Sorry for the crosspost to SF, but I think everyone ought to know :wtc:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287468
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287468
SupraNikolai said:Truly the best and most genuine person i have and probably will ever know has left us today!
i was on my way to his house for dinner which he invites me to almost regularly for the past year! less then a 1/4mile from his house is a blocked off scene with cops everywhere with 3 square blocks blocked off as well! looked like something serious happend. i get to his house and am greeted by his brother Brian and await whats for dinner! 3 mins later a sheriff knocks on the door and i answer it! he aks me if i know Mike Urbano! i nod but say im just a friend of the fam and have Brian handle it. end sup HE was the one invloved in the acident down the street! i go across the street to another old buddy of his to tell him mike was in an accident. when i come back to the house the cops had told his wife that mike had passed on and we all just broke down!
there is no word on what exactly happened. but the suburban driver that hit him on his bike is in custody!
sadly nothing can fix what has been done! Our brother here and what i woudl go as far as to say the "Father of SoCal" has died
the happiness he has brought me the past years and the constant freindship can never be forgotten! he NEVER asked for much yet gave EVERYTHING he could for anyone and then went a little further! he will NEVER be forgotten!
his Black RHD MK3 TO4Z Supra was practiucally finished today! he just put on a Downpipe and called me all happy about it! alll he needed were the IC pipes to complete the project he had been so eager to finish for so long!
a VERY sad time for anyone who knew him!
just got back from the hospital and still cant belive it!
Rest in Peace Mike
Jaguar said:I just wanted to post these pictures of one of my best friends. This guy has been like a brother to me for the last two years or so though it seems like I have known him forever. He only lived 3 miles down the street and I saw him just about everyday. I had just talked to him at like 4pm today. I turned him down for dinner tonight, cause I was hanging out with my other friends. I was just thinking and I've had dinner with him the last 3 nights. Friday night too. I drove him to his shop yeserday. It's weird that one day they're in your passenger seat and the next day they're gone forever.
Hanging out with my other friends, got a call, hauled ass and made it to the hospital about 5 minutes after everyone else. Then I came into the room and there he was.
This makes me angry, sad, frustrated, and lonely all at once. Hung out at the hospital for a couple of hours but after too long I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm so sick of crying but I can't stop.
Mike, I love you man! I'll see you again someday. Thanks for all your advice, your help, your friendship. Thanks for loving me and my son, and you know I love you too. I don't know what I'm gonna do now. It feels like I was always at your house or the shop... whenever I had a free moment. But whatever I do, I hope to make you proud my "brother from another Mother." You used to always call me that. Cerritos rules, and Cerritos High School was the best school in the world. I'm honored to have known you, and you changed my life. Thanks for believing in me and my hopes and dreams. Whatever I do be it boxing, Radiology, or just finally getting my 2jz running, I'll do in your honor.
Chris
Supra_911_2_NSX said:RIP Big brotha man.....I've known mike since he worked at Axxis back int he day till now, ...we have alot of history..he was one of the Nicest ....nevermind thats an understatment...the BEST nicest guy out their to meet...and to hang with. Always willing to help around..me and our shop. Thanks Mike, for all the relationship advice...at that time...by the tea place by your house...to straighten me out...I love you man...
all i can say..is...I hope that guy who hit him burns in the deepest part of hell...and never returns...=(
RIP Old Friend...Sorry I didn't get a chance to see you before all this... Take care of yourself.....Hopefully we will all be waiting for you at the end, it's sad yours had to come now....
Chris
Carson said:Wow just got the call a little bit ago... Not sure what to say. RIP to a good friend always eager to help me out, a great mechanic, one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet, and the #1 reason I am a supra owner today. I met Mike a few years ago at an autocross event where he was racing his blue car (in all its original glory). I had never seen any car like it. I talked to him there as a snot-nosed kid with no idea what a JZA70 was. He talked to me and encouraged me to buy a supra and swap a 1jz. About a year later, I had the opportunity to do just that. I bought myself a blue A70 and took it to him to have him swap it.
Mike was always there for me when I had issues with me car, needed advice, or just wanted to shoot the shit. He was kind and honest, and truly was the father of So Cal supras (let alone the 1jz swap in general). I send my condolences to his friends and family, and hope (well know) that he is in a wonderful place right now. RIP Mike. You will be missed.
adjuster said:Words can't express the loss, and I really do not know this man. I've seen his car for years, both in magazines and a few times in person at Vegas meets. Everything was always impressive..
My condolences to his family and friends, and those of us who on line, or in person follow the Supra in all it's crazyness and glory. Mike will be missed by many who never knew him like myself. I just hate to see wonderful people die. (Especially at the bumper of a Stupid User Vehicle that likely has never been off road, is used to commute to work in, and just clogs up the highways blocking the view of anyone who is also not driving a vehicle 5 feet off the ground.)
Sorry about the rant, but I'm tired to seeing people die on bikes, and even more sick of people dying due to 40% + sales increases of SUV's and other huge vehicles being used for basic transportation.
Larry_A said:I made a few trips with my kids to visit Mike for parts. His place reminded me of my old roomates house...Toyota parts/mods in every nook & cranny of the garage, some in the living room, too. My oldest boy loved going there, 'cause you never knew what kind of exotic Japanese car would be parked in the garage, the driveway, & out front. Not only that, Mike, his wife, & brother were always gracious, & I remember telling Mike how lucky he was to have such an understanding wife...car guys/stuff & all.
I must admit that I didn't 'hang out' with Mike like many of the other SoCALers, but I knew him well enough to know that he made the most of his time while he was with us. And he knows that my heart feels real pain with his passing. I'll never forget the look on my oldest boy's face when I told him Mike was gone.
This is too rough- gotta go.
Take care.
TurboMK3 said:I don't know what to say. I left a message for him at 7:28PM today, before I received this horrible news. I met Mike 3 years ago when he had the 2jz in his blue Supra. He took me for a ride in it, and I have been hooked ever since. I have dealt with Mike on a regular basis, and will miss him deeply. Some of the best times I have had have been riding along side of him, whether it be on the street or during a night in the canyons. Mike even came over and helped me pull my 7m in preparation for the 1jz swap. I cannot believe this is real. I wish the best to his family.
RIP
Supra_911_2_NSX said:RIP Big brotha man.....I've known mike since he worked at Axxis back int he day till now, ...we have alot of history..he was one of the Nicest ....nevermind thats an understatment...the BEST nicest guy out their to meet...and to hang with. Always willing to help around..me and our shop. Thanks Mike, for all the relationship advice...at that time...by the tea place by your house...to straighten me out...I love you man...
all i can say..is...I hope that guy who hit him burns in the deepest part of hell...and never returns...=(
RIP Old Friend...Sorry I didn't get a chance to see you before all this... Take care of yourself.....Hopefully we will all be waiting for you at the end, it's sad yours had to come now....
Chris
SupraNikolai said:as i have said to a few, i dont think it has even hit me or a few others as hard as it will probably tomorrow, like when i reach for my phone to call him and tell/ask him something and then realizing where he is! i owe so much of my happines to that man!
as Jaguar posted the pic in the first page of the thread is how i remember him as well! ALWAYS having that big grin which almost had an evil "i know something u dont" kinda thing! its the only thing that makes me smile now.
here are his works of Supra art the past few years! he is truly a legend in the mk3 community for being the first to get a 1j running in the states, going through and making more power through engines in his one car then anyone else! the help that can also be seen just by doing a search under his name will reveal how much he helped the 1j community! i dont even know how many engine swaps he had done and no one will know how many engines he got working!
aside from alot of our cars ESPECIALLY mine benefiting from his heart and sweat, here are his accomplishments he called his own...
SlimFastSupra said:truly speechless, I was informed as I was working on my own blue car, one that I could only ever hope to be half as nice as the original "blue car"
I just spoke to him earlier online so it's really hitting me.
Urbano paved the way for clean mk3s, socal, and 1Js everywhere. He always just got it done when everyone else was asking questions. He will be remembered as a socal legend and innovator.
He presented himself at the very meet where I decided to create "socalsupras" as an online community. He wasn't as much of an online guy, but the mk3 community, online or not, suffered a great loss today.