Another Good One Is Gone!!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:40 pm

Stearman guru and longtime Reno racer Skeets Mehrer died in the crash of his
Piper Comanche yesterday near Grove Field. I knew Skeets for years and we
did some really fun flying. I've forgotten how many Stearmans he's built maybe
15 or so. If you've ever been to Reno and missed "Lickety Split" you're outa luck!
I'm gonna miss "Skeets" has he was the real deal!! :cry:

mustanglover · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:46 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

Stearman guru and longtime Reno racer Skeets Mehrer died in the crash of his
Piper Comanche yesterday near Grove Field. I knew Skeets for years and we
did some really fun flying. I've forgotten how many Stearmana he's built maybe
15 or so. If you've ever been to Reno anbd missed "Lickety Split" you're outa luck!
I'm gonna miss "Skeets" has he was the real deal!! :cry:

Skeets and "Lickety Split" were one of my favorites at Reno. I was surprised he was never asked to remove that name. :lol:

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:51 pm

A few "ladies" were offended by the full sized nude but has "Skeets" said "f*uck'em!"
We went to Yakima one year with the whole crew and #9 offended one of the ladies
helping run the show and she demanded the airplane be removed from the field. So it
was along with 3 other SNJs and 6 Stearmans.

Never flew in #9 with him but did
so with others.
I did fly with him in his other SNJ-5 a number of times. He was a "good stick"!

The Inspector · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:37 pm

DAM N, I knew that name rang a bell when I heard it on the news this morning! You are correct, he was a good-n and will be missed!

CWBuff · **Joined:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am **Posts:** 854

Jack Cook wrote:

A few "ladies" were offended by the full sized nude but has "Skeets" said "f*uck'em!"

I am somewhat familiar with the bird and fella in question... but have never really delved into air racing too much and certainly never met the man or knew much about him. But based on his attitude, as expressed here, concerning the gal on his plane, I can see that this world is all the poorer for his loss. A person who is not afraid to express themselves in their own way, and who doesn't give a rat's a$$ whether or not it offends anyone is an increasing rarity these days... we need more people like that.

My thoughts to his family and friends...

Fade to Black...

Cindy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:19 pm

I only met him a couple times, but I loved the artwork on the plane. And I agree...to all those who were offended...F*** Em! Get a thicker skin!
I used to love getting the annual photo of the blow-up doll in/on/by the plane. He will be missed.

Cindy

Speedy · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 5:31 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

I've forgotten how many Stearmana he's built maybe
15 or so.

Betty Sherman and I were just discussing this a week ago today. I think we came up with around 12. I don't even remember how the subject came up...I think I had mentioned something about Kent, and that led to Skeets, and...well, you could just talk about him for hours. :-)

As sad as this is, I'm glad that we had the conversation last week BEFORE hand.

ShermB · **Joined:** Sat Apr 30, 2005 11:56 pm **Posts:** 1

Met the man in 1985, when Lickety Split was one of three T-6's that did a demo race, along with 10 IF-1s who really raced, in the NW Classic at Richland, WA.
He has been a friend ever since the first meeting. I have enjoyed many visits to his hangar, and even had the honor of pouring in the first can of oil many years ago when they changed engines. The parties with the Camas Esquadrille are legengendary, as is Skeets himself. He leaves a big hole in my heart as well as in the skies of the Northwest and Reno, especially.
Safe trip West , my friend, I am so glad we met.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:25 pm

There was "Frisky", "B-J", "Lady Anna", "Dragon Lady", "Lickety Split", "No. 7", "Breezy" and so forth.................

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:26 pm

somewhere I got some photos of a naked chick doing some funky stuff (?) on Lickety Split in the pits at Reno one year :shock:

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:35 pm

Dam-n Jack, I never met the man, but sure heard of him. So sorry for the loss! Prayers to all affected by his passing.
Robbie

Speedy · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:13 am

Jack Cook wrote:

somewhere I got some photos of a naked chick doing some funky stuff (?) on Lickety Split in the pits at Reno one year :shock:

Heh, heh...I have a copy of that one too. :-)

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1131

I met Skeets in 1999, Bud Granley invited me down to Camas for one of the parties. When I left on Sunday evening, Skeets shook my hand and said "You are welcome down here any time, and I mean it." And he did mean it. I never felt like I was a stranger and I had a lot of fun with his bunch at Reno, Camas and lots of other places.

I don't remember the year, it was sometime after the war started I think, but Bud and I took the "Marine Corps" Stearman down the river to Pendelton for the airshow. We went in formation with Julie in "Friskie" and Skeets in the 450 horse Stearman. We had a good time with Jeff Wright, Jack Cook, John Lane and many others. That trip out and back is where I started my formation training.

Skeets was a good and generous man. He was one of those people that just made life more fun. It is sad that he's gone and I don't know anybody that will fill the void he leaves behind.

It isn't a very good picture, but that is Skeets in the back seat and Bob Brown in the front.

JOHN MILLER · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:03 am

http://www.taphilo.com/Photo/Pictures/r ... -Split.jpg

is this it?

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:13 am

Looks like Bob Brown with Skeets in the Navy Stearman.
"Lady Anna" is PT in the bottom photo. I think she was the first 450
they built and was named for Skeets's mom.
Brad your right that weekend was a blast!!!

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Another Good One Is Gone!!

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