AMA Charter Life Member wins AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame raffle bike

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMA Charter Life Member Don L. Harms was the winning name drawn at 2018 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring Royal Enfield, in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame raffle.

Harms’ name was drawn by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Scot Harden, who served as the 2018 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days grand marshal.

Harms, 81, of Kirkland, Wash., was not present at the drawing.

Contacted by phone on Tuesday, Harms said he was grateful to learn he had won the raffle.

“That’s pretty amazing,” he said. “I never win anything!”

Harms said he grew up riding motorcycles on a farm. And he got his first bike “right out of grammar school.” It was an Ariel Single.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame raffle bike Harms won is a 1941 Harley-Davidson WL, the civilian version of the WLA (the “A” refers to “Army”) produced for the U.S. Army for use during World War II.

The WL is built around a high-compression flathead 45 cubic inch V-twin pumping out over 23 horsepower. Known in its day for reliability, the 750cc WLs were workhorses, whether in “A” trim or the civilian model.

The WL is ready to ride with fresh paint and a tune-up from noted Harley-Davidson restorer Mike Wells of C&S Cycle Service in Mount Victory, Ohio.

“I used to ride one of those flatheads with the hand shifter,” Harms said. “When I saw this one in a magazine, I thought it would be a pretty nice one to own.

“I don’t ride much anymore, but I do still have a 1969 Triumph Bonneville that I get out on when I can.” Harms said.

All proceeds from the raffle benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. More information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and other raffle bikes can be found at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.