The pair gathered little-known stories such as the tale of how the young Arthur and William Harley saw the curvaceous French performer Anna Held finish her vaudeville act by riding a motorcycle on to the stage. Could that have spurred the young men to build their first motorcycle? They also recount the tale about family friend Ole Evinrude, who Arthur Davidson liked to say, built his first outboard so he wouldn't have to row across the lake to woo his sweetheart. Complemented by photographs from the family archive, rare magazines, and even the Harley-Davidson archives, these personal glimpses provide an entertaining and revealing portrait of the men and women who created America's favourite motorcycle.

Author Biography

JEAN DAVIDSON is an internationally-known author and speaker. She is the granddaughter of Walter Davidson, one of the founders and first president of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Her father, Gordon Davidson, was the vice president of manufacturing. For many years, she and her husband, John, owned the largest Harley-Davidson dealership in Wisconsin. She chose not to work at the company but to be a teacher of children with special needs. She is known as the Davidson family historian and has written numerous books on the family history. JON DAVIDSON OEFLEIN is honoured to be the great-grandson of Walter Davidson who was a founder of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He is also proud of his grandfather Gordon Davidson who had a great career at the Motor Company and his father, John H. Oeflein, who owned and operated a prosperous dealership, Milwaukee Harley-Davidson, Inc. for many years. Working at this dealership is where Jon learned about motorcycles and life. Jon inherited his father's motorcycle collection and which he continues to maintain, restore and expand. Jon is also a member of the Badger Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America.