Best Motorcycling History Books

2003 was the 100th anniversary for Harley-Davidson. Here are two books published to memorialize the event.

100 Years of Harley-Davidson is written by Willie G. Davidson, grandson of the founders and current Vice-President of Styling. Willie G. reprises the origin of the company and the growth of the biker lifestyle. Straight from the horse's mouth and lushly illustrated. A must for the library of every H-D loyalist.

The Harley-Davidson Century has received very good reviews for its comprehensive history of the company and many new photographs. Contibutors include motorcycle magazine columnists Kevin Cameron, Hunter Thompson, Brock Yates and Peter Egan and best-selling authors Girdler, Field and Anderson.

One year when I was attending the big Houston Autorama custom car show, "Big Daddy" Ed Roth was there doing custom Rat Fink T-shirts on the spot. I grew up with Rat Fink and realized this was a real opportunity, but there was a line of people waiting to have shirts made, so I kept moving. Well, Ed Roth passed away on April 4th, 2001. You can see his work and read about him in Ed "Big Daddy" Roth: His Life, Time, Cars, and Art.