"Rapid Robert" Waite - RIP

[sponsonhead]

This is turning out to be a pretty crummy week for those of us in the Northwest, as we've just lost another one of our racing legends.

"Rapid Robert" Waite passed away today after a lengthy illness. Bobby was one of the best big runabout drivers that we ever saw. I can remember watching Bob run DU and F Racing Runabout...long before anyone had ever thought of naming PRO classes with numbers.

Bob's wife Mary Ellen rode deck with him for many years, until she passed away in the mid 1970's. She was the first consistent female deck rider in the US.

Although Bob raced runabouts exclusively, he did have one event that he'd put his "training wheels" on for: every year he ran a screaming D Outboard cabover Hydro up and down the Sammamish Slough when we used to have that race. Local press would write pages and pages about "Robert Waite, King of the Slough." With his trademark cigar firmly clenched between his teeth when he raced, the dude was a Legend, pure and simple.

We'll all miss you, Robert....give Mary Ellen a hug for us.

R-19

[Rocky Peterson]

Rapid

He had a great #'s also.....

[John C167]

I can remember watching him at Sparks in FRR, always thought his feet stuck out the bottom (ala Fred Flinstone) to horse that boat around the corners ! :-) He loaned me a boat at Lawrence one year to help make enough FRR's for a leagle class (It was his Dmod boat!), put my 3 holer on it, no testing ! Motor broke the linkage getting on plane, good thing too, that boat was way too small for 2 people and the 3 holer ! :-) Race away at Lake Paradise Bob !

John Biagio

[diamondprohydro]

Robert was a true gentleman and great racer. Being behind him you could taste his special fuel mix. He would always say "Just goin' for a little ride. He was a huge help to so many especially in what was then 'FRR'. So many years with his wife as deck rider.

He could do things with runabout that no one else could. I clearly remember back in the mid 70's in Sparks, Nevada on that small reservoir, there were 8 FRR's going into the first less-than-ninety-degree turn. Someone spun and him me with my brother up on the deck in the side-by-side runabout and Robert right behind literally just picked that boat up and set it down inside us and gone. Saved my bacon and truly amazed me. He is gone but never will he be forgotten.

Bill Diamond

[Dr. Thunder]

Rapid Robert RIP

One of the true greats in Northwest outboard racing. Always seemed as though the lake would become eerily calm just before the FRRs took to the water. Then, as the gun fired and the motors roared to life the wind would blow. Always thought that the beautiful sound of those engines had some effect on Mother Nature. Bob Waite will be missed. Very sad!

[RHannon]

Robert was the true Gentle Giant.
Most Racers would look to pit away from Robert and his 1100R due to helping lift the little things, and the ear piercing when they would light one off.
But with Robert, I would look to pit as close to him as I could @ every race. If I got to the race before him we would save him a trailor space.
Robert and Don Hack were a PC full of Data. In the evenings setting around with a few Bottles of Whiskey and we learned more from them in an evening than you could learn in a season. I even road deck with Don Hack @ Lake Lawrence 1 time and only 1 time.
I didn't like not having the throttle and wheel in my hands.
Robert was late on the start.
I was hitting Don on the back and yelling go, go. We were 1st over the line heading to the 1st turn when I heard the roar of Roberts engine over ours, and I was sitting on ours. He blew by us on the inside and I was laughing looking @ Robert as close as you could be with his signiture Cigar.
When I started runnig CSR I picked up on the Cigar. I would light one off before each heat. I don't smoke so it always went out. So Id just chew on it.
Robert got a kick out of it.
I raced CSH, DSH, and later CSR. When I bought my DSH it had Carter carbs on it and ran very well. People would ask how do you make those work. I just replied; I don't know they were on it when I got it and it runs well.
Robert said: your motor sounds differn't than all the other D,s Its the Carters
Robert explained to me and showed me how to set them up so they will work. He aslo gave us the info that if you installed the needle and seat from the C Stock AJ51A Carb in the D Stock K7A they would not 4 cycle in rough water.
Robert had so much information. I would take a potty break, go write things down and come back for more.

Robert was a joy to talk to and listen to his stories. He truely was one of a few Great people and engine builders that our sport needed. He also could drive like theres no tomorrow. Nobody could turn on the inside of R-44.
If you had a chance to meet Robert you were one of the lucky ones.
Robert will be missed by all that new him.

RIP Robert, save me a trailor space in Boat Racing Heaven.
Slip

[daveracerdsh]

Well said Rick

Mr Waite was getting out of racing when I was starting..but I do remember him quite well....he was always very cordial towards new racers and willing to lend a helping hand. He will be missed. David.

[Jim Rea]

Robert Waite a real "Man"

Robert Waite the last of the real men with integrity! You will be missed; good luck Bob and thank you.

Jim Rea

[form-e one]

he always a gentalman,, rode for him many times,,, he was truly a driver luv watching him when i was young putting nitro in his fuel tank and a cigar hanging out of his mouth ,,,luv the guy,,, and millie,,,,

[Smitty]

Since others have noted his F and DU outfits, oldsters will recall that Bob built himself one of the stronger D Loops in Reg. 10. Every so often he would clamp either the Looper or the six on that Jim King cabover and put on a show, and he or Haack might have run a 4-cyl Konig on it once or twice.

An enormously likeable man, married to one of the really great gals.

[EKorpe]

Rapid Robert

Feel very fortunate me and my brother started outboard racing against robert and many others in 1100FRR ! RIP Bob the original Intimidator R-44