posted
I just read on one of the racing sites that Mike Clayton passed away today. Mike and I never met but exchanged a lot of e-mails. I'm sorry but at this point I don't know any details other than it was posted he died of natural causes.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
Geeze, he really seemed like a nice guy. He just posted the other day too. Really hate to hear this.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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I'm virtually speachless. I got to meet Mike when we were going to bring the banner down to Duck SOup and he couldnt go because his father was sick. We finally got to ride together going up to Mike Boones place for a well noted SNOWY weekend.
For you Mike I give one great big GROWL from Whitey. May you rest in peace Brother.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Like many, we talked on a lot of racing and sign message boards. I did get to meet him at a county fair last year briefly-told him about my shop and left it at "we gotta get together". Shocked and saddened is all I can say. He meant a lot to a lot of people in the racing and sign communities and to say he will be missed, is a huge understatement.
My condolences to his family and friends
-------------------- Kenny Lund Phenomenon Designs Farmingdale, NJ Posts: 72 | From: Farmingdale, New Jersey | Registered: Mar 2005
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WOW! I e-mailed with him a couple of times as well. He seemed like a really nice guy and I really liked his work. Condolences to friends and family.
Stevo
-------------------- Stevo Design Illustration Logos Sign Design Clip Art www.stevo-design.com Posts: 1680 | From: Edmonton Ab Canada EH! | Registered: May 2001
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posted
Let us add condolences from our house as well.
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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man, iam shocked, he was on chat couple nites ago.... never met him in person, but was a great guy to chat with. anyone know how old he was? iam thinkin mid 40's.............
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
I only met Michael once at Boone's, but he was a really nice guy and way to young...condolences from the Baird household.
-------------------- Terry Baird Baird Signs 3484 West Lake Rd. Canandaigua, NY 14424 Posts: 790 | From: Canandaigua, New York | Registered: Dec 2002
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I have never met Michael but talked to him on chat many times. He was a nice guy who helped me on a project I was working on. He will be missed. My prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Mike was a frequent visitor in the Letterville chat room and we spent a lot of time telling yarns about race cars and such. We had a lot in common and mutual aquaintences around the racing circles. A good guy all the way.
Prayers and condolences to Mike's family and friends. Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Does anyone know what happened to him? That awful young. I really hate this for his family.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Michael Joseph Clayton, 42, Lakewood, formerly of Neptune,died Tuesday at home of natural causes. Born and raised in Neptune, he attended Holy Innocents Grammar School, Neptune and St. Rose High School, Belmar.
He was owner/operator of MC Grafix. By far, the majority of Mike’s career success came in the field of professional auto racing. He served on the crew of the nationally known “International Race of Champions” where he fabricated both suspension and body components and worked closely with many of the most famous and successful racecar drivers in the world. He also served as pit crew chief for many local and regional racecar teams including the 1990 Winston NASCAR Modified Tour championship effort of Jamie Tomaino. Although Mike was well known for his talents in those areas, he was perhaps even more noted for his talents as a sign painter and racecar letterer. He was also an accomplished website designer. Most recently, Mike worked closely with the promoter in helping with the resurrection of Wall Township Speedway for last November’s “Turkey Derby” race.
He was predeceased by his father George M. Clayton of Aberdeen, his grandparents George and Eileen Clayton of Neptune and James and Catherine Quinn of Jersey City. Surviving are his mother Barbara Quinn Clayton of Lakewood, his aunt Betty Blasco of Toms River, his uncle Lawrence Quinn and his wife Claire of Spanish Lakes, FL, his aunt Marcella MacNamara Quinn, of Denver, CO, aunt Mary and her husband Don Glab, of Belmar, aunt Eileen Zemo, of Atlanta, GA.. He is also survived by several cousins all of whom were his best friends, the love of his life Laura Reitano and his step mother Sandee Clayton, Aberdeen.
Relatives and friends are invited to a celebration of his life on Sunday Feb 8th, 2009 from 2-7pm at Johnson-Mc Ginley Funeral Home, Hwy 38, Belmar. In Lieu of flowers, donations to the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties would be appreciated.
If anyone wants to make donations I will gladly help to either forward your donations or get you the proper contact information so you might do it yourself.
There is talk of some type of a tribute to Mike at Wall Stadium, his home away from home. They have'nt decided if it will be a seating section named in memory of him or perhaps one of the billboards or maybe some sort of memorial race in his honor.
If your interested in seeing what Mike was all about you can go to the web forum below and read many threads all about him and how he has touched many lives.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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