Our History
Eau Claire Sport Motors Ltd.
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Our History Eau Claire Sport Motors Ltd.
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In 1970, the original partners, Jerry Evans and Jack Adler opened a motorcycle shop, Eau Claire Sport Motors Ltd., in downtown Eau Claire. Both men were avid motorcycle enthusiasts, and Jerry was already working on his unique collection of antique motorcycles and memorabilia. Gary Gotter came to work at Sport Motors in 1974, with experience in service and parts, as well as being an avid motorcycle rider and moto-cross racer. As the business grew, the "old store" on Oxford Avenue was remodeled as additional products were added. When Jack decided to retire in 1989, Gary invested in the business and became a co-owner with Jerry.
A short time later, Gary began to talk to Jerry about getting other members of the Gotter family involved in the business, as the growth continued. Gary's brother Roy, who had been an avid motorcycle rider since 1970, began working part time for Jerry and Gary in 1990. A year later, he decided to leave his job as a math teacher in Eau Claire, and work full time at Sport Motors. By 1992, Roy had also invested in the business, and joined Jerry and Gary as a co-owner. The "old store" was again remodeled, this time as a "designer" Harley Store, and another Gotter family member joined the business in 1993, as Gary and Roy's sister Jane, became office manager for Sport Motors. Her previous experience at boat and motorcycle dealerships, in accounting and finance, added a valuable resource to the steadily growing business.
As the needs for more staff, more space, and a more accessible location continued to grow, Jerry began to search for a new location and formulate some rough plans for a new building. By 1995, plans were finalized with input from Harley-Davidson Motor Company, a building site was found, and the project was underway. With lots of patience, time, energy, hard work, a few headaches, and lots of help from the staff, the move to the new store on Highway 53, was completed in November of 1996. With the new building and new location, came a new name for the business, and Eau Claire Sport Motors Ltd. was re-named Sport Motors Harley-Davidson.
On January 1st, 2001, Jerry Evans retired from the business, to spend more time with his wife, to pursue his hobbies, and to relax in the warm winter weather of Arizona. His incredible collection of antique bikes will remain on display at the dealership, as a tribute to his many years of hard work in the motorcycle industry, and for the many appreciative customers, who enjoy looking at the history of motorcycling. Also on January 1st, 2001, Jane Gotter joined her brothers, Gary and Roy Gotter, as a co-owner of Sport Motors Harley-Davidson, and the “Gotter Family Business” was formally dedicated to the memory of their dad, the late Elroy E. Gotter.
Today, the business continues to grow at the "new" location on Business Highway 53. By combining the many years of experience and fond memories from the old store, with the excitement and advantages of the modern, much larger new store, Sport Motors Harley-Davidson is well prepared to maintain the heritage and tradition of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, and to offer customers the ultimate Harley-Davidson experience, for many years to come.
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Sport Motors Thur 8:30-7:00 Saturday 8:30-3:00
Sunday CLOSED |
