Harley-Davidson VR1000 at Daytona

Not since the late 1960's had we seen such a resurgence in Harley-Davidson factory racers at the famed Birthplace of Speed, Daytona, USA. A lot of time and effort went in to the design and build of the new VR1000. Mark Tuttle and HD engineer Mark Miller contracted Roush Racing to complete the concept and they brought along Steve Schiebe to run the project. From 1994-2001, The Milwaukee-based manufacturer tried it's hand at a return to AMA Pro Roadracing. Miguel Duhamel, Fritz Kling, Tom Wilson, Doug Chandler were among the pilots who threw a leg over the Harley. In the end, they came very close to succeeding with the fuel-injected DOHC V-Twin  racer. Sadly, Tom Wilson suffered a career ending injury at Loudon on the machine just as he was coming to grips with the bike.

Canadian Pascal Picotte on the factory Harley-Davidson VR-1000 at Daytona gave it his best after a stint on the Suzuki GSXR. He managed to grab a podium in 1996. In fact, he led the Daytona 200 for a few laps before a bad pit stop put paid to his chances.

                      A quiet moment during Qualifying at the Speedway. (time-date info incorrect)

                                                                   
                  In the later days of the VR, it was decided that Scott Russel should give it a try, but Russell couldn't get the VR-1000 to add another Rolex to his collection despite his determined efforts.

Chris Carr took to the VR quickly, his flat track skills prepared him well for the job. Amazingly, Carr returned to flat track racing and won a number of Championships before heading to the Bonneville Salt Flats to add his name to the record books. His best ride came at Pomona where he put the Harley on the pole.

A frequent view of the ill-fated VR-1000 in the pits. They suffered their share of DNF's during the AMA pro racing days due to the complexity of design. Handling was sweet, but horsepower was not on par with the increasingly faster competition.

One rider who did enjoy considerable success on his privately sponsored VR was

Pennsylvania based roadracer, Ron McGill. It was too little too late. HD pulled the plug in 2001 and the dream was over.

Will Harley-Davidson ever return to professional roadracing with factory built specials? Not in the foreseeable future, with a spec series filling the need by keeping the H-D name in front of race fans. But someday, they'll return. It's in their DNA. Until then, we can look back on the mid 1990's as the last time they dared take on the might of the Japanese. It won't be the last. Any company with the racing heritage of one hundred years behind it is bound to be back.

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