By R. J. “Cowboy” Carter

Grass Valley, Ca. Dec. 14

I can’t begin to tell you how shocking, grotesque, macabre and downright strange it was. I’m referring to this years Christmas card I received from my buddy Thunder Press Bureau Chief Lucky Dan, but that’s a whole nother story. As for the Boozefighters First Annual After Toy Run Party, I have the feeling it was the start of something really big. After hosting and co-sponsoring the Nevada County Food and Toy Run the last four years, the Boozefighters decided to try something a little different. Since the run itself had grown into one of the largest runs of the Christmas season, the local green and white opted to bow out of its co-sponsorship in favor of their own first ever After Toy Run Dinner Party, still supporting the toy run by having the largest contingent of riders from any one club participating in the event.

Save The Drama For Yo Mama

A November 14 article in the Sacramento Bee quotes law enforcement officials as saying “Steps some biker gangs have taken to foster community goodwill such as collecting toys for needy children at Christmas time are often fronts to conceal criminal activity. The public perception of these guys have become skewed because they are collecting toys for tots” Oh well, I guess even the most harmless and well-meaning motorcycle runs still have to be made out to be something sinister and diabolical. No one should be made to feel they are doing wrong or made to think twice before supporting such a wonderful event. Toy runs have always had and always will be one of motorcycling’s most popular and diverse events. People from all walks of life make toy runs. Remember when you look over a rowdy crowd of leather clad bikers you’re seeing doctors, police officers, firemen, even the guy from the bowling alley down the street. Every segment of society shows up. They are the kind of people who are willing to ride miles through bitter cold and stinging rain with only one thing in mind: a better Christmas for the Children of our community.

An Early Start To A Long Day

Back at the beautiful Nevada County Elks Lodge, where food was being prepared, the green and white were already hard at work under the radar in the predawn morning hours. So many of the clubs members showed up that by 5 a.m. most had nothing to do and were huddled outside the lodge kitchen in the cold mountain air. With the help of master chef Clark Van Why adding the finishing touches on the mouth watering chili and hearty stick-to-your-ribs beef stew, it was now time to take the traditional photo of BFMC National Representative Carl “Big Daddy” Spotts, stirring a big old pot with a giant wooden spoon (it’s a Boozefighters thing). After that, the attention was turned to getting all the food down to the Grass Valley Moose Lodge about 10 miles away, the site of today's party.

Tucked away in a grove full of tall pines just off historic highway 49, it’s the perfect setting for today’s party - rustic, woodsy and semi secluded, probably a lot like biker heaven. Just one problem: the winter storm that had so patiently held off throughout the toy run was now beginning to manifest itself into a real pain in the ass gully washer. Tarps blowing away, rain coming down in sheets, trees bending over - well you get the idea. It was all I could do just to hang on to poor little Toto while kicking at the door and screaming, “Auntie M! Uncle Henry! Let me in!”

Once inside the lodge, it wasn’t long before the pitter patter of rain and the howling of the wind were replaced by the unmistakable sound of scooters of the large American variety. with a couple of well drenched prospects directing partygoers into the lodge parking area off of the highway, it was obvious early on that the attendance was going to be larger then expected, and before long the lodge was filled to capacity. When I asked Big Daddy his thoughts on the wing ding, he replied “It’s fantastic and it’s going to get nothing but better from here on out. The food’s great, the people are great, were really on our way and we have a lot more people then expected, considering the weather.”

Making my way through the crowded lobby, I happened to bump into another BFMC dignitary Dan “Dante” Mahaffey, charter #6 president. Dante’s charter of the green and white has worked all day and half of last night preparing for this event and I could tell by his ear to ear grin he was more then pleased. When I asked him how things were unfolding, Dante opined, “It’s a hell of a good time. We all worked together to get it done and we have a great turnout today. A lot of different clubs showed up to support us. The camaraderie is amazing.”

The Boozettes, a club comprised of the wives and girlfriends of Boozefighters, are able to just chill at the bar and swap stories since the guys seem to have everything under control. With the line still five people deep at the raffle dinner ticket table and folks beginning to flock around the Boozefighters support wear booth, prospects and members alike begin to collect dirty dishes and police the tables in anticipation of more hungry partygoers.

When The Going Gets Tough

The popular Holcomb Brothers Band was well into their first set of classic country and biker rock when the unthinkable happened. Mother Nature felt compelled to remind us she was still around with a huge gust of wind, and bingo, over 100 people are now wolfing down din-din in total darkness. No power, no lights, no heat. Apparently Mother Nature had no idea who she was messin’ with. Since the Boozefighters inception in 1946 the club’s members have had a special credo they live by. Instilled deep in its roots by its founder “Wino Willie” Forkner, Wino used to say at times like this, “it’s all about taking a bummer and making a good time out of it,” and that still holds true for the Boozefighters some 57 years later.

The band was out of commission, and there was no microphone to call out numbers for the raffle prizes. It was already so dark in the lodge you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face and it didn’t look like anything was changing soon. Could this party be over? Not by a long shot. The green and white were just catching their second wind, and with a little elbow grease the raffle prizes were relocated outside underneath the eaves of the lodge where the party continued in the elements. So there I was in my usual role as masters of ceremonies yelling out raffle numbers at the top of my lungs to a bunch of soaking wet bikers in the wind and rain. So you can guess what happened next? That’s right, the power magically came back on, so into the lodge we went for round two. When it was all said and done, the BFMC had collected $500 to benefit area underprivileged families. As the raffle wrapped up the party moved back into the bar for some liquid fun. The Boozefighters MC wouyld like to express their continued appreciation to all their brothers and sisters in the wind, and also to the many merchants, motorcycle clubs and organizations that have supported them through the years making it possible to keep Wino’s dream alive of ”turning a bummer into a good time.”