Larry is one of the few remaining founders of Apple Country Engine & Tractor Association still active in the club. He was one of some 19 enthusiasts of the area who answered the invitation to attend an organizational meeting at the Bar-B-Q Shak Restaurant in Etowah. That date was the 20th of February 1986. Since then, he has been a regular participant at shows throughout the Eastern US, regular attendee of all the board and general membership meetings, and is constantly sought out for advice on anything having to do with old engines.
    Larry is a native of this area, still living on the property where his Mom's family lived for several generations. He attended the Valley Hill Grade School just walking distance from the house, and then graduated from East Henderson High school. His dad came to the area around 1930, worked as laborer for Bluebird Ice Cream Co. in the building on Main Street presently occupied by Sinclair Office Supply. That was where Mr. Harding learned refrigeration.
    After W.W.II, Mr. Harding went into business for himself, repairing and selling both home and commercial appliances. His first shop was in half of the building which today is the Mexican Restaurant on the Greenville Highway. The current location of Harding & Son Appliances was built in 1953. The '& Son' part of the name came later, as the 11 year old Larry started carrying tools for his dad, and quickly picked up the skills. He became a full time partner in the business after high school.
    Larry has always had a natural knack for mechanical things - first tinkering with old bicycles, then an old 1945 Military Jeep (unique ride because it was half Willys and half Ford), and later a '53 Chevy, and then a variety of motorcycles and scooters. All of these interests spread into off-road competition when dune buggies became the craze in the 1960's. Some of his early inspiration came from pictures in magazines. He set out making his own version of the 'EMPI Roadster' by shortening the floor pan of an old 40 hp VW Beetle, and adding a VW bus transaxle. The next home-made was a pure 'rail job' with a VW engine he worked over, and a transaxle with a special-order 5.14 to 1 ring gear. The posted picture of Larry leading the race was taken at a dirt track in Marietta, SC September 1969.
    Larry recalls when one of his Mom's renters had a big Harley-Davidson, and allowed him to sit on it and imagine someday owning one. He was about 10 years old at the time. The bicycles soon became motor bikes, then Cushman scooters, trail and dirt bikes, and finally full size motorcycles. With no dealers in the area at the time, Larry quickly learned how to service his own, as well as help others. Today he still proudly rides the Harley-Davidson he bought new in Greenville nearly 30 years ago.
    The interest in antique engines came about when a friend told him about an old engine show in Pendleton, South Carolina, 1983. That really struck a live wire. Friend Perry Owenby gave him an junk Cushman Cub engine - broken piston and missing rod. Larry managed to fabricate a replacement rod and got it running. From here the collection expanded from several in the Hercules 1 1/2 hp class to his favorite 6 hp Side Shaft Badger.
    Friend Jeff Hutchins with the East Tennessee Crank-up Show took him to Pennsylvania to see the BIG engines used in the oil fields. Here was where a fellow with Pennsoil offered him a 25 HP Bessemer for a dollar. As-it-was, where-it-was, somewhere outside of Clarksburg, West Virginia. Despite the question of 'how they could ever move it?', it was too good of a deal to refuse. The joke was when they were getting the bill-of-sale filled out, they then learned they needed to also pay sales tax - 6. Larry didn't have any 6 in him, and had to go back to the truck and beg a few coins off of Merlin. They returned with a heavy truck and trailer, somehow cut it free of the foundation, and winched the 7000# monster with 6' diameter flywheels onto the trailer. In the field, it ran with natural gas right off the top of the well head. Today he shows it at engine shows, running on liquefied propane.
    Larry's engine collection today includes about 18 engines - 7 of them having come out of the oil fields. Some of the names include Evans, Reed, and Titusville Owen. Parallel with the expanding engine collection, was the need for something to ride around at the shows. One Cushman scooter leads to another, to another. He now has at least 6 restored for show, ranging from a 1954 Simplex (oldest) to the 1980 Vespa P200 (newest). The model with the side car is wife Ching's favorite. It reminds her of her native Philippines.

by Bob Delwiche