Paul Wearly Racing

Paul Wearly’s X hydro set a World Record at Myer, Illinois (just north of Quincy, Illinois on the Mississippi River)

By Sam Wearly

Paul Wearly began racing after seeing his first boat race at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1934. On the way home Paul commented that he would like to try racing boats. His oldest brother Joe told him that if he would build a hydroplane, Joe would buy him a racing motor, and that is where it all began. Paul went on to win 21 National Championships and one World Championship (John Ward Trophy); set 18 Competition World Records and one Straightaway World Record for X-Hydroplane (85.106 mph) in 1955.

Paul paid for his college education at Indiana University with money that he won racing. He could win enough during the summer to pay for the first semester. He made arrangements with the university to allow him enough time between semesters to go run the winter circuit in Florida, hoping to win enough money to pay for the second semester. He said catching up on the first few weeks of the second semester was tough, but that was what he had to do to pay for his education.

L-R Wearly family – Elizabeth Wearly Miller, Mike Miller, Mabel Wearly, Bob Wearly, Paul Wearly, Sam Wearly, Jeane Wearly, Joe Wearly

Boat racing was a family affair for the Wearlys. It was not uncommon to see Paul’s parents, Sam and Mabel, and his two brothers and two sisters in the pits at the races. Paul built the motors and propellers, Joe worked on the gear cases, and Paul’s father Sam kept the boat bottoms perfect. Mabel was there in full support and kept things under control.

Paul had a favorite story he liked to tell about family in the pits at the races. When Walt Blankenstein first started building motors, he was having trouble sticking pistons; so he asked Paul if he could spend a week with him and learn how he set up a motor. Paul obliged. One evening at the dinner table about midweek, Walt was going on about how he felt that women had no place in the pits at a boat race. At that point Mabel looked at Paul and said, “It is a shame that Walt has to leave first thing tomorrow morning.” And he did!

During WWII Paul tried three times to enlist in the Navy, but colorblindness kept him from getting in. To do his part in the war effort, he helped build bomber wings at Kawneer Manufacturing in Niles, MI. Later, Gar Wood hired Paul and Worth Boggeman (a boat racer from Texas) to build a six-cylinder opposed, four-stroke, supercharged outboard for the military to use on storm boats. The military was having a hard time starting the 4-cylinder Evinrude storm boat motors, so Gar got the contract to build a motor that was easier to start. The motor was fashioned after an Italian Soriano motor that Gar Wood Jr. owned. Paul and Worth built two motors, and took them to South Carolina where they were approved by the Corps of Engineers. But before the motors could be put into production, the war ended. Paul said that suited him just fine!

Paul worked with Gar Wood building this engine for the military.

There were very few races during the war years, but Paul attended them when possible. Paul raced until 1952. He retired from competitive racing after the 1952 NOA Nationals in Lake Alfred, Florida—his favorite place to race. He won five of his six heats, and two of his three classes, and set three World Records that day. What better time to retire! Paul felt that he needed to dedicate more time to his young family and family business. He also wanted to have the time to build an X motor to try to set another World Record.

Paul Wearly with record-setting X engine

Paul’s first production-built hydroplane was a Jacoby, but he raced mostly Neal Hydroplanes after Dick Neal started building them. He ran Johnson motors, and bought propellers from Michigan Wheel, reworking them to suit him.

After racing, Paul took up golf. He became a very good golfer, especially for a guy who didn’t start playing until he was 37 years old.

L-R: Sam Wearly, Paul Wearly,  Roger Dykehouse, and Jack Gilbert

Thanks to Sam Wearly for writing a history on his dad Paul. Sam also raced boats, in the OPC division.
Jay Walls has several hours of audiotapes with Paul Wearly. Paul also had three photo albums and he described each photo on each page while Jay recorded.
Photo credits go to Sam Wearly, Jay Walls, Bill Hosler, Rick Eichrodt and Bernie VanOsdale’s book.

Paul Wearly with his BRH Johnson SR engine & Neal hydro

Paul with J.J. Walls

Paul receiving an award from Michiana Outboard Boating Chapter President Rick Eichrodt

L-R Jim Johnson, J.J. Walls, Austin Dugan, Kyle Roskowski, Steve Roskowski, Jack Gilbert, Paul Wearly, Sam Wearly, Duke Johnson, Jay Walls & Roger Dykehouse