Archive Images Help Restore Harley-Davidson Race Bike
Only four examples were built, with no intact machines remaining.
Critical Parts
'Take a picture and it'll last longer!' Normally a salty rebuke, the terse comeback actually applies in the best way possible to this rare 1930 Harley-Davidson DAR. With only four examples ever built, and no intact examples remaining, old photographs were critical in the recreation of missing parts, and the final restoration of this unique road racer.
Photos courtesy of Harley City Collection.
Former Owner
Lasting fifteen years, the rebuild project was an international endeavor by dedicated enthusiasts. The 1930 DAR is now part of The Harley City Collection in Melbourne, Australia. Comprised mainly of Harley-Davidsons from the mid-1910s to the early 1950s, the collection is a forty-year effort by David Reidie—former owner of the Harley City dealership from 1981 to 2017.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Losing Race
Other iconic brands, including Crocker, Brough Superior, Indian and Vincent are represented in Reidie's collection. The 1930 DAR owes a debt to hill climb racing, and in particular, to the purposely-designed 1929 DAH. Perhaps more importantly, was the fact that Harley-Davidson was losing races to Excelsior and Indian in the late 1920s and a change was desperately needed.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Victory Event
In 1927, the AMA introduced its 45 cubic-inch hill climbing class. Yet, the new class was not immediately beneficial for Harley-Davidson, who continued to campaign unsuccessfully with their under-powered 30 1/2 cubic-inch engine. That changed in 1929, when racer John Grove rode the new DAH, on its debut appearance, to victory at an event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Connected Ports
Factory racer Joe Petrali went on to the claim national hill climb titles for Harley-Davidson between 1932 and 1936, with the exception of 1934. The DAR was the road race version of the dominant DAH. Based on the 45 cubic-inch production block, the competition models were fitted with overhead valves. Of interest, the single exhaust valve was connected to a pair of exhaust ports.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Dry Configuration
The two outlets result in a motor with four exhaust pipes—a real anomaly for Harley-Davidson. The DAR's curious motor also featured a recirculating oil system, a design that would not be seen on production motorcycles until the debut of the 1936 Knucklehead. The dry sump configuration is what sets the DAR apart from its DAH cousin, and also defines its existence.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Successful Bid
At the time, motorcycle road racing in Europe held the same appeal as hill climb and dirt track racing in the United States. Looking to win, Paul Weyres, a German Harley-Davidson dealer, approached the Motor Company about a road-racing version of the DAH. His bid was successful, and Weyres is shown here, picking up his DAR in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in late 1929.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Enduring Prowess
The following year, Weyres placed second in the International Klausen Pass Race in Switzerland. Reidie reflected on his inaugural ride in 2017. “One can only attempt to imagine what it would be like to take delivery of a machine of this pace and grace eighty-seven years ago!” The DAR's restoration is a testament to the enduring prowess of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, even the rarest of examples.
>>Join the conversation about the restoration of this DAR right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
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