Black Bikers Experience

My story is a rather simple story. I’m a female motorcycle rider who has been honored to meet some of the most fascinating and motivating leathery outlaw motorcycle riders around the country. They felt safe enough to speak with me about their journeys and experiences while out on the road riding their motorcycles.

Some things I’ll take to my grave and some I’ve shared with you through my writing. When I was encouraged to start this project of having our history as black bikers captured in one location I didn’t know what would come of it. I wanted to educate all bikers about our rich addition to the sport of motorcycling. We as black bikers have our own way of expression when it comes to this motorcycle thang. We tend to have a more flamboyant style then most within the motorcycle sub-culture.

I often wondered why I was chosen to do this. Along the way I spoke out rather candidly on topics most wouldn’t dare to touch. I wasn’t afraid to speak mind. I even gave Harley-Davidson hell on not including African American Harley Riders in the Harley story and for not giving the respect and appreciation we deserved for the support we’ve given with equal acknowledgement over the years as they’ve done with our white biker brothers and white biker sisters.

I want to thank Harley-Davidson Motor Company for finally reaching out to including our rich history as Black Harley Riders in the Harley story. We are a vital part of the story and they are now making a conscious effort in getting it told.

I was afforded the opportunity to go to the Harley-Davidson Museum and get interviewed by some of the most loving and friendly folks there. I was chosen by Harley-Davidson to be interviewed at the corporate location in Milwaukee 11-11-11. I was honored to fly all expenses paid by them to Milwaukee to meet two other exciting African American riders, the Harley Marketing team and my new special friend the walking Renaissance man, Jim who’s over the archive department at Harley.

This is our story not mine. Others paid a price for me to be here and I humbly give honor and respect to them at all times. I’ve created a video from some of the pictures that were taken. I promise to keep you informed of the opening date in February 2012 when the exhibit starts.

My fearlessness to confront the topics that most wouldn’t; especially a black female rider has opened many doors for me within our community and I am very grateful. I strongly encourage all black riders to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum.

Related articles

• African American riders from Harley-Davidsons’ perspective (goldie1779.wordpress.com)


• Harley-davidson | American Iron, Ingenuity & Perseverance (theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com)


• Eleanor Harley Davidson Cafe Racer (returnofthecaferacers.com)

Popularity: unranked [?]

In early 2002 the fledgling operation known as Tombstone Hearse Co. publicized its intent to provide an alternative to the standard motorcar hearse of today. From Delaware to Arizona Tombstone Hearse can be the preferred transportation for a bikers funeral.

Conceived with the idea of consistently providing a better than first-class product that has no equal, Tombstone Hearse Co. has continued with this objective to be the best at what we do. We have continued pursuing this objective through our years because it’s just as important to us today as it was from the beginning. This goal has gained Tombstone Hearse Co. an outstanding reputation in the death care industry as a manufacturer that delivers a quality that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Los Diablos…Two Colors, One Motorcycle Brand

For awhile I wanted to share some knowledge about black and interracial motorcycle clubs on the other side of the world. The Midwest, Southwest, East, North & South have clubs that need to be recognized for their contributions to the sport of motorcycling.

Billed as the “Oldest Black and White Motorcycle Club in Nebraska,” Los Diablos M/C was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, 1960. Omaha, it’s clear, was a world apart from Los Angeles at the time. As young black men were banding together in the inner-city neighborhoods of Los Angeles and Oakland, to share both an enthusiasm for custom motorcycles and the emerging black-urban culture, seven middle-aged guys in Omaha were just looking for riding buddies. Profiled in a 1973 edition of Harley-Davidson Enthusiast magazine, the Los Diablos rode cross-country with military precision, looked sharp, and followed strict rules that dictated each member would ride a Harley-Davidson FLH with minimal, and tasteful, customization. Choppers were simply out of the question.

In 1973, the club included at least two second-generation riders in President Robert Phillips and Road Captain Sherman Grant, whose fathers rode with each other. At the time, the youngest Los Diablos member was 33. Most had families. Leonard Smith, the secretary/treasurer, was an Omaha police officer. Clearly, this club was not looking for trouble.

“None of these guys has brushed with the law as far as club function is concerned,” Smith told Enthusiast, “You can go to any city with a motorcycle club, and ask about Los Diablos, and they are ready to ride with us. I think we’ve got an A-One rating.”

Los Diablos (not to be confused with the one-percenter Diablos M/C) is still on the road, meeting at its club house on Ames Avenue in Omaha. In August 2010, the club celebrated its 50th anniversary with a block party.

Source: Harley-Davidson

Related articles

• National Bikers Roundup Itinerary (bikersforlife.wordpress.com)


• The Harley-davidson Museum | Sparking the Spirit of America (theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Big Willie Car Products

This is Big Willie’s Story; he has been in the Automotive Industry for over 10 years. I’ve been told and will be able to personally let you know shortly how this product works. I should have my own bottle soon. I believe it will do what he says because Big Willie is my homie and my other homie “E” from the Rare Breed MC Atlanta Chapter sanctioned the product too. Big Willie’s Car Products will give you professional finishing to your motorcycles or your cars. Professional detailing at an affordable price; what more can you ask for.
The very best in the market!

Popularity: unranked [?]

I’ve been rather busy these days and haven’t posted an article lately. Well I was going through my emails and I wanted to share with all of you an email that I received. The email was from Mr. Cliff Vaughs. He has been a great inspiration too me. He has encouraged me to continue chronicling our rich history as Black Bikers and also our contributions to the sport of motorcycling. Below is the email that he sent expressing his appreciation in what he inspired me to do.

  

This is the first email I received when I wrote the article on Cliff Vaughs.

  

My goodness Goldie…how did you do it ? How did you find that material ?

  

Please advise on how I can download directly or access readily.

  

I’d like to send the “Who is Cliff Vaughs”: first of all to myself and then to my kids and all my old friends. It’s just remarkable. Especially since I’ve been lately contacted by documentarians about my role in “Easy Rider” .I’d like “D” Stevens to see it too.

  

Well….thank you very much. Honey, you’ve done me a real service.

  

Capitan Medianoche

  

This is the most recent email.

  

from:Clifford Vaughs
to:elliot gold
cc:goldie1779
bossnomad
dateFri, Jun 4, 2010 at 12:53 PM
subjectFW: Me

  

Miss Sowers lives in Atlanta.

I have been encouraging her to develop her skills as a historian for the “biker” phenomena.

She has done well and would certainly welcome you as a sort of kindred spirit. The link has the “Who is Cliff Vaughs” references.

  

This email tells me I ‘m doing the right thing and I thank Cliff Vaughs, Boss Mike, “Doc” Hollywood and others for holding my hand, guiding me through this process and encouraging me to continue writing about bikers and motorcycle clubs.

  

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fastest electric motorcycle in the world is racing TODAY (dvice.com)


• Sample Sale Scoop: Spanx, Cole Haan, Dior, And More (shefinds.com)


• Converse by John Varvatos 2010 Fall Chuck Taylor All Star (streetgiant.com)


• Keeping your Hog Boss – Motorcycle Care and Cleaning Tips (motorcycleinsurance.org)

Popularity: unranked [?]