HOG Story
HOG Story
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THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP®
A worldwide success story
In 1983 the Harley-Davidson Motor Company founded the Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) and within six years the world's first factory-sponsored motorcycle club had already attracted over 90,000 members. Today – in 2009 - there are over one million H.O.G. members in more than 130 countries worldwide and over 150,000 in Europe. There are now over 1,500 H.O.G. Chapters world-wide in more than 60 countries from Russia to Saudi Arabia and Iceland to Japan.
››› H.O.G. was launched during one of the most important periods of change in Harley-Davidson's history as a means to leverage the company’s ‘Close to the Customer’ philosophy at a time of great problems and near bankruptcy for the world’s most famous motorcycle manufacturer. In 1981 the Motor Company had returned to private ownership under a management team lead by Vaughan Beals, Charles Thompson and Willie G. Davidson after a 12-year period of ownership by American Machine and Foundry (AMF).
››› The founding principle behind H.O.G. was to build a strong and lasting link between the Motor Company and its customers by developing a range of genuine membership benefits as well as an active rally programme. Being ‘close-to-the-customer’ remains a key part of the Motor Company’s approach with teams of people dedicated to managing and developing H.O.G. throughout the world. The Motor Company's commitment to H.O.G. is also supported by the hundreds of Harley-Davidson dealerships that sponsor local H.O.G. Chapters.
››› The rally tradition was already a central part of the Harley-Davidson ownership experience and quickly became a key part of the H.O.G. success story. Back in 1908 Motorcycle Illustrated reported a meeting of 35 enthusiastic early members of "the Harley clan" in Lincoln Park, Chicago and said the meeting was "an object lesson in the popularity of the Harley-Davidson machine."
HOG Event Video I
››› In 1988, Harley-Davidson and H.O.G. organised an 85th anniversary rally with riders departing from 10 starting points across the US - the final destination for festivities was Milwaukee, the Motor Company's hometown. On this occasion 35,000 enthusiasts attended the rally and $650,000 was raised for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
››› H.O.G. activities and members' exclusive facilities had also raise over $100,000 for the MDA.
››› By 1991 H.O.G. membership stood at 135,000 with the strong sense of family strengthened when Bill Davidson (the fourth consecutive William Davidson to work for the Motor Company) was asked to direct H.O.G.’s world-wide operations and events.
HOG Event Video II
››› That year also marked a breakthrough year for H.O.G. in Europe with the first European H.O.G. Rally held in Cheltenham, England. Harley-Davidson enthusiasts from every corner of Europe travelled to the Cotswold Spa town and the rally quickly established itself as a key diary date for European enthusiasts.
››› The Motor Company’s growing export success (30 per cent of total production was exported overseas by 1991) ensured there was no shortage of new H.O.G. members at the early European rallies and by 1996 membership had broken through the 40,000 mark.
››› Subsequent European rallies have attracted growing numbers of enthusiasts and at the 2001 St.Tropez rally over 10,500 people travelled to the famous French resort. In addition to the annual European Rally dozens of additional H.O.G. events take place in Europe throughout the year. The 16th Annual Harley Owners Group Rally will be held in Fuengirola, Spain 21-24 June 2007.
››› Europe’s near-100,000 H.O.G. members share many of the traditions and passions of their US counterparts. For example, there's a strong commitment to raising money for charitable causes with H.O.G. chapters securing sponsorship for long motorcycle journeys or appearing at fundraising events. During the 100th Anniversary celebrations alone H.O.G. members, Harley-Davidson dealers and Motor Company employees raised $7.3 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
››› By 2006 the H.O.G. ‘family’ had reached over 1,000,000 members worldwide with the latest H.O.G. Chapter, Moscow H.O.G. Chapter, opening in June 2006 – a situation that would have been
world, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Latvia and Lithuania.
THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP®
The H.O.G. timeline
Year Members Key fact
1983 33,000 H.O.G launched in USA and Canada
1984 45,000 First H.O.G. Rallies launched – in Reno, Nevada and Nashville, Tennessee.
1985 60,000 First US H.O.G. Chapters formed. 49 chapters formed by the end of the year.
1986 75,000 Ladies of Harley established. LoH events quickly become popular.
1987 87,000 H.O.G. sponsors legendary racer Scott Parker
1988 95,000 5th Anniversary H.O.G. Rally in Asheville, North Carolina.
1989 107,500 H.O.G. Mileage Merit Programme launched
1990 132,000 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy launched
1991 151.600 First European H.O.G. Rally at Cheltenham
1992 192,000 2nd European H.O.G Rally held in Alsace, France
1993 233,000 First Canadian National H.O.G. Rally in Ottawa
1994 270.000 First French National H.O.G. Rally, Vannes
1995 292,000 First German National H.O.G. Rally, Loreley
1996 318,000 First Japan H.O.G. National Rally, Yunogo
1997 380,000 First H.O.G. Posse Ride –Portland Oregon to Portland Maine
1998 430,000 15th Anniversary H.O.G. Rally, Milwaukee draws 53,000 members ‘home’
1999 504,000 First Middle East H.O.G. Rally, Oman. www.hog.com launched.
2000 582,000 First South American Regional Rally, Iguazu Falls, Brazil
2001 652,000 10th Anniversry European H.O.G. Rally held in St Tropez – biggest yet
2002 744,000 H.O.G. key player in organising Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations.
2003 840,000 Worldwide 100th Anniversary celebrations, including Club H.O.G.
2004 900,000 European H.O.G. Rally held in Portugal – now an annual event
2005 993,000 H.O.G. completes Touring Ride of all 48 mainland US states
2006 1,000,000 First Russian H.O.G. Chapter launched in Moscow
2007 1,120,000 H.O.G. membership in Europe reaches 100,000
2008 1,200,000 European H.O.G. Rally planned in Latvia
H.O.G. facts
››› A parade of all one million H.O.G. members, on one million Fat Boys, lined up endto-end would stretch over 3,000 km – roughly the distance from Fuengirola to Athens
››› If all the H.O.G. members in the world decided to arrive in Fuengirola for the 16th
metres high – about the same height as nearby Mt Maroma in the Sierra de Tejeda
Quelle: HOG Deutschland / Harley-Davidson
Last Updated (Wednesday, 29 July 2009 09:34)
