Photo: Harley-Davidson
Think of Harley-Davidson in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series, and your mind immediately links that with Vance & Hines. For the past 18 years the team has been making history on the drag strip, backed by the American bike maker. But that will no longer be the case.
The decision was announced this week from Milwaukee, and it essentially means Harley will no longer be involved directly in the sport. Instead, it will focus on backing through contingency programs the racing efforts of its dealer network in the AFT SuperTwins, Production Twins and NHRA Pro Stock.
The first on the list to get some love is Oregon-based Latus Motors Harley-Davidson, which will be fielding an XG750R motorcycle in the AFT SuperTwins series next year.
“Harley-Davidson would like to thank the Vance & Hines organization, the riders, team members, and every individual involved with the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle and American Flat Track (AFT) team efforts for their passion, commitment, and expertise for over a decade of winning competition and championship titles,” the bike maker said in a statement.
As said, the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines team has been a force to be reckoned with on the track. Over the course of all those years, the team scored 107 race and 10 championship wins, “proving to be one of the most successful programs in the history of the sport.”
Why, then, the decision to cut ties? Harley goes on and on about its need to harken “back to the foundations of the company’s competitive spirit,“ and the need for “building within the brand and celebrating the heritage of grassroots flat track racing.”
That’s the flamboyant way of saying Harley-Davidson’s business as a whole is again in a tight corner, and drastic measures have to be taken to get back on track. It seems dropping support for one Vance & Hines is one of those measures, and just as drastic as the one to end motorcycle production in India.
The first on the list to get some love is Oregon-based Latus Motors Harley-Davidson, which will be fielding an XG750R motorcycle in the AFT SuperTwins series next year.
“Harley-Davidson would like to thank the Vance & Hines organization, the riders, team members, and every individual involved with the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle and American Flat Track (AFT) team efforts for their passion, commitment, and expertise for over a decade of winning competition and championship titles,” the bike maker said in a statement.
As said, the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines team has been a force to be reckoned with on the track. Over the course of all those years, the team scored 107 race and 10 championship wins, “proving to be one of the most successful programs in the history of the sport.”
Why, then, the decision to cut ties? Harley goes on and on about its need to harken “back to the foundations of the company’s competitive spirit,“ and the need for “building within the brand and celebrating the heritage of grassroots flat track racing.”
That’s the flamboyant way of saying Harley-Davidson’s business as a whole is again in a tight corner, and drastic measures have to be taken to get back on track. It seems dropping support for one Vance & Hines is one of those measures, and just as drastic as the one to end motorcycle production in India.
Google News