The Harley-Davidson Factory Group at the Willingen 2026 Snow Show
(HANNOVER, 17.03.2026) - A lot of engine power, special tires and, of course, maximum vehicle control are required - they make hill climbing mega-spectacular! In this type of motorsport, riders attempt to conquer a steep, unpaved slope to the summit with their machine. If the whole thing then climbs in the snow, it is most likely the Snow Show Willingen 2026, which took place on March 13 and 14, 2026 in the winter idyll of Sauerland - and Harley-Davidson and LiveWire were also involved.
Among the 95 teams that competed despite the suboptimal weather were the guys and gals from the Harley-Davidson and LiveWire dealer H-D Factory Group, whose locations are in Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, Wiesbaden, Wetzlar and Saarbrücken. In addition to a Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Special a LiveWire S2 Del Mar in the luggage. Both machines started almost in their original condition. They were only stripped of their mirrors and indicators and fitted with studded tires. The LiveWire also had its front fender removed.
On Friday, the first test runs were on the agenda, in which fine-tuning options for the set-up were found and the drivers developed a feel for the snow-covered track and the enormous gradient. On Saturday, the starting flags for the race fell, watched by the enthusiastic spectators.
In the saddle of the Harley was Basti Balzer, service acceptance manager of the Hanover-based company
H-D representative and passionate motocross rider. The S2 Del Mar was piloted by 19-year-old Tarek Groschaft, a newly qualified automotive salesman who looks after the LiveWire brand at the Hanover branch of the H-D Factory Group and is a motorsport fan with heart and soul. LiveWire Germany also brought Moritz Brée to the start. The Tyrolean tween has been riding since his early childhood motorcycle and regularly takes part successfully in races and international events such as Wheels and Waves in Biarritz.
139 riders attempted the mountain and many failed, while Basti, Tarek and Moritz crossed the finish line. Harley-Davidson and LiveWire take their hats off to their riding skills and are pleased that their performance was supported by the technical characteristics of the machines. The powerful engine of the Pan America 1250 Special delivers 128 Newton meters to the crankshaft and its stable chassis with off-road setting makes it a force on the mountain. A LiveWire from the S2 series is also predestined for steep slope racing. The absence of gear changes and the low weight in relation to the power development proved to be ideal for the hill climb. The high torque of the electric motor is fully available from the very first turn of the wheel, which helps to maintain momentum on steep slopes.
If you want to find out more about the H-D Factory Group, Harley-Davidson and LiveWire, you can find answers to all your questions at https://www.factorygroup.de. Videos of the Hillclimb are available on the social media channels of the Harley-Davidson Factory Group and LiveWire.
Text & photo credits: (Photo credits: Anna Gala for Snow Show Willingen/H-D Factory Group).
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