The Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Open Road Tour came to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, during the third weekend of August 2002. Pimlico is home to The Preakness, conducted annually on the second Saturday every May. The Preakness is the second leg of the annual Triple Crown horse racing event.

     The Baltimore bill welcomed thirteen major artists and acts to perform at the Harley-Davidson weekend-long birthday party. Friday, August 16th, featured Lynyrd Skynyrd; Saturday, August 17th, showcased Hootie & the Blowfish; and Sunday, August 18th, presented Bob Dylan as the headlining artist performing on the massive Harley-Davidson Stage.

     Massive tents housed multiple exhibitions and a performance stage. Historic and modern motorcycle models, cycle gear and paraphernalia, children activities, and MDA all had mega-media presentations under their own big top. Members of the Davidson family were in attendance to participate in a charitable presentation, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

     Baltimore weather hosted beautiful skies all weekend long, and although the temperature may have been hot, a cool breeze blew relief across the crowded infield all weekend. Daily audiences were exceptionally well behaved. The staff, security, medical techs, and media hosts were all exceedingly friendly.

Harley-Davidson's Celebratory Music Festival

     Creedence Clearwater Revisited commenced the Sunday afternoon concert. The original CCR rhythm section of bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford teamed up in 1995 to revive favorite Fogerty classics that made this act a major force in American music. Former Cars lead guitarist Elliott Easton is a band participant.

     Revisited played CCR hit after hit from "Willie And The Poor Boys", "Looking Out My Backdoor", and "Bad Moon On The Rise". The band played a tight cover of "Midnight Special". Their musical standards set a standard many bands fail to meet in many modern recording careers.

     "Proud Mary" sounded great as Cook laid down a deep bass groove. "Fortunate Son" rocked the heat sweltered audience. "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" was another timeless classic enjoyed by the afternoon crowd. "Travelin' Band" and "Run Through The Jungle" were two more heavy hits before their encore of "Up Around The Bend".

     The major draw of the entire event was none other than American folk icon, Bob Dylan. He appeared on the Harley stage after a lengthy introduction, outlining his musical meanderings accompanied by symphonic muzak. He and his band belted out a quick take of "I Am The Man". Dylan was decked out in a black C&W outfit.

     He rattled off a loose version of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" that was hampered by faulty amplification. Dylan shuffled around on stage until power to the mikes was restored. "Friend Of The Devil" was a surprise cover with Dylan on acoustic guitar and harmonica.

     "Tangled Up In Blue" featured an acoustic guitar duet intro that generated cheers of approval. Dylan delivered a country-inspried take on his infamous composition, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35". He returned to treat Pimlico to an encore of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" followed by a rocking version of "All Along The Watchtower" that featured a triple electric guitar jam, exiting on an audience high.

     25 year old Bel Air resident Kelly Welsh enjoyed Dylan's Baltimore performance, commenting, "I thought it was a return to Bob Dylan's original essence. He looked better, he sounded better then the last three times I saw him". Welsh added, "He looks sexy. He's a good poet". Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson was introduced on stage in between acts to greet the Pimlico crowd stating, "If you ride a Harley, you ride for freedom".

     Billy Idol rocked the Baltimore birthday bash with his customary flash and trash style. He attracted the most attention from the opposite sex, evidenced by the scores of females posturing for position in the wings of the huge stage. The engaging and entertaining punk rocker was supported on stage by sidekick guitarist Steve Stevens.

     "Rock The Cradle Of Love" launched their set. Hip rockers "Dancing With Myself" and "Flesh For Fantasy" kept the audience pumped up for non-stop action. "Man In The Kill Box" was a new number, which showcased an open bass solo by Steve McGrath. Idol started "White Wedding" alone on acoustic guitar, which segued into a full force presentation as his support kicked it into high gear.

     The band delivered an `80s style rendition of the pop top hit, "Rebel". The keyboards and drums were on cue as Stevens fired off his guitar solo in ray-gun action. Idol shifted his set into overdrive with his second encore of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild", the perfect rocker to perform at a Harley-Davidson biker birthday bash. Fierce guitars and searing solos prompted Idol to remove his shirt to the delight of his female fans.

     Detroit rock'n'roll legend, Ted Nugent, delivered a blistering set for the Baltimore audience. Sporting a safari hat, the Nuge is a American guitarist virtuoso. He began his set tearing up "The Star Spangled Banner" with support from bassist Marco Mendoza and guest drummer Tommy Clufetos. His popular rocker, "Free For All", juiced up the Pimlico infield.

     The power trio turned in a cover of "Baby Please Don't Go", a Cavern Club staple vocal sung by Beatle John. Their version of "Wang Dang Sweet Poohtang" was a pounding grade A rocker. During "Klstr Phk Me". Nugent exclaimed, "Hey Governor Glendening, kiss my ass!", which solicited cheers of endorsement and extended fists from the Maryland audience.

     Bassist Mendoza handled lead vocals on the hard rocker, "Hey Baby". R&R classic, "Cat Scratch Fever", rocked Pimlico. Nugent knelt for an outstanding solo, featuring his unmistakable guitar riff. The bombastic "Stranglehold" kept the stage intensity high as Clufetos punched the drums into a percussive battery pattern, inciting audience applause.

     Nugent's exceptional encore of "Great White Buffalo" brought the weekend-long centennial birthday party for Harley-Davidson at Pimlico Race Course to a tremendous finale. Wearing traditional Native American headdress, Nugent produced a bow and arrow lit on fire and struck a guitar which initiated a pyrotechnic display. The band climaxed with an extended jam before the largest evening crowd of the three day event.

Spotlighting MDA Sponsorship

     Before Bob Dylan's headlining performance on Sunday afternoon, Harley-Davidson CEO Jeff Bleustein was introduced. He welcomed members of the Davidson family on stage: Willie G., his wife Nancy, and his son Bill. As Harley-Davidson approaches its 100th year of motorcycle manufacturing, this presentation focused on promoting their corporate sponsorship of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. H-D President Jim McCaslin added his support behind MDA's ongoing campaign.

     Even though it was a birthday celebration for Harley-Davidson, their concern was using their valuable stage time to promote the importance of fighting Muscular Dystrophy and their efforts to raise needed capital to continue the research to find a cure for this degenerative disease. Jerry Lewis has been MDA's Labor Day guardian angel for decades.

     Jerry's Kids, as they are affectionately known, depend on the gracious and generous support of Harley-Davidson chapters across the country. MDA camps help these kids lead normal lives and give those children afflicted with this disease an opportunity to share their disability with other kids their own age.

Branded on the Gas Tank

     Bill Davidson was kind enough to contribute comments in an interview with RockonTour.net about the Open Road Tour visit to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. He was on hand with his parents to greet the Harley-Davidson audiences and tour the multiple tent exhibits housed on the infield grounds.

RockonTour: What does the name Harley-Davidson mean to you?

B. Davidson - "It's really a lot of fun and adventure, a sense of freedom of the open road. Great people, great products; a genuine American icon."

RockonTour: How exciting is this anniversary celebration?

B. Davidson - "For the family, this is really a tremendous milestone. Not a lot of companies can celebrate a hundred years. This first 100 years is a strong foundation for the next 100 years."

RockonTour: How long has Harley-Davidson been involved supporting MDA?

B. Davidson - "Since 1980, Harley-Davidson has raised $40 million to date. Our anniversary goal is to raise another $5 million."

RockonTour: What do you see for the future of Harley-Davidson?

B. Davidson - "The future looks really exciting. We've had 16 years of record earnings. The excitement of our 100th anniversary will continue into the future. We've got a very exciting product plan for the future."

RockonTour: Does Harley-Davidson have plans for introducing new cycle models?

B. Davidson - With a smile and subtle laughter, Bill said, "Lots of them, but I can't talk about them!"

A Multimedia Experience

     The Harley-Davidson Open Road Tour staged an August encampment at Pimlico Race Course. Massive tents were erected all over the infield. The huge main stage was decorated with the international flags from all of the countries that were hosting a birthday visit from Harley-Davidson. The Open Road Tour utilized modern technology to present a comprehensive overview, projecting the experience and phenomenon of the imagination and excitement of the Harley cycle.

     Journey - This tent recounts the early days of Harley-Davidson up to it's present day as a world class motorcycle manufacturer. A replica of the shed that produced the first Harley was open for tourists. Examples of motorcycle toys from Harley's archives were on hand for collectors to enjoy. An evolution of Harley advertising was also presented. A photo gallery depicted 100 years of rider passion for the enduring Harley.

     Machine - This tent had a fascinating array of historic Harley-Davidson models for spectators to enjoy. Engines, gasoline tank graphics, and manufacturing background information were highlighted points of interest. Harley spectators were taking photographs of motorcycles on display and swapping tales about their bikes or bikes that captured their attention.

     Culture - This tent showcased the influence and impact Harley-Davidson has had on Americana through it's Biker Style. Displays of motorcycle apparel were encased in glass. A hanging wardrobe was available for people to model before mirrors. A Children's Drawing Station allowed kids to draw images of motorcycles, and adults could indulge themselves at an imitation Tattoo booth.

     A popular room with musical artifacts from the R&R Hall Of Fame featured electric guitars and bass guitars from various artists who are Harley fans. Band contributions included Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, Steppenwolf, and ZZ Top. Enlarged record jackets projected many examples of motorcycle presented on famous record covers like The Who's Quadrophenia. A photo of Elvis Presley enjoying a stationery moment on his motorbike hung next to a leather jacket worn by Alice Cooper.

     Ride - This tent featured multiple modern models of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle line. Jessica Gibson, 18 from Catonsville and her companion Julie Tabb, 17 from Street, both enjoyed the music. Gibson came out for her first Dylan gig while Tabb loved Idol's energetic set. Gibson mentioned her dad has a Yamaha, adding "I don't have one, but I want to ride one". They posed together, straddling a Dyna Glide model.

     The Ford Motor Company was an additional partner on the Open Road Tour, celebrating a shared 100th anniversary as well in 2003. Their name adorned the Ford Drive-In Theater. An infomercial of the pride behind their products was repeated throughout the weekend event. Ford is an alliance partner with Harley-Davidson.

     Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan are appearing on the Harley-Davidson Open Road Tour as the House Band on stage under the Ford tent. D'Urso is a New York native, currently promoting his latest release Rock And Roll Station. His original rocker, "Tell Me Why", stood firmly alongside strong covers of "Do You Want To Dance" and "Take A Load Off Fanny". Stone Caravan's musical style mimics the Springsteen-working band sound.

     Young Harley-Davidson was a mini-raceway encircled by straw barricades with miniature motorbikes for young children to ride for entertainment. Kids were riding around in circles on imitation demos of Harley models to offer children an opportunity to experience the individual thrill of a motorcycle ride.

     The Antique & Custom Bike shed featured motorbikes individually owned by event participants. Local Harley dealers were asked to contact and invite motorcycle owners within a 100 mile radius to compete in a contest to display their road warrior at the Open Road Tour over the weekend. Carl Borre, 51 from Edison, New Jersey, enjoyed bringing his 1997 Fat Boy Custom to Baltimore.

     The Harley Owners Group had their own exclusive H.O.G. Roadhouse reception. Ownership of a Harley-Davidson machine grants one membership into this growing two-wheeled association. Harley bikers are proud of their machines and enjoy gathering together to meet their friends and talk about the topic of motorcycles.

     The Muscular Dystrophy Association had a presence on the Pimlico grounds to communicate their continuing efforts to increase awareness on this devastating disease. Harley-Davidson's affiliation with MDA stretches over 20 years of sincere support. A humorous photo of Jerry Lewis riding a Harley from 1952 acknowledged his support through his annual Labor Day M.D. Telethon.

     A quartet of Germany exchange students from U.M.C.P. attended the Harley-Davidson event. Jan Muehlbauer, 24 from Mannheim, won four tickets from a popular Baltimore City beach bar. All of them were engineering majors and fans of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Jan and his friends, Christian, Pascal, and Swen had visited Pimlico previously for the 125th Annual Preakness in May 2002.

A Century of American Excellence 1903 - 2003

     The Harley-Davidson 100th Anniversary Open Road Tour celebration visited the California Speedway in Fontana, California, the weekend of September 6, 2002, and Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario, the weekend of September 27, 2002. The final Open Road Tour event in the U.S. is at the Texas Motor Speedway in Justin, Texas, the weekend of October 25, 2002. Atlanta, Georgia, hosted the inaugural staging during the weekend of July 20, 2002, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

     The Harley-Davidson centennial extravaganza continues with international tour stops at Toronto, Ontario, in September 2002; Mexico City, Mexico, in November 2002; Sydney, Australia, in March 2003; Tokyo, Japan, in April 2003; Barcelona, Spain, in June 2003; and Hamburg, Germany, in July 2003.

     Harley-Davidson began producing motorcycles at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Having survived a century of unanticipated technological and economic challenges, these cycle experts are ready to tackle the next century. Harley motorcycles belonging to Elvis Presley and Jon Bon Jovi were on display. However, there was one motorbike I personally wanted to see that was not present, The Batcycle. Without a doubt, Harley-Davidson rules the open road on two wheels.

RockonTour   Issue #13
Concert Fan   Concertphile@yahoo.com

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Motorcycles and Music
Harley-Davidson's Centennial Cycle Concert Celebration

by Timothy Tilghman