The Original Wild Ones: Tales of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club

by Bill Hayes, Jim Quattlebaum, Dave Nichols, et al.

Book Overview

The seminal event in "outlaw biker" culture was a 1947 weekend in Hollister, California. Motorcyclists, including members of the Boozefighters club, engaged in street racing and other raucous activities. A sensationalized report of the event ran in LIFE magazine, along with frightening (albeit posed) photos of the outlaws. Was the event (later portrayed in Marlon Brando's The Wild One) as wild as reported? Or, in truth, was it even wilder? The answer is found in this book filled with first-person accounts from past and present members of the Boozefighters and others on the scene. This is gripping narrative of a now-legendary event. It's a true story that is more interesting than the caricatured outlaw legend that has grown up around the name Hollister.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760321930
• ISBN13: 9780760321935
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Motorbooks International
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

This book is what it was all about

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

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!!!

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 !

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

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.