7 Other Stars of Harley and the Davidsons

Focusing on the Other Stars of the Miniseries

Discovery Channel’s Harley and the Davidsons 3-night miniseries concluded September 7, but that still doesn’t mean it isn’t fresh in our minds, whether it is negative or positive. We are still left impacted by some characters that were given little light or shown later in its conclusion. Continue for a brief, real-life history of some of the names that were dropped during the show. 

(Note: While the majority doesn't discuss the miniseries, some of the content is unintentionally spoilers. Also, this list will only focus on those that don't have the Davidson or Harley name.)

1. Eddie Hasha

Eddie Hasha was born in Waco, Texas and was nicknamed the “Texas Cyclone.” He was a motorcycle racer on board tracks (motordromes), which were the spotlight in the 1910’s and 1920’s. He set the lap record in 1911 doing 95mph at the Playa Del Ray Motordrome. The following year he died on September 8 after a malfunction of his 8-valve Indian bike caused him to crash into the crowd at the New Jersey Motordrome. This accident not only caused his death but the death of four other boys and injured 10 other people.

For more on board track racing and Hasha, click here. 

2. William B. Johnson

William “Wild Bill” Johnson is not only known as the first African-American to be a Harley-Davidson dealer, but also the first African-American to compete in national motorcycle racing events. He was allowed to race in the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) after his friends declared he was a Native American. Up until his retirement in the 1940’s, he secured many victories as a hillclimbing racer between the 1920’s and 30’s. Even after attempts of disqualification (due to the color of his skin), he won the race held in New York. He continued to race in 20 races each year. Johnson passed away in 1985 at the age of 95.  

For more on Johnson, click here. 

3. Reya

From Reya’s profile on the Discovery’s website, as well as not having a last name, the only thing that can be concluded is the Reya is a fictional character made only to fit into the storyline. That is unfortunate, seeing how Sleepy Hollow’s Jessica Camacho’s character is pretty fantastic. Not only taking into account that she is a woman, she is also a Latina, which seems to be the best way for Discovery to both acknowledge as well as include the Latino community. On top of that, she can both race with the big boys and work on her own bike, making her truly unforgettable. If Reya was real, her story’s impact would have been felt for generations.

4. George Hendee

George M. Hendee was a racer who later became the co-founder and president of Indian Motorcycle Company until he retired in 1916 at the age of 49. He is known as one of the fathers of motorcycling. In his career as a racer, which began at the age of 16, he raced in 309 races and won 302 of them. He held the world record of two minutes and 27.4 seconds—which he set after winning the United States National Amateur High Wheel Championship—from 1886 to 1892. He (coincidently?) retired from racing in 1892, but a few later he began to create Silver King/Queen bicycles until it went bankrupt. The company went from Hendee & Nelson Manufacturing Company to Indian after the bankruptcy. Hendee passed away at the age of 76 in 1943.

5. Ray Weishaar

Lawrence Ray Weishaar was a star racer during the 1910’s and 20’s. He raced both board and dirt tracks on Harley-Davidsons. At a young age, his father passed away and he had to work to help the family. With his earnings during his teenage years, he was able to afford a motorcycle and used it to race in half-mile county fairs, nicknaming him “Kansas Cyclone.” Weishaar joined the Harley-Davidson factory team in 1916 and became an H-D dealership for three years, but still returned to racing in 1919. After going through a wooden fence and dying hours later in the hospital in 1924, it began an unsuccessful movement of slowing down the speeds during races.

For a complete history or Weishaar, click here. 

6. Shrimp Burns

Albert "Shrimp" Burns was a dirt and board track racer during the same years as Ray Weishaar. He was 15 when he won his first titles, making him the youngest champion. He was a fan favorite and pretty childish, as he often made faces to racers when he wasn't allowed to race. But he was very serious about his racing, as he once raced with a fractured collarbone and broken shoulder, and years later won a race bandaged up with injuries to his hands and arms. At the age of 12, he became a shop helper in a motorcycle shop after constantly being chased off for messing with the bikes. It was at the age of 20 in 1919 that he signed with H-D, and a year later switched over to Indian for the better equipment promised to him. Like so many of the racers before, he was also killed from a racing accident. He suffered a head injury after he ran into the back of Ray Weishaar's bike and crashing into a wall in 1921.  

For more on Shrimp Burns, click here. 

7. Otto Walker

As part of a trio, Otto Walker raced dirt and board tracks up and down the coast. He first started racing in the year 1911 and the first time winning a race, he was rewarded with a turkey. Can you just imagine bringing that home? After becoming one of the first H-D's factory riders, he gave them their first national win in the 300-mile road race in 1915. During WWI, he signed up for duty in the aviation section. Upon his return to racing, he wore a souvenir German pilot's helmet and it became his calling card. Unlike the fate of the previous racers, Walker was able to retire in 1922 and died years later at the age of 73. 

For more on Walker, click here. 

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