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For our August/September selection, we're not asking questions. Butch found a book with a bunch of interesting facts, so we present them here for you. For the thinking Biker!
I have a “Motorbooks” Harley Calendar. Complete with fotos of old bikes with descriptions of each and fotos of H-D products and collectibles from different dealers through the history of the company. It also lists 49 notable dates in Harley history. Following is a year to year listing of these important dates. I found them interesting and enjoyable. Hope you do also.
February 22, 1904 - H-D racing and hill climb legend Joe Petrali is born in San Francisco.
.September 17, 1907 - The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is incorporated.
June 29, 1908 - H-D President Walter Davidson starts the two day, 365 mile FAM endurance run in New York on a 61ci H-D twin against 61 opponents on 17 different brands of motorcycles.
June 30, 1908 - H-D President Walter Davidson wins the two-day, 365 miles FAM endurance run with a perfect score of 1,000 points.
June 24, 1915 - Della Crewe and her dog leave Waco, Texas, on a 1914 H-D V-twin with sidecar on a 5,378 mile tour of the U.S.
March 16, 1916 - As the U.S. - Mexican War heats up, the War Department requests immediate delivery of 12 H-D motorcycles with sidecar gun carriages.
April 6, 1917 - The U.S. enters WWI, and H-D begins shifting its efforts to military production.
November 12, 1918 - Roy Holtz is the first American Soldier to ride into Germany on a Harley-Davidson.
June 21, 1919 - Julian C. “Hap” Scherer sets a new record of 74 hours, 58 minutes in the 1,689 mile Three Flags Run from the Canadian border to Tijuana, Mexico.
July 11, 1919 - Jack Fletcher tops the 10,000 ft Mt San Antonio, (Old Baldy), on an H-D Sport Model, the first motorcycle to reach the summit.
January 4, 1920 - Led by Otto Walker, H-D riders win the top four places in the Ascot Park, California, 100 miler.
January 20, 1920 - Domingo Lopez wins the Brazilian Kilometer Championship Sidecar Race on an
H-D.
July 4, 1925 - Joe Petrali, racing a borrowed H-D, sets a new record in winning the 100 mile broad-track race at Altoona, Pennsylvania.
March 4, 1930 - Over 50,000 customers visit 400 participating dealerships in H-D’s nationwide open house.
July 15, 1934 - William Bracy and O.C. Hammond ride a stock 1933 H-D 45 1,366 miles to win the Atlanta, Georgia, 24-hour.
January 27, 1936 - The H-D News Bulletin announces that demonstrator models of its new, overhead-valve Model E 61 ci V-twin (Knucklehead), for 1936 were finally ready for shipments.
March 13, 1937 - Joe Petrali powers a specially prepared H-D Knucklehead to a new speed record of 136.18 mph at Daytona.
April 8, 1937 - Fred Ham rides solo on a 1937 Knucklehead to a 24-hour record of 1,825 miles on Munroc Dry Lake, California.
April 19, 1937 - Over management’s vehement opposition, H-D workers unionize.
April 21, 1937 - William A. Davidson, Co-Founder, Works Manager and Vice President dies in Milwaukee at age 66.
September 15, 1940 - The Enthusiast magazine introduces the Model F, a 74ci version of the Knucklehead.
February 17, 1941 - H-D submits a bid of $870,350 to the Army for 1000 45ci shaft-drive XA military motorcycles, which are copies of the 750cc.
September 1, 1941 - Don Loucks wins the Jack Pine Endurance Run with 979 out of 1,000 points, becoming the 17th consecutive H-D mounted winner.
February 7, 1942 - H-D’s Co-Founder and President, Walter Davidson, dies in Milwaukee at age 65.
February 23, 1942 - William H. Davidson, son of William A., succeeds Walter Davidson as H-D President.
May 12, 1943 - H-D is awarded the Army-Navy “E” for Excellence in supporting the war effort.
February 6, 1946 - The 1946 H-D models are introduced five months late due to a strike.
November 1, 1947 - The Enthusiast magazine introduces updated OHV big twins with aluminum heads and hydraulic lifters, bike eventually dubbed “Panheads”.
October 1, 1948 - The Enthusiast magazine announces the Hydra-Glide Panhead models
December 30, 1950 - Secretary and General Sales Manager Arthur Davidson, the last survivor of the four H-D founders, and his wife are killed in a car accident.
September 8, 1953 - The Enthusiast magazine announces the 1954 “Golden Anniversary” models, in what is really the 52nd year of H-D production.
May 1, 1956 - The cover of The Enthusiast magazine features Elvis Presley aboard his new 1956 Model KH.
September 10, 1956 - The Enthusiast magazine announces a revolutionary new model, the 55c.i. OHV Sportster.
June 3, 1957 - Dick O’Brien legendary future head of H-D’s racing team, joins the H-D racing department.
August 20, 1961 - H-D racer Carroll Resweber cements his fourth consecutive Grand National championship by winning the 50-mile race at Springfield, Illinois.
October 21, 1965 - George Roeder races a 250cc H-D Sprint Streamliner to 177.225 mph, a new 250cc world speed record.
January 7, 1969 - AMF assumes ownership of H-D.
December 29, 1973 - Former H-D racing star Cal Rayborn is killed while racing a Suzuki GP bike in New Zealand.
June 14, 1978 - H-D President William H. Davidson announces the closing of the Varise, Italy, Aermacchi plant.
February 26, 1981 - H-D executives sign a letter of intent to “buy back” the company from AMF.v
June 16, 1981 - H-D officially returns to private ownership with Vaughn Beals Jr. as Chairman and CEO.
April 1, 1983 - President Reagan imposes tariffs for five years on Japanese motorcycles over 700 cc.
June 27, 1986 - H-D offers 2 million shares of common stock on the American Stock Exchange at $11 per share.
March 17, 1987 -H-D petitions the International Trade Commission for early cancellation of the tariffs on Japanese motorcycles over 700cc.
May 6, 1987 - President Reagan tours the York, Pennsylvania, H-D factory and gives a speech.
July 1, 1987 - The New York Stock Exchange agrees to list H-D stock.
October 10, 1987 - H-D buys the rights for the Armstrong MT500 military motorcycle.
August 21, 1990 - H-D introduces the FLSTF Fat Boy for 1990.
June 12, 1993 - More than 100,000 of the faithful help H-D celebrate its 90th Anniversary with a giant festival in Milwaukee.
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