Given the strong Harley-Davidson theme at the inaugural Bike Fest Oz! 2023, promotor Chris Beattie couldn’t resist exploiting the opportunity and occasion to host a special ‘event within an event’, according to Chris.
“I’m sure many Harley enthusiasts will know of, or maybe have even been a part of our incredible 100th Anniversary Harley Homecoming Tour that we ran to the USA in 2003 to celebrate the Motor Company’s centenary,” he said.
“I ran and promoted it via my magazine, Heavy Duty, at the time and initially anticipated we’d get about 20-30 hardcore enthusiasts to come with us – and bring their bikes along – to celebrate at Harley’s Milwaukee home. Especially given we planned to ride all the way to Milwaukee and would be on the road for 3-4 weeks in the USA on our own bikes.
“But by the time we left in August, 2003, we had an unprecedented 497 Aussie and Kiwi Harley owners – and one brave BMW rider – on the tour, and we had to crate and uncrate an amazing 348 bikes at our warehouse in San Francisco!
“It was more like an invasion than a tour and there are so many untold stories out of that particular adventure, so I’m really hoping we get a good turn-out of original tour members at BFO! 2023, which also marks the Homecoming Tour’s 20th anniversary.
“Harley-Davidson actually acknowledged that our tour group was officially the single-biggest collection of enthusiasts to attend the big 100th, and also presented us with a special commemorative plaque as well as organizing an exclusive reception at the incredible Experimental Aircraft Museum near Milwaukee.
“So many great memories – and friends – made on that particular adventure! Many of the stories are a bit too ‘raw’ for the more delicate, but I reckon a lot of them will be told at BFO! next year!
“I’m inviting all of our original crating crew along too. They were an amazing group of truly dedicated and hard-working genuine Harley enthusiasts and without each and every one of them we couldn’t have pulled the tour off and successfully returned every tour member, and their bikes back to Australia and New Zealand.
“We’re calling all of our original tour members who make it to BFO! 2023 our ‘Very Important Riders’ (VIRs) and we’re going to have a couple of great parties to celebrate the tour and hopefully have plenty of laughs while we’re at it,” enthused Chris.
Look for a dedicated 100th Anniversary Homecoming Tour Reunion page and registration form on bikefestoz.com.au, coming soon.
