Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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®®Ik m~~ 100 Years of Harley-Davidson 11 @@ W@@~ ~ll fXJ&JrfO@!'Zo@&JIYlO@]fB@[JiJ Author: Willie G. Oavlds~n publisher: Bulfinch Pres ISBN: 0_8212-2819-6 Suggested Retail: $65 (hardcover) Pages: 288 h your local Available th~O~';r bookstore, or Harley-DaVIdson ea , onUne, cannot remember the exact moment that I first met Willie G. Davidson, but he must have made an impression, because I've been a big fan ever I since. It's wasn't that I'm easily starstruck, because I'm not. In fact, quite the opposite: My personal philosophy is that if you're some big stud superstar - an actor, a racer, the head of a billion-dollar corporation or whatever - then the onus is on you to impress me. That said, I have met a lot of people who are well-respected in the motorcycle industry based upon their accomplishments, and while I respect those accomplishments, I have found that once you get behind the facade, you sometimes find that a person can be completely different from what you thought because their fame has given them some sort of a free pass from showing others basic respect. Hey, I know it's a two-way street, and others may feel the same about me. My point in all of this: From the first day that I met the "G Man," I have been nothing short of impressed. Sure, his iconic status in the motorcycle world and his tremendous 40 APRIL 9, 2003· cue • e penchant for authoring classic motorcycle styles over the past half-decade are enough, but the man behind all that is even more impressive. The Willie G. that I have had the good fortune of getting to know is a tremendously kind, humble human being, a great husband, father and grandfather. He speaks with pride for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, but he is far from a braggart, even though he has more right to be one than most men. And when he speaks of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, he does so with a fondness that one would display when speaking of a beloved family member. All of this comes through in his new memoir, 100 Years of HarleyDavidson, a sturdy, coffee table-style hardcover book that consists of 288 pages featuring 500 historic images, many of them rare or never before published. Willie G. leaves no stone unturned in his personal account of the Motor Company's illustrious legend, tackling subjects ranging from landmark Harley-Davidson models to the people - both within and outside of the factory walls - who have made n __ s them great. His personal recollections offer the reader tremendous insight into his passion for all things HarleyDavidson, and each story or anecdote is told in such a way that it makes you sort of wish you had been there to see what he has seen. A perfect example of this can be found in the chapter entitled "One of the Family: The Harley-Davidson Employee." "When I was a boy, my biggest thrill was going down to the factory at 3700 West Juneau with my dad," Willie G. writes. "It was a special treat. This was the magical place where raw metal entered through one door, and finished motorcycles exited through another... No trip was complete without a stop at the racing department, which, for a kid, was an incredibly cool place. It seemed sacred. The bikes, which represented experimental technology, looked much different from the standard models, and they had that simple, handsome look that I have always appreciated. Sometimes I'd hang around with the test riders. They rode in all kinds of weather, testing prototypes and generally ensuring the safety and stability of all our motorcycles. I loved listening to their stories... I can distinctly remember how much I enjoyed watching my dad talking with employees. He made himself accessible. He got along well with everyone, just as his father had. I'm proud to say that this friendly relationship between employees and leadership at Harley-Davidson, established in the company's earliest years, continues today. "After many visits to the plant, it became clear to me that the employees were the people who made the magic. There has always been great emotion within the walls of HarleyDavidson. The original founders were true enthusiasts - they rode, raced, and ignited the passion in the company. I'm sure they tried to create a working environment in which employees could share in their excitement. "I have learned over the years that Harley-Davidson employees believe wholeheartedly in the brand and what it represents. In fact, many of our employees are avid riders themselves." If you are looking for an unbiased account of Harley-Davidson's 100year history, then I suppose that there are plenty of other books available on the subject. The thing is, the fact that Willie G. Davidson wrote 100 Years of Harley-Davidson is what makes this particular book a must-have. In fact, barring a 1DOth Anniversary HarleyDavidson motorcycle, if you could collect one item to commemorate this moment in the Motor Company's history, this book would probably be it. CN