Warr’s 100th Anniversary Celebration
Warr’s Harley-Davidson celebrates its 100th Anniversary this year and there’s a big party at the Kings Road, London on Saturday, July 6 for everyone to join in the celebrations.
In 1924 F.J. Warr opened a motor bicycle repair shop on London’s King’s Road. That same year he became an agent for the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. of Milwaukee, USA. The rest, as they say, is history…
Warr’s will be celebrating an incredible 100 years at their famous King’s Road dealership with a special headliner who embodies the spirit of King’s Road – Glen Matlock from the legendary Sex Pistols! Both were born on the vibrant King’s Road, a breeding ground for innovation and rebellion. This unique bond makes this event more than a celebration; it’s a homage to a street that has fuelled cultural revolutions.
Glen Matlock is credited as a songwriter on 10 of the 12 songs on the Sex Pistols’ only album, Never Mind The Bollocks. He left the band in 1977 and formed the Rich Kids with Midge Ure. In 2023, Matlock released his sixth solo album, Consequences Coming, and joins Blondie on their latest album and tour
Kicking off the festivities is Magdy (Cairo Son) with an acoustic set of rock & pop covers, followed by JD Harmo & Paul Cuddeford (The Boomtown Rats, Marti Pellow) as they channel the blues of the 1920’s. Experience the electrifying sounds of bad grrrl 60’s garage rock with The Trouble, followed by classic rock from the 70’s courtesy of power trio The Edliners.
Last year, Warr’s was visited by a special guest – none other than Hollywood hero Danny Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Heat) and the food at the 100th Anniversary Celebration Day will be provided by Trejo’s Tacos, Danny’s very own Taco restaurant! Trejo’s Tacos first launched in Los Angeles back in 2016 and have just opened their first London restaurant on Portobello Road.
Sautter will provide a complete onsite bar, offering an extensive selection of beverages to cater to every taste and preference.
Fulham’s favourite village pub The Rose, situated across from Warr’s, will feature a unique selection of 100th themed food & drink also available on the day.
The Warr’s Museum will also be featuring the biggest selection of Historic Harleys this side of Milwaukee! Exhibits Include Edwardian Silent Gray Fellows, WW2 Liberators, Rock n Rollers, Electra Glide in Blue, Legendary Harley Racers and various rare Key models from Harley history.
Warr’s 100th Anniversary Celebration Day takes place on Saturday, July 6, from 9am to 6pm and admission is free. In addition to the bands and the bikes, there’s a huge range of 100th Anniversary merchandise to be had.
Warr’s Harley-Davidson is located at 611 Kings Road, London, SW6 2EL and their Facebook event link is at: https://fb.me/e/274Ab7Oed
Extended picture captions:
1972 XR750TT
The XR750 was the dirt track racer and the TT designation added for the road racer. New AMA competition rules and highly competitive big bore two stroke machines from lapan meant Harley developed the all-alloy XR750TT. In ’72, Cal Rayborn won the Laguna Seca National and scored wins in the Transatlantic Race Series for Cal Ravborn while the US AMA National Championship title was Mark Brelsford racing XR750s on the dirt and an XR750TT on tarmac. Warr’s XR750TT is one of 10 bikes made for road racing that year with twin carbs, twin exhausts and huge drum brakes. Info: Warr’s H-D
1914 Model 10C
The first ever Harley with gears. It’s a two-speed version situated in the rear hub. It was also the first year floorboards were fitted, providing new levels of rider comfort. Chain drive replaced the previous years troublesome leather belts. Both front forks and seat are sprung A few hundred Model C10’s were built in 1914 and they originally cost $245. This one is the only example known outside the States. It’s now ridden by John Warr on the London to Brighton Pioneer Run for pre-WW1 bikes and was ridden in 2021 at Brooklands to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Harley-Davidson becoming the first motorcycle to exceed 100mph in the UK. Info: Warr’s H-D
1968 KR750TT
1968, the Harley race team made major motor improvements to the elderly side-valve KR engine resulting in new ‘bubble-style fairings and an all-new ‘LowBoy’ frame to achieve the record fastest qualifying speed of 149.08mph at Daytona that same year. Legendary factory rider Cal Rayborn went on to win the famous 200 mile race, lapping everyone up to fourth place. He dominated again in 1969. Info: Warr’s H-D
1957 Sportster
The all-new XL model or ‘Sportster’ was introduced in 1957. In fact the air-cooled Sportster v-twin is the world’s longest running production model motorcycle celebrating 60+ years of production. The new 900cc engine featured overhead valves and, then, cutting edge unit construction incorporating the transmission into the crankcase. The new Sportster looked great and was a genuine 100mph bike out of the crate. This extremely rare 1957 XL no.3254, in period two tone Gold and Birch White, Is from the very first year of production as shipped to Warr’s in late 1956. Info: Warr’s H-D
1942 WL750 ‘Liberator’
In 1942 Harley-Davidson were awarded a contract by the US Government to build 32,000 of the military version of the WL750 model. All civilian production was stopped as demand from the allies grew. Different versions of the WL were made for different theatres. With a change of head gasket the side-valve engine could even run on paraffin. By the end of the war Harley had produced over 80,000 WL and the iconic WL750, or ‘45’, became known as ‘the bike that won the war.” Info: Warr’s H-D
1912 Model X8A
Harley-Davidson was just eight years old when this amazing bike was produced. It has a single cylinder 30cubic inch motor with atmospheric intake valve, mechanical exhaust valve and a Bosch magneto. There’s spring suspension on the front linked forks and a sprung mounted saddle ensured some rider comfort. Drive was direct from the engine to the rear wheel via a leather belt. Long handlebars gave good leverage to help negotiate the mostly unmade and rutted cart tracks of that time. Braking was provided by whatever sized boots you were wearing at the time. Info: Warr’s H-D
1946 Knucklehead
This superb 1946 EL 1000cc Knucklehead is in totally original condition. Even the paintwork is ‘as applied’ back in the Milwaukee factory late in 1945. From new the bike belonged to – and was – the personal ride of the New York Harley dealer ‘Buffalo Bill’. In the late 1970’s Fred Warr agreed to buy the bike from Bill for his own personal use. It’s been in Warr’s Museum ownership ever since – and is still in regular use today.
It won’t ever be restored – but rather conserved by Warr’s Museum as an original and very rare example of 1940’s Harley history. Info: Warr’s H-D