---

Harley-Davidson to Return to Dirt Track in 1998

24 February 1998

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTERS RETURN TO  DIRT TRACK IN 1998

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster engine has over
thirty years of history behind it. Now known as the "evolution motor," the
883 made its debut on the 1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster and has been
continuously developed and refined to its present-day use on both road and
track. In recognition of that history and with the support of the
Harley-Davidson Motor Company, in 1998 the former AMA 883cc National Dirt
Track Series will be entitled the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance
Series.
 
The change in name is not the biggest news for the program, since plans
call for new rules to allow riders and tuners to modify the 883 engines.
Formerly, AMA rules required the engine to remain strictly stock. 

Davey Camlin won the 1997 883cc National Dirt Track Series title riding for
the Moroney's Harley-Davidson team, and he enters the 1998 season as the
reigning champion of the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series.
"Last year was my first racing with the 883 Sportster motor, and I fell in
love with it," said Camlin. "It's an incredibly durable and dependable
motor, and it's very fast, with great mid-range and top-end power." 

Art Gompper, racing promotions manager for Harley-Davidson, is proud of
Camlin and Harley-Davidson's racing history. "The Harley-Davidson Motor
Company has been involved with AMA Dirt Track racing for a long, long
time," said Gompper. "We feel the Sportster Performance Series gives
dirt-trackers the opportunity to excel at this great sport without spending
the kind of money it takes to field a competitive Grand National
Championship machine. We've already seen some bright young stars shine on
the Sportster dirt-trackers, and we look forward to seeing many more."

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series kicks off May 17 at the
Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, Del. Both Sportster Performance
Series and Grand National Dirt Track events will appear on ESPN2, sponsored
by the Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle line of performance accessories. The
1998 Grand National Dirt Track broadcast schedule will be announced at the
end of February. 
-30-