One of our great friends and mentors, Papa Keith Tuter, p***ed away last night. He has put up a long fight with ALS and has now reached his final destination to the drag strip in the sky. Papa "Toot" as he was know to all, has a long history in the car world. He was a painter back in the late 60's and all through the 70's painting several well known drag cars from coast to coast. He drove fuel dragster and fuel funny car well into the 1970's. He has raced all the greats including Steve Carbone, John Force and Bob Creitz to name a few. His son, Lil Toot is an extremely talented painter/pinstriper and a valued member of our club, THEM-Tulsa. This family is absolutely the nicest, most genuine people you will ever meet in your life. Their loss will touch the hearts of many from coast to coast. Funeral arrangements are in the making as we speak. I will post more once the information is available. I'm posting a picture of Papa Toot as most of us remembered him. Even as the illness increased, his true spirit lived on and out weighed the bad. This is from the Stray Cat 500 in Dewey, OK in May of 2003. It's named "hot-rod scooter burnout." He will be missed dearly, but his spirit will live on through us and everyone around us. Godspeed. monkey
My thoughts and prayers go out to THEM Tulsa and the family. He and Shawn are bench racing right now.
I met Lil Toot at a panel jam (Bob Bond's) roughly five years ago. First time I'd ever really picked up a brush. Cool guy. He isn't going to remember me, but tell him I said "sorry" anyway.
We met at a Letterhead Meet in OKC a few years ago,wonderfull family. Very said to hear of his p***ing. Godspeed Big Toot.
thoughts and prayers from us. Have peace my friends. ----------------------------------------------------------------- vagabonds cc
Sorry to hear this news. I was surprised when he remembered me when I talked to him at NSRA in Oklahoma City. I am proud to have supplied the "smoke" for the hotrod scooter burnout picture. Godspeed big Toot.
Man I hate this ****. I was out at Skalniks' this mornin' checkin' on the status of the coupe and the phone rang. It was one of Karls' buddies callin' to tell about Big Toot. Blew me away. Big and Lil are good friends. Last time I saw him I think was at Starbirds? Let me know when the funeral is. Karl said everyone is going to show up in their rod. Damn!
I met both Big an Lil Toot thru a buddy of their's years ago, Kieth, always put a smile on your face tellin' his stories from years ago. He always had something to say that would cheer you up. He's give me advise on how to set up my T-bucket and my Model A. I didn't see him much, but my buddy would talk to him keeping him informed on what I was doin' to my cars and Keith would relay ideas thru him to me. I'd always hunt for Keith and Greg at the shows. "Big Toot" will surely be missed by alot of people. My prayers and sorrow goes to his family.
Condolences to the Tuter family from me and the Vipers. Tough week for drag racers. I just learned that Bruce Sarver has p***ed also.
Rose Hill Funeral Home is handling the arrangements....they are at Admiral and Yale in Tulsa... There will be viewing from 8 to 6 on Saturday and Sunday, the funeral service will be Monday, 2pm, in the funeral home Chapel at Rose Hill. Rose Hill's phone number is (918) 835-4421 4161 E. Admiral PL. Tulsa, OK
Monkey said it all. Couldn't happen to better people. Tracy and I saw Papa Toot Monday night, got to see him laughing and joking like the good ole days. Just the way we prefer to remember him. RASHY Oh yeah, that's my drunk wife on his lap in that pic.
Greg "Lil Toot" and Mama T are such an inspiration. In situations like this you have to "**** it up and do it," but they did it with genuine love and care for years until the very end. I love to think about the times I'd be bench racing with Pop, telling about all the stuff I'm doing, then he would say...Oh-kay...now... and he would go on to tell me what I REALLY needed to do BEFORE I do what I had planned. He had been there done that, got the t-shirt, and been back again many times WAY BEFORE I WAS BORN!!! I am soooo glad Pop got to go to car shows even after he became ill. Greg did such a great job "hot rodding" his kool, kool skooter. It has painted louvers, flames, "chrome" emblems, and a ratfink shifter to mention a few. Papa Toot really hammed it up with the SMOKEY BURNOUTS. He even figgered out how to pop wheelies if he joysticked it just right. I remember the other day when I went to see him at the hospital, he was in a great deal of pain and was wearing a mask supplying oxygen to him, but even in such adversity he'd still managed to ask about MY projects and how they were going. When I was holding his hand he squeezed my hand and gave me a wink, as if to say "good job." I have truly been touched by the Tuter family. They are the EPITOME of "Good People." ALS (Lou Gehrig' Disease) is such a horrible disease. Like many others you just don't have much in treatment. All I can say is enjoy your family and friends to THE FULLEST EXTENT. Tell 'em you care about 'em and how you really feel. But most of all, BE THERE for them when they need it. Here's to you Pop. I Love Ya. Take care, Reverend Jake
Didn't know he was sick, very sorry to see any hot rodders go. God speed, my condolances to the family.
What sad news, such a wonderful family and such good friends to everyone. The world will be a little sadder place. God speed papa toot.
Sorry to hear that. . Wish his family and friends the best.. He will be happy... Just keep his spirit ALIVE>>
Papa Toot was always in a good mood no matter how bad he felt, and always remembered you & your cars . A Great Man and he will be missed Godspeed Papa Toot
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