Harley-Davidson

Racing History

"We have never claimed the Harley-Davidson to be a racing machine.

This machine is built primarily for service.

Nevertheless the regular Harley-Davidson stock machines (the kind you can buy)

have probably won more races, more hill climbs and more endurance contests

 than any other motorcycle made."

(1913 Harley-Davidson Sales Brochure)

First Races

During the past few month the sweeping victories of Harley-Davidson 

stripped stock machines have kept the motorcycle trade in a constant 

state of excitement.

The first public appearance of the stripped stock Harley-Davidson model 11-K 

was at Dodge City, Kansas, July 4th, 1914, where Walt Cunningham 

covered 120 miles in 105 minutes flat, an average of 68,18 miles an hour.

Dodge City

July 4th 1914

The first 300 Miler:

The "Coyote Classic"

The Bikes:

Twelve initial new 11-K personally tuned by Bill Ottaway

The Team:

Walter Cunningham, Paul Garst, Paul Gott, "Red" Parkhurst  & Alvin Stratton

Alva Stratton     *     Paul Garst     *     Walt Cunningham

(not shown: Red Parkhurst and Paul Gott)

The first 300 Miler saw six makes represented:

Harley-Davidson, Excelsior, Indian, Merkel, Pope and Thor. 

Competitors came from all across the United Staates and even from Paris, France

to rode in the Fourth of July Classic. 

Such early day notables as Glenn"Slivers" Boyd (Indian 8),

"Speck" Warner, "Wild Harry" Glenn, "Cyclone" Klebes and 

Charles "the terrible Swede" Gustafson (Indian 8).

Cash Prices totaling $ 1,300 were the largest that 

had ever been offered for such an event.

Walt Cunningham after 100 Miles:  1 Hour and 28 Minutes

A streched rear chain and a fouled spark plug put him out of action at the 181th Mile

This was the first big race in which the young Milwaukee Motorcycle Company

had sponsored a Racing-Team against the Rest of the Industry.

Later at Rockford, Ill., August 9th, Alvin Stratton and one of the 11-K

made 100 miles in 97 minutes, 2 seconds, an average of 61,8 miles per hour.

At Sioux City, Iowa September 2nd, Bill Brier covered 74 miles during the 

first hour in this race.

At Milwaukee, October 4 th, Al Stratton won the 100-mile event in 95 minutes, 

10 seconds, an average of 63 miles per hour.

At Birmingham, Ala., October 5th, a stripped stock Harley-Davidson 

ridden by Leslie (Red) Parkhurst, won the F.A.M. one-hour championship.