The clerks, scorekeepers, and women behind the scenes who make racing tick and the women of the motorcycle business world who own and operate our great dealerships across America. Winnie lives by a simple philosophy. "If I can add one smile to one person’s face each day, I have completed my mission." Winnie has brought a lot of smiles to a lot of faces in her 25 years of involvement within the motorcycle community. Since meeting and marrying Chuck , Winnie has dedicated her life to motorcycling. A blind date with Chuck in 1963 was her introduction to motorcycles. At the time, Chuck was a Grand National Flattracker (#77P) and road racer who worked for the local Harley-Davidson dealership in Bloomington, Illinois. Seven years after forming a successful personal partnership, their business partnership began with the building and opening of Chuck’s Harley-Davidson, a dealership in Bloomington. Working side by side until Chuck’s death in 1980, they established a dealership known for the customer service and support. One person supported by the dealership was Mike Farley, then a young novice flattracker who Chuck and Winnie took in and supported his racing efforts. When Mike, now president of Magic Racing Group, retired from racing and began his career as a promoter, Winnie continued to assist Chuck’s young protégé in his endeavors. One of Mike’s endeavors was promoting the LaSalle, Illinois Grand National race. Mike, a pilot for American Airlines, contacted Winnie for suggestions about putting on an air show at the event. Chuck had owned three AT-6’s and a Cub, and had been active in the Warbirds, a vintage airplane organization. Following Chuck’s death, Bill Leff, a friend of Chuck’s helped Winnie dispose of the airplanes. Chuck and Bill’s hangars were next to each other and they used to work on their planes together. Leff, a corporate pilot for a Bloomington insurance company and AT-6 owner, was then doing an air show billed as Bill Leff’s Starfire Night Sky Show. Winnie made a decision to sponsor the air show as a tribute to Chuck. In addition to the joy and excitement it would give the fans that night in 1995, Winnie felt it would provide some closure in dealing with Chuck’s death. After Mike’s retirement from racing, Chuck’s H-D did not actively sponsor any other racers. Winnie feels that as you get older your role changes. In her case, the changes meant moving to a new level helping promoters and charities. Winnie felt that as the business became more successful, there were other ways to support motorcycling and motorcycle racing. From promoting H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) activities, working trade shows and demo rides for H-D, and assisting the IMDA (Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association), Winnie is always there. She can always be found at the Springfield and DuQuoin Miles actively lending a hand wherever the IMDA needs help. She also organizes a bus trip to the St. Louis, MO. Motocross every year for her customers who enjoy that style of racing. There is an old saying that if you need to get something done, give the job to a busy person. Winnie is certainly a busy person with all of her motorcycle activities but has always found time to help those less fortunate. The Shriners recently recognized Winnie’s dedication to public service work with their "Service Person of the Year" award. In addition to her work with the annual Muscular Dystrophy fund raising drive sponsored by Harley-Davidson, Winnie assists the Neville House, a local center for domestic abuse victims and the M.A.R.C. Center in Bloomington. Although Winnie says her involvement in motorcycling is her hobby, she does find time to work in her rose and herb garden, a hobby which gives her great pleasure. When a neighboring businessman teased her about the idea of a rose garden in front of a Harley dealership, she just laughed and said, "Harley people aren’t what you perceive." To Winnie the roses are just another way to brighten somebody’s day and, hopefully, add a smile to their face as they enter the shop. Evidently a lot of customers have left the shop with a smile on their face. Under Winnie’s leadership, Chuck’s H-D was awarded a record four "National Service Awards" before Harley discontinued the program. When Dave Despain began to solicit donations for a "Dirt Track Hall of Fame Race" this year, Winnie came on board right away, becoming one of the "Pioneer" contributors for the event. The inaugural "Hall of Fame Race," part of the Labor Day race weekend, will be September 5, 1998, the day before the IMDA Grand National "Springfield Mile." Winnie would like to see more support for dirt tract events. "I would like to see more big name sponsors get involved with the promoters to help finance their events. This would allow promoters to provide the bigger purses that these GNC riders so deserve." From her early days in motorcycling as a self described "pit rat," running errands and doing whatever chores were assigned to her, to polishing the natural aluminum outer shell of the three vintage airplanes, Winnie has worked hard and done whatever needed doing, and had fun doing it. It is in her nature to help. It is a family heritage. While being short does have its advantages, one of the downsides to it became apparent in the days of polishing the airplanes. "I was small, so I got beneath the plane and polished the underbelly. Even with the buffer it was quite a job," she says. "I didn’t mind. I got to meet a lot of interesting people around the planes. They parallel motorcycle people. They took pride in their machines. They wanted them to always be looking nice. Some of them were old World War II pilots and crew members, others were younger people who just had a love for the old machines," Winnie explained in describing the Warbirds. If you see Winnie at one of the IMDA races, walk up to her and say hi. She is definitely a people person and would love to hear from you. Kris Troupe, Flattrack News Weekly
Chuck's Harley-Davidson, Inc. (c) 1998-2006 Chuck's Harley-Davidson, Inc. All rights reserved. |
