27. Greg Mathias shares - Harry Leary "had his demon side as well" - the family didn't test for CTE

Record details

Video ID

-lUP2ow30PI

Published

2025-11-11

Availability

Public

Duration

1:08

Transcript

YouTube automatic caption

Description snapshot

27. While Harry Leary can be thought of doing many wonderful things, he did have his demons. Friends and family did not test Harry for CTE, they just didn’t think about it at the time. He crashed many times and “stuck his head into the ground a few times pretty hard” - some of his helmets were nearly split in half. Harry also had a lot of concussions as a kid, when he would ride without a helmet.

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Transcript

Yeah, I just just him. He had his demon side as well.
side as well. >> Yeah,
>> Yeah, >> like I said, we probably would have had
>> like I said, we probably would have had him tested for that CTE, but if we would
him tested for that CTE, but if we would have thought about it, but over the
have thought about it, but over the years, he had some pretty bad crashes.
years, he had some pretty bad crashes. We pulled out some of his helmets that
We pulled out some of his helmets that he had. They were just almost split in
he had. They were just almost split in half, you know, Troy Lee helmets,
half, you know, Troy Lee helmets, expensive helmets. So, he
expensive helmets. So, he >> he stuck his head into the ground a few
>> he stuck his head into the ground a few times pretty hard. [laughter]
times pretty hard. [laughter] >> Well, not only that, it's my
>> Well, not only that, it's my understanding that he also had a lot of
understanding that he also had a lot of concussions as a kid. a lot of head
concussions as a kid. a lot of head injuries as a kid when he was riding
injuries as a kid when he was riding without a helmet, etc., etc.
without a helmet, etc., etc. >> We we didn't ride with helmets when we
>> We we didn't ride with helmets when we were kids, you know.
were kids, you know. >> Yeah. Who wears a helmet, right?
>> Yeah. Who wears a helmet, right? >> We used to riding the track riding
>> We used to riding the track riding Chandler. They go out there for the
Chandler. They go out there for the races. They make us wear it for the
races. They make us wear it for the races, but practice
races, but practice >> not so much.
>> not so much. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> You know, we're out there practicing, no
>> You know, we're out there practicing, no helmet on.
helmet on. >> Yeah. We primarily rode trail tracks and
>> Yeah. We primarily rode trail tracks and we never wore helmets. Dumb.
we never wore helmets. Dumb. >> Yeah. And nowadays, you wouldn't get me
>> Yeah. And nowadays, you wouldn't get me out there with that one on either.
out there with that one on either. >> No. No. After I injured my shoulder, I
>> No. No. After I injured my shoulder, I was like, I'm wearing a helmet cuz my
was like, I'm wearing a helmet cuz my head could have been there real quickly.
head could have been there real quickly. >> Yeah. Exactly. Doesn't take much.

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