RIP Sid Waterman

[none]

Earlier today. His wisdom, passion, knowledge and manufacturing expertise helped drag racing evolve.
Also Indy Car, Sprint Cars, NASCAR and every other racing series that burns liquid fuel.

But it was the fish fry on the western swing years ago where more intelligence changed hands between the real insider players that left a lasting impression. And this (at the time) young announcer learned things you could not learn anywhere else on the planet.
If someone had dropped a bomb on Gualala California during one of those events, innovation would have been set back 50 years.

My first invitation literally felt like an invitation to the Bat Cave. I knew of the social event but it was an insider thing. Being invited was a sign that I was becoming an insider. I honestly don't know if that level of initiation even exists today.

RIP Sid.
Alan

 

[Litefoot]

Earlier today. His wisdom, passion, knowledge and manufacturing expertise helped drag racing evolve.
Also Indy Car, Sprint Cars, NASCAR and every other racing series that burns liquid fuel.

But it was the fish fry on the western swing years ago where more intelligence changed hands between the real insider players that left a lasting impression. And this (at the time) young announcer learned things you could not learn anywhere else on the planet.
If someone had dropped a bomb on Gualala California during one of those events, innovation would have been set back 50 years.

My first invitation literally felt like an invitation to the Bat Cave. I knew of the social event but it was an insider thing. Being invited was a sign that I was becoming an insider. I honestly don't know if that level of initiation even exists today.

RIP Sid.
Alan

He put his 4 bolt main caps on our 283 bored to 302 back in the 60’s, we went past 10,500 many times, his parts never failed us, thank you Mr Waterman, Rest in peace

 

[yoda]

He did pumps for my dad's gasser and Pro Comp car; dad said between him and Don Hampton, that was some of the best money he ever spent and some of the best knowledge he was lucky to bear witness to. The world of mechanical and hydro engineering has lost a great innovator. May he rest in peace.

 

[Randy]

Sid built great fuel pumps used by many. I also enjoyed his color commentating from the tower at Pomona.

 

[Butch]

The BIG names of Fuel from yesteryear, Black, Pink, and Waterman. Am I missing anyone?

 

[ch streetcars]

Great start; l'll add Don Alderson (Milodon) , Nick Arias Jr (Arias pistons and Arias Hemi Chevy) , and Joe Pisano and his brothers(Venolia pistons and JP-1 Hemi blocks. And don't forget John Rodeck. others?

 

[aakar]

Sid and Linda Vaughn were a fantastic pair of announcers @ the US Nationals in the eighties

 

[Billy]

He would join Dave McClelland in the booth at Englishtown many years in the 90s and I appreciated his input!

 

[CS]

Sid was not only a great fuel system expert but a great person as well. When I started in T/F I called Sid and he provided the complete fuel system that instantly put us in the game. When I started the Boss 9 program Sid was always there for us from the initial fire-up right up to when we quit due to Ford's cease and desist letter about calling if a Ford or Boss 9. Even after I sold the company Sid had no issues helping me with the Pro Mod and Alky cars I worked with. Rest In Peace!

 

[Nunz]

Sid was not only a great fuel system expert but a great person as well. When I started in T/F I called Sid and he provided the complete fuel system that instantly put us in the game. When I started the Boss 9 program Sid was always there for us from the initial fire-up right up to when we quit due to Ford's cease and desist letter about calling if a Ford or Boss 9. Even after I sold the company Sid had no issues helping me with the Pro Mod and Alky cars I worked with. Rest In Peace! View attachment 16516

Chuck didn't you actually run a Ford though?

 

[yoda]

The BIG names of Fuel from yesteryear, Black, Pink, and Waterman. Am I missing anyone?

Ralph Gorr

 

[CS]

Chuck didn't you actually run a Ford though?

I don’t want to hijack the thread however you deserve a response. Yes and No permit me to explain. Originally I was under contract with A/R Inc. to assist with developing the product they made for Ford and that had a Ford part number. This was the product used by Bob Glidden and others in Pro Stock. After a few issues my attorney was able to have the contract null and void. The potential of the design was such that our family purchased the full race version of the engine from Nick Arias II/Arias Industries. Alan Root refused to purchase them when AR, Inc split. We went on to build the inventory, design additional parts and warehoused over 300 proprietary parts. In December 1992 I received a letter from Ford lawyers telling me to cease and desist calling our engine a Ford, Boss 429, Boss 9 or any version thereof. My lawyer pointed out that the US trademark office granted us a trademark of Boss of Bosses. Ford’s legal team’s response was “we don’t care”. On advice of counsel we shut down the company and sold everything to Carroll Carter of C&C Motorsports who re-branded it as the “Roberts patterns” among other names. Again I apologize to everyone for taking the thread off topic. REST IN PEACE SID YOU WERE ONE OF A KIND thanks for the memories!

 

[troy boy]

Always enjoyed his insight when he was in the booth at Pomona. I really like the deep knowledge he would impart to us. It gave us so much to talk about after the events.
RIP

 

[Cliff]

I have a Sid story. Lions, 1972. Warren-Coburn
-Miller had just come out with a brand new back motor car and they had a Sid engine in it. That was a shock, cuz they always ran a Whale Motor (392 Chrysler). Anyway W-C-M debuted with a low 6.30 ET. So I saw Sid and asked him if he was gonna get W-C-M "into the 20's", as in the 6.20's, which was quick back then. Keith Black, Ed Pink, Sid Waterman were, I think, the 3 best known engine builders back then.

 

[stitcherbob]