Harley-Davidson History – The XR-750 Racing Motorcycle During the Fifties and Sixties, the dominant bike on the American racing scene was the powerful Harley-Davidson KR 750 sidevalve racer. American Motorcycle Association rules dictated that race motors could be 750cc sidevalves or 500cc overhead valve motors. With a rule change in 1969 allowing 750cc overhead valve racing engines, Harley-Davidson was left without a competitive machine. As a stopgap measure, the Racing Department introduced a new race bike called the XR-750. Based on a de-stroked overhead valve Sportster engine, the XR enjoyed limited success for two seasonswhile development proceeded on an improved XR-750 with an aluminum alloy engine, dual carburetors and dual megaphone exhaust. Despite some initial teething and developmental issues, the new XR proved to be a worthy successor to the KR as it immediately began rolling up victories on the nation’s dirt track and road race courses. Harley-Davidson factory racer, Mark Brelsford, proved the power of the potent XRs by riding them to the AMA Grand National Championship title their inaugural year. In the ensuing years, in the hands of privateers and factory racers alike, the XR-750 racked up an impressive and absolutely unmatched string of victories and Number One plates that will likely never be matched again in American dirt track racing. For three decades the XR-750 has carried racers into the winners circle and into the record books. Racers like the ever-popular, near-legendary Jay Springsteen, Chris Carr, Ricky Graham, Mert Lawwill, Cal Rayborn, Sr. and Kevin Atherton have thrilled fans throughout the nation astride the thundering XR. And who can ever hope to match the nearly one hundred victories of nine-time champion Scott Parker, mostly on XRs? In over nine decades of American dirt track racing, very few machines have ever even come close to matching the near-total dominance of the Harley-Davidson XR-750. Since its introduction in 1972, it has been the machine to beat on the half-mile and mile dirt tracks. Few have, however as the XR continues its winning ways into the new Millenium.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:04:44 +0000
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