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Scott Harvey

Scott Harvey began rally racing in 1953 with his MG-TD while studying engineering at UCLA. By the late 1950's, he worked as a Chrysler engineer in Detriot, Michigan, where he convinced Chrysler to loan him a 300D for the prupose of raod racing and rallying. This was the first of a long string of Chrysler products he would go on to race. His racing was not limited to road racing, Harvey also raced hill climbs and rallys. A lot of the R&D Scott Harvey and his associates (by the early 60's he was head of a team of 19 people) performed resulted in production high performance suspension parts including the fast ratio steering box (1965), the bolt through idler arm (1968), and the staggered leaf springs that appeared on late 60's B-bodies. He was also somewhat formative in what became Direct Connection. What follows is a brief listing of some of Scott Harvey's colorful racing history.

1961

Shell 4000 ("Trans-Canada Rally") Entered car #74, a Mercedes Benz, along with Police Sargent Gene Henderson as a co-driver for team Mercedes Benz of Canada Ltd. finished 7th.

1963

Switched from his 300D to 1963 300's and began partnering with Warren Tiahrt.

1963 SCCA National Rally Championship.

Raced a 1963 170cid Valiant in the 3.0L classes. Harvey won four road races, one hillclimb, and one rally. Four of the road races were first place finishes ( victories at Mid Ohio Raceway, Waterford Hills Raceway, Kent Fields Raceway, and Indianapolis Raceway Park).

The Chrysler team made up of Scott Harvey, Gener Henderson, and Warren Tiahrt were the Overall winners on the 1963 Press On Regardless Rally.

In the Shell 4000, Chrysler of Canada Ltd. sponsored a team of three 300-J's. The drivers and navigators of each of the these three cars were Scott Harvey and Bob Mollman (car #126), Terry Sumner and Roger Bohl, and the third team was Gene Henderson and Fred Browne. The chief mechanic was Carl Preuhs. The there 300-Js were all identically outfitted as 360hp single 4bbl 413 V8s with Torqueflite automatics. Special 9.00 X 15 braced thread non-expandable Goodyear tires were fitted to these cars. Harvey/Mollman tied for fifth with the Sumner/Bohl team, and Henderson/Browne finished 15th. The Chrysler's good handling performance was a source of much praise from the press. A fourth 300-J, #115, also ran with Car and Driver correspondent Al Bochroch drove a 300 to observe the progress of all 47 entries. The privateer tema of Brown and Johnson finished 1st in Class III in their Canadian built Valiant.

1964

1964 SCCA National Rally Championship.

Harvey took a three car Valiant team to compete in the 2900 mile 33rd Monte Carlo Rally (18th-21st January 1964). The team finshed 3rd in their class, with Scott Harvey and Gene Henderson driving one of the team Valiants. Finnish rallyest Esko Keinanen was retired in the one the team's Valiants with a driveshaft failure. The Valiant entries featured skid plates, reinforced chassises, auxiliary fuel tanks, outfitted with Girling front disc brakes (Harvey had custom spindles cast for these disc's by the Chrysler foundry), and studded tires that would one day reappear on Scott, Jr.'s ice racing Dodge Colt.

Harvey continued Rally Racing in the United States campaigning Valiants and, late in the year, a Barracuda.

	2nd in the On Wisconsin Rally (Milwaukee Region, Jun 5-6)
	1st in the Andiamo Rally (Ohio Region July 31-Aug 1)
 	1st in the Rolling High Rally (New Mexico Region, Sept 25-27)
	7th in the Appalachian Rally (Phily Region, Nov 7-8) Barracuda.

Scott Harvey and Jay Toney won the 1964 club class of the Press On Regardless Rally.

For the fourth annual Shell 4000 race, although Chrysler's Corporate office waited until the entry deadline to give the go ahead to Harvey, he had been prepping his team of Valiants since Monte Carlo. Again, Harvey teamed up with navigator Bob Mollman (car #115). Another Harvey-prepped Valiant was piloted by the rally expert from Finland, Esko Keinanen with former Canandain Champ Bill Silvera sitting in the passenger seat. Keinanen burnt out his clutch early on, and Harvey lost a first place lead when he flipped his Valiant, which managed to land back on its tires, and continue down along a river bed before rejoining the course 1/4 mile matter. Overall Harvey finished 3rd in his class.

1965

For 1965, Scott Harvey won the SCCA Rally Driver Championship. Of 13 events entered in "Club Class", Harvey had two 1st place finishes, one 2nd, and a 7th.

Daytona (road race), Feb 1965. Harvey raced a 600hp hemi Belvedere.

Finished 1st in class 3 and 4th overall in the 1965 Shell 4000, April 24-30, 1965. For the 1965 Shell 4000, Harvey again served as the team chief for all factory Chrysler entries. The Harvey/Mollman Barracuda six cylinder finished 4th in the event, and first in Class 3.

Besides racing Plymouths, Harvey also prepped #114 1965 Hemi Coronet for David Pearson and navigator Over 300 man hours of prep went into the car before the race. The car was equipped with BUDD C-body Police car disc brakes, 145lbs/in. rear springs (stock leafs were 100), Dunlop SP 9.00x15 (with 9.00x15 Goodyear snow tires in the trunk), 1/4" mild steel skid plate on the rear axle and an aluminum and steel skid plate ahead of the engine, and high capacity oil pan. A '60 Lancer 13 gallon tank was mounted above the rear axle in the trunk to provide additional fuel capacity and an auxiliary electric fuel pump in the rear with spring wrapped fuel lines running through the drivers compartment!. The engine was the makings of a future street Hemi as it was a de-tuned version of the 1965 race Hemi with 10.25:1 instead of 12.5:1 less duration and overlap in the cam. The car was equipped with a 4.30:1 rearend.

Initial research led us to report that Pearson/Browne finished in 100 hours (source: Martyn Schorr), however it has been brought to our attention, that the team, in fact, did not finish! Evidently, the car had many problems. After failing to qualify for the second Pearson in various tiraids stage at Lindsey, blamed several technical failures for his mishaps which included running off the road twice. Faults cited by the Grand National Champ were no brakes, no heat, no functioning speedometer, and a stuck throttle cable!

The #112 team of Harvey and Mollman faired much better and finished 1st in Class III and 4th overall in their Barracuda. Gene Henderson raced a Barracuda in the 1965 Shell 4000 as well.

Regarding the Hemi Coronet, after the race, the car was delivered to journalist Martyn Schorr who drove it on the street for a month for the purpose of reporting on its mannerisms. This car was later transformed into a SS/SA competitor and its current whereabouts are known.

1966

Campaigned two Barracudas in the SCCA Trans Am road racing series (see the 1966 Trans-Am season).

A single Barracuda was entered by Chrysler of Canada Ltd. in the 1966 Shell 4000 rally. It was entry #107 driven by Scott Harvey, with Mike Kerry handling the navigator duties. Harvey had a repeat performance of 1965, finishing 1st in Class (Class 6, this year, class 3 in 1965) and 4th overall. This year he was given the award for best aggregate performance on special stages. Harvey's Valiant was powered by a 318 V8, The rally was held in the spring of 1966, and the new LA 318 engine was going to be in production later that summer. Mostlikely, Harvey aquired an early LA 318 for this 1966 rally. The #107 Harvey/Mollman car was a blue 1966 barracuda with the trademark white center stripes. There were three other Valiants campaigned by privateers for 1966.

1967

For the 1967 Shell 4000, the #150 team of Harvey and Kerry again campaigned a 2nd overall and 1st in Class 5 in their 273cid V8 Barracuda.

1968

For the 1968 Shell 4000, Scott Harvey won an outright 1st place victory. This was a tremendous victory for Harvey, certainly one he had been chasing since 1961. This year, he teamed up with a youth rally racer, college student Ralph Beckman. The car had few problems, an Harvey/Beckman ran a near perfect race racing up onyl 8 points, 7 of which where caused by a delay while waiting for a farmer to clear his herd of cattle from the roadway.

Harvey and Beckman practiced for two weeks prior to the race in a test car. though the route had not been announced, it was with the experience of running every Shell 4000 that Harvey guess which routes would be soon too be announced stages.

The #137 car was a 273 powered Barracuda (a 273 was used instead of a 340 because the 340 would have placed them in Class 6 and given the team a tougher time requirement on the closed sections. The 273 was fitted with 340 heads and an Edelbrock high rise intake. Stock Forumla S torsion bars were used along with 1964 Valiant station wagon rear springs and B-body police rear shocks.

At the time of the teaming of Harvey and Beckman, Beckman himself had competed in both the 1966 and 1967 Shell 4000 rallies, but did not finish. He had won 1st overall in the 1966 SCCA Press On Regardless Wisconsin Rally (with driver Tom Samida), and later He won a 1st in class, 4th overall in the 1969 Canadian Winter Rally.

1969

Press On Regardless Rally. Scott Harvey and Ralph Beckman won in a Sunbeam Arrow. This was the first year that the Press On Regardless Rally made use of special stages. (they would repeat this win 25th years later in 1994 at the same rally in a 1991 Eagle Talon)

1970

Press On Regardless Rally. In 1970, Scott Harvey and Ralph Beckman repeated their previous year's victory in a Sunbeam Arrow.

1971

For the third year in a row, Scott Harvey and Ralph Beckman won the Press On Regardless Rally. For 1971, they campaigned a Plymouth Cricket.

1972

Entrant in the South African Total Rally 1972.

1973

In the first year of the SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series, the National Champion team was Scott Harvey and Wayne Zitkus. Harvey campaigned a Dodge Colt and a Dodge Ramcharger.

Finished in 3rd place overall, 1st in class at the 1973 Sno*Drift Rally with co-driver Tom King in a Dodge Colt. This was the first year of this SCCA rally held in Grayling, Michigan. Jan. 6-7.

Scott Harvey and Ralph Beckman attempted to enter the 1973 Press On Regardless Rally in a Dodge Colt but the team was excluded.

Entered Finland's Rally of the 1000 Lakes 1973 with co-driver Tom King and recorded a DNF.

Finished 2nd place overall with co-driver Tom King in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Big Bend Bash. Midland, Texas, September 1-2,1973. 13 finishers out of 29 starters in the 800 mile rally.

Finished 1st overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Ramcharger. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Happiness is Sunrise. Holland, New York, September 15-16, 1973. 28 finishers out of 52 starters.

Finished 1st overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Sunriser 400 Forest Rally. Chillicothe, Ohio, September 15-16, 1973.

Finished 2nd overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Nor'Wester. Issaquah, Washington, October 5-7, 1973.

Finished 1st overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Rally Du Noir. Huntsville, Alabama, December 1-2, 1973.

1974

Finished in 3rd place overall, 1st in class at the 1974 Sno*Drift Rally with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt.

Scott Harvey and Wayne Zitkus entered the 1974 Press On Regardless Rally with a Dodge Colt but were retired with a broken axle.

Scott Harvey and co-driver Wayne Zitkus competed in the 1974 Sunriser 400 Forest Rally in Chillicothe, Ohio. Harvey's Dodge Ramcharger suffered a broken radiator at what was known as "Fred's Stage". Also competed in the 1974 "Happiness is Sunrise Rally", and the 1974 "Big Bend Bash Rally" in Texas with the same Ramcharger.

Recorded a DNF with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt, car #2. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: 20 Stages. Grayling, Michigan, March 29-30, 1974. 31 finishers out of 51 starters for the 207 miles.

Recorded a DNF with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Marathon 400 Traverse City, Michigan, May 10-11, 1974.

Recorded a DNF with co-driver tom Grimshaw in a Dodge Ramcharger. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Big Bend Bash. Alpine, Texas, August 31 - September 1, 1974.

1975

Manager of Special Vehicle Development at Chrysler Corporation (perhaps for some time before and after 1975).

Finished in 1st place overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Ramcharger. the 1975 SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series: Sno*Drift Rally. Grayling, Michigan, Feb. 6.

Finished 2nd with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt. the 1975 SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series: Sunriser 400. Chillicothe, Ohio, September 20-21, 1975. 37 finishers out of 59 starters for 350 mile rally.

Finished 3rd overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt, car #6. SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series: Marathon 400 Pro Rally. Traverse City, Michigan, June 15, 1975. 29 finishers out of 46 starters for the 300 mile rally.

Scott Harvey and team member Wayne Zitkus campaigned a Dodge Colt in several SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series rallies. the Dodge Colt has been restored and is still raced by Soctt's son Soctt harvey, Jr.

Finished 3rd overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Colt, car #4. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Happiness is Sunrise, (sponsored by Lancia/Wonder Muffler). Olean, New York, August 9-10, 1975. 30 finishers out of 58 starters for the 414 mile rally.

Finished 4th overall with co-driver Wayne Zitkus in a Dodge Ramcharger. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: 20 Stages Rally. March 2, Grayling. Michigan.

Recorded a DNF with co-driver Wayne Zitkus. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Press On Regardless Rally, Nov. 8-9.

1976

SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series. Scott Harvey was very busy racing for the 1976 season. He raced with several co-drivers, including Wayne Zitkus, Randy graves, Dave Cady, and Texan Tom Grimshaw. Scott Harvey finished 3rd overall in the 1976 SCCA Pro Rally series standings with 190 points (Hendrik Bolk won the title with 340 points racing a Plymouth Arrow). In co-driver standings, Randy Graves finished 5th.

Finished 3rd at El Diablo PRO Rally Series in Green Bay, WI Oct 17.

Finished 6th overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Allegro Pro Rally. Gaylord, MI, September 11-12, 1976. 24 finishers of 42 starters for the 272 mile rally.

Finished 1st with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Colt. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Mojave 24 Hour Rally. Barstow, California, November 20, 1976. 22 finishers out of 28 starters for the 200 mile rally.

8th place overall, Scott Harvey with co-driver Tom Grimshaw in a Dodge Colt. NARA Rally Championship Series: Pirelli Olympus. Olympia, WA April 16-18, 1976. 20 finishers out of 57 starters.

2nd place overall, Scott Harvey with co-driver Tom Grimshaw in a Dodge Colt, car #2. NARA Rally Championship Series: Lancia 20 Stages Rally. Grayling, Michigan, May 1-2, 1976. 22 finishers out of 47 starters.

13th place overall, Scott Harvey with co-driver Tom Grimshaw in a Dodge Colt, car #53. NARA Rally Championship Series: Wonder Muffler Northern Lights Rally. Midland, MI, May 15-16, 1976. 27 finishers out of 52 starters.

DNF, Scott Harvey with co-driver Dave Cady in a Dodge Colt, car #3. NARA Rally Championship Series: Pirelli Happiness Is Sunrise. Olean, NY, August 13-15, 1976. 32 finishers out of 62 starters.

DNF, Scott Harvey with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge, car #4. NARA Rally Championship Series: Lancia/Pirelli Marquette 1000. Marquette, MI, November 5-7, 1976. 8 finishers out of 46 starters.

2nd place overall. Scott Harvey with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge, car #3. NARA Rally Championship Series: Pirelli Mendocino Forest Rally. Willows, CA, November 27-28, 1976. 24 finishers out of 40 starters.

1977

SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series. Harvey and co-driver Randy Graves campaigned a Dodge Colt.

Finished 3rd overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Colt, car #2. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: The Rallyist Borax Bill Memorial. California City, California, January 22-23, 1977. 29 finishers out of 41 starters for the 250 mile rally.

Finished 2nd overall. SCCA PRO Series: La Jornada Trabajosa, Jun 24-26.

Finished 2nd overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Apsen. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Sunriser 400 Forest Rally. Chillicothe, Ohio, September 24-25, 1977. 32 finishers out of 53 starters for the 260 mile rally with featured 18 special stages.

Finished 1st place with co-driver Randy Graves. NARRA Rally Championship Series: Happiness Is Sunrise. Olean, NY August 13-14, 1977. 41 finishers out of 58 starters.

Finished 5th place with co-driver Ray Hocker. NARRA Rally Championship Series: Mendcoino Forest Rally. Sacramento, CA, November 26-27.

Recorded a DNF with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Aspen. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Press On Regardless. Houghton, Michigan, November 5-6, 1977. 41 finishers out of 63 starters for the 462 mile rally which featured 164 miles of 25 special stages.

1978

Participant in the 1978 Press On Regardless Rally with co-driver Randy Graves, however the team was sidelined "by an off-course excursion up a tree" with thier Dodge Aspen. Houghton, Michigan, November 4-5, 1978. 29 finishers out of 62 starters in the 620 mile rally with featured 232 miles of special stages.

Finished 1st overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Aspen, car #4. NARRA Rally Championship Series: MWAC 20 Stages Rally. Grayling, MI, May 20-21, 1978. 37 finishers out of 52 starters.

Finished 3rd overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a 4WD Dodge Aspen. NARRA Rally Championship Series: Northern Lights. Alma, MI September 9-10, 1978. 24 finishers out of 31 starters.

Many of the NARRA events for 1978 were west coast events.

1979

SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series. With team member Randy Graves campaigned a Dodge Aspen 4WD called "Cheetah". The orange F-body had a blacked out hood, and a special front transaxle that required a tremendous offset on the front rims to make room for the front axle and hub assembly.

Finished 3rd overall Sno*Drift Rally Dec. 8-9

Finished 2nd overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a Dodge Aspen 4WD, car #5. SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series: Marchal Press On Regardless. Houghton, Michigan, November 1-4, 1979. 28 finishers out of 67 starters for the 589 mile rally.

Finished 17th overall with co-driver Randy Graves in a Plymouth Champ, car #4. SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Murphy's 100 Acre Wood. Rolla, Missouri, March 10-11, 1979. 26 finishers out of 41 starters for the 293 mile rally.

Finished 3rd at Sno*Drift Rally, Dec 8-9 with co-driver Randy Graves in the Dodge Aspen.

Recorded a DNF with co-driver Randy Graves in the 4WD Dodge Aspen. NARRA Rally Championship Series: MWAC 20 Stages Rally. Cadillac, MI, May 5-6, 1979.

1980

Recorded a DNF with co-driver Randy Graves in the 4WD Dodge Aspen at the SCCA Pro Rally Championship Series: Budweiser Press On Regardless Rally. Houghton , Michigan, November 7-9, 1980. Only 22 of the 73 starters finished the 678 mile rally.

1981

Finished 6th place in the SCCA PRO Rally Championship Series at "Press On Regardless" PRO Rally with Randy Graves and their 4WD Aspen, car #12. Nov. 6-8.

1982

Scott Harvey and Randy Graves second place +(in the rally car class) at the 1982 Pike's Peak Hillclimb.

Scott Harvey is still actively involved in racing and enjoys watching his son Scott Harvey Jr. continue the racing tradition. Incidently, one of the cars that Harvey Jr. has been campaigning is Harvey Sr.'s 75 Colt GT in both Rally and Ice races. For more information, see Team Harco Motorsports.

Pictures:

see Part I: The 1966 Trams Am Season

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