Auburn, California, June 6-8- It is a good bet that a group with a name like the Boozefighters MC has the knowledge and experience to throw a damn good party. Make that an outrageous party. After all, a self-proclaimed “drinking club with a motorcycle problem” must, after nearly 50 years practice, really know how to have fun.

BFMC proved that and a bit more at the club’s Spring National meeting when it came to Northern California in early June. Here, there was ample evidence that BFMC fun is the serious brand of fun; the sort of fun that has hair on its chest -- fun with staying power.

The party started Friday afternoon, moved into an evening with equal parts motorcycle racing, imbibing, and some healthy dance-floor action. Over in the corner, there was a constant rat-tat-tat of a tattoo gun. And those getting various body parts pierced just grinned. They were having FUN, damn it.

Then, before you could say “gag bucket” (a self-descriptive device that, as much as anything else, explains the BFMC philosophy), it was Saturday morning. That meant gulping fortified coffee to get the eyes open because, while not the Rotary Club, BFMC nevertheless did have to do some official business.

There were reports to be made and other important whatnot. But in early afternoon, the motions made and speeches over, BFMC national president “Big John” was escorted into the sun and shade-dappled courtyard where, to the delight of all, he was the guest of honor at an old-fashioned necktie party. (Take a look).

It was all in fun, of course (most mock lynching are). What’s more, on this particular occasion, the BFMC was just getting started. Ahead, there was a full day and half of “fun” left. The bucket brigade was just forming.

From as far away as New York and all points in between, with most on bikes but a few flying out of necessity, Boozefighters rumbled into central California to spend the first full weekend in June at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn.

With chapters across the U.S. and in Canada and some European countries, the Boozefighters hold an annual national meeting early in the year at the club’s headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. But local chapters also vie for the honor of hosting the spring meeting and the nod for 2003 went to BMFC Chapter 6 in the heart of California’s historic gold discovery region. (And, while a family oriented club, this BFMC event was limited to adults.)

According to Carl “Big Daddy” Spotts, a BFMC National Representative and charter member of Chapter 6 in Grass Valley, some 150 members as well many Boozettes, the club’s women’s auxiliary, attended the event.

Friday night, right out of the blocks, the BFMC event went sideways. That’s because the Auburn facility includes a motorcycle speedway and the Boozefighters were the honored guests.

It was actually the on-track racers who went sideways but not before BFMC member R.J. “Cowboy” Carter told the crowd about the club’s proud history. He said that “Wino” Willie Forkner and other WWII vets met in 1946 at the All-American Bar in southwest Los Angeles. They formed a club to ride and race, and celebrated what would become a motorcycle lifestyle that continues today.

The Boozefighters’ story cannot really be told without recounting the Fourth of July weekend in 1947. That was when Wino, his buddies, and many other cyclists gathered in Hollister, California for an infamous event that, in turn, spawned the story behind the 1953 biker movie, The Wild One, with Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin. Cowboy reminded the speedway crowd in Auburn that the Boozefighters are “the original wild ones.”

This year’s BFMC Spring National was made all the more important because Gil Armas, a former dirt track racing star and an original club member, was on hand in Auburn. Under the speedway lights, Armas, Big Daddy, Cowboy, and Boozette Catnip took a victory lap on the speedway track in a green convertible.

Up in the stands, visiting BFMC members like Grump, Ironman, and Rockstar applauded together with local Boozefighters such as Chapter 6 President Dante, Leadfoot, Longjohn, Pronto, Egor, Manzo, Cowdog and many other members and Boozettes. The general audience seemed to love it also, applauding right along.

As Friday night’s party became Saturday’s blast, the BFMC celebration started picking up steam. Gil Armas, sporting new green and white high-top Converse provided by Chapter 6, was acknowledged as the oldest member in attendance. Between having his picture taken with others, Armas told endless stories that were always interesting, often humorous, and frequently revealed nuances about familiar Boozefighter lore. With a wink, Armas ended most tales by confiding, “ And that’s just half the story.”

A case-in-point, Gil told of bringing a torn-down bike to Hollister in ’47. He reassembled it and was ripping around town a few laps ahead of the local cops when a barkeeper waved him and the bike inside. The bike was hoisted on the bar where anyone who asked was told it had always been on display. (In retelling Boozefighter lore, it’s good to recall a line in John Ford’s 1962 classic western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, where Jimmy Stewart’s character advises a reporter, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”)

Saturday afternoon, the formal business behind and BBQ and partying ahead, the BFMC membership was kicking it. That’s when Bad Company, a local Wild West reenactment outfit showed up. After shooting up the place (with blanks), Big John was placed under “arrest” and subjected to a mock hanging before a hooting and stomping crowd of BFMC patch-holders. For his part, the prez seemed to take it all in stride.

Later that night, visitors like Harley-Davidson dealer Gary Bang addressed the green and white throng, telling a few tales about C.B. Clausen, the club’s first president. Texan “Duke” Doug Baron, who took the long route to the Spring National via the Run to Wall in Washington, D.C., was given the “long-distance” award. Fort Worth’s Chapter 69, the largest BFMC outfit in the country, fittingly, turned out a dozen members in Auburn and took home the trophy for having the most visiting members there. Big John also gave several Boozettes special acknowledgement patches.

As Saturday moved toward Sunday, Jammer’s band, The Flame, and the Holcomb Bros. kept the music flowing. J.Q., the club’s national historian from Fort Worth, chatted with Thunder Press contributor Bill Hayes and others. A raconteur of the first order, J.Q. kept his tablemates laughing with stories that included, skunk attacks, goat escapes, prospects, missing hound dogs and other joys of Texas country living.

Asked later what is next for BFMC, Big Daddy gave the answer that says it all: “Hollister on the Fourth of July.” All roads, even in 2003, seem to lead back to where the Boozefighters’ party got started and where, no doubt, it will continue.

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