Harry Eyerly
Harry Eyerly and the car that bore his name—the class H modified 750cc Crosley-powered Eyerly Special—are synonymous with sports car racing in the 1950s. In the little red car that could, Harry routinely beat much larger bore cars and always thrilled fans with his seat-of-the-pants driving style.
Born in Hobson, Montana in 1913, Harry raced out of Salem, Oregon. He grew up in a family that ran a service station and also designed and manufactured aircraft flight simulation machines and carnival thrill rides. Harry had a love of speed, also racing inboards and outboards and flying stunt planes. He used the Crosley 736cc marine engine racing to power his Eyerly Special that he started racing in 1953. By the mid 50s he was running the area’s first Porsche-VW dealership where people like Wade Carter got their start in the automobile business. The shop also had the reputation as the place to hop up your VW or Porsche! Harry was an early member of the Four Cylinder Club and later became Vice President of the NW Region of the SCCA. Prolific as well as fast, Harry raced often and well all over the West Coast and rarely missed a significant Northwest race during the Long Straights and Hairpin Turns years.
Harry’s son Mike raced with him and then went on to have a notable career in professional Formula B racing in the late 1960s. Harry flew planes both for business and as a stunt pilot, and was killed in a stunt plane accident years after he and the special that bore his name had retired from racing.
Born in Hobson, Montana in 1913, Harry raced out of Salem, Oregon. He grew up in a family that ran a service station and also designed and manufactured aircraft flight simulation machines and carnival thrill rides. Harry had a love of speed, also racing inboards and outboards and flying stunt planes. He used the Crosley 736cc marine engine racing to power his Eyerly Special that he started racing in 1953. By the mid 50s he was running the area’s first Porsche-VW dealership where people like Wade Carter got their start in the automobile business. The shop also had the reputation as the place to hop up your VW or Porsche! Harry was an early member of the Four Cylinder Club and later became Vice President of the NW Region of the SCCA. Prolific as well as fast, Harry raced often and well all over the West Coast and rarely missed a significant Northwest race during the Long Straights and Hairpin Turns years.
Harry’s son Mike raced with him and then went on to have a notable career in professional Formula B racing in the late 1960s. Harry flew planes both for business and as a stunt pilot, and was killed in a stunt plane accident years after he and the special that bore his name had retired from racing.