A Tribute to Harry Grepke

My friend Harry Grepke passed last May 17th 2009, on a Sunday in Altha Florida. Harry lived the life of a true engineer, always thinking or tinkering on an idea of his. My business partner Brian and I met Harry one day at the gas station here in town. We had known of Harry he is really quite famous in some circles and squares.

You may know of Harry Grepke, his 1975 turbine electric car hit Popular Mechanics Magazine with a big surprise. They author in the article stated that they had expected nothing more than a glorified golf cart. Harry had built a 3500 lb vehicle in his garage. With eight 12 volt Sears truck batteries and a turbine, he took the Popular Mechanic Magazine editors for a ride they never expected. The car would drive at 70 mph All this can be found online, it is well documented. His vehivle would run 50 miles on electric power and around 2500 miles on a tank of gas and could be charged overnight at home. Harry was active in the community and well liked.

Harry met Brian and I at a gas station, because we had been building hydrogen generators. and on the tailgate of Brian's truck was painted 20% more mileage with hydrogen. Harry asked Brian about it and came to our shop. This was in 2007 about a year after Harry moved to Altha. He provided some important info which came in his way of talking that was difficult to follow at times and too brilliant to understand much of. He gave us several ideas which we researched online. Building the hydrogen generators to sale was not cost effective for us. We did increase mileage with our generators and still work on one today. In fact Brian is in Atlanta working on a generator with a friend at his full blown shop. Harry did visit us on occasion offering his bits of advice or just talking with us. He just lived 2 blocks from me and I never went to visit him, it's just the way I am. I regret not seeing him more before he passed on and getting to play with his milling machine and lathe.

Harry Grepke was 71 when he died and would tell you he had a full life with few real disappointments. I believe Harry will not only be remembered but will even be more famous. Harry Grepke never had any engineering training, and without college was hired as an engineer for Ford Motor Company. Harry was a truly brilliant man with an uncanny way of building something in his mind then putting it on paper before ever turning a wrench on it. By then the project was all but finished with a few minor adjustments. I expect the engineers of the world will keep Harry alive in their thoughts and designs. Harry Grepke was a great guy and inventor that will live on in my mind.

During my last conversation with Harry he spoke of quarks which are basic particle of an atom and his ideas on cold fusion. All I could do is sit there and smile. I guess Harry was actually talking so I could understand or I would know nothing of the subject we spoke of. He was a real character, with a good scense of humor and a great love for his wife and family and I shall sorely miss him.

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