The Society of Automotive Historians Leland Chapter gathered for a meeting and guest presentations at the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
After a warm holiday welcome and chapter business review from Leland Chapter President Peter Hollinshead, the proceedings were turned over to Len Kata, Chair of the Society of Automotive Engineers Mobility History Committee. Len introduced two alumni of the British motor industry, Mike Jones and Martin Rowell. Mike and Martin spent the next 90 minutes sharing their experiences in the automotive industry as product engineers from the 1950’s through the 1990’s at Jaguar Cars, Rootes Group, Jensen Motors, Lotus, and several suppliers.
Steve Rohde, an SAE Fellow and member of the SAE Mobility History Committee, was able to record the proceedings under challenging conditions, and produced the two YouTube videos linked below.
Michael (Mike) Jones, born in the UK in 1936, holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Coventry University, UK. He was awarded Graduate of the Year by the Institute of Mechanical Engineering in the UK. His pupilage/apprenticeship was served with Humber Ltd. of the Rootes Group from 1955-1958, during which time he met Martin Rowell. Mike is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the United Kingdom, an SAE Member, and active member of the SAE Mobility History Committee. Mike was employed over a long period in the United Kingdom and South Africa. He had short-term assignments in France, Italy, and India. Notable career highlights include two stints at Jensen Motors Ltd, 1962-1968 and 1972-1975; Ford and Leyland in South Africa; and Lotus Group, 1984-1991. Mike was employed in the United States from 1991-2008 and is a Michigan resident.
Watch Len Kata’s introduction and Mike’s presentation: http://youtu.be/leiaWOpWVxA
Martin Rowell, born in the UK in 1938, began his career in the automotive industry in Coventry with a Jaguar apprenticeship from 1956 to 1960, during which he gained an engineering degree. From 1961 to 1966, he travelled widely as a Jaguar Overseas Service Engineer, helping European importers and dealers keep Jaguar owners happy. At the 1966 Geneva Auto Show, Martin accepted an offer to be the Service Manager for the German Jaguar importer in Frankfurt, which included conducting dealer training courses. In 1968 he joined brake supplier Alfred Teves, a Lockheed licensee taken over by ITT Automotive in 1967. Importer visits in the UK, South Africa and Brazil expanded to Detroit to introduce European lightweight brake components for downsized American cars, specifically for Ford’s Fairmont and Continental and the Chrysler K-Car. In 1976, Martin’s family moved to Michigan. He became active in SAE’s Braking Standards Committee in 1977. Expanding his experience to powertrain and emissions systems, Martin worked for Bendix of AlliedSignal from 1985 to 1995. Hired by navigation system pioneer Navteq in 1995, he moved to Frankfurt to promote ITS and Driver Assistance Systems. From 1995 to 2004 he Chaired ISO’s Committee on Intelligent Transport Systems. Since retiring in 2004 and moving back to Michigan in 2010, Martin remains a member of SAE’s Mobility History Committee and enjoys his other hobby of live steam locomotives.
Watch Peter Hollinshed’s introduction to the meeting and Martin’s presentation: https://youtu.be/Cc6FyoNCW4o