THE HOG FARMS 1st Victory was March of 1997, winning the rights to the word hog in their business name, against Corp. H.D. Milwaukee, but such as a man as Grott is, the proprietor of THE HOG FARM did not stop there, his job was not done. The 2nd Victory was Jan. of 1999, taking the controlled word hog completely away from Corp. H.D. Milwaukee, and giving it back to their rightful Hog shop owners or who ever had it unjustly taken away from them, by Corp. H.D. Milwaukee, through out the U.S.A., and World. Now the jobs done! The people responsible for this, Ronald Grottanelli "Grott", The Great Mr. Pete Sommers of Phillips,Lythe, Hitchcock, Blaine and Huber LLP, Buffalo, N.Y., and of course, all of The Hog Farm Supporters!
Corp. H.D. has gone after 100 plus Hog Shops, which are Aftermarket, or who ever used hog in the U.S.A. & World, using bully tactics or threatening to take them to court. Might is not always right! The Hog name is back in the public domain, and can be used by anyone, motorcycle related. 1992 Corp. H.D. came to the Big Daddy of them all, THE HOG FARM, the oldest shop in the U.S.A., to buy the name for pennies.
1993 This time H.D.'s attitude was to step on THE HOG FARM, & crush them, OOP's they slipped, and hurt themselves. By trademark law, THE HOG FARM should not have lost there altered Bar & Shield Logo, but for right now their attitude was they're do for a new one. Corp. H.D. came after them for the Hog name; the logo was an after thought, because they knew they were losing. H.D. had nothing to work with, and they wanted to keep The Hog Farm in court so they would eventually give up, but Grott was not giving up for anything.
Grott & Ruthie his wife fought side by side against this Corporate Giant, and most of the time with each other, it was total hell on their marriage, but they're survivors. Her beliefs are just a strong as his. They're the kind of people that will fight for what they believe in, they were so determent it almost cost them their marriage, business, & home. There is no doubt this was a financial heavy burden on them. It sucks when they had to sell their prize processions, such as there 1914, 1916, and other Harley Davidson motorcycles to fight Harley Davidson. Plus work harder, longer hours, and go out on the road, and do as many Swapmeets to make a buck. If you ask them would they do it all over again, but of course. But they have lost total respect for this company, and haven't worn a Harley Davidson T-shirt since.
It's nice when the little guy wins for a change, not that Grott is a little guy, quite the contrary! Now they hope that things get back to normal, & do what they love.
In 1969 THE HOG FARM was Old School. They built Motorcycles, from Mild to Wild, any Make or Model. If you had a stock motorcycle in the 60's or 70's it got chopped. Through the years they've become one of the most experienced Motorcycle Specialists there are. They have kept up with the times. 30 years of Excellence! Build, Create, Machine, anything to Stock - Custom - Antique. There is not anything they can not do, including fighting one of the largest companies in the world.
THE HOG FARM, is Aftermarket, which they prefer. Aftermarket means Freedom!, you are not controlled by Corporate H.D, which forces their Authorized Dealers to remodel their dealerships, and if they refuse, they could very likely have their franchise pulled out from under them. The Hog Farm is proud to be an Aftermarket Dealership. Aftermarket parts are some of the best machined, updated American Made parts available. The Aftermarket Shops are the "BACK BONE OF AMERICA" THE HOG FARM, wants one thing straight, they do not have any problem with any enthusiast who deal with a H.D. Franchise Dealers, or their friends who own a H.D. Franchise. It's the Corporate Greed that has left them with a bad taste in there mouth. The Hog Farm does some of the best work on stock Harley-Davidsons, using Genuine H.D. parts, if that's what their customers wants!
THE HOG FARM, is also a Motorcycle Promoter, doing MC Swapmeets, & Bike Shows, Dirt Drags, Charity Events, & Hog Laborday Holiday, the Best Party Campout of the year!, at the HOGAROSA CAMPGROUNDS. As you can see they Support the Sport of Motorcycling, no matter what Make or Model. It was never about corporate anything. It's all about the lifestyle the motorcyclist created, Rich or Poor. We Eat, Sleep, Talk, Dream, Breathe, Live, Love, and Ride our Motorcycles.
So if you need some expertise done on your motorcycle, or a T-shirt, THE HOG FARMS the place! THE-HOG-FARM.COM or 716-822-3227