The Original Wild Ones: Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club
Select Format
Select Condition 
Book Overview
Get an inside look at the real beginning of outlaw biker culture with this "raucous and heartfelt recounting of the early days of biker clubs" ( Roadbike ). The story starts one weekend in 1947, at a motorcycle race in Hollister, California. A few members of one club, the no-holds-barred "Boozefighters," got a little juiced up and took their racing to the street. Word of the fracas spread, and soon enough Life magazine was on hand to tell the world, with sensational (albeit posed) pictures of the outlaws. And then the "Hollister riot" made its way into the movies, immortalized in Marlon Brando's "The Wild One." What was the reality behind the myth? Through interviews with the surviving members of the Boozefighters, current member Bill Hayes and club historian Jim "JQ" Quattlebaum take readers right into the fray for a firsthand account of what happened in Hollister, and the formation of the Boozefighters, where the outlaw biker culture truly began. The book, "with its great stories and entertaining real-life characters" ( MotorcycleUSA.com ), is "mandatory reading for anyone interested in American motorcycling history "( Minnesota Motorcycle Monthly ).
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0760335370
ISBN13:9780760335376
Release Date:February 2009
Publisher:Motorbooks International
Length:304 Pages
Weight:0.98 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 5.9" x 9.0"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
This book is what it was all about
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
Although the book is written in the spirit of awe of the "old timers" and focuses a bit too much on deifying them it gives the reader an insight as to what the good life was back then. The book takes to back to a time when people could live a robust filled life without ending up in the federal pen back before lawyers and lawsuits ruined things for everyone. Comaradarie triumphs over greed and materialism and people didn't sweat the little things in life. It is written about an age where people were real and not made out of plastic like almost everything else these days. In those days when you had a nice custom bike it was because you and your buddies built it yourselves and not out of store bought parts. You built your bike to ride and not to impress people and trailer it around in your truck. The book is a good read about real people and the life they lived.
A really good reading book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This book made me want to be there during the simpler times,when ya did something that wasn't completely within the boundaries of the law and and you weren't crucified for screwing up. My favorite part was the ride from southern cali to daytona and the money they made along the way. This book was a really good reading book.
Those were THE days!!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
I loved the book. Overall a fun ride through the history of the so called biker culture and how it started; just a bunch of good friends with a common bond and loyalty to each other.
A Fly on the Wall, you get to hear it all !
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Reading The Original Wild Ones by Bill Hayes is like sitting at a family reunion where all of the fun oldtimers are telling stories about a time and place that are long gone - You know that you are not getting a textbook history, but a personal and genuine recounting of something you cannot see except through the eyes of these great men. This book has all the feel of hanging out, with beer in hand, with the original wild ones. I liked the cool conversational style and the way the author makes you feel included in the outlaw tradition. I say write a companion history piece for those of us who are not as well schooled in biker history. GREAT BOOK!
History of the Pioneers of The Modern American Biker
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Excellent read! This book gave detailed accounts of the beginings of the biker culture in America. These guys set the precedent! They rode hard,drank hard,and lived for their bikes. Alot could be learned from these guys by the current "biker culture." Mainly get out there and ride,ride from the heart.Pick it up,you won't be able to put it down.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
