|
The life of a Bandido
Published February 28, 2006
They call themselves bandits and outlaws, and they say it’s not a lifestyle for everyone.
They ride down the road in packs wearing matching leather jackets, but members of the Kerrville Bandidos Motorcycle Club say their reputation as drug-dealing hooligans is undeserved.
“All this drama is just rumor,” said the club’s president, who is simply known as Wolf.
“We don’t do dope. We don’t sell dope. These guys got 8-to-5 jobs, and they work 12-hour days,” Wolf said. “We just love our bikes, and we love to travel.”
Wolf also uses words such as brotherhood, loyalty and honor to describe the international organization celebrating its 40th year. The Bandidos began in 1966 in Houston and today boasts 3,000 members in the United States, as well as chapters in Canada, Australia, Asia and Europe.
Wolf’s father was a founding member of the San Antonio Bandidos Motorcycle Club started in 1967. Wolf started his own chapter here in Kerrville in 2000. That chapter split in 2004 into the Hill Country chapter and the Kerrville chapter, which maintains a clubhouse on Water Street.
“We opened the clubhouse about a year ago to have a quiet place for us,” Wolf said.
Inside the small, white building is a bar, a large-screen television, couches and a few tables. The walls are covered with Bandidos’ regalia and photos from events, motorcycle runs and of past Bandidos.
One of those pictures is of the father of one of the Kerrville club’s members known as Lenny. Life Wolf’s father, Lenny’s dad was a member of the San Antonio club until he was shot and killed in a bar fight in 1983.
Lenny, who is a full-time electrician and father, said he loves riding with the Bandidos and spends his weekends on his bike.
“I’ll get up to go for an hour, and I won’t come back for four days,” Lenny said. “To be a Bandido, you’ve got to have a woman who understands.”
At 36-years-old, Lenny is the youngest member of the local club. The oldest member, a 64-year-old retired Army veteran known as Mustang, is probably the most active, according to Wolf. Mustang spends his time traveling the state attending the funerals of service men and women who have died in Iraq.
Another active member is Doug, who lives in Marble Falls. Since 1999, he has put 215,000 miles — about 35,000 miles per year — on his Harley-Davidson.
“Every day’s a good day to ride,” Doug said. “Some are just better than others.”
He got his first bike in 1967 and joined the club two years ago looking for someone with whom he could ride.
“This isn’t the Lions Club or the VFW,” said Doug. “You don’t join just to see if you like it. You’ve got to know if you want to be a Bandido.”
He said it’s the brotherhood associated with the Bandidos that is important to him. The club’s unofficial motto is “You live Bandido. You die Bandido.”
“One bleeds, we all bleed. I would lay my life down for any of these guys,” Doug said.
Unlike some of his fellow Bandidos, Doug doesn’t drink and is proud of his 16 years of sobriety. He also admits that, even if Bandidos aren’t the bad boys people say they are, there is a certain advantage to that aura.
“When you walk into a place, people move out of your way,” Doug said.
Wolf said that bad-boy image also can work against the Bandidos. He said walking into a bar, there’s likely to be someone ready to fight and show how tough they are by picking a fight with a Bandido.
“I’m not saying we’re choir boys,” Wolf said. “We stand our ground if we have to.”
He also said he’s proud that the Bandidos aren’t drug dealers or members of organized crime. Of course, he said they’re always looking for a good time and are the first ones there any time there’s a party.
“I’d drink a bottle of vodka and dance on top of the bar. Of course, I’d fall off and hurt myself, too,” Wolf said.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Comment
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo Reprints
Get Daily Times photos from the latest games and scenic locales.
Special Sections
Visitor's Guide
Real Estate Guide
Hill Country Life
Medical Directory
Home Directory
|
