Colours

While researching the two motorcycle clubs that were involved in the Hollister 'riots' and were the inspiration for the movie 'The Wild One', I came across hundreds of motorcycle clubs and their colours. I know that right here in Calgary, there are many clubs and associations that have their crests, including some that we sponsor, like the 'Ride For Dad'. There's also 'The Blue Knights', who are made up of riders from law enforcement, 'The Red Knights' from the Fire Department,  and even our good friends at 'Ride Stop n Go' have a patch on their leathers.

Here's an interesting sample of some patches from different clubs, including a repeat of the 13 Rebels M.C., because I like it for being different and old school.

M.C.

As pointed out in my two previous posts, the movie 'The Wild One' was based on the 'riot and terrorism' caused by two 'rival' motorcycle clubs in Hollister, California back in 1947. We already know that the event was really just a small town somewhat overwhelmed by an unexpected number of motorcyclists attending the A.M.A. sanctioned races and that nothing really much occurred other than some partying and impromptu racing in the streets. Of course, there were several motorcycle clubs attending the event in Hollister, mostly made up of ex-servicemen who were seeking the camaraderie of their former military life.
Two of those motorcycle clubs that were the so-called inspiration for the two 'gangs' in 'The Wild One' were 'The Boozefighters' and 'The 13 Rebels'. Both were made up of what one member called "stand up guys, not hoodlums-former flyers and servicemen in WWll, looking to keep the rush alive. They were solid citizens who loved the sport and brotherhood of riding-accomplished racers, builders and all-around honourable men."

Remember the Hollister 'riots'?

Ardin Van Syckle was a member after the war 

Check out the safety award

The newspaper reporter needs spell check

Add caption

 Johnny from 'The Wild One' was supposedly based on Shell Thuet from 'The 13 Rebels M.C.'

Original zip up jacket

The Wild One

"The Wild One" was a movie which was based on the supposed events which occurred during the annual Gypsy Tour in Hollister, California in 1947. If you read my previous blog post, you'll see that the so called riots and terrorism that occurred in this little town were totally fabricated by the media and some of the minor incidents that did happen were so blown out of proportion that it caused quite a sensation with the general public.
Of course, the movie certainly took advantage of the drama that supposedly took place in Hollister and just added to the sensationalism and subsequent paranoia with the public.
Here's some crazy facts about the movie that should give you a chuckle.
The movie was actually banned in the U.K. for almost 13 years and when it did make it past the censors, it received an 'X' rating.
Triumph, who's motorcycles were ridden by the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in the movie, was quite upset that their bikes were used and associated with "outlaws', though they may have changed their tune when sales of their bikes went up considerably.
The Triumph that Marlon Brando rode in the movie was his own, personal bike, a 650c.c. Thunderbird. However, in many of the scenes and stills that were taken during the shoot, Brando rode several different bikes, including a Mottoguzzi and a Matchless.
Lee Marvin, who played Chino in the movie, could not ride a motorcycle when cast for the role and had to learn. He loved riding so much that he went on to own a Triumph 200c.c. Tiger Cub and  race motorcycles.
Marvin's character, Chino, was inspired by Willie (Wino Willie) Forkner, who rode with The Boozefighters Motorcycle Club. The Boozefighters, co-incidentally, were in attendance at Hollister during the so-called riots.
Lee Marvin's motorcycle club in 'The Wild One' was called The Beetles. If you consider that the iconic Wild One profile photo of Marlon Brando (in his hat) appears on the album cover of 'Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' and that a scene from 'The Wild One' appears in the 'Beatles Anthology' documentary, is it a safe assumption that the Beatles may have been influenced by the movie which came out in the U.K. about the same time the band formed?

Matchless twin cylinder (with the M turned upside down because the bike belonged to stunt rider Wally Albright)

Eyes up,  Marlon!

"I fought the law"

Iconic pose

Original screen shot

The Black rebel M.C. v.s. The Beetles

Black leather jackets and tight sweaters

Another original still

Hooliganism!!

Hollister 'Riot'

The start of the general public's attitude that motorcyclists were nothing but 'outlaws' and 'hooligans' may have come from the situation which occurred in Hollister, California in 1947. A lot of young servicemen had returned from the war, looking for adventure and the camaraderie they had with their military buddies. There was a lot of interest in motorcycling and a lot of motorcycle clubs were started, with names like the the 'Boozefighters', the 'Pissed Off Bastards' and the 'Market Street Commandos'.

For years the 'American Motorcyclist Association' had been running races and other rallies in various towns across the U.S. and this was considered one of the best ways for motorcyclists to get together. Hollister was one of those towns who held an annual July 4th rally called the Gypsy Tour. Typically it had attracted a small number of riders but since the war had ended and the number of riders had dramatically increased, the event attracted over 4000 motorcyclists. Still, despite all the overcrowding and partying,  nothing much happened aside from a few broken beer bottles in the streets and some charges of disturbing the peace. However, the media got a hold of the story and with the photo below (which apparently was staged) as a catalyst, LIFE magazine ran an article describing a 'riot' that 'terrorized a town'. With the public already trying to recover from the war and dealing with the new 'Cold War', it seemed easy enough to whip up some paranoia and demonize the motorcycle 'hoodlums' and fear their presence. This may have been the start of what was a general attitude that if you rode a motorcycle, you were some sort of outlaw. 

To see how this was further exploited by the media, and particularly the film industry, check out my next post titled "The Wild One".

The First Production Motorcycle

It's reputed that 'Hildebrand and Wolfmuller', consisting of Heinrich and Wilhelm Hildebrand, Alois Wofmuller and Hans Geisenhot, were the first company to build a series-production "motorrad" (German for motorcycle). With a large, two cylinder engine mounted beneath the rider, power was delivered to the rear wheel by connected rods that moved in a similar fashion to that on the old steam locomotives. The 1488 c.c. engine produced 2.5 h.p and could reach a top speed of 34 kmph. Also the predecessor of the OIF bikes of much later years, as this one stored the oil in the frame, as well as water in the rear fender. 

Also a first was the use of pneumatic tires for motorcycles, a fact that inevitably came back to bite them in the pocketbook. The tires were very difficult to make and thereby expensive, adding to the cost of the motorcycle. After 3 years, the company realized they were selling the bikes for less than the cost of production and, ironically, they became the first motorcycle company to go bankrupt.

Not a bad looking rig

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Detail of the connecting rods on a replica

The plans

it's definitely rideable

This was the air intake cover...love the beer in hand!!

Immortalized in a stamp

The First Motorcycle

There are four claimants vying for the right to be called the first motorcycle, all built in and around the late 1800's. All but one are steam powered, which at least gives it the right to say it was the first gasoline internal combustion motorcycle. Certainly it wasn't the most compact and practical of them all but it led the way in development of what we ride today.
The 'Roper 1869', the 'Michaux-Perreaux' and the 'Copeland Steam Cycle' were all created in the same time frame but because the official definition of a motorcycle is "a two wheeled vehicle powered by an internal combustion motor", the title is widely acknowledged to belong to the 'Daimler Reitwagen'. Of course, since there was no definition for a motorcycle at the time of their construction, the point is arguable. And, the 'Reitwagen' did have more than two wheels, though generally accepted as auxiliary stabilizers.
bottom line for all the 'motorcycles' is that someone had a cool idea that you could propel a bicycle by means other than manpower and took a try at making it a reality. You have to give them credit it for that and as awkward as some of them may have been, they worked. Personally, I'm glad that Daimler had his insights with the gas powered machine, though I certainly can't imagine what it would have been like, cruising around on cobblestone or gravel  roads on a rigid framed bike with solid tires. There's a reason the early machines were called 'boneshakers".

Only 25¢ admission!!

The 'Copeland Steam Cycle'

The 'Roper 1869' didn't have much clearance

Not sure why it has been tagged as 'Ropel', though this is just a replica.

The 'Michaux-Perreaux'' was actually quite sleek and practical looking

Does the 'Daimler Reitwagen' count as a motorcycle, since it actually has 4 wheels