Three HOG chapters salute two HOG legends

More than 40 riders converged in Windsor, Ontario, for a special celebration

There’s nothing quite like the Harley Owners Group^™ spirit and sense of community. More than 40 riders from three Ontario HOG^® chapters met up for a barbecue and ride at Thunder Road Harley-Davidson in Windsor to show their appreciation to Chris and Carol O’Neil, who started Canada’s first HOG chapter in 1985. 

“Chris and Carol are the true model of what being a HOG member represents,” said Doug Gatecliff, Director of the Bluewater HOG Chapter in Sarnia. “They live the HOG lifestyle to the fullest.”  

Chris and Carol, who were surprised by the gathering, are the owners of Thunder Road H-D and sponsor three HOG chapters: Windsor, Bluewater and Chatham-Kent, which collectively include more than 145 HOG members.  

“They had no idea we were coming,” Doug said. “To see the look on their faces when all the bikes rolled in together was nothing short of priceless!” 

As legend has it, back in 1984, Chris and Carol were inspired by a HOG rally they attended in Nashville. By the time they returned home to Windsor, they were already thinking about how to start up Canada’s first HOG Chapter. 

All these years later, they continue to be very strong supporters of the riding community. 

“We have many friends that we have met through HOG, and we continue to enjoy our rides and events,” Chris said, noting that he and Carol still put serious mileage on their bike. “Carol and I have ridden all over North America in our 40-plus years … from Alaska to Newfoundland, California to Florida – and we even rode for five weeks in New Zealand.” 

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