yard in the sky we lost touch a little only seeing each other on events when he was competing and I was marshalling, but I still continued to admire his rallying career with pride after those simple days we had together in a 1300 Nova.
Shocked is an understatement, my thoughts are with Mikes family at this sorry time. Only had the pleasure of meeting Mike on a few occasions but he was always full of fun and always had the last laugh.
Shocked and stunned at the news.
We are both saddened by the news of Scotty.
This is very sad news indeed. Mike will be much missed.
On behalf of Heads of The Valleys Motor Club, please accept our condolences. There were many members who knew Mike well, and many who didn`t know him so well from our club. However, the posts here say it all.
I just thought I would put a post on behalf of everyone in David Wrights rally team I hope they don't mind. Mike sat with David from a number of years including last year on the ANCRO championship. Mike was a great character, he loved co-driving and rallying and this shows with the sheer amount of friends he made. He will be very much missed both from the team and throughout rallying and we felt it only right by way of respect to Mike to pull out of the Border Counties rally at the weekend. Personally I just can't believe whats happened only a weeks ago we all saw him at the Sunseeker rally, we always liked to wind each other up mainly about my tea making skills All the team are deeply saddened and our thoughts go to his family at this hard time.
I'm rarely in the British Rallying section of these forums now, and have only just stumbled across this news now. To say I'm shocked would be an understatment. I first met Mike when he co-drove for Chris Moore in the Peugeot, and although I didn't know him as well as most who have left their messages here, he would never pass without stopping for a chat. My deepest sympathies to his family and close friends.
Think I met Mike just the once at the Autosport Show a couple of years back and only just stumbled across this tragic news now.
Dreadful news about Mike, whom I've known since we were both 17, but I can't think about Scotty without smiling (and laughing out loud) about the following experience:
Also so shocked to hear the news, Condolences to all.
I met Mike while he was co-driving for Mr Moore in the 206 championship. As everyone has said he was a larger than life character but one incident stands out for me and always makes me laugh.
I am stunned - Myself and Liz met Mike a couple of years ago, at a Peugeot function. Mike was howling with laughter at something Liz did, we all joined in!! He was always a character that you could just pick up with and enjoy his company, Liz loved the kilt at the functions and would wait for him to have full hands with a drinks tray.
I have known Mike for several years and spoke at some length to him at the motorsport show this year about his exciting plans for this year....he always had time for a chat and will be remembered for his humour and enthusiasm......all condolences to his family.. Ian
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