Harvey Hainer, Sr
Without a doubt if you have followed
racing at Merrittville Speedway through the decades, you
have followed the exploits of many drivers - but how many of
you know of the dedicated car owners and mechanics behind
the scenes.
Harvey Hainer Sr is one of those
individuals, who worked on cars, set their chassis' and
loved to see them run on the track. Harvey's career started
back in 1957 when his brother-in-law Lloyd Holt decided to
go racing. Their first car was a Hudson Hornet Big 6, which
Lloyd, Harvey and Billy Matthews constructed on their farm.
After Lloyd's wife Betty applied the #23 with shoe polish -
it was off to Merrittville Speedway to test their skill. The
car proved to be a strong runner but it wasn't too
competitive against the flat head Fords of that era.
Their next racer was a 1938 Ford coach
built to meet the rules of the new Jalopy division. It was
painted dark green and white with the J-15 painted on it's
sides. Again Lloyd Holt did the driving, Harvey did the
wrenching and Ray Stevens Service Center provided the
sponsorship. This time the Jalopy division was to their
liking. In 1958 the J-15 ran very competitively and Lloyd
was gaining valuable experience. In 1959 the car would prove
to be super competitive with Holt winning many championship
events but falling short of the Points title by 2 points to
Bill Binning.
After competing successfully in the
jalopies, Lloyd and Harvey decided to move up to the
Sportsmen division. Again a green & white coupe was
constructed - this time with more power, bigger wheels and a
quick change rear end. Ray Stevens returned as crew chief
and together with Lloyd and Harvey - the trio would form
quite a successful team. Racing on Friday nights at the new
Speedway Park and Saturdays at Merrittville - the #15 would
be a threat every time out. Lloyd Holt would win many races
and was also the last driver of the 1960's era to win the
Johnny Spencer Memorial and the Jerry Winger Memorial in the
same year - 1965.
Soon, a young late model driver by the
name of Mike Zajac would enter the picture. A very
consistent winner, Zajac - behind the wheel of his white #88
55 Chevrolet. One thing was missing though as Mike wanted to
make the move to the Sportsmen division. Mike had learned
the tracks well - contending for championships at both
Speedway Park and Merrittville.
If my recollection is correct, Mike had
master car builder 'Wimpy' Nicholls build a white Sportsmen
coupe again painted white with the #8 on it's side as Bruce
VanDyke already had the 88. Harvey Hainer came on board as
mechanic and crew chief and the two made a formidable
combination. Mike honed his skills as a driver and Harvey
kept the car race ready. In 1969 the championship was so
close that George Treanor in the 67 beat Zajac in the
feature and won the overall points by 2 at Speedway Park on
the last night of racing. It was George's year as he also
drove the Jimmy Binks' 67 to Merrittville Speedway's Point
championship as well.
However, Mike Zajac - now known as the
Beamsville Breadman would not be denied. A newly constructed
big block coupe with the familiar checkered flag #8 would
appear - racing against the likes of Bob St. Amand Sr.,
George Treanor, Jeno Begolo, and Ivan Little. The early
1970's would belong to Mike Zajac and Harvey Hainer. The
two were the only driver-crew chief combination to win 3
Sportsmen Modified Championships - 1971, 1973 and 1974. this
was truly a racing dynasty but a quiet one as Mike Zajac did
very little talk and kept his focus on racing. However in
1975 while competing in a Modified event at Merrittville
Speedway, Mike's now blue # 8 Coupe caught another car's
wheel and flipped violently - destroying the once immaculate
Coupe. Bob St. Amand Sr - a fellow competitor at the time
said it was one of the worst wrecks that he has ever seen.
We are able to say that while that wreck ended Mike's career
he is here tonight with us enjoying the reunion.
While Harvey Sr was spending all this
time on the Zajac car - a young Harvey Jr and Davey Moore
would help on the car as well. So after Mike decided to
retire a young Harvey Jr took to the wheel of a Late Model
in 1975.
For 1976, Harvey joined the ranks of the
Modifieds and the 2H was born. While Harvey would wrench on
his son's Modified - Harvey Jr would gain success - winning
Merrittville rookie of the year honors in 1976. It would be
Jr's brother-in-law to be Davey Moore who would dominate the
class from 1975 to 1979. Finally in 1981, the Hainer Family-
Part Mart Special # 2H would win the Points Championship at
Merrittville Speedway. Harvey Sr. would continue to field
cars for his son until the 2H retired at the end of the 1997
season.
From 1997 to 2000 Harvey Hainer Sr
continues to help up and coming racers set up and work on
their cars. Harvey can still be spotted in the pits working
on a modified. At first he helped 'rookie' Dan Miller - last
week's feature winner. Miller's first car was the former 2H
of Harvey Jr. Currently Sr is lending a hand to Chris Ricker
and his # 13 Modified.
Harvey has always had the support of his
family but especially that of his wife - Mori. When not
working with his son at the family business - Hainer's
Discount Tire or a DIRT Modified - Harvey and Mori can be
spotted cruising in their vintage Ford Flat Head Coach to
Cruise Nights - and you can bet that it's not all stock.
So thanks Harvey for all you've brought
to our sport - there aren't too many people whose career has
spanned five decades at something they love. Sincerely, Rick
Kavanagh