Learn About Low Country Harley History - BIKES ON OUR STAGE
Low Country Harley-Davidson has been around for over 40 years, and in that time we have managed to acquire, race and restore dozens of H-D motorcycles that have a home here inside the dealership. There are a special few, however that have more to their story than just a sentence or two. Therefore, we want to take a moment to truly tell the story of some of bikes that sit on the stage floor of the dealership. We also want to note, all of these descriptions can now be found at each on of the bikes on the floor of the dealership! Look for the standing signed that are propped up next to each one of the bikes to read about them while getting a good look at them inside our shop.
1989 FXLD ~ Ms. Harley Davidson Motorcycle: The 4th Ms. Harley-Davidson contest was won by a lovely lady named Gailan from Charleston, South Carolina. Gailan was given a customized 1989 FXLD with a paint job that included her signature on the gas tank of the motorcycle. During her time of riding, Gailan was in a bike accident, and though she came away from it safely, there was a good amount of damage done to the FXLD. After the incident, the owner of Low Country Harley-Davidson, Phil Schoonover, took it upon himself to restore the bike to its former glory, and hosts it here for Gailan to be able to come back and visit it whenever her heart desires.
1961 XLCH ~ Phil's First Bike: This 1961 XLCH Sportster was the first motorcycle that our owner, Phil Schoonover, ever rode on. He originally tried to buy it in his late teens, but his father advised against it, saying it was too fast for anyone to ride, and it was not going to live in his household. It took him over 50 years of tracking, after the bike had gone through three different estates, but he finally was able to acquire it and bring it back here to Low Country Harley-Davidson. He took another decade to restore the bike to its original state, and now here it sits, safely on the stage of our dealership! 60 years in the making- a true testimate to rider dedication and the love of your first bike.
1989 Sportster ~ Low Country Harley Race Bike #11: Built by multiple members of our staff team back in the 1990s, that including Certified Harley Technician Mike—known across the Harley world as Doc Harley—this 1989 Sportster was a true powerhouse on the track. Featuring an 883 engine, this balanced and blueprinted race bike dominated races across the east and west coasts, including legendary venues like Daytona International Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This was Low Country Harley-Davidson’s true prize, and clocking speeds up to 130 mph, the bike gained a reputation so fierce that race officials often tore it down prior to a race to confirm it was racing with only stock parts. Piloted through the ‘90s and into the 2000s by road racer Chuck Blackmon, this machine earned its place in AMA history—racing under numbers awarded strictly by performance. A Low Country Harley-Davidson decal was later placed over the original Tweedy Bird sticker that was placed on it after the first few years of riding, forever marking its legacy as part of the shop’s roots.
These motorcycles are more than just machines—they’re pieces of Low Country Harley-Davidson’s history, each with a story that connects riders, races, and memories across generations. And while we’re proud to share the highlights here, these are just a few of the historic Harleys that call our dealership home. We invite you to stop by, take a closer look, and experience the legacy for yourself. Walk the floor, read the stories beside each bike, and discover the rich history that makes Low Country Harley-Davidson more than a dealership—it’s a part of the Harley story.