Sprint Car Racing loses huge contributor with passing of “Carwash” Mike Avilla
Rio Vista, CA – September 20, 2011…The sport of sprint car racing lost one of its biggest friends and supporters on Monday night with the passing of San Jose resident Mike Avilla, most commonly known as “Carwash Mike.”
Avilla was a lifelong sprint car fan and in recent months had been in need of a lung transplant, after effects from chemo therapy from an earlier bout with cancer had caused his lungs to deteriorate.
There arguably wasn’t a bigger and more positive supporter of sprint car racing in the Golden State than “Carwash,” who was one of the main members of the fan group “Hoserville” and recently won the Jason Meyers “biggest fan” contest. He ironically had a tattoo of Meyers’ car, as well as one of Jonathan Allard’s No. 0 on his leg.
Avilla had his favorites on the track, but one time said, “If you ever do a memorial lap for me, please say that all drivers were my favorite and don’t single any one out.”
Those were very true words for a person that supported any and all drivers, no matter if they were a regular main event winner, or a driver that struggled to get out of the b-main. Avilla was also a major supporter of the Dave Bradway Jr.
The following was a post Avilla had made on the Northern California Message Board following the recent Gold Cup Race of Champions in Chico:
“Since some of my friends are not on Facebook and still check the message boards, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped make Gold Cup possible for me this year. I won't mention names, you know who you are. There's no way I could have done it on my own. The help and support I get at the race track means more than you will ever know. For those not on FB, I spent a couple of extra days in Chico courtesy of a 911 call that had me delivered to Enloe Medical Center. I'm home now, seeing my doc tomorrow. Hoping this episode might speed things up for me getting to USC and on the transplant list. I hate to say it, but this was probably my last race for a while. Even with help, it's just getting to be too tough. To the friends I only see at the track, I look forward to seeing you next season. To those I didn't get around to seeing at Gold Cup, I'm sorry I missed you. Thanks again everyone, CarWash Mike.”
Golden State King of the West Sprint Car Series Operations Manager George Hague said, “This is a huge loss for our sport out here and Mike will be dearly missed by all that got to know him. He was an amazing contributor to sprint car racing and even made it out to the races when his health wasn’t the best.”
KWS Director of Communications Gary Thomas shared the same sentiment. “Carwash Mike was one of my best friends throughout the years and I can’t believe he’s gone. I always enjoyed hanging with Mike at the races and we had a ton of fun times that I’ll never forget. The races won’t be the same without him.”
Those that knew “Carwash Mike” know if his fondness for Jagermeister liqueur, so Mike….this Jager Bomb’s for you! You’ll be missed buddy.
Services are pending and for more info contact the KWS office at (707) 374-2222.
- Gary Thomas on Sep 20, 2011
- Article Date: 9/20/2011 by Gary Thomas