American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 179 June 2014 | Page 6

Sturgis Hall of Fame

Bonnie Truett

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall
of Fame has included aftermarket
vendors Paul Yaffe, Keith Terry, Jesse
Jurrens, Drag Racer turned parts maker
Bonnie Truett, and legendary former
Harley-Davidson VP Clyde Fessler
among their nominees for their Hall of
Fame this year.
During his 25 year career at Harley
Clyde Fessler is said to have played "

an integral role in the turnaround of
the company." He served in multiple
marketing positions including Director
of Marketing, Vice President of
General Merchandise, Vice President
of Motor Accessories and Vice
President
of
Business
Development.
His 2012 book
"Rebuilding the Brand" is a 'mustread'.

Paul Yaffe

Photo: Michael Lichter

Jesse Jurrens started Legend
Suspensions in Rapid City, South
Dakota in 1998 with what was then
the first purpose made air spring for
the Harley-Davidson Softail Chassis.
Now based in Sturgis itself, Legend
manufactures Aero Air Suspension
systems and Revo coil suspension
systems for all Harley-Davidson
models and Off-road UTVs.
Keith Terry, a native Californian who
now lives in The Black Hills area,
started Terry Components (with his
wife Fran) 20 years ago, and the

Jesse Jurrens

Clyde Fessler

company is said to be the largest
supplier of motorcycle starter motors
and battery cables in the industry.
More recently, Keith - started Baggster
LLC with Chris Malo, a company that
manufactures custom conversion kits
for Harley-Davidson applications.
With Paul Osborn, Bonnie Truett
was one half of the Truett and Osborn
engine parts business at
Wichita, Kansas and drag race legend
until his retirement. He started racing
in the 1960s, and was constantly
working to get more out of his drag
bikes. He started by changing the
flywheels in his own Sportster, but
eventually he and his partner Paul
Osborn started to create and
manufacture their own flywheels,
frames, cams, cylinders and rods.
Paul Yaffe's business story is a
remarkable one and his prowess as an
entrepreneur is a case study in survival.
Having seen his Paul Yaffe Originals
business hammered by the downturn
in custom bike building and the wider
recession, he was an 'early adopter'
when it came to spotting the vacuum
that existed where parts and
accessories for Harley's tourers were
concerned. Paul created the Bagger
Nation brand of custom parts and
accessories and the rest, as they say, is
history!