H.O.G Heaven
Smith’s mission is to rebuild Lynchburg’s Harley-Davidson community
10:14 a.m. Feb. 22, 2026
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
On any given weekend, if you hear the low rumble of a V-twin echoing through Mooere County, chances are Daniel Smith is somewhere nearby. He might be leading the ride or quietly working behind the scenes to make sure it happens.
For Smith, motorcycles have never been just machines. They’ve been markers of seasons in life – independence, marriage, relocation, reinvention – and now, community.
“I bought my first Harley in 1995,” Smith said. “I was part of the Harley Owners Group for about 10 years after that.”
Today, more than three decades later, he’s working to ensure that Lynchburg’s local chapter of the Harley Owners Group – known as the Squires H.O.G. Chapter – doesn’t fade into obscurity.
From Open Road to Airstreams – and Back Again
Smith’s riding history isn’t linear. Like many long-term enthusiasts, life redirected his route more than once.
After years in the Harley Owners Group, marriage and changing interests led him into another community-based organization – the Airstream Club. There, he served in leadership roles, including president, learning firsthand what it takes to keep a membership organization alive.
“You can get into the weeds of it,” he explained. “President, treasury, secretary – it’s a business per se, because you’ve got to keep track of all the funds.”
But with leadership comes friction – paperwork, politics, and responsibility. Over time, the fun of simply showing up gave way to the grind of administration.
When Smith and his wife, Marcy, moved to Lynchburg in 2018, he returned to what first pulled him into organized vroom-vrooming: Harley-Davidson.
He purchased another bike and rejoined H.O.G., eventually affiliating with the Lynchburg-based Squires chapter.
A Small Chapter with Big Potential
The Lynchburg Harley-Davidson retail store, owned by Bumpus Harley-Davidson, opened in 2009. The local H.O.G. chapter began a few years later in 2013.
But today, membership is lean. “Currently, there are probably four of us right now for this year,” Smith said. … Four.
In contrast, nearby chapters in Franklin and Murfreesboro host organized weekend trips, hotel rides, and larger group events. Lynchburg’s chapter, by comparison, has settled into a simpler rhythm.
“It’s evolved to we just do a weekend ride or a lunch ride once a month,” Smith said.
For him, that’s not enough.
The Work Behind the Ride
Motorcycle culture may look carefree from the outside, but organized riding requires structure. Poker runs, charity rides, route coordination, marketing – none of it happens automatically.
“With only four, five guys, it’s hard,” Smith said. “We do like a poker run. OK, well, somebody’s got to run it.”
Last August, the Squires chapter partnered with the Lynchburg Harley-Davidson store to host a poker run benefiting Friends of Animals. Smith personally handed out flyers across Middle Tennessee – at gas stations, bike shops, and even during casual Square-side conversations.
The turnout surprised even skeptics. “We had 72 bikes show up,” Smith said. By the end of the day, the event raised approximately $2,700 for the nonprofit.
For a chapter with only a handful of members, that number represents more than fundraising – it signals untapped capacity. “My goal was 100,” Smith admitted. This year, he’s aiming for 150.
Clearing Up the Confusion
Part of the challenge in growing the chapter is a simple misunderstanding. The Squires H.O.G. Chapter is not affiliated with the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Squires – despite sharing the name.
“The Harley Owners Group Squires is just what they’re called,” Smith explained. “Jack Daniel’s Squires are separate.”
The local chapter is tied to the national Harley Owners Group, which requires riders to hold national membership before joining a local chapter.
National H.O.G. membership runs about $60 annually and includes roadside assistance and other benefits. The Lynchburg chapter dues are $20 per year.
To join, a rider must own a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and provide their VIN when registering with the national organization.
Beyond that? Just show up.
A Town That Doesn’t Know
Smith believes awareness is the biggest hurdle.
“We have so many people moving here that don’t even know that there is a H.O.G. club,” Smith said.
Many see the Lynchburg storefront simply as a Harley-Davidson merchandise shop – not as the anchor of a local riding community.
Meanwhile, growth at Twin Creeks and surrounding areas means new residents, many of them riders, are arriving without realizing there’s a chapter in town.
Smith sees opportunity in that gap.
Why It Matters
Harley-Davidson culture has always been about more than chrome and horsepower. It’s about belonging.
In small towns like Lynchburg, that belonging becomes even more meaningful. A monthly lunch ride isn’t just a cruise through back roads – it’s a relationship builder. A poker run isn’t just a fundraiser – it’s visibility.
Smith understands something critical: community organizations don’t die dramatically. They fade quietly when no one steps forward.
Right now, he’s stepping forward.
He’s the one handing out flyers. The one contacting other chapters. The one pushing for official recognition. The one recruiting at gas pumps.
Not for recognition – but because he’s seen what happens when organizations stall.
If his vision succeeds, the rumble through Lynchburg may grow louder. And when it does, you won’t just hear engines.
It’ll be a chapter riding back to life.
What Is H.O.G.?
The Harley Owners Group – better known as H.O.G. – was created by Harley-Davidson in 1983, when the company was fighting to maintain market share and brand identity.
Initially structured as a national service club, H.O.G. offered roadside assistance, a member’s magazine, exclusive events, and a direct connection to the Motor Company. The response was immediate. Thousands joined — but members wanted more than mailed benefits. They wanted a local connection. They wanted to ride together.
By late 1983, Harley-Davidson formalized the dealership-based chapter system. Each chapter operates through an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer, providing organized group rides, social events, rider education, and charitable initiatives – all within a structured, safety-focused framework.
Growth was rapid. By 1985, 49 chapters existed. Today, more than 1,400 chapters operate worldwide, making H.O.G. the world’s largest factory-sponsored motorcycle organization.
The name “Hog” traces back to the 1920s, when Harley-Davidson’s factory racing team adopted a pig as its mascot. Victorious riders would carry the pig on celebratory laps, and the nickname stuck – eventually becoming synonymous with the motorcycles themselves.
More than four decades later, H.O.G. remains more than a membership program. It represents Harley-Davidson’s shift from selling motorcycles to cultivating belonging – a global community built on shared miles, structured leadership, and a commitment to riding safely and giving back.
Building for the Future
Daniel Smith isn’t chasing titles, but he is pursuing structure. He’s currently working with national H.O.G. leadership and Bumpus Harley-Davidson to formalize his role as chapter director.
The goal is sustainability.
“You can make the club whatever you want to make the club,” Smith said.
His approach is straightforward:
• Grow membership.
• Expand rides.
• Continue charity efforts.
• Keep it local and low-pressure.
• Let riders participate as much – or as little – as they choose.
“If you don’t take care of it, then people don’t come in, and it just falls apart,” he said.
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