Boozefighters

The Boozefighters MC first gained notoriety at the Hollister riot in Hollister, California the weekend of July 3–6, 1947, later portrayed in the 1953 film The Wild One starring Marlon Brando.

Due to the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club and other well known clubs like 13 Rebels taking part in the Hollister Riot and being a non–American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) motorcycle club they are partly responsible for being referred to as the 1% from the AMA officials for not belonging to the AMA. Without the lawless behavior of these early motorcycle clubs at both Hollister Riot in 1947, the “1% Outlaw Rebel Biker” term would not exist today.

Johnny's bar in Hollister, California has a mural featuring "Wino" Willie Forkner (left) alongside iconic personas from Easy Rider and The Wild One.

An article featuring actor Robert Patrick, current charterholder of Boozefighters MC Chapter 101, describes the club as "a nonprofit organization that raises money to help vets, children and the poor".

The Boozefighter Motorcycle Club was formed by veterans of World War II. "Wino" Willie Forkner is recognized as the founder. They were at the infamous Hollister, California event of July 4, 1947 which has been immortalized by the movie "The Wild One," starring Marlon Brando. Lee Marvin played the part of "Chino", based on "Wino" Willie Forkner.

California racing culture gave rise to a special kind of motorcycle engine, the "stroker". According to historians, it originated in the So Cal Racing circuit, shortly after the introduction of the Harley Davidson knucklehead. "Sitting around on a Saturday, at the bike shop, guys even from different clubs drinking beer together. CB Clauson, a Boozefighter was eyeing a scooter. He walked over and looked at it very calculatingly. CB picked up a piston from that scooter, walked over to another scooter, and looked at the cylinders. He then started to take measurements. No one had any idea what he was up to. This was when he had the idea that if he interchanged the pistons he could make a 'stroker' motor - which he did and the stroker was born.

The Boozefighters have chapters worldwide including the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea and the Philippines but claim no territory, only history.[1]

To become a prospect, candidates must have an American or World War II allied motorcycle and the sponsorship of a full patched member. After a potential member is invited to ride and party with the club, he is deemed a “hangaround”, indicating that the individual is invited to club events and can associate with members. If a hangaround is deemed appropriate and finds sponsorship he may be invited to join the club as prospect and don the bottom single rocker of a full patch member in training. The term full patch refers to the top and bottom rockers in combination with the Boozefighter center patch, “the bottle” and the MC cubes.

To make the transition to a full patch member, the prospect must be voted on unanimously by the chapter. It is the duty of every prospect to support his club to the fullest and make himself known to the chapter as a member of good character. Even after a member is given his patches, the patches themselves remain the property of BFMC and, if the member departs, the patches must be returned.

• Official website