Folks Of Interest R.I.P. Tony Waters

Rest In Peace Mr. Waters...

http://www.competitionplus.com/drag-racing/news/23292-bakersfield-legend-waters-passes-away

 

Sorry to hear of any passing.Who is Tony Waters?

 

No relation.

 

I assume you are saddened by Mr. Water's passing ? We are all glad your family has not suffered a passing !

Yes, very sad, another legend of drag racing has been lost...

 

Maybe someone can post a little more about his racing career. The link did not offer alot of info.

 

Tony Waters was a Bakersfield legend...started racing a GMC-powered T-modified roadster at places like Saugus, Minter Field, Santa Maria, etc, later put a carburated Desoto in it, and then added a front-mounted blower. In this configuration he took runner up at the '59 Bakersfield Smokers meet (lost to Art Chrisman when Waters spun in the sand on the track), then won a big fuel meet at Henderson NV a couple of weeks later (I was there, Water's car was the loudest on the planet!)...beat Ted Cyr in the final, remember this was a roadster!. Tony then went top fuel racing with a series of dragsters, most by Woody Gilmore. Sadly, Mike Sorokin died at OCIR in one of Tony's cars.

He was a great racer, member of the Smoker's Car Club (roadster was painted "smoker purple")....RIP Tony Waters

 

RIP Tony Waters

 

RIP Tony
I picked a DeSoto motor for my truck because of W, S, and G roadster.
Ace

 

Sincere sympathy and prayers to his family & friends.

Jonnie King

 

R.I.P. Tony....
Godspeed my friend.

His roadster if one of my favorite early drag cars. Awesome for sure.

 

Dmn...

 

Damn, a real hero...

 

R.I.P. Tony

 

sincere sympathy goes out to his Family and friends

 

My sincerest condolences to Mr Water's Family and friends.... Yes, another true legend is gone, Rest In Peace Sir.

 

I met Tony a few years ago, he co owned a fed with a local friend and would head up to Oregon to visit a couple times a year. If he was there when I went to see my friend I would ask questions about his racing past, he had alot to share....rip Tony.

 

It seems as if all the heros of my youth are passing away and I am losing something of myself as each one passes. I saw Tony run at Famosa when I was a kid and he was always in the hunt. Rest in Peace.

 

Tony Waters was the first person to go 200mph in a highboy roadster. I got to meet him at Bonneville, and I'd say he had a heavy load of nitro running through his veins.

Another legend lost. RIP

 

Rip and godspeed. Saddening to read this tonight.

 

My buddy and I just missed getting hit with schrapnel when the front mounted blower plenum exploded at the 1000 foot mark during the '59 March Meet TE final. Tony had Chrisman covered, and would have won TE with the roadster if it would have hung together another 200 feet. Thanks for the thrils Tony. RIP.

The roadster was rebuilt with a new hood and top mounted blower.

 

Dean, I was standing on the fire truck at the end when he blew the blower, remember the hood flew way up in the air, the manifold looked like someone put a hand grenade in it.....but that was in '60 (I missed the '59 meet), he spun on the '59 TE final against Chrisman because sand had blown on the track...that final (pictured above) was after dark, and the track asked spectators parked next to the track to turn on their headlights -- the track had no lights...

 

T-Shirt from '03--the Bakersfield boys had a table right next to ours.
My dad drove Tonys car a couple of times at Bakersfield,& it's what inspired him to build one of his own with a Chrysler.He liked it a bunch because he could see real good out of it.There's some slight similarities.
He's in good company with some of the original Bakersfield Smokers,,James Warren & Roger Coburn,Jim Sughrue,John Edmunds,Gary Cagle,Ernie Hashim,Jack Williams & prob a few Ive forgetten---theyre prob having drinks at the Woolgrowers.
R.I.P. Tony--

troy cagle

 

Btt

 

RIP Tony Waters, always had a big smile on his face on the return road when Darrel turned the win lights on.

 

I barely knew him him - just enough to know he was the real stuff. We crossed paths a few times in Oregon and every time I went to Bonneville and Bakersfield. My regards to Darrell and the family.
Service on Jan. 5th at Hillcrest Mortuary at 11:00AM. Celebration of life afterward at The Woolgrowers. Be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You're correct, 1960. I looked at some old pic I took at Famoso with my Brownie camera, and the develop date is Mar 60. The memory isn't what it used to be.

 

Rest in Peace Tony , Tim Jones

 

I just knew Tony from Bonneville. He sure didn't seem to be 85 years old. Neat guy. Wayno

 

Rest in peace my friend. You, Ernie, and Bud taught me well.
Say hello to Dad, I am thankful for the years.

 

another great is gone. i didnt know mr. waters but have read about him. i have seen the car at the museum, and can tell by looking at it he was the real deal. he lived his dream, drag racing. alot can be said for that. we all have one shot at life, do what you love. r.i.p. mr waters, im sure your standing next to another quarter mile.