From 1979 through the mid- ‘80s, we were continually dealing with an antagonistic media, the frustrations of forming a national organization for ABATE, filing our corporation papers, escalating tensions in the motorcycle community, and satisfying the growing interest in attending the Waupun prison bike shows. This part of the history is not meant to open old wounds or point the finger at any group or individual. It is important to understand the difficulty there was in gaining a trusting relationship between the major rights organizations and why those difficulties might have jeopardized all of our efforts to ward off government regulations and restrictive legislation. Despite those differences, miraculously, we were able to achieve most of our goals. Think about how much more we might have achieved if we worked together from the start. Peace among the clubs, on the other hand, turned out to be a bigger adversary than the government.
The strife between the Wisconsin Better Bikers Association (WBBA) and ABATE revolved around the problems among the various clubs in the state. It was a time of ongoing disputes, some resulting in serious confrontations, that separated clubs that either supported WBBA or ABATE. Our organization certainly did not take sides in any disputes but rather worked to restore harmony and peace among clubs. Unfortunately, the WBBA newsletter asked its members to stand up against certain clubs, which ultimately fueled some of the confrontations that took place. A subtle insinuation aimed at ABATE also condemned any organization that supported certain clubs or remained silent about those club’s activities. We didn’t appreciate those remarks or the harm they were doing in keeping the various clubs in conflict.
Dave Zien was the president of the Free Riders MC in Eau Claire. He was also the Vice-President of the WBBA in 1979. He was concerned about some of the clubs that were dropping out of the WBBA or removing the BBA patch from their jackets. The patch signified membership, but also identified the person as a target for some of the feuding clubs. Knowing well the consequences of misunderstandings and hassles propagated by incendiary articles in the BBA Newsletter, Zien called for open-mindedness and communication between the two organizations in an attempt to bring peace among the clubs. On April 3, 1979, there was a meeting between officers of the WBBA, ABATE, the CC Riders MC, and a Milwaukee Outlaw, in an attempt to quell the gossip and negative articles being written, and to restore a good working relationship between WBBA and ABATE. Absent from the meeting was the author of the articles in question. Those who did attend learned much more about the differences and similarities between WBBA and ABATE, and pledged to work harder at communication and cooperation.
The cooperation agreed upon at the meeting only lasted as long as the publication of the next newsletter, which made assertions of threats by ABATE and the Milwaukee Outlaw who attended the parley. Of course, the author wasn’t even at the meeting, but the accusations caused a renewed animosity among non-WBBA clubs toward the organization. Dave Zien was so incensed at the article that he resigned his post as Vice-President of WBBA. It was clear that the two organizations could work together on legislative matters, especially more so now that ABATE had incorporated, but dealing with the strife among the various factions in the motorcycle community had a long way to go.
In October 1979, there was a National ABATE Region II meeting in Indianapolis. Regional coordinator Jim Rhoades, ABATE of Michigan, called the meeting to order. Attending the meeting were ABATE officers Wanda Hummell, Indiana, D.L. LaFollette, Kentucky, and Rhoades, Michigan. Also attending were guests
Steve Hummell, Yacky, Jim Humphrey, Julia Taylor, Gary Jackson, and Ron Kleber, all from Indiana, and Fiz, Michigan, and Angie White, Kentucky.
The group pledged to assist each state in Region II to assist each other in legislative matters, and to get involved in organizations like the AMA and MSF to insure these organizations didn’t imply they were speaking for ABATE. It was brought up that Kawasaki Midwest had a paid lobbyist working in Michigan to thwart helmet law repeal efforts there. ABATE of Illinois member Ed Armstrong’s letter was read at the meeting, complaining about the AMA’s “Voluntary Helmet Use” stance, which ABATE felt undercut our position of “Let Those Who Ride Decide.”
In a move reminiscent of today’s MRF, it was suggested that a series of seminars should be established to help states combat the negative media blitz, learn how to be more effective in dealing with government, and how to repeal helmet laws and encourage rider education courses.
There was also discussion about the continuing problem of a national ABATE office in Sacramento accepting membership dues. There was even talk about a lawsuit involving the solicitation of dues by a California national for ABATE.
Back in Wisconsin, we were getting ready for another Waupun Prison Bike Show. By this time, there was a waiting list for riders to participate. It had grown from humble beginnings of just over a dozen riders and a small group of residents venturing out to see what it was, to a very popular event with hundreds of bikers hoping to be selected to participate, and Waupun residents maintaining good behavior status in fear of being locked down during the show.
Total attendance in the show was limited by the prison, so ABATE selected the “must attend” group, and the remainder was by lottery selection. Were you one of the selected in 1980? Did you know any of the people involved? Here’s the list:
Leggs, Jay LeClaire, JR, Pan, Dave Fields, Reverend Ike, Dutch, Bob Arndt, Greg Uschan, Dave Bradel, Crunch Pup, Brently, Nick Campanelli, John Barajas, Brillo, Dortz, Booger, Small, Dave Zien, Bones, Chuckles, Poppa PJ, Skip, Glen Roberts, Briggsy, Doc D, Homer, Dave Pratt, Bruce Lauer, Big John, Axel Rod, Ray Smith, No Mind, Rat, Pollack, Gary Golemgeski, Bob Jaske, Jim Gratzke, Wayne Krumbrine, Lou, Andy Francis, Lance Roark, Wolfman, Gene Sparks, Hogman, Al Propst, Andy “Taco” Nanez, Paul Thompson, Bill Netzel, Keith Hanson, Virgil Thiede, Wimpy, Wally Krainer, Mike Trautner, Steve Erato, Buck Thompson, Dan Dudley, Mike Hecker, Searl, Turtle, Buck, Bill Behm, Bob Hinze, Scotty King, Yak, Rude Dude, and Roger “Crazy Horse” Hamann.
The clubs that participated were DC Eagles (all ABATE members), Drifters MC (all ABATE members), Valley Riders (all ABATE members), Outlaws MC, Zodiacs MC, Free Riders MC, Unwanted MC, High Riders MC, Wind Jammers MC, Black Coalition of Clubs (Milwaukee), and representatives of ABATE of Indiana and Ed Armstrong, ABATE of Illinois. In addition, Jim “Degenerate Jim” Pisaretz, representing FTW and Choppers Magazine, took photographs and wrote detailed articles about the show.
Out in Colorado, the continuation of the state’s helmet repeal was being tested by NHTSA. Word came to Wisconsin ABATE through the Colorado West Concerned Cyclists that NHTSA had teamed with the Colorado Medical Society to push for a referendum to be placed on the November 1980 ballot. The referendum called for a reinstatement of the mandatory helmet law in Colorado, and needed 62,000 signatures on a petition to place the referendum. NHTSA paid $6,000 toward that effort, and the Colorado Medical Society kicked in another $5,000. There were 1.4 million voters in Colorado in 1980. It was apparent that NHTSA was singling out Colorado as a test state in its latest reinstatement efforts. The cost to society for motorcyclist’s injuries was a major factor brought up in the NHTSA referendum attempt. This, despite the fact that 45% of cycle crashes involved another vehicle failing to yield the right of way. In a show of solidarity, Wisconsin ABATE drafted letters to the director of the Colorado Medical Society, the Colorado Safety Association, and Colorado Governor Dick Lamm, expressing our deep concern over the attempt to include a referendum on a law the Colorado legislature already spoke on. If Colorado lost the right to choose, we knew other repeal states would be targeted by NHTSA.
Enjoy the photos of the Waupun Prison Show as we bring a little freedom to the inside. Photos courtesy of Degenerate Jim from his post in Choppers Magazine.
