1% Motorcycling culture
1. The Boozefighters Motorcycle Club, one of the oldest clubs in California, had a member who was the inspiration for the Marlon Brando character in the film "The Wild One."
2. The Oakland Motorcycle Club is one of the oldest motorcycle clubs in the US, established in 1907, a year before the famous Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company was incorporated.
3. The Hells Angels, despite their infamous reputation, engage in a yearly toy drive during the holiday season, showcasing their sense of community.
4. Despite popular belief, the Hells Angels do not have a universally accepted founding date. Some cite it as 1948, others as 1953.
5. The Mongols, a rival of the Hells Angels, were originally started by a group of Hispanic bikers who were rejected from the Hells Angels due to their ethnicity.
6. The Top Hatters, based in Hollister, California, is a club that mostly keeps to themselves and focuses on the brotherhood of the ride, unlike other more notorious clubs.
7. The 1969 Rolling Stones concert at Altamont, where the Hells Angels provided security, was one of the key events that led to the public's negative perception of motorcycle clubs.
8. East Bay Dragons, the first black bikers' club, has been a positive force in their community in Oakland, promoting unity and brotherhood for over six decades.
9. The Vagos Motorcycle Club was actually founded in San Bernardino, California, not in Nevada as is often mistakenly believed.
10. The Gypsy Jokers, though a relatively small club, have a big influence in California, due to their alliances with larger clubs like the Hells Angels.
11. The Chosen Few MC, established in 1959 in LA, were the first racially integrated motorcycle club in the United States.
12. The Devils Diciples (intentionally misspelled) is a lesser-known club that still adheres to old-school biker values, despite the ever-changing biker culture.
13. The Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club is named after a type of railroad car, reflecting the club's love for life on the open road.
14. The infamous shootout between the Mongols and the Hells Angels in Laughlin, Nevada, in 2002 started due to a misunderstanding over a patch.
15. The Iron Horsemen club, though not as notorious as other California clubs, is one of the oldest, dating back to the early 1960s. Their longevity speaks volumes about the resilience of the biker spirit.