In the fall of 1977, we were in a melancholy mood. Our repeal bills stalled, Roger Lyons was murdered, we were undecided over where the ABATE National should be, and the Motorcycle Recreation Council (no bikers were on this council) was going to administer our Motorcycle Off-Road Program (MORP) funds through the DNR, which amounted to about $1,000,000.

At this same time, John Barajas was in talks with the warden and education director at Waupun State Prison concerning a motorcycle show there. This is a maximum security prison, and it took a bit of persuading to convince the authorities to give it a try. On a bleak autumn day, 18 cold and weary riders entered the sally port of the prison in the early morning, to be scrutinized by the guards and allowed onto the exercise grounds. The residents are allowed onto the rec field in two shifts, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. The morning group came out, not knowing what to expect. They were thrilled to see a group of hardcore riders and their custom motorcycles. Many residents chose to stay indoors in the morning because the weather was bad and they didn’t think too much about some guys showing up on motorcycles. When word got back that these guys were the real deal, the afternoon group came out in throngs. This first show was a huge success. The only criticism came from the black contingency wondering “where were all the brothers”? on motorcycles. If we were to have a second show, we had to include the black riding community.

Involving the black community was easy. We already established a relationship with the black coalition of riders in Milwaukee, and when June 10 1978 rolled around, we increased our number of participants to 69, including members of the Throttle Twisters and Midnight Creepers MC. Over 700 residents came out to see that show, which set the standard for future shows. Ozaukee Guzzler member Bob Hinze, a bassist in the Zipper Band, sat in a played with the resident ban “Wild and Peaceful.” Hinze, a friend of Barajas, was also a member of ABATE.

Most of us camped out in Fond du Lac on June 9, and on the way to Waupun, we took a lap past St. Agnes Hospital, where ABATE member Mark “Brillo” Koehler was recovering after being center-punched by an errant motorist. He smiled from his window as we gave him a full-throttle salute as we passed by. At the sally port, we were allowed onto the rec field 20 at a time, as the guards looked us and our bikes over. It took some time to get us all in, but the wait was worth it. The resident’s smiling faces when they came out was a sight to see. Between rec periods we were treated to lunch, which consisted of corn beef and cabbage, salad, and chocolate cake, courtesy of the kitchen staff. A special entry for this show was Father Joe, the Chaplin at Waupun. He was also a member of the Palladins MC, a group of riding padres from around the country. He rode in on his full dress Harley with his dog tucked behind him.

Easyriders Magazine sent E.L. Woody and Billy Tinney to cover the show, and they brought along Lynda Greer, Miss Easyriders, as added eye candy. It took special permission to get a woman in the show (rules were no women and no passengers on bikes), but we managed it, and to get around the no passengers rule, she rode in a custom T-bucket Street Rod. At the end of this second show, Barajas and Sanfelipo presented a check in the amount of $100 to Education Director George Smullen, to be used among the various WSP resident groups.

From these meager beginnings grew a prison show that was a model for the country. The Waupun Prison show lasted six years, until 1982. Unfortunately, a disturbance later that year led to the prison cancelling all outside activities and the show ended. But before it ended, it grew to have 175 bikes attending, rock and roll bands, biker vs. resident baseball games and Tug-O-War, and some of the finest custom bikes in the state. That 1982 show included ABATE of Wisconsin members, ABATE of Indiana and Illinois, and members of the Throttle Twisters, Outlaws, Drifters, High Riders, D.C. Eagles, Zodiacs, Diablo Lobos, Grim Reapers, and Sinners MC.

An interesting side note, the ’81 and ’82 Waupun Prison Show T-shirts were designed by a young Ray Drae, who would later work at the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, and eventually step into Willie G. Davidson’s position at the design department after Willie retired. Ray hung out with the ABATE folks in Butler, and attended our region meetings there.

This show earned ABATE a Certificate of Commendation for Outstanding Public Service, signed by Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus, and Corrections Administrator Elmer Cady. Tony Pan received an appreciation certificate from the resident administrators and show judges, which hangs proudly in his shop to this day.