Ride To Imagine-Nation: MALC (GTA IV: The Lost and The Damned)

Original information from the video game GTA IV: The Lost and Damned.  Words by blog holder.  Images from Youtube. Youtube video from Willzyyy.


The life of a tough guy is not an easy one... but it sure is fun.  Especially, when it's lived vicariously through the toughest legends around town. Those legends are the characters of the hit video game GTA (Grand Theft Auto).  One of my favorite characters is someone that could carry a whole game by themself if needed, just on his bike alone. That character is MALC from the GTA IV chapter of "The Lost and Damned."  Malcom a.k.a Malc is the leader of the Uptown Riders of Liberty City.  Being a member of this notorious motorcycle club, Malc does things that would make other hardened criminals faint from the pure excitement alone.  What makes MALC so cool is the "ride it like you stole it, no holds barred" lifestyle he lives on his bike and behind the trigger.  He is a risk taker that is always one step ahead of the competition.  Whether he is smuggling weapons, participating in illegal street races with bats to knockout the competition or fixing problems for other bad guys.  He always does with his own swagger that no one can copy.  Loyal to his crew and friends he is always there to no matter how hot the situation is.  It is because of this people dread messing with anyone associated with him knowing they are going to pay for it and pay dearly.  He also makes sure that the image of the his club is clean too by selling patented rider merchandise branded by his mototcycle club and selling videos of the crazy stunts him and the crew perform.


This video is from from GTA: IV (The Lost and Damned) Shifting Weight mission.


Malc's comes to light in the story when Jim, a member of The Lost M.C., comes to Malc to get explosives for a job that Jim, the main character, needs to eliminate rival bikers known as the Angels of Death.  Malc then gives Jim an opportunity to make money in illegal street races in his neck of the woods in North Wood.  As things start to heat up Malc is needed to help Jim carry out some heavy jobs for people that only he can do.  One things for sure if there is a bike in his posession... the unthinkable can and will happen.  His custom Double T is a bike to marvel at that looks like no other.  With a dragged out swing arm and one of a kind fairings its not hard to spot this sexy ride anywhere.  Cops know him all to well and avoid a chase if they can but if they are in great numbers they'll try to get the untouchable Malc. As Malc joins up with Jim they fend off crazy drug dealers and ride with their life in danger while dodging traffic and the biggest police chase ever seen.  Malc also helps Jim with getting a truck and its contents back while at a toll booth of all places where a shooting match takes place.  Malc shows just how surgical and percise he is with a gun.  After a they finish a couple jobs to perfection they then go back to their seperate groups and live the rider life.  Hopefully this game isn't the last we hear of Malc. 

Ride To Imagine-Nation: The Black Six

Original information from the full-length feature film THE BLACK SIX movie.  Pictures from Google Images.  Words by Blog Holder.


When it comes to movies that have the romanticism of the rough biker gangs or of a tough motorcycle rider of the 70's, quite a few movies come to mind. To this day nothing beats that good old texture of the celloloid films that gave us classic cinema that still has a major influence on flicks today.  However, when it comes to motorcycle movies of the 70's fewer feature actors of African descent as riders if any at all. In fact black actors of cinema were starring in "Blaxploitation" movies with some favorite rolls that were good or that of little dignity.  Out of all the motorcycle movies that could put a lot of action, a good story plot and that of great memorable characters that were black bikers, only one was made.  This gem of cinematic marvel was "THE BLACK SIX."  The movie starred a cast of famous football players in their physical prime portraying a group of army veterans back home on their motorcycles and living the biker dream to the fullest.  But, when the main character, Bubba Daniels (Gene Washington/San Francisco 49ers), finds out that his brother was murdered he is on the warpath to find out why and most of all who.  As him and his group of fellow riders venture off on their bikes to find clues, they put together the reason for this senseless murder and deal out some serious justice with a lot of deserved beatdowns to all that need it.  There is a lot of humor from the cast to keep you laughing, not to mention some cool action sequences.  Of course what would a motorcycle movie be without the motorcycles to capture the imagination and inspire many to get on that bike.  The motorcycle they rode were Triumph Motorcycles that came in an aray of different models and mods that came close to stealing the show. The movie had the likes of Carl Eller (Minnesota Vikings) as Jr. Bro Williams who was the right hand man to the character Bubba, not to mention the voice of reason throughout the movie.  Also, in the movie was Lem Barney (Detroit Lions) as Frenchy Laboise who was the Kung-Fu/music man in the band of bikers.  Another player featured as the strong man of the crew was Joe "Mean Joe" Greene (Pittsburg Steelers) as Kevin Washington.  Mercury Morris (Miami Dolphins) played Bookie Garrett, who whipped a lot of guys and had some of the best lines in the movie too.  Lastly, Willie Lanier (Kansas City Chiefs) as Tommy Bunka, played the strong silent type where he let his hard action speak louder than words.  This movie gets four out of five choppers from me which you'll have to see for yourself to agree with me on.  One thing about this movie that is a guarantee, is the instant throwback with the outfits mixed with that classic cool 70's lingo.  So please enjoy the movie if you can find it on Youtube or on your own copy available on DVD.  Believe me... That's no jive man.

You Need To Know: SUGAR BEAR

Original information from Jesse James' History of Choppers DVD, American Thunder TV Series & Sugar Bear's website. Words by Blog Holder. Pictures from Google images.

There are many people that study history but not enough of it... Hide history because of their ignorant evil nature... And those that carelessly make up history, claiming it as truth, just because they don't know anything about it. However, when it comes to history this living legend I will present to you LIVED it, WITNESSED it first hand, and COLLECTED pictures along with relics from its golden age to PROVE the existence of the African-American biker culture. In every case his pictures from the 1940's and 50's eradicated words of doubt, attesting to the proof of black people on bikes far before the chopper frenzy took place. But most of all, his biggest contribution was MAKING history in biker society. The legend I am proud to scribe about is the great, world renowned SUGAR BEAR, who's life has been a living testament to the ENTIRE biker nation as we know it. With his classic springers (long forks on the motorcycle) and awsome revolutionary rockers (the part connecting the forks to the wheel) these marvels of craftsmanship have made him so highly acclaimed by motorcycle afficionados it is hard to keep up with business and business is booming. The one thing that was shocking to those that met him for the first time was finding out that he is an African-American the other, was finding a friend. With the lack of seeing images of African-American bikers as well as being over saturated with depictions of caucasians on bikes, people simply believed black people were not interested in bikes or had such a long history with motorcycles. With apperances on Jesse James' documentary History of The Chopper and Speed Channel's American Thunder, Sugar Bear has enlightened and educated the world abroad about the pressence of Black Americans on motorcycles in past times.

As always with great storys, the beginning is where this innovator's past begins. Sugar Bear was born on September of 1939 in Missouri. Twenty years later he would have that pivotal moment that is known all over that began his paramount ride through history. In 1969 while cruising in his car on the freeway Sugar Bear noticed a biker passing by on a chopper, but he was even more captivated by the woman that sparked it all. She was a lady leaning back on the sissy bars of that chopper reading a paperback book and noticed Sugar Bear. As they smiled at each other she gave him the "peace" sign as she rode off and faded away on that chopper... Right then Sugar Bear the chopper rider was born and that following week Sugar Bear went out and bought a Honda 750, but didn't know how to ride it. That drawback would not stop the future inventor from riding. His friend Barbershop Scotty came to help him get on his iron horse and ride it like a pro. A year later he started chopping and redesigning his bike to become a chopper. But where does one go to get the knowledge to do such a complicated task? This genius went to seek that advice of another legend EVERYONE, black or white, would go to about motorcycles. This was at Hardy's Motorcycle Service at 1168 South Florence Avenue near South Central Avenue. This meeting was not only the start of a great friendship but the beginning of a mentorship that was detrimental to history as we know it. That fellow genius was none other than Benjamin Franklin Hardy known to everyone as Benny Hardy. Brother Ben, as he was known to many, was a passionate man when it came to working on motorcycles and crafting them from scratch. As many have come to know, Benny is the creator with Cliff Vaughs in making the Easy Rider motorcycles that no one knew was made by an African American.   As Sugar Bear perfected his great enginuity  from gaining knowledge all over he opened his own custom bike shop in walking distance from his house located in South Central Los Angeles in 1971. As his builds became a hit with friends that he customized choppers for, he then moved to making his famous springers that were inches... then feet over the original length of the fork. What makes Sugar Bear a genius is that he has desiphered the complex geometry of motorcycles which had revealed to many he was actually a mathmatical genius and engineering marvel. With such greatness at making these springers he also made the coolest rockers the world has ever seen. Sugar Bear's creations are so unique in making the motorcycle so perfectly balanced that the bike never flops over, giving the rider great control when turning. In fact you can actually turn the bike with one hand. In encompassing art with engineering, Sugar Bear turned the world of motorcycling upside down. However, he was still not accepted by some in the community of fellow bikers that shared the same passion all because they did not look alike. Even though he was not accepted by those who opposed him as a person they could not help what he had contributed in making choppers so mesmerizing. This caused many to rethink their views and helped break cycles of racial ignorance. Also, being a towering man helped people reconsider what they said before saying the wrong thing. Not to mention his great demenor mixed with great story telling conveyed a brilliant articulate man that many were not aware of since they've never been exposed to African Americans in person. Sugar Bear's career has been one of innovation, but his purpose has been one of triumph over decades of oppression. His valiant effort with motorcycle media has never gone in vain, by refusing to feature his work in or on magazine covers unless he was featured with it as well. This courageous display of bravery won him covers and articles in magazines even when racisim was prominent in publications all over... And he did this without selling himself out, all the while introducing a generation to the legacy of African American bikers that many are proud to represent with pride and dignity to this day. Sugar Bear, now in his early 70's, is still a young man at his shop located in Gardena, Califonia and shows now sign whatsoever in slowing down or being counted out when it comes to teaching the past of African Americans in the biker culture and making a great chopper as well. For me he is the reason that this blog exists to teach a newer generation what is missing from the media and conversations about a favorite American past time this is rich with black influences. It is because of his knowledge that he has passed onto me about blacks motorcyclists, I have a new found appreciation for the biker culture. I thank this man, legend and genius for making us better people all over the world regardless of color under his trademark heart with wings... And just remember... "IF IT AIN'T LONG. ITS WRONG." ~Sugar Bear