Three go to extreme measures to win a Harley

By ERIN NICHOLES Chronicle Staff Writer

BELGRADE -- Many people say they would do anything for a free Harley-Davidson motorcycle, but only a few would actually go this far.

Two women and one man dressed head-to-toe in thick winter layers stood in the parking lot of Yellowstone Harley-Davidson west of Belgrade on Saturday, each with one hand firmly planted on a 2002 Limited Edition 883 Sportster worth $6,500. They had been here longer than 27 hours with no bathroom breaks or chairs. They had endured a blizzard, boredom and below-freezing temperatures overnight.

But Scott Norquist, 36, Stefanie Munson, 19, and Sally White, 40, were determined to stay as long as it would take to be the "last-person standing" at the motorcycle -- the lucky one to ride the Harley home.

"It's a Harley," was all Norquist of Livingston said when asked why he entered the competition, which was sponsored by the motorcycle shop.

Norquist, Munson and White were all that was left of an original six contestants chosen through a drawing to place a hand on the Harley at 1 p.m. Friday. Their perseverance surprised the staff at the Harley dealership, who decided spontaneously on a last-person standing competition, said Sara Hagen, advertising and sales representative.

"Car dealerships do this with cars," Hagen said. "We thought we'd do it with a bike."

Contestants faced rigid rules, including not being allowed to remove their hands from the bike for any reason -- or even use a bathroom.

"I'm thinking there's probably some Depends out there," Hagen said, referring to a brand of adult diapers.

Tough rules -- as well as snow, cold overnight temperatures and wind -- weeded out half of the original contestants within the first 12 hours, but Norquist, Munson and White came prepared.

Norquist, a log hauler, was wearing several stocking hats -- including a tall yellow hat with a smiley-face on it -- and his face was wrapped in a yellow scarf so only his eyes and nose showed. He wore thick gloves and boots, and snow shells over several layers of clothing.

He admitted being bored with standing, but said it beat the alternative.

"We can sit, but the asphalt is so cold, it just sucks the heat right out of you," he said.

When the going got tough, the three finalists kept sight of their dreams.

Norquist said he planned to give the bike to his girlfriend, who cheered him on faithfully from behind a barrier of yellow caution tape that surrounded the motorcycle. Munson said she planned to ride the Harley to Sturgis.

White was drawn to the challenge as much as the motorcycle itself.

"Part of it was the adventure," she said of her reason to participate in the competition.

By press time Saturday, all three contestants were still standing, but were, "looking really tired," an employee said.

Reader Comments