Riotous Fun
HEAVY DUTY Magazine|November - December 2019
Gold Coast Harley-Davidson’s tribute to an infamous eventin biker history … the Hollister Riot of 1947.
David Cohen
Riotous Fun
Gold Coast Harley-Davidson’s ‘Battle of the Kings’ winning bike, the Hollister Riot, delivers old-school feel-good in keeping with the historical event that spawned its name. The ‘Hollister Riot’ or ‘Hollister Invasion’ occurred at a motorcycle rally in Hollister, California, in 1947. Many more riders than expected flooded into the small town to socialise, race, drink and be merry – and not necessarily in that order. According to reports, a few of the motorcyclists caused a bit of commotion in the town, and the incident was subsequently sensationalised by the press with with a staged photo of a drunken man sitting on a motorcycle, as published in Life magazine.

Arguably, the Hollister Riot gave rise to the outlaw biker image. Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying, “It’s just one hell of a mess,” but added, “The motorcyclists weren’t doing anything bad, just riding up and down whooping and hollering; not really doing any harm at all.”

Well, whooping and hollering is exactly what I felt like doing while riding the ‘Riot’ around the quiet streets of Nerang on a sunny Wednesday morning.

The way this bike resembles the Panhead in the famous photo is absolutely fantastic and enhances the real joy of being aboard.

It started life as a 2019 Softail Slim when dealer principal Steve Shilling and builder Matt Valentine, workshop manager Jack Baugh with parts and accessories specialist Nick Agius, set about the task of paying homage to 1947.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2019 من HEAVY DUTY Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November - December 2019 من HEAVY DUTY Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من HEAVY DUTY MAGAZINE مشاهدة الكل
Polishing The Facets
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

Polishing The Facets

Finessing the sharp edges and making that 124 sing and dance

time-read
5 mins  |
July - August 2021
The Fabulous Flexi Flyer
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

The Fabulous Flexi Flyer

A genuine time capsule with history oozing from every single unique pore.

time-read
3 mins  |
July - August 2021
Road Raves Living The Life With Doc Robinson
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

Road Raves Living The Life With Doc Robinson

WORDS OF WISDOM “When I was old enough to ride a motorcycle and got my license, I bought a ’69 Sportster.” – Chuck Zito

time-read
2 mins  |
July - August 2021
The End Of The Line
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

The End Of The Line

Writing a road test about a bike that is due to disappear from dealers’ floors any minute is a bit weird. Should this be more of a eulogy?

time-read
5 mins  |
July - August 2021
Now It's Time To Head Down Track
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

Now It's Time To Head Down Track

What happens when I’m ready to race at an IHRA-sanctioned dragstrip?

time-read
3 mins  |
July - August 2021
RAUCOUS ROCKY
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

RAUCOUS ROCKY

With our own area called the Motorcycle Precinct, bikers were well catered for at this year’s RockyNats

time-read
3 mins  |
July - August 2021
S&S SUPERSTREET
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

S&S SUPERSTREET

With a Softail Deluxe already dripping in chrome, of course Paul was easily swayed by the offer of a shiny, new S&S SuperStreet two-into-one.

time-read
5 mins  |
July - August 2021
SPORTS STILL ROARING
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

SPORTS STILL ROARING

Blues skies greeted the National Roaring Sporties racers for Round Two at the challenging Morgan Park Raceway near Warwick, Qld.

time-read
1 min  |
July - August 2021
NO STRINGS ATTACHED
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Even some of the locals are over the yodelling and pedal steel guitars. HOG member and history nerd, Roderick Eime explores another side of Tamworth and the surrounding region.

time-read
5 mins  |
July - August 2021
HAPPY HOGGIES
HEAVY DUTY Magazine

HAPPY HOGGIES

The drought was well and truly broken with HOG members from all over Australia making it to Rockhampton.

time-read
3 mins  |
July - August 2021