Originally Posted by bad tappets

Win on Sunday, sell on Monday; was the proven mantra of Detroit and the big 3 for many years with respect to NASCAR. If MOCO is serious about attracting young people to the brand, they need to promote their victories, if they get some.

Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.

I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.

MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.

Originally Posted by FunGramps

Looks like he rode Harley at least in '58 and '59. He kicked some butt on that G-50 Matchless though. He was the Mann.

http://www.mshf.com/hall-of-fame/ind...dick-mann.html

Originally Posted by Ludwig von Buzzthoven

I really like flat track racing, and I wish there was a track closer to me.

I think it's important given Harley's place in the motorcycle universe. I mean, they are the General Motors of motorcycles, and the real GM builds winners.

Originally Posted by hd4evr2008

If they get some??? The Harley Davidson XR750 has won more races than just about any other machine in whatever form of racing you could think of. Except for Honda's winning for a few years in the '80's, starting in 1970, the XR750 was THE bike of choice if you wanted to win in flat track. Before that it was the KR's.

Count up the GNC Championships that Harley Davidson has won.......sadly, most guys riding Harleys don't have a clue that Harley races flat track! Heck, most of the DEALERS don't even know!

AMA Flat Track Grand National Champions

Rider
2016 Bryan Smith (Kawasaki)
2015 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2014 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2013 Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson)
2012 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2011 Jake JOHNSON (Harley-Davidson)
2010 Jake JOHNSON (Harley-Davidson)
2009 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2008 Ken COOLBETH (Harley-Davidson)
2007 Ken COOLBETH (Harley-Davidson / Honda)
2006 Ken COOLBETH (Harley-Davidson / Honda)
2005 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / KTM)
2004 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / KTM)
2003 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / VOR)
2002 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / ATK / VOR)
2001 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / ATK)
2000 Joe KOPP (Harley-Davidson)
1999 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson)
1998 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1997 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1996 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1995 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1994 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1993 Ricky GRAHAM (Honda)
1992 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson)
1991 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1990 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1989 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1988 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1987 Bubba SHOBERT (Honda)
1986 Bubba SHOBERT (Honda)
1985 Bubba SHOBERT (Honda)
1984 Ricky GRAHAM (Honda)
1983 Randy GOSS (Harley-Davidson)
1982 Ricky GRAHAM (Harley-Davidson)
1981 Mike KIDD (Harley-Davidson / Yamaha)
1980 Randy GOSS (Harley-Davidson)
1979 Steve EKLUND (Harley-Davidson / Yamaha)
1978 Jay SPRINGSTEEN (Harley-Davidson)
1977 Jay SPRINGSTEEN (Harley-Davidson)
1976 Jay SPRINGSTEEN (Harley-Davidson)
1975 Gary SCOTT (Harley-Davidson)
1974 Kenny ROBERTS (Yamaha)
1973 Kenny ROBERTS (Yamaha)
1972 Mark BRELSFORD (Harley-Davidson)
1971 Dick MANN (BSA)
1970 Gene ROMERO (Triumph)
1969 Mert LAWWILL (Harley-Davidson)
1968 Gary NIXON (Triumph)
1967 Gary NIXON (Triumph)
1966 Bart MARKEL (Harley-Davidson)
1965 Bart MARKEL (Harley-Davidson)
1964 Roger REIMAN (Harley-Davidson)
1963 Dick MANN (BSA / MAT)
1962 Bart MARKEL (Harley-Davidson)
1961 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1960 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1959 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1958 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1957 Joe LEONARD (Harley-Davidson)
1956 Joe LEONARD (Harley-Davidson)
1955 Brad ANDRES (Harley-Davidson)
1954 Joe LEONARD (Harley-Davidson)


KR750 Harley (my uncle raced one of these)



XR750 Harley



And what the factory HD guys are struggling with now (so far it's been a dog).....

XG750

Originally Posted by 04Hali

Unless flat track motorcycle racing suddenly becomes the in thing to watch it won't have much effect on sales of HD or Polaris Indian motorcycles. I don't know any young person who watches it or anyone who actually follows it. I never hear it discussed or mentioned on the TV sports news, local newspaper or by any of the motorcycle owners I know, young or old. I also don't remember it being discussed much on this forum until Polaris Indian started winning and now there seems to be a post weekly, usually by a Polaris Indian owner.

And why would it be a factor for a person buying a HD or Polaris Indian motorcycle that has no similarities with a flat track racing motorcycle. Polaris Indian doesn't sell a flat track motorcycle to the public and neither does HD. Just because HD won a flat track race a guy is going to buy a Ultra Glide or 750 Street, I don't think so. It's really just for bragging rights and publicity which HD really doesn't need and Polaris Indian is desperate to get. That's why Polaris hypes the old rivalry aspect, they want to be noticed. If HD ceased flat track racing today and walked away, it wouldn't effect their sales and Polaris would eventually bail out too. It wouldn't fit their agenda.