I've always been a little sceptical of that "hog" story involving early racers. For one thing, there are only a couple of photos of a pig. You'd think it would be a bigger deal with hundreds of photos. This story didn't start making the rounds until about 15 years ago or so....about the time of the sanitization of H-D history. The first time I saw the term "hog" as related to Harleys was in the mid-60s in articles that quoted outlaws in Life and Sat. Evening Post mags. I don't know if bikers of that period would know of, or even care about forgotten racers during the depression-era. I think the term just came about because these were big, loud motorcycles. The piglet thing is a fairy tale, I think. But it sure is cute.

 

Read ***** G's Harley Davidson First Hundred Years coffee table book. Tells all about it. A good read.

 

 

The Wrecking Crew

 

I shop I worked in in Federal Way Washington had a mascot pig. It was a pot belly named "Hambone". Hambone was pretty smart. He used to sit up and beg like a dog.

If you left anything (parts, tools, anything) lying on the ground Hambone would grab it and run out the back door and hid it. I remember spending almost a whole day looking for my ratchet.

 

To a certain degree the term "hog" has come to represent any truly bad *** scoot. Here's an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnkefjCES-4

 

CNBCs' Biography told pretty much the same story. Early racers would carry a piglet arounf with them after the races,etc..

 

To get to the other side.

 

Why did the hog cross the road?

 

The wife and I did the "Walk The Line Tour 2010" this summer at the York, PA plant. Before the tour of the plant you watch a 15 minute video on the history of Harley-Davidson. According to the video and tour, the early racing team's mascot was a pig and that is where the term "hog" started.

If you think that is not correct, call the plant and complain.