Ed Boyer Story by Rich Morganti

Ed began racing in 1958 at the age of 19 after going to the races at the Indiana Fairgrounds. After first objecting Ed’s dad became Ed’s biggest fan.  He then purchased a home made sprint car number 30 that same year. After racing that car until the mid 60’s He purchased a car that was a proven winner from a guy in New York. With little blue 37 Chevy Ed race all the local tracks winning a number of races.  Ed’s biggest win came at Franklin speedway known today as Tri City. It was a 50 lap special event. Not good at keeping records Ed figures that he won 73 feature wins and many heat races. Racing was fun back then as he spent much time with his brother Wally and his father. 

During the late 60’s Ed moved to the late model division and purchased a 66 Chevelle. The car painted purple still carried the number 30 and Ed continues to show up just about anywhere. Never a person to run for points Ed finished second at the Blanket Hill speedway in the modified division. One night at Clearfield Ed finished 2^nd in an extra distance race. When he went to get paid Ed realized another driver with the same number received his second place money. Ed decided to change his number to 72. Along with the number change came a new car. Ed built a 1967 Camaro and began to do battle once again with the area’s top late model drivers. One of Ed’s best memories came also at Clearfield where he and Bob Wearing raced 20 laps side by side. Bob would take the lead coming out of turn two and Ed would regain the lead coming out of turn four. That continued lap after lap and Ed would in the end take the win over Bob Wearing. That feat alone was hard to do considering Bob was the man to beat during the 70’s and 80’s. Ed built a newer Camaro which would be the last of his dirt cars and raced it until the late 80’s.  

Once retired, Ed worked on the Merle Smith asphalt racing team.   They took their asphalt modified to the super speedway to race with drivers Bob Wearing, Johnny Anderson, Clate Husted, and Wayne Smith.   

During the late 90’s the promoter of the Motordrome Speedway was trying to start a new class of racing called the Legacy cars. These ¾ sized asphalt cars were making their debut and they needed a driver for an extra car. Ed got the call and thought he would give it a try. During his first race and never in an asphalt car before Ed finished third. This began a new career that lasted another five years. Ed raced these cars until he was 64 years of age.
            Ed has two sons that raced the Legacy cars and during the 2004 season Bret won the Erie Legacy championship and Rick won the Jennerstown late model championship. In 2005 Rick won nine late model features at Jennerstown. Ed’s sons continue to carry the Boyer name into the record books.