Harley Davidson early mascots throughout history

On Sept. 6, 1920, Harley-Davidson racer Ray Weishaar was photographed offering a Coke to a piglet. Now, 100 years later, it's one of the most recognized photos of Harley-Davidson history and is often cited as the source of H-D's most enduring animal association. Each time a member of the team was victorious, they would take the pig with them on a victory lap.  This soon led to the team being nicknamed the "Harley Hogs" and eventually the name "hog" caught on and became slang for Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

But that lucky piglet wasn't the only mascot in the Wrecking Crew's illustrious history - he wasn't even Weishaar's only mascot!

Check out some of the photogenic animal pals from the Wrecking Crew era found in the Harley-Davidson archives.

1. THE FIRST RACING TEAM MASCOT WAS A DOG

We don’t know the name of the pup, or the owner, but this image is the first racing team mascot found. In this advertisement, Roy Artley, Leslie “Red” Parkhurst, Joe Wolter and Otto Walker pose after the Easter Sunday 300-mile race at Venice, California in 1915.

Walker won the event, and it was the first national race win for the company.

Following his win at the Topeka, Kansas races in May 1915, Ray Weishaar shares the spotlight with an H-D outfitted pup. With a white facial stripe and a white front right leg, it seems possible this is the same dog pictured at the Venice race.

Weishaar attributed his additional wins at Goodland and Norton—Kansas races the week prior—to the canine mascot.

2.     THE RACOON

More amusing is this picture of a board track racer holding a raccoon.  Certainly, just as interesting as the pig, he probably had a pretty good shot at becoming Harley's namesake.  A few extra victory laps with that raccoon and who knows what could have happened...

Just take a moment and think how differently things would have turned out for Harley-Davidson if the raccoon had taken the place of the pig.  Harleys would have become known as "coons" instead of "hogs".  You would overhear bikers saying things like "nice coon" and "I love the sound of a coon rumbling down the road."  HogTales would become CoonTales and who knows what they would call the HOG chapters.  Not to mention all the T-shirts Harley would have made with raccoon faces on them...

The impact on the fur industry would have been quite positive as everything from coon skin caps to coon tails would have remained popular among Harley riders. I can just imagine rows of motorcycles lined up and down streets during rallies, all covered with raccoon themed accessories and various parts from real raccoons.  

At least one modern biker probably would have been glad if the raccoon had beat out the pig.  In the photo below, custom motorcycle builder Indian Larry is shown holding a raccoon.

3. BAMBINO THE COYOTE

At one of the most prestigious races of the era, the Dodge City 300, a dog joins the line alongside Bill Ottaway (team manager), racers Maldwyn Jones, Ralph Hepburn, Fred Ludlow, Otto Walker, Ray Weishaar, Jim Davis and pitman Hank Syversten.

Blending in with his jersey, Weishaar holds a barely-visible coyote named Bambino. This mascot was a possible nod to the Dodge City race's nickname, the Coyote Classic. Jim Davis won the event held on July 5, 1920.

4. THE HOG: JOHNNIE DUROC WEISHAAR

Ray Weishaar won the second-annual Cornfield Classic on Sept. 6, 1920. During the week prior, while the team practiced and prepared for the Marion, Indiana race, Ray bought a six-week-old piglet from a farmer.

He named it Johnnie Duroc Weishaar, and the two received a lot of attention from the motorcycle press, other riders, and of course, race goers. Weishaar thrilled everyone in attendance when, immediately following his win, he asked for Johnnie.

5. THE BLACK BABY RABBIT AND A TURTLE

It is said that at the Dodge City races in 1921, Ralph Hepburn won with help from his new mascot, a black baby rabbit. Teammate Walter Higley had a turtle, thus dubbing the duo the tortoise and the hare. I searched high and low for photographic evidence of this but my search was futile. If you come across one, please share it with us.

Ralph Hepburn