WW II veteran, 88, meets his need for speed in a Ferrari at PIR | Community Spirit

PORTLAND, Ore. - Harry Barber has seen a lot in his 88 years.

Born in Turner, Ore., Barber is a World War II Army veteran who served under General Patton. He waded ashore during five beach invasions in Africa and Italy, including such iconic battles as Anzio.

Along the way he was injured in his left leg but returned to battle a few days later, he said. Eventually, Harry returned home with a Purple Heart, among other awards.

Waiting for him was his wife Margie, who no doubt worried for the entire four years he was away on duty. They had married after dating for an entire month. Harry was just 19 years old when they said their vows. That was 68 years ago.

Once home from the war, Harry would give Margie more reasons to worry as he raced Jeeps with pals in the Salem Jeep Racing Club in the 1960s. The drivers competed with other Jeep clubs around the region.

Already injured in his left leg during the war, he would end up losing the limb in a crash while racing. Not that it slowed him down any.

With his racing career behind him, the years swept past the Barbers as they raised their daughter, Estelle, and grew old together.

The silent war hero who loved racing

Now living at a Marquis Care facility in Wilsonville, Harry - described by his daughter as a “silent war hero who loved racing” - would often relate tales from his racing days and his love of speed.

Slowed by age and a recent injury but with a spirit that still yearned for the thrill of velocity and the sound of a roaring engine, Barber made no secret of his desire to get behind the wheel again - or at least get back out on the racetrack.

A physical therapist helping Harry recover took note of his racing heritage.

Staffers at the Marquis Care assisted-living facility, led by Jennifer “Jen” Hoffer, decided recently to get Harry back to where he longed to be: inside a high-performance vehicle and out on the racetrack.

Working with an internal Marquis Care program called New Chapters, Hoffer networked with a vice president of a local pharmaceutical company to set up a ride for Harry at Portland International Raceway.

And what a ride it was.

Coordinating with local racer Todd Harris, who runs the Pro Drive high-performance school at PIR, Harris and Hoffer managed to land Harry some hot laps in the hottest of cars: an ultra-exotic, 570-horsepower 2010 Ferrari Italia 458, donated for the event by a local owner.

The V8-powered machine with a sticker value closing in on $300,000 was ready and waiting when Harry, accompanied by his wife, his daughter and other well wishers, arrived at the recently remodeled and repaved PIR racetrack.

After putting on a helmet and sliding into the low-slung passenger seat of the glossy black roadster, Harry was ready for takeoff.

Harry hits the track again

Tires squealing and engine howling, driver Harris ran Barber around the serpentine racetrack at speeds more than 150 miles per hour. With sticky tires and a racecar stance, the Ferrari hugged the corners, pinning Harry to his seat as the tires howled through a chicane known as the Festival Curves.

Exotic ceramic disc brakes tested the seatbelts as Harris braked hard for the corners, scrubbing off triple-digit speed in the final turn before the Italian V8 surged again down the front straightaway.

After about a dozen laps, it was time for a pit stop.

“That was really fun,” Harry said in what was likely a vast understatement.

Moments later, Harris returned to the driver seat and was back out on the track - the Ferrari winding to redline at 140 miles per hour as it rocketed down the front straightaway.

Even though they couldn't see his face through his helmet, everyone was pretty sure Harry Barber - once again in go-fast mode - was smiling yet again.