The Hill Climber

Some of Harley’s most famous racing victories were achieved with bikes such as this …

- David Reidie

The FHAD was the final development by the Harley-Davidson Competition department of the inlet-over-exhaust design that had served them so well since 1915. During the late teens Bill Ottaway and his team of engineers developed the single cam design into a two cam configuration enabling higher rpm. These bikes served the Harley race team, known as the Wrecking Crew, with devastating effect with H-D dominating the opposition until, with costs spiralling, the team was disbanded in 1923. Harley though continued to develop the race motor for special riders and dealers at the rate of about 20 per year. For the 1928 model line up a road going version of the two cam was announced with a nomenclature of JH for the 61ci 1000cc version and JDH for the 74ci 1200cc model. These were the fastest, most sporting bikes Harley had built to date. 1929 saw a continuation for these models but in 1930 with the release of the all new side valve VL range, the two cam was dropped from the model line-up.

The FHAD engines shared the heavier valve gear of the JDH as well as many other upgrades that had proved themselves in the race bikes. By 1928 board track racing, due to the dangers faced by riders and spectators alike, was all but dead and in the US hill climbing was much in vogue.