Mike Downing and I were best of friends all through high school and beyond until his passing on Dec. 19, 1979.
We built model cars and model airplanes and then on motorbikes, motorcycles and then Hotrods we both loved cars and all things mechanical. We used to cruise K St. whenever we could scrape up 50 cents to a dollar to buy gas and 23 cents for cigarettes.
Mike was involved in a horrific automobile accident in 1962 while an older friend of his was driving a 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix out interstate 80 by the future location of Cal Expo they were racing on the freeway and his friend lost control of the car and hit the guard rail going backwards at a high rate of speed. Mike was ejected out the small back window of the car and broke his Jaw and suffered head trauma. He recovered and went on to get married and have a son and twin boys. Later in life he started to experienced black outs that were attributed to the accident and passed away, way too young just 35 years old from complications of that earlier injury. I still miss him and recall the great memories of growing up in the 60’s.
My friend Cliff Cortright just posted a great tribute to our good friend Mike Downing. However I feel compelled to add a little more. I first met Mike in the 7th grade. For a variety of reasons, common interests, a group of us became good friends. Those friends include Cliff Cortright, Bruce Risley, Gary Andersen, Dennis Honig, and a few others. We did everything together (both good and bad). And, like Cliff says in his tribute, spent way too much time on and with cars, as opposed to homework.
All but Mike are still good freinds today. And see each other on a regular basis. And every one of us still miss Mike after 33 years! A great guy!!
Cliff Cortright
Mike Downing and I were best of friends all through high school and beyond until his passing on Dec. 19, 1979.
We built model cars and model airplanes and then on motorbikes, motorcycles and then Hotrods we both loved cars and all things mechanical. We used to cruise K St. whenever we could scrape up 50 cents to a dollar to buy gas and 23 cents for cigarettes.
Mike was involved in a horrific automobile accident in 1962 while an older friend of his was driving a 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix out interstate 80 by the future location of Cal Expo they were racing on the freeway and his friend lost control of the car and hit the guard rail going backwards at a high rate of speed. Mike was ejected out the small back window of the car and broke his Jaw and suffered head trauma. He recovered and went on to get married and have a son and twin boys. Later in life he started to experienced black outs that were attributed to the accident and passed away, way too young just 35 years old from complications of that earlier injury. I still miss him and recall the great memories of growing up in the 60’s.
Cliff Cortright
Art Carlson
My friend Cliff Cortright just posted a great tribute to our good friend Mike Downing. However I feel compelled to add a little more. I first met Mike in the 7th grade. For a variety of reasons, common interests, a group of us became good friends. Those friends include Cliff Cortright, Bruce Risley, Gary Andersen, Dennis Honig, and a few others. We did everything together (both good and bad). And, like Cliff says in his tribute, spent way too much time on and with cars, as opposed to homework.
All but Mike are still good freinds today. And see each other on a regular basis. And every one of us still miss Mike after 33 years! A great guy!!
Art Carlson,