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about Windsor HOG | 2010 executives | How it all began | HOG history
How it all began: The Chris & Carol O'Neil story
"My first ride was a 3.5 horsepower Briggs and Stratton mini bike that my Dad and I built one winter in the '60's. After we built that machine, I was hooked on ridin' 2 wheels with a motor. I tried different mini bikes and moved on to dirt bikes and a little bit of trial racing (more like, trial and error).
As I grew up, I moved out to Alberta, then to the Yukon and finally settled in British Columbia, working at a mining camp.
When I moved back home in '78, I started becoming interested in motorcycles again. The big change came when I started riding street bikes in '79. Three of my friends and I rode out to the Maritimes for a two week vacation and it was the best trip I had ever been on. I traded my Honda 500 C in on a '79 Low Rider, shortly after getting back home from that trip. I have never looked at riding any other brand of motorcycle since.
I met Carol shortly after I purchased that bike and for 4 years we traveled all over Ontario and the mid-eastern states (Smokey Mountains) etc. We were married in '82, and decided to trade the Low Rider in on a brand new '83 FLH Classic. Save for a house or a new Harley? The Harley won out.
After purchasing the bike, Harley-Davidson started to form the Harley Owner's Group in 1983.
We went to the 1st National HOG rally located in Nashville, TN. in 1984 and had a great time which encouraged us to start the first HOG chapter in Canada, Windsor HOG Chapter in 1985.
In the '80's Carol and I owned a small business in Windsor, doing embroidery on shirts, jackets and hats. I contacted Harley-Davidson/HOG and became a supplier for all their Chapter patches and rockers, etc. That is how we met some of the people that worked for Harley and for Fred Deeley Imports (Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada).
Later on in 1995 Carol and I had the opportunity to open a new Harley-Davidson dealership, Thunder Road Harley-Davidson. One of the most difficult things we had to find was a proper location to open the store. We feel and we have been told that being located here on Huron Church Road was our best location in the city of Windsor. It has been a great experience selling our sport and living a dream. We have being enjoying every minute of this experience.
We ride from 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers per year, to different HOG rallies and trips. We also create our own rides, usually a one-week trip in the spring (10 to 15 bikes) and two week trip out to the Southwestern states (20 to 30 bikes). We love to ride with our friends and customers, so stop in and find out how to get on the list for our next adventure.
Ride the Backs Roads!"
Chris O'Neil