Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Brisbane Dogs Motorcycle Club




I was a member of the Brisbane Dogs Motorcycle Club in 1974 - 1976.
The exact length of time I was in the club and the actual dates are not 100% clear but that was the approximate time.
I was about 18 at the time and most the other members ranged from 18 to their mid to late 20's. The president at the time, was James Devlin.

One of the Devlin brothers, of which there several, James was the most charismatic and certainly had leadership skills and the qualities needed to be the leader of a gang of teenagers.
We all drank too much, smoked weed, rode our bikes too fast and had to deal with all of the consequences of our actions.
The other Devlin brothers also had their fair share of charisma.
Dibbles ( not 100% sure if that's right) or David, was a leader of the pack in the school yard. That's where I first met him.
I had been transferred to the Macgregor high school in Brisbane's outer suburbs from Balwyn High School in Melbourne. My mother had re-married and her new husband had been transferred to Brisbane to open a new branch office.
The first day at my new school was"formative". I was put into a nearly all boys class. There was one below average looking girl and later in the year we got another girl, definitely an above average chick who, upon being thrust into our midst, must have wondered what she had done to deserve this lot of smart arse little bastards.
At lunch time I noticed the all the usual suspects race down to a spot blow the school oval, shaded from view by a row of trees. I guessed that down there was where all the action was, so I wandered down there to have a look. Sure enough, there was Dibbles, holding court and smoking a cigarette with all the attitude of the Marlborough Man. They said shit, there's the new kid, and at that, I produced my own pack of cigarettes and was immediately accepted as a rabble rouser and brother ne'er do well.

The first one of all my new mates in Brisabne to get a bike, was Dave Grant. He was the oldest and we all used to hang out at his place after school, smoke, bullshit and pick on any poor girl that wandered past.
Dave bought a brand spanking new Yamaha TX650.

This is me and Dave Grant. Dave is on the right.
This was taken sometime around 1975
These where the Japenese answer to the dominant Triumph, Nortons and BSA's motorcycles of the time.
There wasnt a lot of choice in those days. The Honda Four had only been around for a couple of years, but the Yammy was a real prize.
The Dogs had been a club for a little while before Dave got his bike, but as it was the neighborhood gang, it was kind of expected that he would start hanging out with them. Not long after Dave got his bike, I bought my frst road bike, a Yamaha TX 500 8 valve twin. It was second hand when I got her, but she only had 500 Klms on the clock. It was still under warranty.
I bought it off the brother of a school mate. I dont remember why he sold it, but I took it back to the dealership where he bought it, and they gave it, it's first service. During the service, the apprentice who was working on it, let it vibrate off the work stand and it fell onto the floor, damaging the bike but also chopping off the finger of the poor apprentice who was working on it.
the dealer fixed the bike, but I never heard what happened to the apprentice or to his finger

13 comments:

  1. Hi Ollie,
    Love your story re the Brisbane Dogs. Have you more, as I lived in Mt Gravatt at the time and always saw them. Also is it possible to send a clearer picture of the colors. Would love to get a honda 4 now.
    Jenny
    jennyoz@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Billy, Go over to Wordpress or facebook and google Brisbane Dogs MC.
      There is going to be a reunion in Brisbane later in the year

      Delete
  2. hey this is Kim, my mum Vikki remembers you all very well and those days. She still sees some of ya's occasionally. A reunion would be good but :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi there, i know this is an old thread but i was an original member of the dogs - fist sargeant of arms - voted in - James was president - George was VP? - other members:

    Unsure of some peoples real names...

    Collin and Chris Folley
    Barry ? (smelly)
    (Maggot)
    Dave Balcom (monkey)
    Edward Gilligan (waard)
    (Nails)
    Noel Harker
    Ken Sharp


    At the time there was approximately 30 members, memories are a bit vague but more talking on the subject would help. Have got some photo's would be great to catch up with some old stories?

    PS Ollie, skeeta asked if you remember Fiona Luton??

    cheers, Billy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Billy.
      Sorry for taking so long to reply to this.
      I woke up this morning and for some weird reason, this blog was on my mind. I just set up a Facebook page for the Dogs as well. Brisbane Dogs MC.
      I also wrote a reply just like this one that promptly disappeared when I tried to post it.....

      I do remember Fiona. She was my girlfriend for a very short time.
      I remember that she took me home to meet her family. They were mortified that that she had brought home a Member of the Dogs.....
      I remember as a beautiful young woman. I remember a camping trip we went on together with Pauly from the Confederates and his girl Jan MacDonald.
      Jan had a brother in the Dogs, Duncan MacDonald.
      Its amazing as I'm writing this, names keep flashing up.
      I'm going to try and get this whole thing going again. I had some great contact from past members but I never really took it any further.
      Lets hope this doesn't vanish again.....

      Delete
    2. Hi there, i know this is an old thread but i was an original member of the dogs - fist sargeant of arms - voted in - James was president - George was VP? - other members:

      Unsure of some peoples real names...

      Collin and Chris Foley Colin had a Yamaha TX 500 like mine. I remember some of the Rebels paid him a visit one night during the "Bikie Wars" and smashed it up...
      Barry ? (smelly) Yep, he had a mate called Mark Farr. Barry I believe might still have a set of the original patch....
      (Maggot) Trying to remember his name. He rode a Red triumph that changed its colour to black one night after being chased by the cops....
      Dave Balcombe (Monkey). See the blog. Poor old Dave passed away years ago. His daughter contacted me after the blog was first published but that was several hard drives ago....
      Edward Gilligan (waard) Waard died on the end of a needle...too young.
      (Nails) Remember the name. He went inside when I was a member. I remember when he got out. He was built like a brick shithouse...
      Noel Harker.
      Ken Sharp

      Delete
    3. Maggots name = Peter Haig
      Barrys name = Barry Sherman ( had a blue 750 honda 4 ) still lives Braodwater rd Mt Gravatt

      Steve

      Delete
    4. Hi Billy.
      Ive moved this blog onto wordpress, an easier blog to use. I can move the replies for some reason. I'll keep working at it. I had an email from someone who knows the Foley brothers who now live in Mornington but I lost the bloody email or message. You don't know who it was do you?

      Delete
    5. Billy, Go over to Wordpress or facebook and google Brisbane Dogs MC.
      There is going to be a reunion in Brisbane later in the year

      Delete
  4. like your story from the old days, god bless happy new year

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Billy, Go over to Wordpress or facebook and google Brisbane Dogs MC.
      There is going to be a reunion in Brisbane later in the year

      Delete
  5. Hi guys I'm "monkeys " little sister Annette Balcombe I'd love to catch up and talk about the fun stupid things my brother did, please email

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Annette! I remember you as a little girl, playing in the street. we lived across the road from you when we moved the Bridsbane. this link might not work anymore so email me back on olly@downiecommercial.com.au and I'll send you a link to the facebook page, Brisbane Dogs MC. I nlook forward to catching up. Olly

    ReplyDelete