24 replies to this topic

[SaulSpeedwell]

For the past 8 years or so, I have always had at least one long phone conversation with Harry in the off-season, and was just thinking about calling him since I hadn't heard from him yet. 

 

I have so many good memories of chatting with Harry and Rusty.  I was always happy to see Harry at the track, and never happy to see him in my mirror   Harry and I were not entirely in agreement on the GCR's definition of "blocking" and "racing room", but our cars never touched each other that I can remember.   I always liked to think we had some mutual respect for each other, and a willingness to avoid a chance of hard feelings.  In other words, he could have punted me a few times and didn't ... and I could have let him squeeze me to the grass or wall a couple times, and I lifted.

 

My favorite Harry Manning story has to do with how successfully and perpetually he drove the Puskars batty, apparently dating back to when Chris was competing in SSB with a Miata.  When I was invited to Mike Puskar's surprise birthday party a few years back, I arranged for Harry to send me a birthday card that I sneaked onto the gift table and hung around all night waiting for Mike to open.  None of the Puskar men believed the card had really come from Harry, and once I assured them that it had, all the old stories of how Harry won the 2003 Runoffs, etc., etc., came up all over again    It was hilarious, and I remember calling Harry the next day to tell him all about it. 

 

My second favorite Harry Manning story comes from the 2006 Runoffs in Topeka.  Harry and I were both pulled in for Tech inspection after a qually session, and neither Harry nor Rusty were limber enough to get his 99's ECU out.  I volunteered to do "The 10 Minute Headstand" for him, and I can assure anyone now (and anyone then), that ECU was never out of the car before then.  The nuts were tight and un-nicked and perfectly torqued, the connector was tight and had no scratches or gouges, all the factory plastic routing clips were where they would be on a "Showroom Stock" car, etc.  And thus the #1 rumor (of the time) as to Harry's speed became unraveled, and had to be re-invented

[Jim Drago]

great post Mark.

[philstireservice]

Godspeed Harry...

[Tom Sager]

Arrangements

Covenant
Presbyterian Church, 40 Ohio Street, Racine, 262-634-4597

Visitation at the church:

4:00 to 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 1;

10:00 to 10:45 a.m.,Tuesday, April 2

Memorial Service at the church: 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 2

[Jim Daniels - FIG]

Raced him since mid 90s. Always a trick up his sleeve and I loved that. He and the late BD Hicks owned Miata racing back then. What I learned those two gents taught. He was great at the old school art of SS racing. In 2000 I had a fast car at the sprints but Harry had a wide one with plenty dents already. Epic fight I can remember every lap and thank him for that. The era of 99 Miata racing begun right there.

More camber to you Harry!