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Harley Davidson History 1930-1940
1930 Bill Davidson, Jr. wins the Jack Pine
endurance contest with 997 points of 1,000. All individual class winners
are riding Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.
1931 All of Harley-Davidson's remaining American competition is now
gone except Indian (Hendee Manufacturing). Indian and Harley-Davidson are
the only two American motorcycle manufacturers until 1953.
1932 The 45 cubic inch-driven, three-wheeled Servi-car begins its
41 year run as a popular commercial and police vehicle.
In dirt track racing, Harley-Davidson racer Joe Petrali begins a five-year
consecutive streak of winning the AMA Grand National Championship. Petrali
also wins the National Hill-Climb Championships for 1932 to 1935.
1933 An art-deco "eagle" design is painted on all gas tanks. This
marks the beginning of graphic designs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles
(with the exception of previously special order-only paint schemes). This
styling decision was made in part to stimulate the low sales numbers
caused by the Great Depression.
1935 The Japanese motorcycle industry is founded as a result of
Harley-Davidson licensing blueprints, tools, dies and machinery to the
Sankyo Company of Japan. The result is the Rikuo motorcycle.
Joe Petrali and his Harley-Davidson peashooter win all thirteen of the
American Motorcycle Association National Championship dirt track races.
Petrali breaks four records in the process.
1936 Harley-Davidson introduces the EL, an overhead valve, 61 cubic
inch powered bike. With increased horsepower and bold styling changes, the
motorcycle quickly earns the nickname of "Knucklehead," due to the shape
of its rocker boxes. The same year, the Motor Company introduces a 80
cubic inch side valve engine.
1937 The first WL models are produced. Joe Petrali sets a new land
speed record of 136.183 mph on a modified Harley-Davidson 61 cubic inch
overhead valve-driven motorcycle. . The same day, he also breaks the
record for 45 cubic inch engine motorcycles.
1938 The Jack Pine Gypsies Motorcycle Club holds the first Black
Hills Rally in Sturgis, SD.
On the 3.2 mile beach course at Daytona, FL, Ben Campanale wins the first
of two consecutive victories at the Daytona 200 on a Harley-Davidson WLDR.
Return to the Harley
Davidson History Index
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