Our final Chapter member profile for 2009 features a man whose foremost passion (outside of his family) for racing motorcycles and cars is legendary in the competition industry.  Bill Bartels’ really needs little introduction.  To those who know him and know of him, his very name signifies speed, passion, honesty, commitment, dedication… the list goes on!

Bill was born and raised in Springfield, Mass., which he says was the “home of the Indian Motorcycle” at the time.  He grew up in a family where the men mostly worked at Indian.  In his early teenage years, he took advantage of living in a rural environment and began tinkering with bicycles and cars. 

A friend’s father once bought an old car for $5 and Bill and his friends would take it apart and put it back together.  At the time, gas was about a quarter a gallon and he and his friends would buy gas for the car and drive it around until it ran out of fuel.  But by his mid-twenties, Bill was ready to move on and headed for California.

Bill’s career interest has always been centered on cars.  His father was a sales manager for a Chevrolet dealer and Bill learned at an early age how to buy and sell cars.  For example, he would buy a car for $20, patch it up, than re-sell it.  That practice eventually morphed into his interests today.  For the past several years, Bill has been deeply involved in racing motorcycles, and then he switched to racing stock cars.

In between races, Bill and his wife and partner Merle have been on nine cruises to different parts of the world.  They have been to Alaska, the Mediterranean, and this month are planning to celebrate their 40^th wedding anniversary with a cruise to Brazil.

As most of us know, Bill’s big attraction (especially to us!) is his ownership of Bartels’ Harley-Davidson, our Chapter sponsor.  Bill enjoys mentioning the celebrity status of his business, too, as over the years he has had the chance to “hang around” with the likes of Billy Idol, Mickey Rourke, and Cher.  He says that they were “very easy to talk to.”

His introduction to motorcycles came by way of all types of racing.  In the 60’s, and before motocross had become the popular event it is today, he was racing scrambles, short tracks, racing in the desert, and then “T.T.” racing.  This latter format is English dirt tracking with jumps and right and left turns. 

Bill’s constant desire for speed and its pure thrill and adrenaline rush propels his intense interest and excitement for racing still today.  He’s already planning to race again next month!  But he is also quick to note that since his need for speed takes him to the dirt tracks for racing, he seldom rides with anybody else on the streets.  He simply likes to “go faster”.

Merle has ridden dirt bikes occasionally, but never street bikes.  Nonetheless, she is an integral element in both Bill’s business and his life.

Between them, they have six sons, four of whom are from Bill’s previous marriage and two who were with Merle.  Most of their sons are in the motorcycle business in one form or another.  Their oldest son, Ron, who many of Chapter members know personally, runs the service department at Bartels’ and Ron’s son has also been bitten by the racing bug. 

As Bill points out, that’s “three generations” of avid bikers.  Another of Bill’s sons, Glenn, owns the Route 66 Harley rental franchise right next door to his dad’s dealership.  Another son is a graphic designer in Florida and yet another son is a freelance motorcycle magazine writer.  Between all the Bartels boys, there are now seven grandchildren, four of which are girls, and all of whom Bill is extremely proud.

Bill was also instrumental in establishing our L.A. HOG chapter, which was conceived from a suggestion by long-time Bartels’ employee and confidant, Gene T.  National HOG was established in 1983 by the Milwaukee motorcycle giant, and LA#1 HOG (originally called “#1 HOG”) followed two years later with Bill and Merle’s generous support.

As you might have guessed by now, our Chapter owes both Bill and Merle a great deal of gratitude for their continuous sponsorship and support over the years.  From generously donating terrific raffle prizes at our monthly general meetings, to having frequent open houses complete with incredible bikes, cars, people, and refreshments throughout the year, the Bartels have been unwavering in their Chapter and brand sponsorship.

They have proven wise mentors and friends to our Chapter from its humble beginnings to the successful club it is today.  We are very proud and honored to have the Bartels as patriarch and matriarch of our LA#1 HOG family!