A hundred years ago when I was in high school, we lived in a very small town. Word had it one day that the big bad motorycycle gang Hells Angels were coming through town. It was reported that the town would fold up, the cops would escort them through town, and everyone was to stay inside!!

At the time I had my eyes on Clayton. He rode, wore a white T with his ciggs rolled up in his sleeve. 50's style! This was the late 60's. I was still figuring out how I was going to get a ride on Clayton's motorcycle when the bad boys came to town, so there was no way I was staying inside when so much excitement was going to happen!

I thought if I headed down to main street and waved, maybe one would pick me up and give me a ride through town, or to some adventure. So I headed to main street to wait for them. Sure enough there they came, about 100 of them. The sound of the thunder made my heart race. I sat on the curb and watched as the cops escorted the big bad wolves through town. Not one waved at me. How could they then, that would be just so ....well, pedestrian!!

And to everyones amazement the town did not turn into a movie set for The Wild One!! They were gone, without one bit of wildness! Darn! I was bummed! But, just seeing them made me go drive by Clayton's house and ask him for a ride on his motorcycle!

First loves!! Clayton and I became an item. Long story short, he was caught with some drugs. They gave him a choice of jail or move to Texas to live with his older sister. He moved to Texas. We corresponded and there came a point when he could finally return. His best buds went out to pick him up. They called me when they left, told me they would be in sometime the next morning...I could hardly sleep. Then the phone rang. Mother answered. She came into my bedroom, told me the boys had stopped at a pond to eat and rest, gone swimming, and Clayton drowned.

I still to this day go to his grave every November 7th. I missed one year when I moved to CA.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack. Just reminded me of my first experience with learning about the big bad wolves, and first ride on a motorcycle!!

It is a little surprising to me that someone working at a cycle shop would not even know what a patch is. Seems to me if you been on the planet around 18 years or so you would have heard of it, read of it, or seen it on TV. But I guess some people really are away from that culture, never see it, and don't know anything about it. Even though it is surprising to me, maybe is should not be, as I don't know about a lot of other cultures we have.

 

Dang girl! Very cool story (sorry about your loss).

There has to be a movie in there somewhere.





......................... Jim

 

Great story TwiggyAZ.

 

Thanks. When I wrote the original post I had just came in from being outside working in a small enclosed space with no air circulating. I was hot, tired , eating lunch and drinking tea while cooling off. Since I have a partial ability of muti-tasking I was reading hd forums. I decided to post about what had happened earlier. I used the wrong word in many forms and spell check didn't catch it, but all the spelling and grammar ***** did. The little men could have just corrected it or understood ---but no they try to one up each other. You can spot the men on here and you can spot those that lack. I don't apologize for what I am and where I have been but like you I am amused at my own spelling and poor word choice some days.

 

Damn Boater, I cudent se nuting rong wid yer spealing????

 

Best post in this thread...

 

Good example.

 

I've only been riding for a month or two, but this has piqued my interest.

I've seen Motorcycle gangs on TV, heard about Hells Angels and such.
But I always figured they were few and far between. Or I just don't know what to look for. I'm the definition of ignorant when it comes to that.

The MC/RC Site linked earler has been very educational.
I've been reading it for the last hour, want to be informed since I am a part of that world now.

I always try to show respect while out on the road, drop a peace sign or nod to oncoming bikers.
Problem is, either I do it too early and look like I dork or don't see them and feel like a dick.

What's the etiquette on that? Wait for the other person to wave/acknowledge you first while on the road?

I don't have a big mouth, I'm not a tough guy and I don't have an attitude so I don't expect to ever run into trouble.
I'm a member of HOG, which I guess is categorized as a RC. I have the HOG Pin on my jacket, but that's it.

 

AtkRWC said;

"To all of you out there that think those of us who have earned our patch are scumbags…quit watching so much Gangland or SOA and get to know us, you will be pleasantly surprised."

Very True! I have been in and around many of the clubs, Laws, Locks, Sons, Gols, fighters, etc.. and many of the supports clubs. They are for the most part just people like us. Get to know them and you'll find doctors, lawyers, post masters, Harley Dealership managers, lots of veterans and maybe a Indian chief. Some folk hang out with car clubs , some in bowling leagues, dinner clubs, church groups, nature clubs, on and on.................1%er's are where they are to be with like minded folk just like most of us do. The irony is that they all operate/function in their clubs the same way, doing the same things yet can't get along. They will fight in the battle field side by side for their country then come home, join opposing clubs and suddenly not like each other very much. None the less, if a club member gives you his word on a given subject, when the time comes he will have your back, that you can count on. Yep, to much Hollywood influence concerning biker clubs........

 

When I was young I was not aware of much of the active club life in Chicago, yes there were Outlaws and Henchmen, but they pretty much kept to their own. You would run into a group of them from time to time at some of the small out of the way bars and they never really caused any problems. Heck they were some pretty cool guys ( I was in my 20s and very impressionable ) The group of guys I rode with might have had the right temperament to fit into the club life, we were all Vietnam era vets ( I think only two of us didn't actually go to Vietnam ), all standup guys, all watched each others back, all very good riders, but out of the group most got married, one went to jail, and a one died. I ended up in AZ where I think the big club was the Dirty Dozen back then. And even though I was looking for a new group to hang with, they were too intense for my tastes, there always seemed to be bad fights when they would roll into a bar. I was more of a lover then a fighter in those days.

Getting back to my point, back then you had club members who truly lived the life, but you also had independents who also embraced the lifestyle and seldom did you have issues between the two groups. It was all of us against the MAN back then because the police didn't care if you were flying colors or not, you were all long haired scum. I was more afraid of running into little Debbie's Dad then a club member, lol.

In those days I would guess that the independents and club guys made up a good 20% of all bike riders with your 1% of "hard riders" in that mix. But now, I think that those who really embrace the life are less then 1% of the total, with those "hard riders" making up an even smaller percentage. Things change and while I know there is still a thriving club scene out there, the old school biker is becoming something of an anachronism replaced by the corporate rider complete with logo jacket and matching boots.

As someone else heer likes to say Ride On