Earl Garrison: 1922-2011

[sponsonhead]

Stock Outboard racing in Region lost another one of its legends. Earl Garrison passed away June 30, 2011.

Earl was one of the finest 2 cylinder stock outboard runabout drivers in the Northwest. He set records in 25SSR and BSR in the 70's and introduced Jan and George Christ to boat racing.

Off the race course, Earl was an elementry school principal, and was probably the last guy you would ever expect to bang chines in a BU with a 20H. Earl raced into his 70's, and was a fierce competitor in ASR.

True story: when Earl quit racing, it was because he had suffered a minor stroke while at a Wakefield Nationals. When he came home and he announced he was quitting racing, I asked him what the effects were of the stroke, and how he was doing. He said, "I'm fine now. I've just lost a little peripheral vision in my left eye, so I shouldn't be racing now."

I replied to him, "what's the problem, Earl? You never looked to your left when you went into a corner anyway!"

There will be a family only service for Earl. His Obituary can be found here:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/her...&pid=152315025

I'll miss you, friend.

R-19

[CSR4C]

I always enjoyed racing with Earl, he would give you what you had coming in a turn but not an inch more. We teamed up together in the 1975 25ssR grand prix at Dayton he had a great run going until our pit stop where some water got in the tank, I only went half a lap and the engine quit.

Darrell & Linda Sorensen

[DeanFHobart]

Earl Was The Greatest

Earl was the first boat racer I met and talked to in 1960. He was the greatest and will be missed by all who knew him. My best regards to the family.

Deano........................

[Team B&H]

Being in Wisconsin, we didn't get to interact with Earl much but when we were able, he was a wonderful person. My wife always asked how Betty was doing and he even took several of us fishing out on Puget Sound on one of our excursions to Yelm. I caught a cod and never liked eating them afterwords- they are UGLY. I'm sorry to hear of his passing- may he rest in Peace.

Sam

[form-e one]

i luved earl he was one of the greats,,,, farley bought jan christs b- thumper wheel and beet wart and vincent in the old days,,, i traveled with him to a dayton nats,,, he tought me alot,,, when i was small we bought his trailer that won many shows,,,, i talked to him afew times after he retired from boat raceing when he lived in edmonds,,, he tought me and farley alot about raceing,,,, one of the humble greats,,,,,my condolences

[CSR15]

I raced Earl one time. It was the last Green lake race. I finished way in the back, And he finished way up front. During the drive home I repeatedly told my Dad "I race Earl Garrison!"
Brian.

[Slowboat510]

8-r

I'm sad to hear that Earl passed away. I first heard of him when I was a kid. Our life long family friends, the Clarks, taught in the Edmonds school district. They knew we were into racing and they had mentioned someone they worked with who raced. That person was Earl Garrison. When I grew up and began building boats, I ended up getting to know Earl and eventually built 3 boats for him. 2 Runabouts and a Hydro. Yes, a hydro (with a deck throttle). He drove it a few times, then sold it. He raced those runabouts hard. I have 2 or 3 panels in the shop with "8-R" on them from doing repairs for Earl. In '92 at Wakefield, after his stroke, he sold his last runabout. I later bought it and restored it in his honor. Same paint color, same number. We have raced the EOB (Earl's Old Boat) ever since with his 8-R proudly on the side. For me, he was one of my racing heros. I'm going to miss him.
BRB