In The Beginning………….
Some time in the early ninety’s perhaps even earlier ( No
one is really sure !) some folks in Northern Ireland decided that
owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle would be an excellent Idea
and so they went about finding ways to make their dreams come true. None
of these people new each other and with the closest dealership
being Scotland, which at that time wasn’t a very big or successful
dealership, the options were few. The bikes that ended up
being imported into Northern Ireland came from as far as Holland,
Germany, America and of course from all over England and Scotland. It
has to be said that there where other Harley owners in the Province
and had been for quite some time e.g. The Harley Riders and a few
other well known MCC’s. But their way of life and their
views on riding didn’t and don’t appeal to all.
As with most things Historic the beginnings and the dates are
confused and different depending on whom you talk to. It
seems that a lot of these Harley owners just came across each other
somewhere at sometime and suddenly came into being as a Harley
Club. Those that where there at the beginning aren’t
too sure who else was there, but by all accounts there seems to
have been anywhere between 12 and 16 members. No one really
knows what they did on their bikes or where they really went but
they did do something, somewhere!
They never really grew in numbers but they didn’t really
cease to be. The Club doesn’t seem to have had any
official name but the one that has come up a few times during conversations
is “The Six Counties”.
In 1998 driven by passion and enthusiasm, Alan Kane & Norrie
McBride saw an opportunity to open a Harley – Davidson Dealership
in Northern Ireland, and after some difficulty proving the merits
of and the need for a dealership in Northern Ireland, Harley said
OK, and Provincewide Harley – Davidson opened its doors to
the public in June 1999. It became the first official Harley -
Davidson dealership in Northern Ireland.
Part of the agreement of owning a dealership is to have a chapter
connected to it. In the same month of opening it doors Provincewide
Harley – Davidson started the chapter. Most of the
members of “The Six Counties” along with other individual
customers quickly joined up and became members of the first official
Harley – Davidson chapter in Northern Ireland.
On the 30th July 1999 @ 7-30pm the very first official Chapter
meeting took place in Provincewide Harley – Davidson.
The minutes record the very first members as:
Steve Green
Norry Mcbride
Paul Dunne
Andrew Lawrenson
Gary Kidd
Paul Dobson
Syd and Roberta Brown
Campbell Owens
Joy Allen
Bernard McMonagle
Barry Magee
Robert Paul
Brian Stelfox
Robert Mcneill
Paddy Feeney
Selena Feeney
Gerry O’Rawe
Paul Orr
Roger Turkington
Ivan Ford
The membership fee was decided on £10 per annum.
This meeting determined the way in which the chapter would operate.
And even now we still operate the same e.g.:
1) The first ride out was organised
for Sunday 1st August 1999 at 11.00am thereafter, every second
Sunday.
2) The chapter meetings should be
held on the last Thursday of every month, Venues to rotate.
The first charities for consideration by the chapter were The
Northern Ireland Blind Centre and The Northern Ireland Hospice. At
this time the charity that the chapter would support for the year
was voted on, however as the chapter became bigger this became
impossible so the decision was taken to make it the director’s
choice, although many of the directors have sought suggestions
from the chapter members.
The very first elected officers in the chapter where:
Steve Greene Chapter
Director
David Caughers Chapter
Secretary and Events Organiser
Barry Magee Chapter
Treasurer
Robert McNeill Chapter
Editor
Gary Kidd Road
Captain
Paul Dunn Road
Captain
Paul Dobson Road
Safety Officer
This was the meeting that tried to determine what the chapter
should be known as. Many Suggestions where made, but the
one that was voted on was “Emerald Chapter”. However
this was rejected by Jeremy Pick from HOG UK. So “Provincewide
Chapter” was agreed on by the chapter and accepted by HOG. It
was decided that this name managed to keep its ties to the dealership
clear and offended none of the prospective members, this being
Northern Ireland!
The chapter has gone from a meagre dozen to just over 160 members. Every
year it organises and runs one of the most successful HOG rallies
in the UK. And to date has one of the largest represented
Ladies of HOG.
2005 was the first year that the Provincewide Chapter incorporated
L.O.H. ( Ladies of Harley ). Jacky Hill was the first
L.O.H. officer, and under her watchful eye, determination and vision,
launched the L.O.H. in Northern Ireland as a force to be reckoned
with. It began with 16 lady members and his grown to one of the
biggest in the U.K. The ladies of Harley wanted to
make a big impression for their first year in existence, and so
hot on the heals of the film “Calendar Girls”, produced
their own calendar in true Harley style. All the proceeds
of the calendar went to the L.O.H. chosen charity which was the
Alzheimer’s Society.
The calendar exceeded all expectations as a charity fundraiser
and raised the awareness of the chapter not just in Northern Ireland
but in the UK as a whole. It remains to date the biggest
and most successful fundraising event in the Provincewide Chapter’s
history.
The Provincewide Harley-Davidson Chapter has featured in the news
more times than any one can remember for its contributions to charity, it’s
eagerness to help at children’s functions and of course for
continuing to deliver Santa in time for Christmas To local Shopping
Centres.
The Chapter will continue to grow and it will continue to be popular. Some
members come and go but most, if not all come back. Owning
a Harley is only the Key to the chapter, but after that it becomes
a way of life. The friends you make here will last a lifetime
and unlike most peoples believes, the chapter is not full of overweight
snobs with too much money. The ownership is usually families
ranging from window cleaners and shop assistants to company directors
and business properitiers. However once on the bikes, all
become equal.
Past Rideouts
Mar 5th 2006
8 Bikes turned out for the first Ride Out of the Season. Short, Local Run
through Templepatrick, Ballynure, Glenoe and down into Carrick. Easing riders
back into the saddle. It was a dry but cold day. Traveled on a variety
of road conditions from wet, slushy roads to a skating ring - "wishing the
bike had stabilizers"!! Got fed, watered and heated up at Carrick.
Said our goodbyes and headed home for a 2 hour cleaning session.
- Andy
Mar 19th 2006
19 Bikes left the City Hall heading for Newcastle via Lisburn, Annahilt, Dromara,
Castlewellen, Kilcoo. Over the Mountains to Kilkeel. Lovely dry day, great
biking conditions. Good bumpy run, shaking out any loose fillings! Finishing
in a Local Pub for food
& drink. After the late lunch, said our farewells and went
our separate ways. Great day out. - Wee Andy
2 April 2006
Lovely April day, liquid sunshine ,left city hall 11.30 fought our way through
the rain as far as Gilford when the rain left us (for a while anyway).Stopped
at a lake outside Tandragee for a smoke break and to admire the new layer of
crud on the bikes.then through Markethill and over the hills to Newtownhamilton.The
plan was to go to Dundalk and on to Carlingford for lunch but the gods of biking
where against us, one bike down on the Dundalk road,bike a bit bent and rider
a bit shook up but ok,so quick change of plans and down to Mickey D`s in Newry(a
whole new meaning to fast food?) and everyone safely home.Everyone performed
briliantly at accident signaling to other road users and getting bike of the
road safely.Also thanks to Paul Sittlington for risking his suspension to give
me a lift back to the accident.Aso David Jardine for collecting the bike in his
van .So all in all nearly a good ride out but we will do it again in August and
finish it this time. Tony
Keep Er Suckin Diesel!
Ross |
