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.

AMA Superbike Racing 1995-1996

The "Clown Prince" of Grand Prix racing and runner up in the FIM 500cc World Championship, Randy Mamola takes a break from the action at Daytona Speedway during the Yamaha Legends ride. 

 Doug Chandler on the largely uncompetitive Harley Davidson VR-1000 at Mid Ohio.

The year that Freddie Spencer rode for Eraldo Ferracci on the Ducati 916 was full of surprises.

Despite moments of brilliance,

                                 Spencer was no longer in top form and the competition had moved on.

FBF teamate Mike Smith was a strong performer who rode a number of different machines in the 1990's.

Jamie James on theVance and Hines tuned Yamaha was yet another top

top performer who won the AMA Superbike title

Flat track racer turned AMA star Mike Hale had a metoric rise to fame but failed to stand the test of time like his teamate Miguel DuHamel.

Tom Kipp getting focused just before setting out at a damp Mid Ohio Superbike race.

Aaron Yates, Fred Merkel, and Tom Wilson after a Supersport tussle at Mid Ohio. 

Quiet moment for an AMA 250cc Grand Prix rider before qualifiying at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. 

Ben Bostrom gets in a break at an Elkhart Lake qualifying session.   

Tom Wilson on the VR1000 during a  practice session.

Andrew Stroud speaks with Alan Cathcart after taking a commanding win at Daytona Speedway on the V-Twin Britten. Builder John Britten had died just months before.

Matt Mladlin checks in with Eraldo Ferracci at Daytona Speedway during qualifying.

The infamous Team 20/20 Racing Eyechart Girls at Road America, Keith Wilson in background on Kawasaki 600 for Team 20/20.

Roger Bell leaves the pits on the Bell Suzuki / Team 20/20 Racing Suzuki GSXR 750 at Daytona where Roger finished 13th and teamate John Jacobi finished in 15th place.

When Ducati World Superbike star Carl Fogarty came to America, he was all business at the Daytona 200 during practice and still had time to make headlines about his dislike of the speedway. 

Doug Chandler during a pit stop on the Harley-Davidson VR1000

First year AMA pro racer Jamie Hacking shows teammate Mike Smith how it

was out there on the Kinko's Kawsaki 600.

Mladin's fire damaged Ferracci Ducati after a minor practice get off at Loudon, New Hampshire.

Of course, that didn't stop Mladin from winning the race. Yates, Mladin and Chandler share the podium.

Scott Russell getting set to collect another Rolex during his peak years at Daytona, this time on the factory Yamaha superbike.

Despite its bulbous appearance, the VR was quite small without its bodywork.

Suzuki mounted Pascal Picotte burns some rubber in the pits after the race at Daytona while Aaron Yates looks on.

Randy Renfrow launches the Honda RS250 at the start of the AMA 250 GP race at Daytona. 

The back of number one plated TZ250 of Rich Oliver was all most riders saw of him during the mid 1990's 250 races.He was masterful in his racecraft and machine preparation. 

"The Chief" during his "Mr. Daytona" period where he could do no wrong.

All images by John P. Lawless subject to copyright and may be reproduced only with permission.