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History of the Mongols Motorcycle Club

The Outlaw Biker...

For most, the term "Outlaw Biker" conjures up scary images of a meth addicted long haired heathen who never showers and yearns to kill small children.  A bad man riding around town intentionally breaking the law and intentionally trying to injure members of "polite society."  While the "long haired", "heathen", and "lack of shower" portions of that description might be quite true for some of us (if not many of us), the rest of that stereotype is complete garbage...  That's not to say that there aren't bikers who do meth and commit crimes, of course there are.  And while they may be outlaw bikers too, that is not what the outlaw biker is...

"A new breed of rebel" is how life.com described the Hells Angels in 1965.  Actually, there's nothing new about this breed;  Rebellion is probably the only thing more American than baseball.  The outlaw biker is the descendant of, and the closest living relative of the "Old West Cowboy" who lived on the trail, drifting Westward from town to town on his horse.  Today, the outlaw biker, on his iron horse, travels the roads and highways of the United States, as his ancestor did 100 years earlier, pursuing a life of freedom, and in some cases, hedonism.

The term "Outlaw" as it pertains to bikers actually comes from the 1940's and 50's when racing was a big part of the motorcycle culture.  At the time, motorcycle clubs were mostly racing teams.  The American Motorcycle Association sanctioned/regulated most of these events, and some bikers/clubs decided they didn't want to have to follow the AMA rules.  They started organizing events that were not sanctioned by the AMA and called them "Outlaw Races".  Their outlaw races didn't obey or include the rules/by laws of the AMA races.  These were the original "Outlaw Bikers."  Outlaws because they didn't obey the laws of the American Motorcycle Association.  After the Hollister Incident, the AMA quoted in a magazine article, described this variety of motorcycle enthusiast as "1% of the motorcycle riding population" saying that the other 99% were hard working law abiding citizens.  The 1 percenter was born...

From that beginning, Outlaw Bikers and Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs have evolved into a culture of people who prefer to choose their own lifestyle, instead of conforming to everyone else's idea of the American Dream.  Tending to be fast riding, hard drinking, and stubborn, they have an independent streak that makes them feel separate from society at large, like an outsider looking in.  Affectionately called a "1 percenter" or "1%er", the outlaw biker prefers to exist outside of the herd, choosing a lifestyle that is aesthetically pleasing to himself, instead of trying to fit in with Ward and June Cleaver (the '50's version of todays cubical jockies).

That being the case, like their gunslinging cousins of yesterday drifting along the dusty trails of the old American West, the outlaw biker sometimes runs afoul of the law as he travels Americas highways.  It's true that over the years many bikers have been involved in drug sales, illegal gun sales, illegal shootings, etc...  But the same statement can be made about police officers.  Where most people get it wrong is assuming that outlaw bikers and motorcycle clubs exist to break the law.

The outlaw biker is a fiercely independent outsider who has chosen to live life outside the herd.  He's a guy who can take care of himself when the shit hits the fan.  He's a guy who doesn't need, or necessarily want your approval...  Or anyone else's.  He lives life his way, on his terms.  And he's chosen to do that with the wind in his hair.

Motorcycle clubs exist as a family of bikers.  Like your extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins, the MC serves as an extended family of brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles to the outlaw biker and his wife and kids.  Unlike the family he was born with, this family that he has chosen embraces his individuality and stubbornness, and supports him with a level of loyalty and affection few people these days are familiar with.

To the outlaw biker, the motorcycle club is his family....  The club is his religion...  It's his way of life.  To the outlaw biker, you are either a friend, an enemy, or you're just in his way (like a mosquito).

"These things are good: ice cream and cake, a ride on a harley, seeing monkeys in the trees, the rain on my tongue, and the sun shining on my face. These things are a drag: dust in my hair, holes in my shoes, no money in my pocket, and the sun shining on my face." - Rocky Dennis, Mask

"When we do right, nobody remembers, when we do wrong, nobody forgets."  - Hells Angels Motorcycle Club 

"If you can't be well liked, be well hated" - Bandidos Motorcycle Club 

For more information:
Clutch and Chrome 
Motorcycle Club Information
Outlaw Biker Information
Outlaw Clubs 101

Sierra Cat Haven

On Saturday, 10/24/09, My wife and I rode out to Dunlap, CA to check out the Cat Haven. Ewa took beautiful photos of the magnificent cats (all photos in this post were taken by Ewa. She's an amazing photographer).

The ride to Dunlap was wonderful. It was only about 40 miles from Fresno, toward Kings Canyon National Park. The weather was gorgeous (sunny, 70 degrees F). On the way, we stopped at several fruit stands and an art gallery. The art gallery was kind of out of place, but was really cool.

The Cat Haven was interesting. They had about 8 or 10 cats on display including leopards, Lions, Tigers, etc. They even had a snow leopard.

I was a little disappointed the lions wouldn't move around or make any sounds (I was hoping the male lion would roar really loud). While most of them were really sleepy and lazy, some of the animals put on a nice show for us. The black leopard pounced at the tour guide. I was impressed with the grace and power that animal has. I was also impressed with how effortlessly a leopard jumped from the ground into a tree stand that was at least 20 feet high. We enjoyed watching the bob cat play with the tour guide. They were hiding from each other and the bob cat played with a toy on a string. Looked like a really big house cat....

It cost us $9 per person to get in, and I would say it was worth it, although the stuff in the gift shop was over priced.

We had lunch at a little restaurant called Gena's Place. The place was so small, the owner was our waitress. I enjoyed my cheese burger and Ewa had a mushroom sandwich.

We had a real nice day. I do recommend both Cat Haven and Gena's Place.

Spring Open Studios

Spring Open Studios at Hunters Point Shipyard

Hunters Point Shipyard
Innes Street near water
San Francisco, CA 94124

(888) 640-5554

www.shipyardartists.com

My girlfriend and I had an amazing time looking at the art, and enjoying the beauty of this old shipyard.  Alot of the art was way over priced, but we really enjoyed browsing and talking with the artists.

Raymond Morin Motorcycle Towing and Repair

815 E Princeton Ave
Fresno, CA 93704

(559) 222-5379


Raymond can be very hard to reach, and frequently doesn't fulfill his promises.  I tried to have my motorcycle serviced there several times, and finally gave up and took it somewhere else.  It would have been nice if he had come through because the price he quoted me was very attractive.  I was really disappopinted.

If you go there I hope you have a better experience than I did.

Rumble To The Summit 2008

Last Saturday I rode in the Rumble To The Summit, from the Clovis Rodeo Grounds to Sierra Summit Ski Resort.

I didn't enjoy it much. It was really expensive, there was half as many bikers as I was expecting, and once we reached the summit it was just lunch and a couple vendor booths, nothing really going on... Definately was not a $60 lunch. I was really disappointed. I probably wont pay to register next year... I'll probably just ride with the group for free and buy my own lunch.