Harry Leary was a Hall of Fame BMX racer who helped inspire a generation of riders to take to the motocross track.
- Died: September 7, 2024 (Who else died on September 7?)
- Details of death: Died of heat exhaustion in the Arizona desert at the age of 65.
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Harry Leary’s legacy
Harry Leary began racing in 1974, while still a teenager, and went pro at 18 in 1977. Competing for JMC Racing Equipment, DiamondBack, and others, Leary was a serious competitor in his era, held from the top slot by chronic injuries, yet still ranking No. 2 in 1981 in the American Bicycle Association and the National Bicycle League.
Earning two nicknames – “Scary Harry Leary” and “Turbo” – Leary wheeled his way into the BMX Hall of Fame in 1986, in its second-ever class of entrants. Though averse to fame and attention, he raced as a pro into his 40s before moving to amateur status in 2007. His July 1984 cover of BMX Action magazine, on which Leary performed a lookback – a trick during which the rider slings out the back end of the bike while in the air – proved to be an influential image for riders of the day.
Leary also rode for Balance, Marzocchi, Western States, and his own brand, Dirtwerx, along with other teams. According to the National BMX Hall of Fame, he was a worship leader for Church in the Dirt services on the national circuit.
Tributes to Harry Leary
Full obituary: Canadian Cycling Magazine
