A Harley Built for a Lord
Racing Legend Dan Gurney Gifts Goodwood Founder a Custom Dyna
There aren’t too many names more legendary in the world of motorports and racing than Dan Gurney. He has had a very successful 15-year racing career, becoming the first driver to win a race in NASCAR, Indy Car and Formula One. Gurney also invented and manufactured race cars and owned a team. Today, the 85-year-old retired racer is the chairman of All American Racers (AAR).
Considering all of his successes, it’s no surprise that anything bearing Gurney’s name would be considered special. This includes motorcycles, which Gurney has built quite a few of over the years. He even created Alligator Motorcycles, designed specifically for taller riders.
But Gurney is also a big fan of Harley-Davidson, and he’s redesigned a few of them, too, including this Dyna, which mysteriously showed up on Goodwood Festival of Speed founder Lord March‘s doorstep. March was baffled as to where the Dyna came from until he noticed a telling sign on the gas tank, where the words “AARLEY-DAVIDSON” (a nod to AAR) were painted. The slight deviation in spelling was intentional, as a nod to Gurney’s All American Racers.
Gurney built the Dyna back in 1999 and it features a host of upgrades. They include an upgraded gearbox, shocks and exhaust. And March can’t contain his excitement over the gift. A self proclaimed lifelong fan of Gurney, Goodwood’s founder seems like a great match for the bike. And fittingly enough, he immediately takes it for a run through the English country side.
While we can’t all be lucky enough to have friends that leave Harley’s on our doorstep as gifts, it’s at least nice to see this one go to a good home.
