Chapter History

On February 4, 1999, founding officers, Gary Pitassi, David Heath, Nancy Weiss, and Kathy Pitassi met with Jack Cobb, H.O.G. Region 5 Representative at that time, and Kirk Heselbarth, Patriot Harley-Davidson® General Manager, to complete the application to establish the Fairfax VA Chapter of the Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.®).  The application was soon accepted by National H.O.G. and on March 10, 1999 the official induction of the first officers of Fairfax VA H.O.G. Chapter 5278 took place at the Lone Star Restaurant in Fairfax VA Chapter membership was officially recorded as 9.

A Chapter Welcome was held at Patriot Harley-Davidson on March 21, 1999. Nearly 200 people came to meet the officers, find out about upcoming activities, and be the first to join the new Fairfax VA H.O.G. Chapter.

The first official Fairfax VA H.O.G. member's meeting took place at Mama's Restaurant in Fairfax, VA on April 14, 1999. The following Saturday, the Fairfax VA H.O.G. Inaugural Ride attracted 142 bikes and 44 additional passengers for a total of 186 participants.  The route went from Patriot Harley-Davidson to Mount Vernon, followed the George Washington Parkway along the Potomac River, and continued through Old Town Alexandria and beyond with spectacular views of Washington D.C.

The first edition, Vol. 1, No. 1, of the Fairfax VA H.O.G. Chapter newsletter, the well-read The Stars & Pipes, was also published in April 1999.

By May 12, 1999, the Fairfax VA H.O.G. chapter had grown to 295 members. Director Gary Pitassi and Head Road Captain Nick Mostrous presented the first Fairfax VA H.O.G. Road Captain seminar. These seminars continue today and greatly contribute to the safety of our chapter rides.

On May 30, 1999, Fairfax VA H.O.G. members joined other area bikers to participate in the first Ride of the Patriots® sponsored by Patriot Harley-Davidson to join Rolling Thunder®. Approximately 1,000 bikes departed from Patriot at 9:30 am for a police escorted ride to the Pentagon. Today, City of Fairfax neighbors and officials join Patriot H-D and the Fairfax VA H.O.G. Chapter in remembering and honoring those who lost their lives while defending our freedom and serving in today's military by contributing and participating in a morning ceremony and parade before the Ride of the Patriots®.

Fairfax VA H.O.G. Chapter meetings started out at Mama's Restaurant next door to Patriot H-D, and then moved to the Fairfax City Town Hall in June of 1999, where the first official Chapter Photo was taken in July of 1999.  By that time, chapter membership had grown to 422.  Chapter meetings moved "home" to Patriot Harley-Davidson on December 8, 1999, where they continue to take place today. However, the realities of COVID-19 have forced us to be more creative. Therefore, in the Fall of 2020, we began meeting virtually as a Chapter. Currently, as COVID-19 restrictions begin to wind down, we are once again able to meet in-person, though with limited capacity, but are still able to meet virtually should the need arise.

On January 15, 2000, the first session of the New Rider Program was presented at Patriot H-D by John Stanford.  This program evolved into the Group Riding Seminars that continue today to educate and make safer riders of our members.

On March 1, 2015, Patriot H-D changed ownership, and the Chapter was assigned a new Chapter #3698.

On February 8, 2023, Patriot H-D changed ownership, and the Chapter was assigned a new Chapter #5395