We told you last year that Harley-Davidson gives current and former U.S. military, and first responders, including members of law enforcement, firefighters and EMS workers opportunities to learn how to ride its bikes for no cost.
To remind people in those lines of work that that free Harley-Davidson Riding Academy program concludes at the end of this year, the brand recently invited members of the military and first responders to ride around the Daytona International Speedway during the 75th Annual Daytona Bike Week, which ends Sunday, March 13. Participants were led around the newly renovated Speedway track by police on H-D motorcycles and Karen Davidson, the great-granddaughter of H-D’s co-founder.
Riders then watched the following video, called “Comeback Chapter,” which tells the story of a police detective and former Army Reserve soldier who’s new to riding a Harley as well as conveys the mental and emotional benefits of being a motorcycle rider.
The festivities ended with the first responders and military personnel being invited to hop on Harley-Davidson’s 2016 bikes, including the CVO Pro Street Breakout and the Low Rider S.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
