Biographical Data - M

Mackie, George

George Mackie works with [ ⇒ Spencer King] and [⇒ Peter Wilks] at ROVERs Special Racing car.
In 1950 he left ROVER together with [⇒ Peter Wilks]. In agreement with ROVER, the company Marauder, which wants to build sports cars based on the ROVER P4, is founded.

Maroin, Rex

Rex Maroin tests 1961 together with [ ⇒ Spencer King] the belt tyres on prototypes for the ROVER P6 series.

Martin-Hurst, Richard

Richard Martin-Hurst, son of [⇒ William Martin-Hurst], acquires the "P5 Mark IIB" works rally car with the license number 676 DNX in 1963. He takes part in the Acropolis Rally in May 1964. His co-driver is [⇒ Roger Clark]. They finish in ninth place.

Martin-Hurst, William

A great name in ROVER history: William Martin-Hurst. In 1956 [⇒ Maurice Wilks], who is married to Martin-Hurst's sister, addresses him regarding a change to ROVER. Martin-Hurst is Executive Director at British Thermostat Ltd in Merthyr Tydfil, he has no interest in a change at that time.
Finally, he joined ROVER at the beginning of January 1960, becoming Production Director. At the end of the year, he becomes Deputy Director-General. At the same time he is chairman of Welsh Development Board.
1962 (until 1969) he becomes managing director. In the same year, he visits [⇒ Carl Keikhaefer], head of Mercury Marine, to inspire him for the use of gas turbines in boats and to inspire the production of marinized land rover diesel engines for the Far East. During this visit he discovers the compact aluminium V8.
 
Generally speaking, he cares little about ROVER traditions in his decisions, as they are represented by [ ⇒ Maurice Wilks] and [⇒ George Farmer]. With a racing and rally programme from 1962 to 1965, he proves that ROVER has more to offer than honor and quality. This is a clever marketing gambit that changes ROVER's image.
He doesn't like to sit at his desk and often hangs around the factory buildings. Everywhere he looks for better solutions - and gets on the nerves of some people.
 
He remembers the V8 as follows:
"I visited Mercury-Marine in North America to talk to [⇒ Carl Keikhaefer]ü about the purchase of ROVER gas turbines for his recreational craft. When he and his chief engineer [⇒ Charlie Strang] had thoroughly studied all the details, documents and balance sheets of ROVER, Strang suddenly said:"I see you have a 2.5 litre diesel". By which, of course, he meant our Land-Rover-Diesel. Then he told me that they were in the process of developing an inboard/outboard system for Chinese fishermen and using the expensive Mercedes diesel engines for it. So I delivered him some Land Rover diesel engines, which he then built into boats down in his private lake in Florida."
"At a later visit I discovered a small, beautiful light metal V8 engine in the experimental workshop in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. [⇒ Keikhaefer] told that he removed the engine from a Buick to use it in his racing boat. I asked if it was possible to buy it and to my surprise, General Motors had just taken it out of production."

Mays-Smith, Sir Alfred

Sir Alfred is a director of ROVER. He appoints [ ⇒ Spencer B Wilks] as successor [ ⇒ Searles] and released [ ⇒ Peter Poppe ].

Morgan, Peter

Peter Morgan is a friend of [⇒ Peter Wilks]. He builds sports cars with Ford and Triumph engines in Malvern.
His Morgan Plus Four is built with TR4A engines from Triumph. The Leyland supply is no longer secure, since the TR4 is to be phased out as a four-cylinder engine. [⇒ Peter Wilks] offers him the V8, which is still secret at that time.
Peter Morgan enjoys the engine, but rejects the desired connection with ROVER. ROVER takes back the corresponding offer, but informs that the engines can also be purchased without connections.
 
In 1967, when Leyland was already in charge, Morgan had already planned the V8 for a car in development. But Leyland doesn't want to deliver the V8 any more, because they want to build it into Triumph Stag. However, General Motors, who see a competition for their Corvette in such a vehicle, resists this. Ultimately, the V8 remains available for Morgan, the Triumph Stag is equipped with a 2.7-litre V8 from Triumph.

Morrison, Logan

Logan Morrison is a member of the ROVER-Rallye-Team since 1964. He takes part in the 1964 Acropolis Rally, but retires after wheel hub breakage due to a wheel loss. In 1965 he achieved third place in RAC-Rallye.