Bike Week back when
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
man i feel sorry for those people over there through this weekend. rain and going to get cold. get you some Florida winter. i really feel for the ones camping. last time i camped there was 86
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 1,488
From: SW Washington State
When I was at Daytona in 1979, I thought it was called Speed Week, I got a pin someplace, Ill have to check. it revolved around the Daytona 200. Rats Hole, the Beach and show off your iron parade were all a good time.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 696
Likes: 488
From: Southern Indiana
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 521
Likes: 635
From: Gainesville FL
First went in '84 and again in '96 and than a couple of times in the 2000's. Big changes between the first and the second time and though I only live two hours away, last year was the first time I had been in over ten years, just not the same vibe. The first time was fun. Maybe because I was a bunch younger too.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 406
Likes: 182
From: xyzzy
I was there in 1984. I still have the vest pin that H-D was giving out at their test ride event introducing the brand new "Evolution" engine. The pin even says "Daytona '84" on it. I test rode one of the Evolution powered bikes and the main thing I remember was the God awful detonation the poor engine was emitting in the Florida heat.
I had a just behind the pit wall pass for the 200 mile race and at that time Honda and Yamaha were going at it tooth and nail in the 200 mile "Superbike" race. Freddie Spencer was on a 500cc two stroke three cylinder Honda and Kenny Roberts was on Yamaha's equivalent GP bike. As I said, these bikes were both full on Grand Prix machines and rumor had it that the Yamaha Roberts was riding was enlarged to over 600cc, up from the class limit of 500cc. These were the machines that were geneally known as the "unrideables" due to their vicious off/on power characteristics with no help from any electronic aids. During practice, there was a spot at the end of the back straight where the factory folks would gather with their radar guns to monitor speeds. Lots of Japanese engineers. I went there and tried to talk to one of 'em to try to find out what kind of speeds they were seeing. He only smiled at me and said "Sorry, no English". Yeah, right. Also, there was a seating section along the back straight that was called "Harley Heaven". I can't remember if there were any Harleys to root for during the races. Given the level of full on factory competition any Harley presence would have been hopelessly out classed. Anyway, the much anticipated race between Spencer and Roberts failed to materialize as the rear shock on Spencer's bike went away early in the race and Robets won in a cake walk.
I had a just behind the pit wall pass for the 200 mile race and at that time Honda and Yamaha were going at it tooth and nail in the 200 mile "Superbike" race. Freddie Spencer was on a 500cc two stroke three cylinder Honda and Kenny Roberts was on Yamaha's equivalent GP bike. As I said, these bikes were both full on Grand Prix machines and rumor had it that the Yamaha Roberts was riding was enlarged to over 600cc, up from the class limit of 500cc. These were the machines that were geneally known as the "unrideables" due to their vicious off/on power characteristics with no help from any electronic aids. During practice, there was a spot at the end of the back straight where the factory folks would gather with their radar guns to monitor speeds. Lots of Japanese engineers. I went there and tried to talk to one of 'em to try to find out what kind of speeds they were seeing. He only smiled at me and said "Sorry, no English". Yeah, right. Also, there was a seating section along the back straight that was called "Harley Heaven". I can't remember if there were any Harleys to root for during the races. Given the level of full on factory competition any Harley presence would have been hopelessly out classed. Anyway, the much anticipated race between Spencer and Roberts failed to materialize as the rear shock on Spencer's bike went away early in the race and Robets won in a cake walk.
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,630
Likes: 4,095
From: Virginia
in 1984, I was riding a Kawasaki GPZ 750 Turbo and Harley was recovering from a decade long ownership by AMF. This was the year Harley introduced the evolution engine, designed by a Brit John Favill, an engineer they hired away from Norton Commando 4 years earlier.
I was there in 1984. I still have the vest pin that H-D was giving out at their test
ride event introducing the brand new "Evolution" engine. The pin even says "Daytona '84" on it. I test rode one of the Evolution powered bikes and the main thing I remember was the God awful detonation the poor engine was emitting in the Florida heat.
I had a just behind the pit wall pass for the 200 mile race and at that time Honda and Yamaha were going at it tooth and nail in the 200 mile "Superbike" race. Freddie Spencer was on a 500cc two stroke three cylinder Honda and Kenny Roberts was on Yamaha's equivalent GP bike. As I said, these bikes were both full on Grand Prix machines and rumor had it that the Yamaha Roberts was riding was enlarged to over 600cc, up from the class limit of 500cc. These were the machines that were geneally known as the "unrideables" due to their vicious off/on power characteristics with no help from any electronic aids. During practice, there was a spot at the end of the back straight where the factory folks would gather with their radar guns to monitor speeds. Lots of Japanese engineers. I went there and tried to talk to one of 'em to try to find out what kind of speeds they were seeing. He only smiled at me and said "Sorry, no English". Yeah, right. Also, there was a seating section along the back straight that was called "Harley Heaven". I can't remember if there were any Harleys to root for during the races. Given the level of full on factory competition any Harley presence would have been hopelessly out classed. Anyway, the much anticipated race between Spencer and Roberts failed to materialize as the rear shock on Spencer's bike went away early in the race and Robets won in a cake walk.
ride event introducing the brand new "Evolution" engine. The pin even says "Daytona '84" on it. I test rode one of the Evolution powered bikes and the main thing I remember was the God awful detonation the poor engine was emitting in the Florida heat.
I had a just behind the pit wall pass for the 200 mile race and at that time Honda and Yamaha were going at it tooth and nail in the 200 mile "Superbike" race. Freddie Spencer was on a 500cc two stroke three cylinder Honda and Kenny Roberts was on Yamaha's equivalent GP bike. As I said, these bikes were both full on Grand Prix machines and rumor had it that the Yamaha Roberts was riding was enlarged to over 600cc, up from the class limit of 500cc. These were the machines that were geneally known as the "unrideables" due to their vicious off/on power characteristics with no help from any electronic aids. During practice, there was a spot at the end of the back straight where the factory folks would gather with their radar guns to monitor speeds. Lots of Japanese engineers. I went there and tried to talk to one of 'em to try to find out what kind of speeds they were seeing. He only smiled at me and said "Sorry, no English". Yeah, right. Also, there was a seating section along the back straight that was called "Harley Heaven". I can't remember if there were any Harleys to root for during the races. Given the level of full on factory competition any Harley presence would have been hopelessly out classed. Anyway, the much anticipated race between Spencer and Roberts failed to materialize as the rear shock on Spencer's bike went away early in the race and Robets won in a cake walk.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,752
Likes: 3,272
From: West Central Florida
The only bagger in the pics is a Kaw 1000 Police Special.
My first trip was 1982 and i have been back at least 35 years.
Its a few hour trip and i enjoy the ride there as much as the rally itself.
Times sure have changed.
Got back Sunday night and just might go back this weekend for the 200
My first trip was 1982 and i have been back at least 35 years.
Its a few hour trip and i enjoy the ride there as much as the rally itself.
Times sure have changed.
Got back Sunday night and just might go back this weekend for the 200
Last edited by Kawickrice; Mar 10, 2022 at 06:17 AM.