In Chapter 19 we made a visit to Mahi's Seafood Restaurant
in Greensboro. For those who might not know, Mahi's is owned by
Greensboro City Council Woman, Marikay Abuzuaiter. Will we trash the
place as biker gangs are rumored to do and take over the entire City of
Greensboro. Truth is: that is something manufactured by the main stream
media based on something called the 1947 Hollister Invasion in
Hollister, California but the real culprits in Hollister weren't the
so-called "outlaw bikers" a term not yet in use but was in fact inept
American Motorcycle Association management.
But that didn't stop newspapers from printing articles like, HAVOK IN HOLLISTER.
Even today, Hollister, California has less than 35,000 residents. In 1947 there were only 4000 people living there, the AMA put up big prize money and opened the event to everyone and everyone showed up. Hollister only employed 7 police officers total. They called it the Hollister Riot but just what would anyone expect to happen when 4000 people show up for an event only to find there is no place to stay and nothing to do but get drunk.
"Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying, "It's just one hell of a mess",[4] but that "[the motorcyclists] weren't doing anything bad, just riding up and down whooping and hollering; not really doing any harm at all."
50 people were arrested. According to the Hollister Chief of Police, most of them were from nearby towns. 60 injuries were reported but none of the injuries were to Hollister residents-- not one.
"A City-Council member stated, "Luckily, there appears to be no serious damage. These trick riders did more harm to themselves than the town."
As a matter of fact: the City of Hollister has held many more motorcycle rallies and races since 1947 so apparently even they didn't think bikers to be all that bad to have around. Maybe it's time Greensboro had some motorcycle related events?
And no, this book is far from over. There's so much more of you and me to write about...
But that didn't stop newspapers from printing articles like, HAVOK IN HOLLISTER.
Even today, Hollister, California has less than 35,000 residents. In 1947 there were only 4000 people living there, the AMA put up big prize money and opened the event to everyone and everyone showed up. Hollister only employed 7 police officers total. They called it the Hollister Riot but just what would anyone expect to happen when 4000 people show up for an event only to find there is no place to stay and nothing to do but get drunk.
"Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying, "It's just one hell of a mess",[4] but that "[the motorcyclists] weren't doing anything bad, just riding up and down whooping and hollering; not really doing any harm at all."
50 people were arrested. According to the Hollister Chief of Police, most of them were from nearby towns. 60 injuries were reported but none of the injuries were to Hollister residents-- not one.
"A City-Council member stated, "Luckily, there appears to be no serious damage. These trick riders did more harm to themselves than the town."
As a matter of fact: the City of Hollister has held many more motorcycle rallies and races since 1947 so apparently even they didn't think bikers to be all that bad to have around. Maybe it's time Greensboro had some motorcycle related events?
And no, this book is far from over. There's so much more of you and me to write about...
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