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Motorcycle Club Detroit Running Motown on two wheels
Bruce Findling
Left: Outlaw Motorcycle Cub, Detroit1 The Boozefighters make a name for themselves Black340 paint and a little bit of chrome can go a long way in defining a at the Holllister, CA bike341 rally on July 4, 19472 movement…what began as nothing more than a bicycle with a motor quickly turned into a symbol for rebellion, freedom and the open road.
Though the motorcycle has existed in July 4th, 1947. Hollister, California. by the one percent deviant that tarnishes America since 1901, its place in our social Though there were over four thousand the public image of both motorcycles fabric really began in the aftermath of World motorcyclists attending the Hollister rally, and motorcyclists.” The “One Percenter” War II. American veterans returning home the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club received motorcycle club had been born. Bent on a life from war found motorcycles as an adequate the most press through their heavy drinking, beyond the law, One Percenter gangs formed replacement for the excitement, danger, and bar fights, and illegal street races. A picture throughout every major city across the US. speed at which combat had previously given of one of their members seen sitting on his These outlaw motorcycle clubs maintained them. Clubs quickly formed based on the bike amid a pile of beer bottles was published the brotherhood and loyalty of their military camaraderie and loyalty that their military in Life Magazine shortly after, giving rise to a past, but applied it to drug trafficking, units had instilled within the motorcyclists. new public perception of motorcycle owners prostitution, extortion, and murder. Major It would be less than two years after the of the time. ‘1%er’ organizations such as the Hell’s Angels, surrender of Japan that the general public Following the Hollister incident, the Mongols, and Banditos continue to dominate would be given their first real glimpse of the rally organizers gave a press conference in our perception of what a Motorcycle Club is.4 American ‘Biker’ as we regard then today.3 which they said that “the trouble was caused 342 343
5 6 7 8 9 10
American media has been infatuated with biker culture since the 1953 release of The Wild One starring Marlon Brando.11 “You’re not just cruising. Your in charge—
344 Harley Davidson Solo 45 345 kicked back on a throne of machined metal 1945 (Surplus WWII) 12 surveying your domain.” www.harley-davidson.com
16
1968 Harley Davidson Panhead
17
13 14 15 2010 Harley Davidson Softail
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Detroit M/C Detroit is currently home to over 36 gun violations.21 The once mighty Highwaymen of rebellion. Couple this with Michigan’s 4 current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.22 They crime may have been an attractor for clubs motorcycle clubs, with the Highwaymen and have seen over 40 members arrested month riding season, and you can take the are situated in blue collared neighborhoods, to locate here beginning in the late 60s. The Outlaws being the largest. Crime continues since 2007 along with the seizure of their motorcycle component out of the equation correlating to a high dependency on low Outlaws, for example, were so enticed by to be a major aspect of the majority of these headquarters by government officials. completely. The truth is that the motorcycle income communities situated in close Detroit that they moved their headquarters organizations, though not all. On December It seems the ‘Biker’ persona is alive is a mere façade for a majority of these clubs, proximity to industrial complexes. In relation here in 1984 after being in Chicago for 8th of 2010, three people were wounded and well…or does it? The turn of the century which are nothing more than violent gangs. to law enforcement, a majority of the clubs almost 50 years.23 The 2007 crackdown of the and one person killed during a shooting has seen the motorcycle (Harley-Davidson in The legitimacy of the symbols that once are located within four major precincts of Highwaymen, Detroit’s most dangerous club, outside the Wildcats Motorcycle Club.20 particular) normalized by the general public. defined an outlaw have pushed these groups the Detroit police department (the 6th & also saw the indictment of 4 police officers In 2007, fourteen members of the Outlaws Lawyers, doctors, and engineers now ride further and further out to the edges of normal 2nd on the west side, and 9th & 11th on the who were tied up with the gang.24 The tougher were arrested on a 18-count indictment side by side with truckers and factory workers society. Clubs continue to attract military east). Detroit police have recently stepped up the town, the greater the respect. Detroit has alleging various counts of violent crimes, (though they’re still easy to spot). Milwaukee veterans, with membership spikes occurring efforts to curb the criminal activity of these never been known soft, and niether should 19 including, murder, racketeering, drugs and Iron is no longer the ultimate expression after WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the clubs, however Detroit’s past challenges with those who display the city on their jacket. 348 349
25 350 The Anatomy of a Motorcycle Clubhouse 351
Streetside Security Cameras
Barbed Wire at Parapet Club Signage Reinforced Window Openings
CMU Construction Monochromatic Paint Scheme
Steel Bars Over Door
Club Name
Club Logo
City of Chapter
26 2 3 352 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 353 39 2 3 4 75 3 4 10 1 1 2
5 6 7 7 8 9 10 4 5 8 9 5 6 7 6 8 7 94 12 10 5 Highland 11 9 11 9 10 11 9 10 11 12 13 14 8 12 10 13 4 7 11 Hamtramck 8 2 12 3 6 1 2 3 4 1 2 2 3 1 1 75 6 96 1 94 1 4 4 5 96 6 5 10 7 4 5 10 3 3 9 3 2 7 8 8 9 10 2 9 6 13 2 12 6 7 8 4 6 11 39 2 7 5 1 10 10 5 5 12 13 11 7 10 4 75 9 11 94 6 3 3 96 75 8 14 2 1 6 375 3 75 1 2 4 6 5 5 8 7 7 4 9 Precinct 8 13 12 10 Scout Car Area 11 75
Map of Detroit with Motorcycle Map of Detroit divided by Club locations marked out27 Police Precint28 10 “Outlaw clubs are self regulating. The Major force that prevents the emergence of even more outlaw motorcycle clubs than exist today is 354 355 not a lack of interest or a shortage of prospective recruits…it is other outlaw clubs.”29 — Daniel R Wolfe
No Clubs Present
14831 Grand River Ave. 12406 Grand River Ave. 12733 Fullerton St. 13344 Plymouth Rd. 15306 Joy Rd. Precinct 1 Precinct 2 356 357
No Clubs Present
4453 14th St. 4527 Michigan Ave. 8434 Dearborn St. 8480 South St. 22131 Fenkell St. Precinct 3 Precinct 4 Precinct 5 Precinct 6 358 359
21607 Fenkell St. 20801 Fenkell St. 12727 Stout St. 16815 W. Warren Ave. 2228 Bellevue St. 6138 Concord St. Precinct 7 360 361
8929 Gratiot Ave. 17118 W. McNichols Rd. 9311 Gratiot Ave. 7521 Lynch Rd. 10320 Van Dyke Ave. 11829 Harper Ave. Precinct 8 Precinct 9 362 363
No Clubs Present
30 12721 Woodrow Wilson St. 319 W. 8 Mile Rd. 1326 E. State Fair Rd. 4301 E. Davidson St. 7337 Fenkell St. Precinct 10 Precinct 11 Precinct 12 Precinct 13 364 365
31 32 33 34 35 36
America’s dominant motorcycle clubs: the old… …and the new. 366 367
The Outlaws of the 1960s maintained the wire coils. sponsoring Harley dealership and will end Detroit, as will drugs, violence and a basic biker image of danger, camaraderie, and “When the situation calls for it, at some participating bar or club, attracting existence outside the norms of society. a disregard for the law. The black leather inter-club rivalry and warfare can completely both experienced bikers and prospective Regardless of what clubs come and go, the jackets, tattoos, and custom bikes were override the considerations of the common customers into showrooms. This does not motorcycle will remain only as an ancient once a hallmark of those who wished to bonds of biking” according to Daniel however give a green light to anyone who relic of their self proclaimed rebellion. For operate at the fringes of society. Today, those Wolfe’s investigation into the life of outlaw wants to wear a black leather jacket and club those who truly live to ride, a cool summer characteristics are just another aspect of motorcycle clubs.37 Legitimate motorcycle patch. Outlaw biker emotions remain strong breeze and an open stretch of highway are all mainstream America. Though the motorcycle clubs such as those sponsored by the AMA on this point. As a member from the Rebel’s that really matter. Everything else just tends may have given birth to these groups, the are left alone on the basis that their existence Motorcycle Club in Calgary put it, “The last to get in the way. outlaw club is defined more by the crimes doesn’t pose a threat of territory to the illegal thing I want is some dipshit on a Honda they commit than by the bikes they ride. activities of the outlaw club. The most famous pulling up beside me wearing a back patch. Everything in biker culture is just a facade, on of these clubs is the Harley Owner Group, Fucking embarrassing”.38 down to the clubhouse with its black exterior, or HOG, which attend rallies from Daytona Motorcycles will continue to be a bricked over window openings, and barbed to Sturgis. HOG events typically start at a large part of outlaw biker gangs throughout
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1. Photograph. “Sam 1%er (sitting).“ 27. Findling, Bruce. “MC Detroit.” Google Portraits of American Bikers: Life in the 36. Photograph. Ellis, Eric. “Myrtle Beach Maps. 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2011. 1960s: The Flash Collection. Birmingham, Motorcycle Rally” Hot Bike Magazine. 20