Cycle News Staff | July 31, 2023
Ride Free is the memoir of Willie G. Davidson, the grandson of one of the founders of Harley-Davidson and the son of one of The Motor Company’s longtime presidents.
Willie G., as he’s known by his family and millions of riders around the world, spent 50 years as the chief stylist and brand ambassador for Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
In his 288-page memoir, which has a publication date of August 1, 2023, Willie G. explains that he did not originally intend to work for his father’s company, but instead was on the path to be a fine artist.
He opens the book by saying that he was born with gasoline in his veins and a crayon in each hand. Each chapter includes a black-and-white sketch hand drawn by Willie G. himself.
In the early chapters, he tells the origin story of The Motor Company, and he recounts his childhood days of wandering the H-D factory floor in the 1940s, watching the production of the military bikes. And, like many of us motorcyclists tend to do, he shares stories of his first bike, a 125cc S, which remained in stock form for just one week. The young Davidson foreshadowed his own future and customized the paint and bodywork right away.
His impulse to create and design eventually leads him from Milwaukee to the West Coast, where the hot-rod culture and customizing scene was in full swing. Accompanied by his wife and high-school sweetheart, Nancy, he studies at the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles. Eventually the pull of the family business draws him back to the East Coast, and his 50-year legacy with Harley begins.
The memoir goes on to describe the design process of how select Harley models evolved, and he provides an insider’s look at how the company was reclaimed from AMF. He shares stories of the colorful personalities who rode and raced Harleys, including the legendary Evel Knievel. The autobiography wraps up with Willie G. proudly boasting about his kids and grandchild, and he shares his heartbreak from Nancy’s passing in 2021.
Ride Free is the story of one man, and it is also a nostalgic and intimate story of the most recognizable name in motorcycling. It is the story of the American Dream, and it is also a love story: the love of family and the love of the art of the motorcycle. Like Willie G. says, “It’s a family thing. It’s always been a family thing.”
The 288-page memoir has a publication date of August 1, 2023, and it is available now for pre-ordering for $28 by visiting www.williegdavidson.com.
A book-release party is planned for Tuesday, August 8 during South Dakota’s Sturgis Rally at the Rocksino by Hard Rock, which is a brand-new casino and hotel that will celebrate its grand opening on the day after the book-release event.
There will be music and appearances by Willie G.’s children, Karen and Bill, along with some special features about Willie G and his lifetime with Harley-Davidson.
Ride Free Book-Release Party
Date: Tuesday, August 8
Time: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Location: Rocksino BY Hard Rock Deadwood
Outlaw Square
685 Main Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
In the upcoming Ride Free book, Willie G. Davidson gives the reader an intimate look into his life and work, sharing story of his passion for motorcycle racing and art.
Grandson of one of the company’s founders and the son of one of its longtime presidents, Willie G. spent 50 years as the chief stylist and brand ambassador for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. The 288-page memoir has a publication date of August 1, 2023, and it is available now for pre-ordering for $28.
VIDEO | Willie G. Davidson
Willie G. Davidson: Artist, Designer, Leader, Legend.
Willie G.
Here is more from the press release:
Legendary Motorcycle Designer Willie G. Davidson Shares Stories of Motorcycles, Racing and Art in “Ride Free”
Milwaukee, WI – Motorcycle enthusiasts and fans of the legendary Willie G. Davidson have something to look forward to this August with the release of his new memoir, Ride Free. The book is a must-read for anyone who loves motorcycles or admires Willie’s incredible contributions to motorcycle culture.
Ride Free is a passionate commentary about some of Harley-Davidson’s most popular motorcycles and the changes in the motorcycle industry, from the post-WW II resurgence of riders, to the growing number of competitors from around the world in the 60’s and 70’s. But at the heart of the book is Davidson’s personal story, from his childhood growing up in the shadow of the Harley-Davidson factory to his decades-long career designing some of the most iconic motorcycles in history.
As a third-generation H-D employee, a part of the group that resurrected the company from the AMF-years and an avid supporter of non-profits, especially the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Willie G. Davidson has been at the heart of motorcycling culture for decades. In “Ride Free,” he shares an intimate look into his life and work, and shares his passion for motorcycle racing and art.
“I started competing in enduros during high school, and Nancy would cheer me on,” Davidson shared. “I was just extending the family tradition: both my father and my great-uncle Walter had been endurance-run champions. I competed in local events, never in a national, but I won a few trophies. When I traded up to a 165cc bike my senior year, I became more of a threat in those competitions.”
What sets the book apart from other memoirs is the fact that it will also feature Davidson’s own artwork, including drawings and watercolor paintings. “I wanted to share my story with fans of Harley-Davidson and anyone who loves motorcycles,” Davidson explains. “But I also wanted to share my artwork, which has always been a big part of my life.”
“I always describe my relation to the Motor Company as a love affair,” said Davidson. “And that’s really what it was, a lifetime love affair with (wife) Nancy by my side.”
Harley-Davidson fans can pre-order Ride Free on Willie’s website and be among the first to receive their copy when the book launches on August 1. Pre-orders also come with a bonus: a free download of one of the chapters in the book that can be read immediately.
Ride Free is a book that is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves motorcycles or is fascinated by the life and work of Willie G. Davidson.
Ride Free is published in partnership with Forefront Books and distributed globally by Simon & Schuster.
For more information about, or to order Ride Free visit www.williegdavidson.com.