Mike Pearce & Sons writes:
It is with regret that we report the passing on 13 February of Mike Pearce, proprietor of Mike Pearce & Sons. He had been battling mesothelioma for just over four years and died peacefully in his sleep with his wife Carol at his side.
Born in Edgware, his family moved to Devon when he was a child. He spent a year in South Dakota, USA, on a scholarship and graduated from high school while there. This experience had a lasting effect on him as many will remember by the fact that he always wore cowboy boots!
He and his family made many visits to friends and his American “family” over the years.
Although attending Seale Hayne Agricultural College, his main love was always anything and everything mechanical and, having worked in motor factors in his early career, he then branched out on his own.
Initially running a sales and servicing business in Exeter, in the mid-nineties he moved into wholesaling, first with Morris Lubricants but then adding a wide range of hard parts.
In 2005 he became the importer for TRW products and Esjot sprockets, later adding the Buse clothing range.
In later years his interests widened to providing paddock support for the British Superbike series as Mike Pearce Racing. This was also coupled with preparing the race bike for his eldest son, Matt, who competed in the Superstock 1000 class for just over two years.
He himself previously competed as a solo enduro rider before being persuaded by his wife to upgrade to riding sidecar with her in the chair. This he did for many years, which also included an upgrade of the passenger.
Mike faced his terminal diagnosis with his usual mixture of grit, pragmatism and a very black sense of humour, determined that he would make the most of whatever time was left to him. This included a month spent touring New Zealand in 2015 and a two-month tour of the USA in 2016. Although his health prevented him from being in the BSB paddock in 2017, he returned in 2018 and could often be seen bombing around on his little buggy, doing what he loved best – talking to people and discussing racing and anything mechanical.
He will be greatly missed, as evidenced by the tremendous number of tributes placed on Facebook. There will be a large hole in the industry where he once was.
He leaves his wife, Carol, who helped him in the business, and two sons, Matt and Robbie.
The funeral will be held on Monday, 11 March, at 2.30pm, Taunton Crematorium TA1 5AE.
John Roberts, North of England sales agent, writes: “Many years ago I rang Mike up in response to an advert in the motorcycle press for a position as sales agent. I advised him that I was already of "advanced years" and was not a dynamic young "go getter". We agreed to meet at a motorway service area where my mind was soon put at ease by his friendly, honest attitude. From then on it was a pleasure to work for him and Carol. What a lot of people will know was his enthusiastic support for the BSB: maybe not as well-known was his involvement in sidecar enduro events riding a 500cc Maico EML outfit with his wife Carol in, and, sometimes out of the chair!!
The many messages on his Facebook page all sum him up in the same way - "a straight-forward good guy". These messages have been a source of comfort to his wife Carol and family.
God Bless and RIP Mike
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