The experienced rider Tony Carey, 47-year-old, crashed after less than a mile in his first practice run at the Classic Race included in the programme of the 1999 Carrowdore 100 road race. It happened on Saturday, 04 September 1999, Carey was riding a customised Norton RCW588, powered by a twin-rotor Wankel engine.

Tony Carey suffered severe head injuries in the accident and was transported to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, and in the following days local newspapers indicated he was listed in a critical condition. The Irishman remained in the intensive care unit until the following week, when life support machines were turned off, on Tuesday, 07 September 1999.

An accomplished rider, Tony Carey had raced on the European continent for a long time, when he established a base in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Born in Bawnfume, Butlerstown, Co. Waterford, Tony Carey was said to be a Waterford, Ireland, resident. He was survived by a child daughter, Aoife, who had traveled with him to the race.

Reportedly, Carey's was the fourth death involving a motorcycle racer in 1999, in the Ireland's worst Summer of tragedy in racing memory. Donny Robinson was killed on 14 May, while practicing for the North West 200 at Coleraine; Philip Conroy died on 31 July at Saintfield and on 21 August Owen McNally lost his life during the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod.

R.I.P