Tom Morgan, a civilian worker at Yokota Air Base, Japan, sits on his new silver and black Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. Morgan won the $9,000 bike in 374th Services Division’s summer giveaway. (Jennifer H. Svan / S&S)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Persistence pays off.
Tom Morgan can’t recall how many times he entered his name in 374th Services Division’s big summer giveaway contest, “Cool Cash … Hot Ride … Fast Feet.”
“I entered every time I ate brunch, went to the club or outdoor rec,” he said.
Two weeks ago, contest organizers drew his name for the grand prize: A 2003 Harley Davidson 883 Sportster, 100th anniversary edition.
“I won a hat, a T-shirt and a Harley,” said Morgan, who works at the base’s linen exchange. “You can’t beat that.”
Other prizes included cash awards from $2,000 to $100 and two five-minute commissary shopping sprees.
Base residents Dominque Johnson and Korey Clark will race the clock at 8 a.m. Friday at the commissary. They’ll be able to grab up to $500 in groceries.
Customers are invited to watch and should be at the store by 7:30 a.m. to register to win two on-the-spot, one-minute shopping sprees worth $50 each, store director Robert Bunch said.
Services purchased the silver and black hog from Exchange New Car Sales for $9,000; Miller Brewing Co. in Milwaukee donated $2,000 toward the cost.
It’s the second Harley in three years that Services has given away during its annual customer rewards contest. Last year, the grand prize was $5,000 cash.
“It’s our way of giving back to our customers who support us all year,” Assistant Marketing Director Janet Pierpont said.
The contest’s entry form was a Services’ receipt for purchases of $5 or more with a person’s contact information on the back. The receipts were collected between June 1 and Aug. 30.
“We had thousands of entries,” Pierpont said.
Although it’s been 30 years since he’s revved up a motorcycle, Morgan plans to keep his prize.
He’ll be able to ride it as soon as he gets tags, insurance and a registration — and passes a motorcycle safety class.
He says he’s a bit nervous about navigating on two wheels through Japan’s crowded and narrow streets. A co-worker who’s an experienced rider has offered to take Morgan to the more rural Okutama for his first off-base excursion.
“I’m not going to Tokyo on it,” Morgan said. “I don’t have a death wish.”
