Hell's Angel's vs. Mongol's
82Street Vibrations 2008
I have been crazy busy the last few months with writing articles, traveling (which by the way...I never get to do normally), and running for Mom of the Year, so I am back now with stories and hubs to share! My last trip was to Reno, NV this last week. And boy do I have a story to report!
I suppose having the opportunity to cover the "war" between Hell's Angel's and the Mongols motorcycle clubs could lead to a hot article and maybe even land me an editorial position, you would think anyway, Instead it landed me in a hotel room, terrified to come out! Now, in my defense, I was wearing red and truly someone should have told me that these bike clubs would be flying their colors like the flag on the White House in every square inch of Reno that week, but nope, not that lucky!
I consider myself safe in situations like these, merely for the fact that I do not belong to any particular club, I also do not have anything against any of the clubs. I have always felt comfortable and at ease on many of the bike runs I have been on, as well as riding in general. Most seem to be pretty tight knit, they offer a sense of belonging, regardless of your affiliation or lack of. Anyway, I was a bit worried about the tension that could literally be cut with a knife (let's hope not) in Reno this year. So off the bike I went, back to my room to change into something more appropriate....
Wait! What will be more appropriate to wear? Was it going to be black, I like black. Nope, black is for the Mongols. Maybe green? Yes, green, after all I was staying at the Fitzgerald (green everywhere!) but that was not going to work either because green is for the Vago's!! Oh hell! keep the red girl, the Angel's have always been cool to me. I did think about sporting rainbow colors, but then I would have been a part of the gay pack...just a thought here...probably not a good idea either! What is a girl to do when put in a situation that clearly she should not be in? Retreat to the casino, that's what! Well read on, the story goes like this...
In the dusty, gusty desert lowlands of Nevada, the town of Reno lights up like a Broadway show in New York. The ride up was fantastic, perfect weather, beautiful sights and the glorious sounds of thousands of chrome horses. It was a sight for sore eyes...and asses! Believe me, the long-ass drive can take a toll on the sensitive buttocks region, but well worth it, unless there happens to be a proposed war between two rival motorcycle clubs happening, and I am not talking in Iraq. The event being held is an annual event, that brings bikers from all regions, beautiful girls ready to sell just about anything and vendors from all over the world displaying goods from leather to lace to the best darned beef jerky in all the world!
10,000 hotel rooms are packed with bikers from all over the Southwest and "NO VACANCY" signs light up the entire strip of Reno for 5 days out of the year. Most are weekend warriors, a bit like me and my hubby who enjoys putting a blinding polish on the chrome of our Harley once a year, or when a great story comes about. Let's not forget about those leather babes who'll flash more than their winning hand if asked. I have heard that Vegas, Reno and even Laughlin are those towns that never sleep, but it was amazing to see thousands of chrome cowboys emptying the town's liquor well dry.
Upon my arrival in sin city, I spotted about 23 Hells Angels riding tight and heading for none other than my hotel in a tight pack. Across the street were about 15 guys sporting the Mongols colors, now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to smell trouble through all that gasoline and exhaust. The noise of the revving V-Twin hog engines, known too many as "the rolling thunder" made the ground feel as though we were in the midst of an earthquake and basically added to ambiance of trouble.
We rode around for about 30 minutes just trying to find a parking spot that didn't require squeezing between to motorcycles belonging to one gang or another. What I learned this week, which was quite fascinating though, OMG doesn't always mean, "Oh My God" as I first thought...it also means Outlaw Motorcycle Gang...OMG!!! You could spot an "OMG" bike by looking for a key left in the ignition, many of them leave their keys in the ignitions because they can be ready to roll out in a moments notice, and let's face it, do you really want to attempt stealing one of their bikes?
Finally we found a spot that would hold three of our bikes and one truck safely and even visible from our hotel room. We get unloaded and head to the hotel lobby, the Angel's were already there, and not the one's I had on my shoulder! As they had parked right in front of the lobby, I guess they can do that, we were walking in right behind them and could see all the nervous eyes looking up from the blackjack tables. It was official; we had booked a room in the middle of Hell, well Hell's Angel's lair to be exact! I soon realized that elevators are your friend when put into situations like this, you see, they can't do anything to you in there, because when the elevator doors open up, it's only you and them, so if your dead on the floor, it is pretty obvious who did it!
Back down in the casino a bit later, we were now mingling among the Angel's and a few gambling die-hards, all going well it seemed, until I spotted those 15 some Mongols, not even a 100 feet away. Mongols are a rival club from East L.A. and according to the news reports, were going to be targeted by the Angel's for a shooting and killing of a head MC of Hell's Angel's up in San Francisco, by the nickname of "Papa". The HA's believe that the Mongols are to blame, the blood between these two clubs run bad so there was some concern for recreational riders as well as the towns surrounding Reno.
Generally this bike rally, "Street Vibrations" is an annual event that is expected to bring in more than 30,000 bikers to Reno as well as pump at least $70-million dollars into our local economy. Street Vibrations is the 6th largest motorcycle event in the entire country, so it is no surprise that where you have that many bikers, you are bound to have trouble somewhere.
Sporting black and white low-rider patches on their jackets, the Mongols are armed with preparation and anticipation. There on the casino floor with surveillance cameras rolling and every word being captured on video, I could not help but think of the incident that happened back in 2002 during the annual River Run in Laughlin, NV. That incident being the clash of the hell's Angel's and The Mongols, that killed several, injured dozens. The Mongols and The Hell's Angel's reeked havoc in a local casino, over-turning blackjack tables causing a rain storm of chips, cards and dice, busting slot machines and destroying anything that came into their path.
When the sounds of gunfire erupt through the casino, there stood a man dressed in black leather still messing with his pistol in an attempt to reload. Just minutes later, there were ten ambulances and dozens of cop cars arriving at the mayhem to cart off the dead and mangled bikers, patrons, gamblers and wait staff. Needless to say that this Wild West shoot-out was going to go down as the deadliest gunfight in the history of Nevada, and I was thinking we were going to get first glimpse of the next deadliest gunfight right there in the Fitzgerald!
The tension and bad blood between these two gangs started 2 decades earlier than that Laughlin incident over which club had the right to wear a California patch. Using interviews with members of different clubs and bystanders who witnessed this type of violence over the years, it was no secret that tension was expected to rise again, this time in Virginia City, NV and I was there!
Well I arrived home safely and have stories to tell, especially about the brain-dead idea of wearing my daughter's white T-Shirt that have old English lettering in RED across my back that says, "SOULEEZY" that actually cannot be read unless you are right up behind me...all that is visible is the red lettering which I suppose was more like a bulls eye for the Mongols. And I do not even know what that nickname means! I think I was just about ready to find out...I wondered why all of the hell's Angel's were so nice to me in the elevators, casinos and bars. It wasn't until later that I found out that they "prostitute" their women out; I just wasn't going to be my lucky day, I thought to myself as I mindlessly think of a way out. To my surprise, it ended up a pretty cool scene.
What I left Reno with, was a sense of belonging, not to the Angel's, not the Mongols, no Vago's but rather the, "Lone Wolf Pack". Or at least that is what my two dollar sticker says. I decided that casting judgment on any one club is not a good idea for a long happy and healthy life, and that I was better off just being the clueless blonde wearing mismatched clothing for 4 days, looking a bit like a rodeo clown. This experience has not scared me off from riding though; I actually still love the element. Riding down the highway, giving friendly nods and a few peace signs to oncoming riders is what it is all really about.
If you do not belong to a bike gang, you really are not at risk. I discovered that street gangs are much worse than bike gangs! Street gangs shoot and kill, just to do so, bike gangs keep it centered to rivals, not innocent bystanders...essentially. There is no such thing as a good gang, but there is such a thing as good people. Many of these bike clubs are good people; I have run across many that I thought were pretty cool. We used to ride in packs to and from these runs that was, until a few bad apples decided to ruin it for everyone else.
Now days it's not safe to ride in a pack because really these packs are 500 guys and gals fueled by V-Twins, testosterone and PMS. I still wear my leather and boots, I still wear the black bandana across my face, because bugs are not a delicatessen like many say, but the bandana reads "GEICO" across it, I still follow the tradition of keeping a "spirit bell" on our bike, I still bow my head to fallen bikers and I still love the feel of all that power, not from a club or color but rather the bike and howling wind. I am a real biker, a weekend warrior and still the sweetest chrome cowgirl in the west!
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Ride on Sista. Great story, felt like I was there. Went to Sturgis last year...totally changed my life for the better.
The 81 or chichen wings as we call them have no stomach for anything but hiding behind their egos which doesn't count for anything when they see BLACK and WHITE. I must admit there are a few 81 with heart but their colors are hanging in our collection stripped!!!!!
The 81 or chichen wings as we call them have no stomach for anything but hiding behind their egos which doesn't count for anything when they see BLACK and WHITE. I must admit there are a few 81 with heart but their colors are hanging in our collection stripped!!!!!
HEY THOR77 YOU GOT SHIT IN YOUR COLLECTION NO 81 EVER GAVE UP HIS COLLORS TO A BITCH LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
knob heads
it was a nice story until you got to the part wear angels prostitute thier women out. There are mebers who hang out with strippers but also doctors an lawyers. Worring about what color you shirt is while riding is foolish as well. the Angels are not a punk LA street gang. just a bunch of fun loving guys who enjoy riding
why dont you write more about the respect and kindness you recieved during your stay
this is the lamest article about motorcycle clubs i've ever read. you were never in any danger being around these 2 clubs. show some damn respect instead of acting like a frantic lunatic thinking your life could end at any minute. introduce yourself and shake some hands.
OK, read your story with an open mind, and no I am not part of the red and white nore part of the black and white, but am president of a 2pc family MC in So Cal, biggest problem I have with you if your constant use of the work "GANG" or "OMG", these are terms made up by law enforcment to try to prosicute MC's as a whole under the RICO laws, and then you go around braging your part of the Loan Wolf No Club Club? so what is a No Club Club? seems to me if you have a bunch of people riding around with a patch that is the same it would make that a form of "club" or in your terms a "GANG" and hence a criminal, as a reporter of sorts you should take a bit more responcability to educate yourself befor you put fingers to keys and type out a steaming pile of dog turds...
that was a crazy story i wish you could of gone more in depth maybe had some pics u know im the sincity crews prospect and i trying to learn everything i can about those fagots
What a piece of Shit article. In reading this it sounds like you stayed in a hotel room in another city, maybe you just wrote it at home and never even went to Reno that year, hell you probably dont even ride. Looks like your article was written from rumors and other news reporters distorted and non-fact based articles. First off "81" does not book up rooms at the Fitzgerald hotel for street vibes, they try to stay together and it is not there at that hotel. Second, that year there were no Mongols flying their colors or walking around any casino's at street vibrations, and not in the same room with '81", it sounds like you created that fictional account not from being at the fitgerald and witnessing it, but rather from some article you read about laughlin, and other places, which you took bits and pieces from to create "your" account. I could go on and on and poke holes in your article, but I dont have time, or patience and there is not enough room in this form to do that. Let me say this, if you are going to report on shit, try to be one of the few reporters out there that actually reports the truth, oh thats right, the truth rarley sells newspapers or catches readers interest. Here is a novel concept, why dont you write articles on one of the biggest, most abusive, armed "gangs" in the U.S.~ Law Enforcement. They continually instigate conflicts between clubs by starting and spreading rumors, trying to pit one club against another (Laughlin is a perfect example of that) Had it not been for the ATF and other under cover law Enforcment entities creating the situation that lead up to Laughlin, there would be no Laughlin. Whether you are a member of the Black & White, Red & White, the Green, Rainbow Coaliton or as a "Lone Wolf" we are not the enemy to each other, Law Enforcement, Big Government and their encroachment of our basic constitutional rights should be uniting all of us together to fight their abuses against us as citizens. And you ask why would Law Enforcement interfere, spread rumors and pit one group against another? It's simple, follow the money.... Federal funding and lazy law enforcement. Local and State law enforcement departments have found a cash cow. The Federal Goverment will give lots of money to local police departments for extra equipment and manpower if they have a "gang" problem. Do your research, check out how many small communities, since the feds came out with "Gang" funding, the creation of a "Homeland Security Department" to fight "Domestic Terrorist (which motorcycle clubs are being labeled as to get even more federal dollars from congress), and the Patriot Act which is being used against U.S. Citizen's not foriegn terrorst. See how many communities now have a "gang" problem that they didnt before? As soon as money was available for this, local police departments went out and came up with lists of "gangs" in their areas. It was easy lazy law enforcement, drive around and take pictures of the motorcycle clubs in your are, now you have proof you have a gang, submit the list to the feds, and Wow.. federal dollars. And it has gotten even worst as cities and counties feel the crunch from lower income and less taxes. It is easier to "classify" motorcycle clubs as "gangs" than it is to do real police work and investigation and learn and "prove" which groups in a community are real street "gangs". Motorcycle clubs are not street gangs, and it is easier to take pictures and identify guys riding bikes wearing club patches and calling them "gang" members than to go out and do real police and try and find who is in a gang. And, unlike you I say this from person experience, I belong to a three piece club which has been labled as a "Gang", yet other than a few D.U.I.'s by some members, not one of us has ever served time for any crimes. I have never been arrested, yet the other day I was pulled over by the Highway patrol and they would not let me sign my speeding ticket or leave until I let them take a picture of me at the request of the county Gang Task Force. It wasn't enough that they have a picture of me on file with DMV, they specifically wanted one with me wearing my vest. I told them I would not verbally consent, that it violated my 4th ammendment rights in the fact that they did not have the right to take my picture (which is my personal property) without my consent and I would not give it, in addition to violating my 5th ammendment right against self-incrimination and them taking my piture to use as evidence against me at a later date if they wanted, violated my basic contitutional rights. Local community problems are not motorcycle clubs, it is Asian, Hispanic, Black, white STREET GANGS and foriegn Terrorist cells and groups. Law Enforcement should earn their money and do something about them, not those of us who ride motorcycles. But, that would take to much effort and not get them any money, of course, I guess accurate reporting would take too much effort and would'nt sell news article either.
NunofurBiz is spot on. Tonight I got pulled over for flashing "green" lizard lights on my road king. The first thing they asked me was are you in an OMG. I had to laugh. I live an hour outside of Reno. I rarely even see other bikers around let alone have any knowledge of a local "OMG" chapter. They then proceeded to question me to determine whether I was telling the truth or not. After which they advised me not to ever use the "green" or "red" lcd's on my bike. This seemed like a lot of b.s. I ride with those lamps all the time. I've lived here 7 years. It seems strange that all of a sudden I'm being questioned about being part of an OMG. To make matters worse, this was the second time this week it's happened. Earlier in the week I was passing thru a sobriety checkpoint, on the "non-check" side. A motorcyle cop followed me out of the checkpoint and pulled me over "for the lcd's". After checking for sobriety he then proceeded to ask if I was member of an OMG. I asked him if they were going to start hassling me for the lcd's which I've been driving with for 7 years. He told me he didn't have any problem with me as long as I wasn't wearing a patch. I'm not an expert on the criminal activity in my town, but I've never seen or heard of any criminal acts here related to an OMG. Yet that cop's words said it all. "I don't have a problem with you as long as your not wearing a patch". So I guess that's all it takes to get the police on your back. All I have to do is join an MC and I'll be put on my city PD's "watch list".
I hate to say it but this was just stupid writing. It sounded like a 12 year old wrote it. I got that you road into town saw some bike club members(wow at street vibes) and was scared because you read to many police articles.
I could have made this up and made it sound better.
Of course you aren't part of a "gang"...you're a woman. I think you watch Gangland too much.
whatever cant outrun a bullet
What a dip shit article. I am a member of a MC, I have been to countless rallies and runs, I can leave my helmet and shades on my bike at these events. BUT If I go into a neighborhood that is known for street gangs or homeless people or drug activity I cannot leave my stuff because it will be stolen. That says a lot about the character of the most bikers. If I go to an event where there are non-riding people I am nervous again about leaving my stuff. The biker community show respect to themselves and others not the other way around. I have been riding since I was 14 and am now 46, these are the best people I know. Real, down to earth, caring people. There are numerous runs during the holiday season to benefit the less fortunate. These events rarely make it to the newsunless there is a celebrity involved. We do a lot of good people. Stop hating on Bikers. Get your facts straight and if I ran into you I would say this to your face,your article is ridiculous and really made me laugh.
I hope this is not your best piece of writing. In my opinion, this is journalism at it's worst.
I felt brain cells slowly disintegrating with each and every sentence I read in that mindless banter. Educate yourself please as that's 5 minutes of my life I can never get back.
This article is B.S. First off the angels fought the vagos not the Mongols. And it went down at the nugget not the fitzgerald. Get a clue and write whats right. You disrespect everyone who rides patch or no patch with this crap. Quit reading reports and actually goto these events and learn something
catala 3 years ago
jeezus chrome cowgirl, we fight over who,s going to pay for a cup of tea in our club..enjoy your riding and writing
kind regards, from a less macho more of a messer motorcyclist european