Answer Man: I saw a guy on a motorcycle wearing a Boozefighter jacket in North Springfield. What can you tell me about this motorcycle club? I'm told they're not very nice. — Melinda Booze, of Springfield
First, Melinda, rest assured the Boozefighter Motorcycle Club was not founded by anyone on your family tree.
Also, let me make it clear at the outset they are not fighting against booze. This is not a temperance club. They are 100-percent in favor of booze.
In fact, they have been known as a “drinking club with a motorcycle problem.”
As far as I can tell, the name suggests the drinking of booze and then fighting — as a recreational activity. Like quilting or pickleball are to others.
The website OnePercenterBikers.com lists 45 Boozefighter Motorcycle Club chapters in the United States. For some reason, it doesn't list any in Missouri, although there is one in Neosho, chapter 162.
National headquarters is in Fort Worth, Texas.
Club founded by WW II vets struggling to fit back into civilian life
The Boozefighters, according to Wikipedia, was once an outlaw motorcycle gang. It was founded in a Los Angeles bar in 1946 by a World War II veteran named William Clyde “Wino Willie” Forkner, Jr.
Forkner liked red wine so much he acquired his nickname as a mere lad of 12.
The club attracted other World War II vets. They were fond of motorcycles and were struggling to fit back into civilian life after the war.
They rode their motorcycles a lot, drank a lot and — from what I've seen on social media posts — they love to stick up their middle finger when posing for group shots.
In 1947, the club had three chapters in California — Los Angeles, San Pedro and San Francisco. That's the year Wino Willie and other Boozefighters — as well as thousands of other bikers from across the nation — descended on the little city of Hollister, California, 45 miles south of San Jose. The fireworks were plentiful that July 4 weekend.
The city had hosted the bikers before the war, but in 1947 the numbers were astronomical. World War II vets found purpose and camaraderie in riding motorcycles across the nation.
Hollister was overrun by bikers who drank a lot, rode 24/7 though the city's small streets and, because of a lack of hotels, slept everywhere, including lawns.
It was called the “Hollister riot,” but most people who were there say that's an exaggeration.
The event inspired the 1953 movie “The Wild One,” starring Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin. It's considered the original outlaw biker film. Wino Willie briefly worked as a consultant on the movie.
Boozefighters not newsmakers in SGF
I checked the Springfield News-Leader's archives for references to “Boozefighters” — using various spellings. I wanted to know if the Boozefighters had ever roared into Springfield to, for example, scare the bejesus out of people — or to commit any misdemeanors or felonies.
No. The word appears in two places.
One is in the TV listings: “A & E: Wild Ride of Outlaw Bikers. The history of motorcycle gangs, including a profile of ‘Wino' Willie Forkner, founder of the BoozeFighters.”
The News-Leader in June 1997 carried a story when Forkner died. He had heart disease and died of a ruptured aortic aneurysm.
At the 2014 Hollister motorcycle rally, three Boozefighters were shot in a confrontation with a splinter gang called Wino's Crew.
My advice, Melinda, you probably shouldn't join
I reviewed the Neosho Boozefighters club Facebook page for you, Melinda. I would advise that you not join.
July 4 — “Happy 4th of July everyone!” (Picture of American flag)
Dec. 25, 2022 — “Merry Christmas everyone!” (drawing of a sleeping Santa, wearing a Santa suit with the club logo: a green bottle with three stars)
April 4, 2022 — “Let's Get Ready to Stumble”
“By partying with Chapter 162. Come and have a great time with your local Boozefighters. June 11, 2022 The Greene's Campground, Pineville.
“No guns. No attitude. No glass bottles. No dogs.
“Food vendor. Live Bands. Bike Games. T & A show.”
This is Answer Man column No. 51.
