Reconverted - H-D's 100th Anniversary Party
"I bathed in the exhaust and drank the grease."
28-31 August 2003: On Labor Day weekend Harley-Davidson threw a little party in celebration of their 100th year of making motorcycles. On the order of a quarter million bikers descended on the city of Milwaukee. There were block parties all over the city for four nights. Milwaukee's SummerFest grounds were packed with bands for three nights. Harley-Davidson had a 10,000 bike parade, demo rides, factory tours and what must have been four million t-shirts for sale. Motorcyles blanketed the city. Every open curb or sidewalk was fair game. On the final day 150,000 folks packed an outdoor stage without knowing who would perform. The mystery headliners turned out to be Tim McGraw, Kid Rock and Elton John. It was an event.
Not because of the new bikes or The Motor Company. I love the glacial pace of development and can live with the nostalgia overdose. No it wasn't any of that. It was the people. The new "riders." You know to whom I refer... The absurdly cocky, forty-something, more-money-than-passion-or-sense, new breed of Harley owners. I can't stand them and worse, I can't stand to be associated with them. They don't respect moto history, other riders or other makes. All they seem to understand are their chrome-boat Softails.
Which set me to thinking. Why does this sort of event bring out the best in people? Shared effervescence? The idea of similarly minded folks feeling good about getting together for the same purpose, speaking the same language, and reveling in the same passion. Yes I think there is something to that notion, but that doesn't explain it altogether. For me it has more to do with the temporary lowering of social norms, those artificial barriers that develop between all of us in our day-to-day lives. When they are removed something special happens.
Heard on the streets... "You rode from Nevada on a Sportster? Are you insane?"
"An '81 Sturgis in mint condition. Nice. I just saw a '91 Sturgis."
"I've been looking for my bike for seventeen hours. Have you seen it?"
"Do you always get your bike washed by chicks in bikinis in the middle of the street?"
"I DO NOT want to hear 'Tiny Dancer'!"
The vast majority of Harley riders are fun-loving folks. Their bikes are their passion, their release from everyday life. Stick a few thousand of them together and you have yourself a good time. The overly seen, overly heard minority of a*hole Harley riders, that we all hate, are not the norm. They are the exception, not the rule. Why have I exiled myself from the real riders? Just stupid I guess...
ON TO THE DEBAUCHERY ...
As for trying to explain what the weekend was like for everyone else I'll let the pictures do the talking. There are just no words to describe a quarter million bikers, 100 block parties, a 100 bands, a city and police force ready and willing to let the mood wash over their town. You had to live it to understand it.
You're welcome.
More by Don Crafts, Chicago Desk
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