Harry Brinkman passes

[sam]

I just read on the AOMCI board that Harry has passed away. Seems he had been in poor health for a while.

Godspeed Harry

[modhydro]

Harry Brinkman

Harry died in his sleep Sunday morning.

I will post any arrangements as I learn them. We should hear from his Brother later today.

Steve Roskowski

[oldracer]

Harry

I am sad to hear that Harry passed away. Another great boat racer has left us. I always enjoyed talking with Harry at the MOB and Constantine, MI AOMC meets when I lived in MI.
May his soul be on the shores of Lake Paradise with the others who have left us.
Ye Olde Desert Geezer Al

[RLR]

Steve,
Thanks for the updates, so sad to hear of Harry's passing, his name crossed my lips just Thursday of last week. He was a tremendous assest to boatracing.

When we had the Illinois Modified club, IOA and IPBA used to have some great races with eliminations in many of the classes. Harry got me back into boatracing after stopping when the pro's were having only 4 or 5 races per year and usually one day races at that.

Harry was able to help me with equipment and as a sounding board. I remember one year when the National mtg. was being held in Atlanta. Harry and Lou Witham asked me to go with them and was happy to oblige until I found the transportation arrangements.

Harry and Lou were driving and wanted me to go with them. I said no, I'm going to fly down and meet you guys there, but why don't you fly down as well. No, I am not getting on an airplane, I do not trust them.

Now what Harry did for a living before he retired is germaine here. He was an air traffic controler for many years and yet he hated to fly.

God rest your bones Harry and look up our friends who have gone before us.

Ray

[Dave M]

Sad News

I grew up with Harry always at the races, he was an icon. I knew him simply as the Banana Man. He always had fun with us kids and even brought an inflatable banana float toy. I last saw Harry in Huntington IN a year or so ago. I am so glad we chatted for a while. Harry could drive a runabout, without a sissy fin. Harry was also involved with the start up of Modified in APBA.

Race in peacy my friend, your booming voice will be missed. I know you are up there kneeling down in your runabout looking back at all those chasing you around the course.

The Mason's

[david bryan]

dind't know harry but sissy fin i love it

[modhydro]

Harry Brinkman arrangements

Word from Harry's brother Mick is that there will be a service on Saturday, May 17th.

Sorry that I don't know more right now, but figure that I'd at least pass this on.

Steve Roskowski

[Guest]

Tall roster tails Harry

Saw Harry two weekends ago and he was in very bad health. Spent a little time talking to him and trying to share some things with him. He trully was a great racer, but most of all he was an inovator. The quest for the last little bit of speed was still there. It trully was a great acheivement with what he was trying to accomplish with his modification work. My heart goes out to his family and I wish them well.

OldRacerBU
Alan van Weele

[David_L6]

I hate to hear that. Rest in peace Harry. Thanks for all the help you gave me.

[legend41]

Memories

I have know Harry for over 40 years and he was a true racer to the end. I talked with him 2 weeks ago and mentioned that I found some new OEM mercury connecting rods, he told me he needed 4 and buy them for him as he had a project he was thinking about. At that point he was hardly able to talk but in his mind he was as sharp as ever. Harry I will miss you.

Mike O'Brien
34H

[Danny Pigott]

Harry

I Meet Harry At The Last NOA AM PRO Nat`s In 1971 Portsmouth Oh. He Was Great Person An Boat Racer. I Still Have Some Of His No Drag Rings,We Used Them For Many Years. The Boat Racing World Will Miss You Harry.

[STEVE FRENCH]

Alan talked with Harry briefly last week about a filler block for his 44 Merc D-MOD and 650 Panther FE-MOD ........he recieved from Harry recently for a couple pipe set ups Alan wants to try...... and though Alan said he would call back at a better time......Harry said it may not get better........

Thank you for all you have done for MODIFIED OUTBOARD RACING..... Harry.

19P

[RandY Aveline]

as a kid harry watched me grow up at IOA Races and he and my old man competed in 6 classes against each other
c,d,e,hydro and runabout harry went on to hold 1US for approx 2 or 3 years in a row before IOA left NOA and joined A.P.B.A. (BTW his first race was in 1962) was Sponsored by a fella named Doc Donato for a long time and had a funky innovative yellow runabout called the banana boat.. the only other name he had and laffed about often was in late 60's (65 thru 69) harry's nickname "FANG" mostly because of the GREAT BIG SMILE he had weather he was 1st or 3rd did not matter just happy to be racing and smilling and laffing all the way home ..
In his last 20 years of racing he boosted Terry up at the races helping Lou Raise Terry Witham to the top to win J Runabout (2 or 3 years in a row) E M hydro C M runabout harry built those motors and or helped Lou and Terry on machine work as needed.
Harry wrote the How to Modify Your mercury manual to help new racers come in and be competitive.. that is if they would listen and follow his directions (half of them thought they knew better) LOLOL silly newbies!!
he raced and won CMR 10 out of the last 20 years he raced, this was the only class he raced in the last 20 years ! (other than antique classes)
I say thats dam good winning 50% of his last 20 nationals and is (for a man running 1 class) got to be some kind of record!!!

he taught me about engines, well what my dad didnt teach me.. and how rework my motor in the mid and late 80's for proper maintained engines etc helping keep it in top condition.. and win 89 DMH AOF nationals

i was privy to working with harry on 3 projects since last september 07.
Only 1 of which was totaly completed, the other 2 will eventually be complete!

Before his death even in his end days harry new his mind and passed a lot of knowledge on to me

In earlier days harry wrote the rules on the way most inspectors would inspect engines at our nationals, and for a long time he was the mod tech manual man whom had all the answers !
he did this mainly because it had to be done and no 1 else had time to at that time of racing
He was 1 of the greatest contributers to Mod races ever and will be missed
His motors will and are still winning races as theres not many better !!

P.S. If any of you yamato boys In C M Runabout get Beat by a 4 cylinder mercury it is probably 1 of Harrys

RIP Harry
Your friend and apprentice
Randy