A gala evening to celebrate Harley’s 95th anniversary
This year Harley-Davidson Club Prague is celebrating its 95th anniversary since its foundation; is the oldest functioning club of owners and supporters of these legendary American motorcycles in the world. Its existence in the first years is closely connected with the Automobile Club of the Czechoslovak Republic. Recently, the cooperation was renewed, and this year too Harley-Davidson Club Prague will commemorate the important anniversary with a festive evening at the number one motoring address in the Czech Republic – in the clubhouse of the Autoklub ČR. It takes place on Saturday 25 February 2023 and the general public is invited.
Already at the founding of the Prague Harley Club (HCP) in 1927, several of its founders were members of the then Autoklub Republiky Československé (AKRČS), for example Gustav Singer, its first executive. Starting in 1928, the membership was regularly invited by the Autoklub to the organizing functions of its sports events, the famous Zbraslav–Jíloviště race, the Czechoslovak Tourist Trophy and regular Star and Winter races. The Sports Commission of the AKRČS then approved the premiere motorcycle competition of the Harley Club Prague – 1st motorcycle ride through the countryside.
Throughout its entire pre-war existence, there was perhaps no sporting event or competition where the membership of the Harley Club Prague did not appear and take place. The evidence is a number of well-preserved cups and trophies bearing the hallmark of the HCP – AKRČS. A number of famous competitive drivers, such as Bohumil Turek, Jaroslav Kaiser, Jaroslav Walter or Jindřich Kostlivec, were members of both motoring associations. The traditional headquarters of the Autoklub in what was then Lützow, now Opletalova street, was the starting point for a number of HCP motoring enterprises, such as the spring Start of the motorcycle season ride to Poděbrady.
The cooperation between the two associations culminated in October 1930, when, after two years of effort, the HCP officially became a member of the AKRČS Cartel, an association of Czech motorcycle clubs. It is interesting that during the great economic crisis, the Harley club could publish its news in the “Autoklub” newspaper, which was published by AKRČS and was distributed to HCP members free of charge.
Another milestone was the year 1934, when the clubhouse of the Prague Harley Club moved to the new premises of the French Restaurant in the Autoklub building. The HCP not only had premises for meetings, but also its official office, a permanent exhibition of competition trophies, and even its professional library and archive.
After the suppression of activities during the Second World War, the activities of the HCP were resumed in 1945 directly as a branch of the AKRČS under the name Harley UNRRA Club. Cooperation in the organization of motor sports events continued again. Unfortunately, it was just a swan song towards the new regime. This bond was broken again by the liquidation of the AKRČS after 1948 and the subsequent transition of the HCP under Svazarm.
Only in February 2020, as a celebration of its founding, Harley-Davidson club Prague continued the decades-long abandoned tradition of cooperation with the Autoklub ČR. In his clubhouse in Opletalová street, he organized his first (zero) Festive Evening.
This year, its visitors can expect an interesting program, including screenings of rare archival footage from the beginnings of the club’s activities. The bands Zelenáči and The Apples will play to cheer you up. Everyone will receive an annual badge of the Harley-Davidson Club Prague upon entry. More information and advance ticket sales: ticketstream.cz/akce/slavnostni-vecer-harley-davidson.
photo: archive of Harley-Davidson Club Prague