Legends come to life

Young daredevil visitor taking in the board track.

Four vintage hillclimbers ascend a sloped wall that replicates the extreme inclines these bikes often faced. An assortment of memorabilia devoted to early clubs and rallies completes the exhibit.

Vintage hillclimbers

The board track display features five motorcycles racing on "walls" banked as steep as 45 degrees.

For Harley-Davidson racing teams, winning was second nature. Here, display cases feature everything from the gear they wore to the trophies they won.

For Harley-Davidson racing teams, winning was second nature. Here, display cases feature everything from the gear they wore to the trophies they won.

Club uniform of the Bay City Riders from Mount Clemens, Michigan.

Cycle Kings motorcycle uniform.

Medals won by Jim Davis, one of the most successful racers in Harley-Davidson history.

Artifact cases display items representative of early motorcycle culture, including apparel, banners, helmets, jewelry, awards, and photographs.

Clubs & Competition

Competition is the theme for most of this gallery. Faster. Higher. Farther. Those were the words of the day. Standing thirteen feet tall, a replica section of board track sports five vintage Harley-Davidson® motorcycle racers. This exhibit accurately portrays the forty-five-degree board track curve that allowed racers, without brakes, to achieve top speeds of over 100 mph.

From board track racing and hillclimbs, to club rides and endurance events, this gallery pays tribute to the grassroots movements of the early twentieth century that revolved around the camaraderie, thrill-seeking and competitive spirit that drove the motorcycle culture of the day.

More Exhibits

• Worn To Be Wild
• Experience Gallery
• Engine Room
• Clubs & Competition
• Custom Culture
• Design Lab
• The Harley-Davidson Journey, Part 1
• The Harley-Davidson Journey, Part 2
• The Journey of the Iron Elite
• The Motorcycle Gallery, Part 1: 1903 – 1940s
• The Motorcycle Gallery, Part 2: 1940s – Present
• Tank Wall
• Imagination Station
• Build A Bike
• Tsunami Bike
• Designing a Celebration