06/19/2026
Don Tilley was a legendary Harley-Davidson tuner, team owner, and dealer from North Carolina who won nine national racing championships.
There’s so much to unpack here with Derek Tilley standing next to his most famous racing machine, "Lucifer's Hammer” it was developed using engine components from the 1984 XR1000—a bike rushed into production just after 13 H-D executives purchased the company back from AMF.
Tilley’s history is closely intertwined with both national championships and the historic shift of Harley-Davidson transitioning out of the AMF era.
Don Tilleys name goes hand in hand with Harley-Davidson Racing.
Why does his name seem to pop up when people talk about motorcycle racing?
To find the answer, we will have to look back nearly 50 years. In the late fifties he raced stock cars and motorcycles while working for the local Harley-Davidson dealer in his hometown of Statesville, NC. In the 1960s, he ran several races on the Grand National Circuit, including 2 at Daytona.
He also worked for "The King" Richard Petty during that time period. In 1972, he took advantage of the opportunity to reopen a Harley-Davidson dealership in Statesville, NC. From humble beginnings, Don and his wife, Robinette turned it into a highly successful business.
Derek has been involved with the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America ever since ✨
Victory Junction
Join us this Saturday and let’s celebrate together 🏁
Let’s Ride 🦅
www.tilleyhd.com
