Michael Vignochi - R.I.P.

Jimmy R Parker · 12-17-2008, 04:24 PM

Division II S/SS racer and all around good guy Mike Vignochi lost his battle with cancer on Monday. Most will remember Mike from his partnership with Greg Wood (they won the Div II SS Championship together in the mid eighties) and most recently the F/SA Corvette he campaigned with his grandson Christopher Turnage driving. Mike will be missed by the racing community and all who knew him. Mike was easy to describe, he was a gentleman who loved his family and friends and they loved him. Greg shared a some tidbits about Michael today that I would like to pass on. We knew Michael was very intelligent but we didn't know that he was President of his Senior HS Class, President of the National Honor Society and had one of the highest scores ever recorded on the SAT.
A memorial service will be held at 6 PM on Thursday, 12-18 at Cully's MeadowWood Funeral Home in Tallahassee. More information is available at Tallahassee.com obituaries.
Please keep Michael's wife Frankie and the rest of his family in your prayers.

Jimmy Parker

Mark Lewis · 12-17-2008, 05:15 PM

Did he also have a malibu in K/sa in the last few years?

Joe Pinkston · 12-17-2008, 05:45 PM

Mike was a great guy. Sad to hear of his passing. Godspeed my friend.

rick winchester · 12-17-2008, 06:12 PM

Sad news indeed. Good guy who was smiling everytime we meet. Sure glad he made the trip to Indy this year and that we had time for a couple cold beers. R.I.P. Rick & Phyllis Winchester

Stock4106 · 12-17-2008, 07:56 PM

He truly was a great person to be around. Every time I spoke to him, he was laughing joking about something. I am going to miss seeing him at the races. My prayers are with Chris and the rest of his family.

Jim Cassels · 12-17-2008, 08:30 PM

Jimmy thank you for posting this. Mike loved drag racing and was a dear frind of mine. Mark I have his old malibu and we will add his name to the list of fallen racers on the car. Rick hope you and Phillis are well. I shed a tear for my friend. He was a great guy.
Jim

Woodro Josey · 12-17-2008, 08:52 PM

This is Sad news indeed, i didn't even know Mike was sick. He was by my shop a few months back and he bought a Transmission from me at the Reynolds points meet and he was his old likeable self, joking and carrying on as he always did. We go way way back, in fact there is a lot of us that go way back, and he and Greg Wood were a cool pair back in the old days. Mike will be missed for sure, this is really hard to believe. Rest in piece my friend and may God Bless!

John Leichtamer Jr · 12-17-2008, 09:01 PM

You will be greatly missed. God Speed Mike

Hammer

M&M Motorsports · 12-17-2008, 09:34 PM

Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and all his family. Although we may not have known Mike long, from the first time I started racing stock, he made us feel at home and welcome. We looked forward to visiting with him and Chris at each race. I believe he enjoyed visiting with everyone as much as the actual racing -- and that feeling of family is what it is all about. He showed me that from the start and I will remember him for that always. Thanks Mike. We'll miss you.

Mary and Mike Meints

Daran Summerton · 12-17-2008, 10:20 PM

Mike was a terrific guy and will be missed dearly. This is terrible news, always look forward to spending time with him at the races. If you need anything Chris please let us know. Daran and Tina

12-17-2008, 04:24 PM	#1
Jimmy R Parker Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbus, Ga Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Division II S/SS racer and all around good guy Mike Vignochi lost his battle with cancer on Monday. Most will remember Mike from his partnership with Greg Wood (they won the Div II SS Championship together in the mid eighties) and most recently the F/SA Corvette he campaigned with his grandson Christopher Turnage driving. Mike will be missed by the racing community and all who knew him. Mike was easy to describe, he was a gentleman who loved his family and friends and they loved him. Greg shared a some tidbits about Michael today that I would like to pass on. We knew Michael was very intelligent but we didn't know that he was President of his Senior HS Class, President of the National Honor Society and had one of the highest scores ever recorded on the SAT. A memorial service will be held at 6 PM on Thursday, 12-18 at Cully's MeadowWood Funeral Home in Tallahassee. More information is available at Tallahassee.com obituaries. Please keep Michael's wife Frankie and the rest of his family in your prayers. Jimmy Parker

12-17-2008, 05:15 PM	#2
Mark Lewis Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 345 Likes: 63 Liked 207 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Did he also have a malibu in K/sa in the last few years?

12-17-2008, 05:45 PM	#3
Joe Pinkston Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Williston, Fl. Posts: 352 Likes: 2 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Mike was a great guy. Sad to hear of his passing. Godspeed my friend. __________________ Joe Pinkston 2155 S/ST

12-17-2008, 06:12 PM	#4
rick winchester Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: cincinnati ohio Posts: 209 Likes: 304 Liked 204 Times in 34 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Sad news indeed. Good guy who was smiling everytime we meet. Sure glad he made the trip to Indy this year and that we had time for a couple cold beers. R.I.P. Rick & Phyllis Winchester

12-17-2008, 07:56 PM	#5
Stock4106 Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Covington, LA Posts: 99 Likes: 0 Liked 10 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. He truly was a great person to be around. Every time I spoke to him, he was laughing joking about something. I am going to miss seeing him at the races. My prayers are with Chris and the rest of his family. __________________ Owen S. Birkett Stock/Super Stock 4106

12-17-2008, 08:30 PM	#6
Jim Cassels Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cairo, Ga. Posts: 90 Likes: 2 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Jimmy thank you for posting this. Mike loved drag racing and was a dear frind of mine. Mark I have his old malibu and we will add his name to the list of fallen racers on the car. Rick hope you and Phillis are well. I shed a tear for my friend. He was a great guy. Jim

12-17-2008, 08:52 PM	#7
Woodro Josey Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 805 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. This is Sad news indeed, i didn't even know Mike was sick. He was by my shop a few months back and he bought a Transmission from me at the Reynolds points meet and he was his old likeable self, joking and carrying on as he always did. We go way way back, in fact there is a lot of us that go way back, and he and Greg Wood were a cool pair back in the old days. Mike will be missed for sure, this is really hard to believe. Rest in piece my friend and may God Bless! __________________ Woodro Josey 2002 STK

12-17-2008, 09:01 PM	#8
John Leichtamer Jr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Orange City Fl Posts: 764 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. You will be greatly missed. God Speed Mike Hammer

12-17-2008, 09:34 PM	#9
M&M Motorsports Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Jerome, Michigan Posts: 119 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and all his family. Although we may not have known Mike long, from the first time I started racing stock, he made us feel at home and welcome. We looked forward to visiting with him and Chris at each race. I believe he enjoyed visiting with everyone as much as the actual racing -- and that feeling of family is what it is all about. He showed me that from the start and I will remember him for that always. Thanks Mike. We'll miss you. Mary and Mike Meints

12-17-2008, 10:20 PM	#10
Daran Summerton Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Las Vegas nv Posts: 600 Likes: 18 Liked 66 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Michael Vignochi - R.I.P. Mike was a terrific guy and will be missed dearly. This is terrible news, always look forward to spending time with him at the races. If you need anything Chris please let us know. Daran and Tina