The Decision to Race

During its first decade, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle developed an image based around serviceability and utility. Though America's other leading manufacturers were deeply involved in racing, Harley-Davidson avoided such involvement. 

But with Indian, Cyclone, Emblem, Dayton, Excelsior, Merkel, Pope, Thor, and Reading-Standard all earning publicity through racing, the Motor Company was under heavy pressure to enter the fray. Even as Arthur Davidson publicly denounced racing, Harley-Davidson was hiring William Ottoway away from Thor to head up its new racing department, and on July 4, 1914, a factory team consisting of six Harley-Davidsons was entered in the 300-mile Dodge City Classic.

In 1915 Harley-Davidson introduced the 11K, a sleek production racer with a pocket-valve engine, and began to assemble the most powerful collection of star power ever to race under a single brand – riders like Leslie "Red" Parkhurst (left), Otto Walker, Albert "Shrimp" Burns, Ray Weishaar, Ralph Hepburn, Jim Davis, Fred Ludlow and Maldwyn Jones.

The "wrecking crew" turned Harley-Davidson into a dominant force on the race track, producing, in 1921, a flawless season during which the Motor Company won every single national championship event. However, sales declined precipitously that year, and Harley-Davidson withdrew from racing entirely during 1922. 

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