AVIANO H.O.G. CHAPTER 9239

Established October 1993

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aviano Weather

 

Visitor Number

 

How It All Started

 

In 1991, four HD riders started the ball rolling trying to form a H.O.G. Chapter in the town of Aviano, Italy. After conferring with H.O.G. Headquarters in Morfelden, Germany and Harley USA it was determined that this would not be possible.  H.O.G. did not actually exist in Italy at the time, but was in the planning stage.

 

By 1992, and now with five HD riders working on the endeavor, things started to look up. HQ Germany said that if a sponsor was found, it could be possible, with the stipulation that the sponsor must be a HD dealer. The closest dealership was in Padova and they were waiting to start their own chapter.  The five riders contacted Milano and through months of negotiations the dealership agreed, but there was a problem – Milano was starting their own local chapter and HD USA had to approve this unconventional set up!  HD USA contacted them to let them know that this was not possible. The program was not set up to have one dealer with two chapters.

 

Many letters later to HD USA, rapport had developed based upon the willingness of HD USA to listen and willingness on the part of the riders not to give up. Two trips to HQ Germany and one trip to Harley Milwaukee, USA culminated in HD USA giving the green light to work on it.

 

Now it was up to Milano, due to the fact they had to come up with a plan and do all the leg work. They did and on October 18, 1993, we became the second H.O.G. Chapter in Italy. In the summer of 1994 we became the first and only Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Sponsored Private Motorcycle Organization on any European US Military Installation. This organization was called The Aviano Motorcycle Riders Organization sponsored by The Harley Davidson Owners Group. During the years between 1994 and 1996, our membership reached over 100 motorcycle enthusiasts.  In 1996, the MWR sponsorship ended, and the chapter continued on its own.

 

As a chapter, we have collected over $60,000 in toys with our Toys for Tots Programs and even received a personal thank you from the man himself -- Willie G Davidson -- for our Toys for Tots program.

 

Members of our chapter have had photos or been mentioned in Bikers Life Magazine Italy, In the Wind Mag, Air Force Times, Stars & Stripes, Airman Magazine, and local Italian newspapers. We have done TV Commercials for the Padova Moto Show, Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in Pordenone, served as escorts for the North Italy Federation sanctioned pedal bike races, had a photo session with Jay Leno, and have won many trophies and awards at rallies and bike shows.  We have non-active members all over the US, and you can meet some of them at the 100 Anniversary of Harley Davidson H.O.G. – our first chapter member reunion.

 

Most recently, we teamed up with 7 other Northern Italian HOG chapters to put on the Caorle National HOG Event from 23-25 May 03.  Approximately 2,000 people came out for this first-ever "State HOG Rally" for the northern region, and Aviano Chapter members were the key to setting it up and pulling it off in style.