It is with a heavy heart that I must report that as of approx. 20 minutes ago we heard of the passing of Mike Waters from complications arising from recent intestinal surgery.
Mike was a member of the Bonneville and El Mirage 200 MPH Clubs. He was a major factor in the direction of the SCTA and the success of the Bonneville events. Mike had a long history in racing in So Cal which included crackerbox boats, motorcycles, drags and of course El Mirage and Bonneville.
Mike was 1/2 of the famous Wilson and Waters Racing Team fuel and gas roadster. The roadster continues to compete under the Waters-Manghelli-Romero name, setting 4 Bonneville records and 2 El Mirage records in 2012. The White Goose Bar Racing Team will campaign the roadster in 2013 in memory of Mike and the late Dana Wilson.
I have no further information as of now, please standby.
God Speed Mike,
Joanie and I will miss you
DW
SO SAD to hear this!!!!.... We are ALL going to miss him!!!!!!.....
Condolences to his family especially to his son and granddaughter!!!!!
Godspeed Mike. See you on the other side.........
So very sad to hear. Godspeed Mike. :-(
What a shock!! Had no idea. Mike was a racers racer from speed boats - drags and Bville always at the top of the game.
An icon for leadership in SCTA and BNI.
A sad day for Linda and I, and Greg knows he had a great dad.
JL222 :cry:
The world is a little darker now. A lot of slack to be taken up.
Gary
I'm so sorry to hear this. Mike was very kind to me and gave me lots of time to answer questions about the roadster. I will truly miss him.
Godspeed Mike. :-(
Skip Pipes
RIP Mike. He will be missed by all.
Waters was the real deal. Wayno
While it happens to all of us -- it's still a shock to hear the news. May he rest in peace. Nancy and I spent many hours with Mike over the years. He'll spend forever with all of us now. Our sincere condolences to his family.
Mike is the one that gave me the chance to take over the Security and Gate when Dave Newby passed away. He believed in my ability to step into Dave's HUGE shoes and continue with the safety and protection of all the racers. My heart is filled with sorrow that he is gone. He is going to be greatly missed for a very long time.
God Speed Mike and God protect your loved ones left behind.
Lynda
I'm sorry to hear the sad news of Mike Waters passing away. Godspeed...
What a big big lost, especially for the Speed community at and off the salt....
I will miss this man....and my shoulder will always remember....long time ago, I was just coming over from the airport (SLC) for the Speedweek and stand in the roadhouse/gas station on Exit 4....there was just the voice...."welcome home"...and his heavy hand "touched" my shoulder...myself was 4 inch shorter....
it was great to know you as a friend....RIP Mike....
Pork Pie
God Speed Mike
Our racing family's condolences to your close friends and family
Contact information for condolences to the family, please. :cry:
Mike was always with interesting people at the Gas Up.
That made it fun to foto him.
I'll miss You, Mike.
FREUD
Sorry to hear this sad news of Mike Waters passing. My condolences to Mike's wife and son Greg. Mike was a good guy, I always enjoyed talking to him. He will be missed. Godspeed and RIP Mike.
Tom G.
So sorry to hear that news!
Mike was a big part of racing at Bonneville and I know a lot of his close friends will be hurting!
RIP
Larry
And Mike's demise is just another reminder (a big one) that SCTA - and all clubs -- need to have young folks in training for the volunteer jobs - especially the main ones like Mike was - the volunteer coordinator. I don't know if he ever carried that specific title, but I do know that he did the work. Now whomever takes over will likely get taught by those of us that have been doing our individual jobs for years. Said new person won't have any idea of how much Mike did -- 'til he tries to learn it all.
Mike would start working on the SpeedWeek/WF toilets with me -- back in November or December. That showed some passion for land speed racing, and we'll be sad to go without seeing him. Every time I'll see his old Datsun pickup (it's still out at Wendover) I'll be reminded of him - again.
Mike, like many volunteers did a large job without a list. He handled a lot behind the scenes by habit and learning over the years what it took to put things together.
He will be missed and may he rest in peace, God Speed Mike. :-(
As Greg just pointed out to me, Top Speed of the Year at El Mirage 2012. :cheers: Wayno
I'll ask JoAnn for a mailing address - and will letcha all know.
Less than an hour later -- here you are:
Mike and Judy Waters
39937 90th Street West
Leona Valley, CA 93551
Thanks to JoAnn.
God Speed Mike.
A tremendous loss to his family, friends and the SCTA.
Mike was a great friend and mentor to me. We were working on the Speed Week volunteer stuff for my Daughter (her first trip this year) and Myself just a few weeks ago. It has not been a good week. Lost a good friend on Friday in a freak bicycle accident. I hope everybody here appreciates just how much Mike put into the SCTA, BNI and Landspeed Racing. Condolences to Greg and Family.... :cry:
Services info just recieved:
Services for Michael R. Waters
Monday April 8th:
LACo Fire Dept. Flag ceremony:10am @ FS 84-
5030 West Ave. L-14, Quartz Hill
Viewing: 4-7pm with rosary @7pm - Joshua Memorial Park:
808 East Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster.
Tuesday April 9th :
Mass 10AM @ Sacred Heart Catholic Church-
565 West Kettering St. Lancaster
Gravesite services following Mass @ Joshua Memorial Park (see above address)
Reception to follow at Leona Valley Community Center: 8367 Elizabeth Lake Rd. Leona Valley
Thank you Dan. Wayno
Today we put Mike in his final resting place.
So many, many people - whose hearts Mike has touched - turned out to honor him, his service as a member of the US Army to our country, 34 years service in the Los Angeles Fire Dept., and his passion for land speed racing. Mike was a keystone as both a racer and administrator in the SCTA, BNI and Save the Salt organzations.
Contary to recent rumors the White Goose Bar Team will continue to campaign the roadster in 2013 with a goal of a 250 MPH+ record.
Joanie and I wish God Speed to Mike and God Bless to Mike's widow Judy, son Greg, daughter Cynthia and the extended Waters family members.
Such a sad day for us,
DW
He leaves a pretty big hole to fill. I'm certainly richer having known him. He had quite a send off, didn't he Dan? Wayno