HPE Motorsport was founded in the 1930s when Albert Harris used to repair & tune motorcycles. His son, the legendary Ron Harris, inherited the mechanical expertise and know-how to progress the business onto cars in the early 1950s.

Throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s Ron Harris was a name renowned in the motorsport industry, especially with engine building and tuning on Ford street cars, as well as track and strip racing. During these decades, Ron’s sons; Jeffrey, Andy, Martin and Ronnie Jnr, were growing up and learning from their dad what the perfect ingredients were to build a fast, unbeatable race engine!

With all four sons interested in cars, Ron Harris was under increasing pressure to step the business up a level and develop further techniques to increase the performance and speed of his engines.

Andy excelled in the National Hot Rods, winning several championships against legends like George Polley, Barry Lee, Mick Duffy Collard and of course Derek Warwick (to name but a few). Whilst Ronnie Jnr was on a winning streak in the Stock Rod British and World Championships.

Due to the racing success of the Harris boys, Ron became increasingly busy with builds of Hotrod, Stock Rod, & Stock Car engines. Dozens of drivers won races and championships with HPE Motorsport engines under the hood of their cars!

Meanwhile, throughout the 80s and 90s, Jeff Harris concentrated on his son James Harris’ career in Karting. Achieving British champion in Junior Karting in 1998 and 1999, having raced with Lewis Hamilton and other top race drivers.

Further establishing the Harris name as synonymous with high quality, winning engines were our own car projects. Many a MK1 and MK2 Zephyr and Zodiac, as well as Ford Escorts, have been modified by Ron, Jeff, Andy, Martin and Ronnie Jnr.

By putting in Ford small block V8 engines, these cars could be seen throughout the 70s and 80s tearing up the roads and subsequently drumming up further custom for HPE Motorsport in modifying engines.

With all those years of experience, Ron has developed the Ford Kent crossflow and Ford Pinto engines to the very high level of tune that they are today. We are achieving very good results with both Andy and now James, further strengthening the HPE Motorsport name. The tuning and pace we achieve in our MK1 and MK2 Escorts at various race meets, including Santa Pod (in Northampton), still surprises everyone. Even Ron, at the young age of 74 years, continues to compete at the Brighton speed trials and other sprinting events.