Hand-me-down Romance with a VLD Named 'Annie'

Optimistic Girl

Some things are built to last, others are forever. For Bob Steig, it was 'Annie,' his 1934 VLD, and his wife of sixty-five years, Jane. There are two schools of thought on the bike's name. Stieg claims it was after the optimistic cartoon character, Little Orphan Annie. But, Jane always figured it was because of the girl next door, Annabell 'Annie' Lee.

Photos courtesy of Motorcycle Classics

Endurance First

When new, the yet-to-be Annie was put to the test by the Fond Du Lac Harley-Davidson dealership in Wisconsin. Ridden by Ray Tursky, the VLD was entered in the 1934 Jack Pine Endurance Run—a grueling three-day, 500-mile offroad race held in the deep woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Out of the eighty-seven entries, nine finished, with Tursky taking first place.

Older Trade-In

For his win, Harley-Davidson promoted Tursky to the Madison, Wisconsin dealership. Shortly after the race, the VLD was purchased by a local police officer. A year later, it returned to the dealership as a trade-in. Two years later, in 1937, Tursky sold the bike to Bernard Stieg, Bob's older brother. The following year, in 1938, Bob bought the VLD from Bernard.

New Junkers

At twenty years old, Bob Steig was an engineering student at the University of Wisconsin and also an accomplished rider. In an undated, Motorcycle Classics feature, Steig recalled, “I used to fix up old junkers with my brother. Both of us were mechanically inclined. I had a 1928 JD, which was a lot of work compared to the '34, which was a virtually new bike.”

Squirrel Smoke

In 1941, Steig married Jane, his girlfriend of four years. While setting up the house, Stieg stored Annie in his parents' garage for the winter. In one of the bike's many stories, Stieg recounted how Annie poured smoke when he started her up in the spring. It was nothing mechanical, but instead, the result of a squirrel stashing butternuts in the exhaust pipe.

Service Overhaul

The Stiegs had two sons, and with the family addition, Annie got a sidecar. Outings around the Wisconsin countryside were common, regardless of the season. In 1968, the Stiegs moved to Pennsylvania, along with Annie. By now the sidecar was rusty. No longer needed, it was sold to a friend. Annie was also due for an overhaul after decades of dutiful service.

Good Parts

In 1974, Stieg decided to get Annie back into shape. The tins were sent out for paint and the shiny parts got a fresh coat of chrome. By 1977, Annie was back together and looking good. Next was a valve job and new pistons. The transmission was in perfect shape. Stieg remarked, “Can you imagine, after forty years no new parts were needed?”

Pleasant Ride

Stieg turned ninety in 2008 and celebrated by taking Annie on a 100-mile round trip ride to the AMCA meet in Oley, Pennsylvania. He reflected, “We have had a long and almost always pleasant association. As of this year, it's her 75th birthday and my 71st year of ownership. I am still looking forward to a number of good rides together.”

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