by Bill Maddick
VETERAN’S CORNER
Colorado Veterans Motorcycle Clubs and Riding Clubs
I
t is to the credit of veterans that the current number of
veteran-related motorcycle clubs and riding clubs dwarf
the number of clubs created with members from any other
single entity. Just as veterans have been so instrumental in
making history in this country so it is that a group of veterans
were also in at the beginning when the first motorcycle clubs
and riding clubs were founded. Just as it is that veterans
started the The Pissed Off Bastards, it is likely they were first
motorcycle club. The Pissed Off Bastards still exist today as
a club. The Boozefighters and the Market Street Commandos
were also early clubs and were around in 1945 as were the
Pissed Off Bastards.
Since I started writing the Veterans Corner column two
months ago, my eyes have been opened to the surprisingly
large number of veterans clubs and veteran organizations,
as well as the large numbers of veterans I have seen
participating in events, runs and activities within the riding
community; not to mention the amount of philanthropic
money that is raised and donated by these organizations is
truly impressive. Seeing this makes me even more proud to
be a veteran.
When I chose to write this compilation of veteran motorcycle
and riding clubs, it quickly became apparent that there is not
enough column space in one article to include all of the clubs,
if I wanted to provide any information about what they are
and do.
Therefore, this article will have three (or more)
parts brought to you in the coming months. I have gathered
or will soon gather the information for all of the veteran clubs
interested in being part of this compilation .
This segment of the compilations has two veterans clubs with
information about each of the clubs. The clubs are listed in
random order, not alphabetically. If you don’t see your club or
organization, please contact me with so that it can be added to
this compilation article. billm@ThunderRoadsColorado.com.
American Legion Riders – The American Legion proclaim
themselves to be the nation’s largest wartime veteran
organization. To become an American Legion Rider, you
must be a member of either the American Legion, the Sons
of the Legion, or their auxiliary.
Founded in 1919, they believe in strengthening the nation
one community at a time through youth programs, baseball
leagues, and the promotion of the community with honor. The
American Legion also supports veterans in time of need and
currently has around 14,000 posts. When I spoke with Nick
the president of the American Legion Riders at Post #178,
(1655 Simms, Lakewood, 80215, called The Friendly Post,
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
he told me that the American Legion is a good organization
that does things for other veterans and the community and
he adds that it is all about veterans supporting veterans. His
post currently has 57 riders, but he notes that some riders
from the Golden post join them in Lakewood and, he says
proudly, Post #1 has just started their own riders club. The
Riders participate in many community and local events and
raise money through various rides and poker runs including
the annual Legacy Run which raises money to provide
scholarships for the children of veterans who have died since
Sept 11. 2001.
For additional information call Nick at 303-506-1270 or
check their website at www.legion.org/riders. Or for upcoming
rider events check the calendar on the Post 178 website at
www.alpost178.org.
Infidels Motorcycle Club – Their mission statement
reads, in part; “Infidels Motorcycle Club is a veteran formed
and based MC for Patriotic Americans and our supporting
allies. The Infidels MC reject the radical jihadist movement
that threatens liberty and freedom around the world. The
Infidels MC will support the fight against terrorism as military
members, contractors in support of the military, and as
patriotic Americans supporting our fighting forces from the
homeland.” The club was founded in 2006 by Slingshot, then
a security contractor in Iraq, and has now grown to have
chapters in twelve states with some states having more than
one chapter. My contact was Chad, the Colorado President,
and he informed that the only requirement to join is a clean
military record. The Infidels do quite a lot of charitable work,
holding poker tournaments, pig roasts and a variety of runs to
raise money which goes to various veterans’ organizations.
The organizations they have worked with include Pets for
Vets and the Nine Line Foundation that provide service dogs
to veterans with PTSD. They also help in many other ways
as they did last fall when $3200 was raised for direct support
to a veteran that is a quad-amputee. The club has also
undertaken road cleanup to the Bruce McCandless Veterans
Home and each year, during the Christmas holiday, they
bring gifts to the resident veterans and they take the time
to personally sit down with each veteran and share the gift
with them over conversation with genuine care and respect
and they believe that is much better than just dropping gifts
off. Chad 719-651-7786, (leave a message for a return call).
infidelsmc.us/.
Please Contact me with your club’s veteran motorcycle
or riding club information and remember, your feedback is
always welcome! billm@ThunderRoadsColorado.com.
Bill
August 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 11