The Spotlight Network on Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club by Dr. Shawn Michael Brannan

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[00:00:01]Brother Speed out in Burley, Idaho. They do amazing charity stuff. They actually have gone and and done um every year they do a Christmas drive and they raise over 50 $60,000 to get toys. [music] >> You're watching the Spotlight Network starring Hollywood's news manators.

[00:00:22]They now believe a single [music] member.

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[00:00:34]>> This is Spotlight with Logan Crawford streaming on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

[00:00:45]>> What happens when a group of outsiders stop searching for a place to belong and decides instead [music] to build their own brotherhood by any means necessary?

[00:00:55]I'm Logan Crawford and right now on Spotlight, we sit down with Dr. Sha Michael Brandon, author of an amazing book. It is called The Grim Reapers Motorcycle Club: The Start of a Legacy.

[00:01:09]It is a gritty story of loyalty, violence, survival, and the rise of a motorcycle club determined to become a force no one can ignore. This is the start of a legacy where family is chosen, enemies are everywhere, and the road ahead is anything but peaceful.

[00:01:28]We're delighted to have this very talented author join us here today. We thank the team for helping us put him on TV today, and we ask viewers like you to support authors like him by subscribing to our channel and by purchasing his amazing book. The links are below this interview. Doctor, thank you so much for joining us here today.

[00:01:46]>> Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Great to have you on the show. Let's talk a little bit first about the inspiration.

[00:01:52]Why did you decide to write a book, a novel about a motorcycle club?

[00:01:57]>> Yeah, you bet. So, you know, for my lifetime, uh especially most of my adult life, uh I've been kind of in that world. I was part of an outlaw motorcycle club um for close to 10 years. Um but really dabbled in that uh that lifestyle most of my life. Um you know, growing up in this area in the Pacific Northwest, there's a lot of clubs and a lot of the club culture. uh my family uh grew up around it and uh I was just kind of one of the first to to make that leap into the actual club world. Um and so after being in it, exposure to the culture, the different club scene um and some of the situations that clearly mirror some of the uh the stories in the in the story itself. Um, I thought it was time that I can write down some of my stories and it started this first book out of the four and [snorts] it's kind of branched off to other few books that have you know blended the line between outlaw and and executive and you know how to balance life and the struggles of the club life and you know how they say in the club world it's family job club but what they forget to tell you is eventually the club becomes family and then it turns into club club club and uh you lose your way really quickly. So, um, you know, I got kind of out of that darkness, if you will, and, um, saw the light of the the club lifestyle and and took what I could from it and then moved on to the next chapter in my life.

[00:03:16]>> Tell us a little bit about illegal motorcycle clubs. Um, you know, we hear a little bit about it. It's kind of a subculture that few people know about, which is what's great about your book is because you kind of shed some light on it. You know, we hear about Hell's Angels and things like that for noviceses like myself. Uh, I'm sure you guys laugh at Hell's Angels if you're part of a illegal motorcycle club, but when you say illegal motor, are they doing drugs, crime? What's going on here?

[00:03:44]>> Well, and I think that the main part of it's not um there's certain terms, right? So, when they say you you hear OMG or outlaw motorcycle gang or illegal motorcycle club, it's, you know, really it really is just a motorcycle club. Um, you know, the the angels, I've met a few of them. I know a few of them. They're amazing people. Mongols, VOS, you know, you hear a lot of this the negative stuff, but you also don't hear a lot of the positive stuff they do. Um, I will say, um, the outsiders in Tacoma, Washington, the neighborhood they're in now, um, used to be riddled with violence and gangs and drug use and and stuff like that, since they moved in way, you know, probably 20 years ago up there, it's probably one of the safest neighborhoods in Tacoma. Um, you know, and so that was one of the lures, right?

[00:04:29]I I wanted to be a part of something, you know, being a combat veteran myself, coming home and being kind of lost in the civilian world. You know, the motorcycle club world was something I was familiar with. Um, very welcoming group of people. You know, before I started, I never even knew how to change the oil in my motorcycle. Um, and then by the time I left, I had built, you know, 12 motorcycles. I enter them in shows still from time to time. And you know, it really, you know, I I learned a lot from, you know, people such as a man named Big Dave, who's a very influential person of of mine. He's been around since the 70s, what they call an old-timer. [snorts] Um, and so there was a family dynamic, you know, where these men would take you under their wing and and teach you a trade that's kind of a lost trade anymore. And and uh for me, that was what it was really apart. You know, are there drugs? Are there, you know, illegal activities? Absolutely.

[00:05:18]But I will say what makes it different is that you know you you hear the term 1enter right and so a lot of these clubs um there's 1enters within the organization there's always going to be a few bad apples you know but one of the main rules on in any club really is if you bring heat on the club then you know you're not a productive member and odds are you're not going to be in the club very long. Um they have their ways of of getting people out [clears throat] if you will um if they're if they're you know bringing in bad things. So, you know, for the most part, yeah, you know, the clubs are are really good, but, you know, there's always going to be some, you know, cuz every chapter is a little different. They kind of manage themselves that are doing things that are kind of below wire and and u you just have to manage that. But every every individual member has a vote.

[00:06:05]Every individual member is a man first and and no one twists your arm to do legal things. I mean, I will say I was a part of things that, you know, now I I would have made better choices, but at the time, you know, the the being a part of something was so so much more important than maybe doing the most legal choices, if you will.

[00:06:25]>> Yeah. Are motorcycle clubs getting crazier and crazier? Because it used to be you just see some a bunch of guys with similar jackets driving down the highway and that kind of thing. Now there's so many people riding on, you know, one wheel in the back, one front enders in the front. You see all kinds of crazy stuff. The rice rockets that people are flying on nowadays. So talk to us a little bit about the evolution of the uh bike club or I guess some would call it a gang depending on, you know, their vernacular.

[00:06:56]>> Yeah, I mean absolutely right. I mean you do have some that are very much they go from the street gangs to a motorcycle and now they they have the same gang mentality. Um, some of the more old school clubs you'll find like, you know, the Angels or, uh, Brother Speed is is a real popular one here in the Pacific Northwest, one that I was a part of. Um, you know, they their old school traditions stay within. I mean, it's very ingrained. You know, you build choppers, you do brotherhood stuff. Um, and it's it's what really kept me with that. Um, you know, for me, uh, what what you hear a lot of when you when you think of these types of clubs is, you know, the the negativity, you have a lot of people since like the show Sons of Anarchy, right? People started seeing, you know, the potential, um, illegal activity and it started bringing people around the clubs to experience it. Um, and then you would have those ones that are coming in for all the wrong reasons.

[00:07:47]Um, and a lot of them were because you hear the term patchitis. You know, they wanted to be a part of something for the notoriety. And if you have somebody that's just coming for the patch on their back and they miss the whole point of the brotherhood, um it usually brings a lot of heat, you know, it's somebody that's got an ego or, you know, short man syndrome or something like that and they're trying to create a a status for themselves, you know, and that's why it's, you know, whenever I brought a prospect in or brought somebody in, it was always, you know, you're a man first, you know, you know, an old school term that you hear um that I tried to keep those old school traditions, you know, the man makes the patch, the patch doesn't make the man. And so, you know, being able to keep that together is really important. Now, there's a lot of startup clubs. Um, in some areas, it's easier to just start something up, put a patch on your back. Um, in other areas, like here in the Pacific Northwest, it's not so easy. And it can lead you to some pretty uncomfortable conversations when you get 30, 40 guys from another club rolling up on you saying, "What are you doing with that on your back, and who are you?"

[00:08:46]Um, there's some old school traditions, you know, being able to go to one of these more dominant clubs and and saying, "Hey, I'm wanting to start something." Um, you know, here's what we're thinking. Um, that's kind of the old school traditional way of doing it, which is one of the reasons why prospecting is so important. You never want to just get a patch on your back because there's a lot of traditions and expectations that you learn as a prospect. Prospecting is a great opportunity. I feel like it um really makes sure you know what you're getting into because for the most part the old school tradition is it's a lifetime commitment. You know, it's not something you just do for fun, you know, especially if you're going into it really understanding what you're you're volunteering for. Um but yeah, so back in the 70s, to be honest, around here there was there these guys were shooting each other off of bikes. You know, the old-timers will tell you about stories between, you know, the Gypsy Jokers and the Brother Speed members, you know, at war. uh because Brother Speed was coming into the territory. Nowadays, these guys are arm- in-armm um hanging out together. It's a very close network of people. You see Brother Speed, Free Souls, Outsiders, Gypsy Jokers, all riding together in one pack, which you know, back in the 70s would have never happened. Um so those types of organizations that have been around since the se since the 70s have really evolved to be more, you know, about the community. The Free Souls here in Vancouver have been around for 50 years and they do a big Easter egg hunt. They do a lot of community stuff. It's great.

[00:10:11]Um, you know, I wish that a lot of the other clubs would jump on that, but to be honest, the Free Souls are an amazing organization. Um, they do a lot of good things and they're international.

[00:10:20]They're in Australia, Germany. Um, they're, you know, very strategic and smart in how they do certain things. Um, you know, Brother Speed out in Burley, Idaho. They do amazing charity stuff.

[00:10:32]They actually have gone and and done um every year they do a Christmas drive and they raise over 50 $60,000 to get toys for um people out there and kids. It's it's it's amazing they can do when people put their minds to something.

[00:10:45]Absolutely. And for a positive thing.

[00:10:48]Um, you know, there's a lot of, uh, mom and pop little clubs starting up and and some of them are getting static and some of them are going and doing it the right way. And some people are going into it because again, they watched a TV show that for some reason or gang line undercover and now they're wanting to be a part of something and not really the right reasons. And it can lead to again some very uncomfortable conversations and patches getting pulled and, you know, fights breaking out. It still happens today. But you know, it's also too much violence brings you know, bad business to the clubs too. No one wants the negativity.

[00:11:23]>> Yeah, absolutely. Are you still part of a motorcycle club?

[00:11:27]>> No. So, I I left uh Brother Speed um for I would say differencing of of opinions.

[00:11:33]You know, I'm I'm big about positive and productive growth and and participation in the community. Um I started a nonprofit here in the area called Clark County Bike Night. And so I wanted to focus more on that, focus on my family.

[00:11:46]Um, you know, I'd uh become sober at that point. So, you know, with it's hard to stay sober in that world. It's not impossible, but um you know, my my priorities changed a little bit. A lot of um people I was close to started to leave. And so, I really focused on that.

[00:12:01]And by doing so, you know, I decided, you know, to put a patch on my back for the what I called a motorcycle social club. I learned about it when I was in Australia hanging out with the free souls there. Um, and they have a very big social club um, uh, theme or whatnot over there. And so [clears throat] I brought that here. Um, it got a lot of negative attention. I was one of those guys that got paid a visit by about 40 other members from different clubs saying it's not going to happen. Of course, being stubborn and and just doing whatever I want, um, I made it happen anyway. So, we adjusted some things to try to keep keep the piece um as far as the patch design and things like that. But, uh you know, the the motorcycle social club, we've raised, you know, on average 5 to6,000 a year for the veterans assistance center. We work with the veterans uh VFW here in town. Um we've actually started working with a domestic violence shelter. And so, and what we do is we actually have motorcycle club theme events, so like poker runs. Um we'll do charity auctions. We raffled off a whole motorcycle this last year all on the and to raise money for um our community members that need some help. And so that's kind of where my my focus is now along with you know all my other little projects and stuff.

[00:13:14]>> Awesome. For the folks at home who haven't read your book um and it's a series of books right of the the Grim Reaper Motorcyclist Club.

[00:13:22]>> Um give them an overview of the story.

[00:13:25]>> Yeah, you bet. So really what it is and and again it's a lot of it is aligned with my own my own life experiences obviously with some situations changed and names are obviously changed for a lot of reasons but so the Grim Reaper series you know I I came up even with just with the name because I I did I I heard um I got a message on messenger from a member of there there is a club um over in the Midwest called the Grim Reapers and he reached out and was not very happy with with me using the title um But, you know, if for in all reality, the grim reaper to me is is a sign of eternal judgment. Um, you know, reconciliation, resiliency, there's a lot of other factors to it. And I explained that to him and I think we came to an understanding. But, um, you know, everyone's very protective over their past name and so on. Um, but the Grim Reapers to me is is really a story of a group of guys that were a part of different clubs um, within this Pacific Northwest area. So, it does have some of the culture and the politics that go on here on a regular basis. And it's a group of guys that come together and they wanted something more. Um, you know, most of them came kind of like with me. I was part of a a bigger club that was active and productive, but the chapter that I was a part of really didn't do a whole lot. Um, it was it was not as productive as it said in the bylaws, you know. Um, and I wanted more and I kept getting, you know, a lot of push back just like these guys. A lot of push back. they didn't like where things were going and so they tried to make a change within the organization, kept falling on their face and so they basically said, "Forget it. Um, we're going to do our own thing and we're going to make it to uh so the other people leave us alone basically." So, it's a group of these guys that are all very experienced in the club world. They come together, they already know the the opposition they're going to get, and so they come together to form a true brotherhood um and a motorcycle club that they feel is what it's meant to be.

[00:15:17]So there is an old school aspect to it.

[00:15:19]Obviously there is some of the legal activity to it only because um that stuff really happens. Um a lot of these things do happen. Um a lot of these backdoor deals happen. A lot of the uh you know violence happens. You know there's nothing you know nowadays a fist fight can lead you to a felony. It can lead you to jail. Um back in the day a fist fight is just how you you took care of things. And if you're going to go to jail with a felony for a fist fight, why not shoot somebody? You know, and unfortunately, I feel like that's a lot of what goes on today. And so, you know, for these guys, they came together. They already got opposition. They knew they were going to, and so they needed to make a name for themselves. And so, they do some things and and some illegal activities. And and they come together to to fight some of the, you know, cartels that they come in interact with, other motorcycle clubs that don't like them running, you know, what you call a bottom rocker, so a state rocker. don't like them in town at all because it takes away from some of their business whether it be illegal or otherwise. And so these guys are coming together to really focus on that aspect of leaning on each other. And and unfortunately, just like in any family, there going to be disagreements. There's going to be guys that are, you know, they want a title, they want a patch, they want some money. You know, greed can can completely poison a a whole chapter. and you know and they deal with all those things but then they come together at the end stronger and and they um you know unfortunately it's that lifestyle is not a very peaceful one at times and as soon as you close one door or you know have one back alley deal where you've got some peace there's somebody else that's trying to you know [snorts] create some problems and and they deal with all that both internal and external conflicts for sure.

[00:16:57]>> Very cool. There's four books in the series so far.

[00:17:00]>> There's four books in the series um and they all kind of are aligned. Uh the fourth one, Redemption, is a little bit later in the in in their years, you know, after they've kind of got established, but I really like that one a lot, too. Um but yeah, there's four books in the series. Um potentially more. Just kind of depends on on how things go.

[00:17:18]>> Yeah.

[00:17:19]>> You left a big fraternity, the military, to join another fraternity, a motorcycle bike club. Um and the book centers on men who create their own family, if you will, through the club. talk to us a little bit about the need particularly nowadays when men are so disparaged. I mean, we're like we're like a a group that's hated unfortunately right now.

[00:17:42]Um, the need for fraternity, the need to be with other guys, and the need for a man to act like a man.

[00:17:49]>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I all great questions and it's truly is is a part of our our social aspect. I mean, especially coming from the military. I mean, you know, you serve uh with some of these men and women that you do a lot of stuff together. You lean on each other in a major way and um it's hard to to it's you almost become addicted to it, right? Having knowing somebody will be there to catch your back. Um obviously there's always some backstabbing everywhere you go. But, you know, for me, um I I even told that to my um one of my uh sergeants when I was transitioning out. I said, "I'm I'm basically transferring units. You know, I'm going from one unit to another." And um and these guys were exactly that. You know, they we called each other all the time. Um you know, we would always have our weekly church, you know, our our weekly meetings, and then we would have what's called cheap drinks night or an open house where we'd open up the clubhouse to, you know, community members. Um we'd maybe go out bar hopping and then um bring some, you know, if they're interested in coming and checking it out, coming back to the clubhouse and getting to know us. And, you know, >> [snorts] >> um everybody, you know, was only a phone call away. We would hang out for no reason. Um, in the beginning anyways, that's how it was. And it was a lot of fun. Um, you really felt like you were a part of something. You know, at that time I was going through a pretty nasty divorce. Um, and I was even more lost, right? You you you've got a for me it was an unfaithful wife and kids and and life and jobs and and it was just like you felt lost. And I already felt like a square peg in a round hole going from military to the civilian world. And so I just didn't fit in. And um I fit in with these these misfits that uh love to get uh dirty building bikes and asking questions and and um doing stuff together. And a lot of them were like father figures and um and a lot of them I still talk to today even though I'm considered a you know an outb and so they're supposed to not talk to me but we still talk. I mean there's a lot of members I still talk to from a lot of different clubs all over the world and you know it is what it is. I mean, the whole out bad thing, I could go on about that because I think that's, you know, a chicken thing to be honest and excuse my language, but >> Oh, no worries.

[00:19:58]>> Yeah, it's it's very much um a coward's way to uh to brand somebody so they can't go to another organization in my opinion, but there's also a lot of stuff out there about that. Um but yeah, for me, I mean, it it's it's really hard. I mean, and I've written other books on the the transition challenges of military folks. Um, you know, my book, Shoot, Move, Communicate, and Steven Lelo are a couple titles that really focus on the challenges that veterans have today. And, you know, and I hate to say it, but, you know, I've I've been to a lot of funerals for young veterans that come home that commit suicide. And and and I'm not going to lie, dude. I've I've been on I've been on a bridge completely hammered. And uh, you know, that idea to jump, it just seems to take so much stress away. And I mean, I I can tell you the story where I was over at the Ross Island Bridge here in Portland, just got off work, was at a strip club making all kinds of horrible choices.

[00:20:51]And um I was like, I'm just going to do it. And so I'm over there and and then I saw my daughter's face. And and uh and I I haven't told her yet cuz she's she's only nine, but when she gets older, I'm going to tell her the story of the day she saved my life. And I just saw her and and um somehow I got into my Uber app and signed up. I still can't get into my Uber app today. I don't even know how I did it. And uh you know the Uber showed up, sent my butt home and uh yeah, it was it was an experience and and I've had different dark moments like that before, but fortunately the VA's done some amazing things and given me a lot of support and uh and in fact when I started taking advantage of some of those resources, I met a whole group of men and women that had the exact same story dealing with the same challenges and and uh it was really interesting, you know, and I think for me the the motorcycle club really brought a part of that unity and and some of the guys that I really, you know, linked with and um you know, connected with I still talk to and and then there was a lot there were just some some fake people and and a bunch of punks in my opinion and and I didn't want to be around people that were just going to be toxic and so it just came for a time that it just wasn't for me anymore. But um or at least that organization wasn't. I've tried other organizations to be a part of, but because of my status of out bad because I left, you know, they won't they won't touch me, which is kind of crappy because now I'm like I'm kind of back to square one. But I've got a good crew of guys here with Bike Night and um we're doing good work and and I just focus on the positive stuff that and and writing about it.

[00:22:22]>> Sounds great. I'm glad during your crossroads in life you wound up on this side and chose not to make those bad decisions. Let me ask you this. Have you envisioned your uh book series as a TV series at all? I mean, Sons of Anarchy, like you said, was a huge hit.

[00:22:38]>> Yeah, I mean, and I'm I was a huge fan of that. I think Kurt Sutter and his vision um and Dave Lebr and and all those guys that, you know, you know, Dave being um you know, a Hell's Angel out of Oakland chapter, you know, as you know, bringing these real experiences to the screen. I mean, I think there's a lot to it. Um, I would love to see this as a TV series or even a movie series that really integrates uh, you know, integrates veteran, you know, again, transitions and because the the the veteran trans transition challenge is still very active in there. And I mean, the VA is full of guys and gals that are suffering from substance abuse and mental health disorders. And I really feel that with all the veteran clubs that are popping up and motorcycle ministries that are popping up, there is a huge need for that support. And I think this could be a great movie that not just talks about the veteran community itself and the challenges that they're still facing today. But the longing to be a part of something and it could be illegal, not illegal, but they want to be a part of something so bad that their moral compass can really be swayed. And I think that that's something that is a huge challenge. I would even be uh safe to say that I think some of our houseless population, especially here in Portland, Oregon, where it's just everinccreasing. There's a lot of veterans in there, but the the um houseless community, they are so connected and their communication is there. They're a part of something, right? You can be a part of literally anything. Um, and if this could be a movie that not only shines light on the continued challenges of our veteran community members, but also how motorcycle clubs are continuing to grow and and be productive. Um, but yeah, there's you're going to come into conflict with clubs that are well established. So, if you're going to start your own, um, this could be a really interesting and a cool movie on again a group of these guys coming together. They know they're about to face some serious obstacles. Um, and then they, you know, h whether they overcome it or not or how they integrate it or some guys might patch over to an established club. I think it'd be a really cool movie to be honest.

[00:24:42]>> I agree. I think it'd be a great series of films or a great TV series because you really have tapped into, like I said right at the very beginning, a subculture that few know about and your story is very, very original, feels very, very real. So, Hollywood, if you're listening, here's uh four books that are ready to go to be adapted into screenplays. It would be wonderful.

[00:25:03]Doctor, let me ask you this. You know, I just came back from a trip along Route 66, which was very, very cool. And obviously, a lot of bikers love that road. Do you kind of feel that motorcyclists in general are sort of like the last cowboy in many many ways or the last cowboys? Um because, you know, the road is freedom, the bike is freedom, and uh I was wondering what your thoughts are on that. Oh, I totally agree. Um, in fact, I was down at um I rode from up here in Vancouver with a friend of mine uh down to Arizona Bike Week. And so, we rode the 2,000 miles or so down there. And it was absolutely, you know, it's an iron horse. Yeah. You you uh get on there, you throw your bag on the back, and you have a direction.

[00:25:49]You have a destination, and it's which direction do you want to go? And it may change a whole bunch. Um to me, I call it wind therapy. I mean, I really can sit on there and process so much stuff, you know, and and really, you know, kind of drown out the noise of the world just to listen to the wind and the rumble of the motorcycle and and uh get to your first stop and you you gas and go and and you look over your buddy and you just kind of smile and you got the bugs in your teeth and you just, you know, it is it's very very freeing and um you know, especially for me like I got to go to Tombstone, Arizona and and I got to go on my motorcycle and I've always wanted to go there and um it's kind of like you feel like a cowboy, right? You you especially when you're getting out into these old ghost towns and stuff and um and you're just looking around, you just keep thinking about how it could have been back in the pioneer days and how it could have been in all these different um scenarios. But there is a real freedom of the road and and I'm a a I'm an avid motorcycle enthusiast, you know, and um and I it didn't always start that way, but you know, the first time I got on my bike on a real long trip, you know, I saw the therapeutic part of it. Um, and it brought me and a few guys, you know, when I was with Brother Speed together and and I think about that trip a lot. It was our summer of fun run and it was um, you know, it was amazing and unfortunately, you know, since, you know, I've left a lot of, you know, a few of them have left and and a couple of them I can't talk to or they won't talk to me. But, you [snorts] know, it is what it is. But, you know, there is that, you know, those lost roads and and some places you can go that you can't go in a car. And and the experience alone, I mean, you can ride for 5 hours and it feels like 15 minutes. It's so cool. Um, and obviously you sleep great that night because you're so stimulated with what's around you and making sure you're riding safe, but you know, you can just look off into the the horizon and just go and throttle on and yeah, it's it's a it's a wonderful experience.

[00:27:39]>> Oh, >> yeah. I ran actually ran into a biker uh while I was in Williams, Arizona, which is kind of like uh leads right up to um Grand Canyon and I was taking pictures of an old diner and he happened to be standing in front and he started waving and posing for me. So I took a bunch of pictures. I air dropped the pictures to him. He was doing the ride by himself so he was grateful to have some pictures of his trip. But, uh, it was, uh, a really cool chat we had and it seemed like, you know, a beautiful morning for him to be riding solo down this beautiful bit of Americana that is celebrating 100 years right now.

[00:28:14]>> Before we leave you, let me just ask you, do you still ride? What do you ride? And, uh, tell us a little bit about your life right now.

[00:28:22]>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I've Yeah, I got the bug a long time ago, so I'm always riding.

[00:28:26]Um, I just had a my last chopper that I built. It was a 74 shovel head. Um I sold to a friend. Um and I've got uh uh but I've won a few shows with that. My FXR chopper I built I um also just sold that. And so which those are fun, you know, they're fun, but you keep a tool bag on you for a reason. They're homeu bikes. Things fall off, things break, and you got to adapt. Um so right now I'm kind of spoiled. I've got a 2026 Dino Low Rider uh ST, which is awesome.

[00:28:55]Um I'm adjusting that and making it me.

[00:28:57]So, it's going to be my Superman themed bike. And then I've got a um I've got another Dina that I ride uh just for fun. You know, it's um it's a little bit more of a bagger. It's got the two seats or the the two up seat on it so I can take a passenger with me. Um and like I said, yeah, I did Arizona Bike Week.

[00:29:15]I've got um the hog wild run coming up at the ocean shores and then I've got um I'm going back down to Arizona here in another month or two to to hang out with the American Legion down there. I became a member of that post when I was down there. And >> um and then I ride to and from work. Um the only times my motorcycles get washed is when it rains and I I'm out riding. I mean I I ride year round. Um I try not to ride in the snow anymore. That's just if it catches me. Um, but my hands have I I still have numbness sometimes because of how cold it it would get with even with the best gloves.

[00:29:49]>> But, um, I love to ride. Um, it's a huge part of my life. Um, I love to work on stuff. It's usually older stuff because these newer bikes you got to have a, you know, multiple computers to work on.

[00:29:59]But, you know, Volcano Harley down in Gladstone is is a great resource. Um, you know, and they super helpful. Their texts are awesome. So, if I have any big issues, I can definitely go down there for sure. But, um, yeah, I I love to ride. Um, I I can't can't help it. I'll always ride probably.

[00:30:18]>> You don't get the guys whose hands are up here and then they're constantly going like this.

[00:30:23]>> Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:24]>> That's got to be tough. You're not getting any blood into your hands, right?

[00:30:28]>> Yeah. Well, especially if you have like a backpack or, you know, a heavy vest on or something like that. I've I've had I mean I've I think the tallest bars that I've have right now are just 14s, but they keep your arms pretty pretty parallel, you know, but it gives you a lot of control. Um yeah, the ones that are like the 21 in and you're up like this there those are just bar hoppers. I mean sometimes I've seen some old-timers um I can think of one guy right now. I mean he's an old um Gypsy Joker and he's got a 96 inch motor and he still kickstarts that bad boy. Um and big old ape hangers. He's a legend in his own in his own right, for sure. Um, and within the motorcycle culture. And these old guys, they they still out and they're doing a rigid, too. So, it's got that hard tail. I mean, I've I've ridden some ridges. Those are fun until you hit a divot in the road and then it's just it totally realines your spine, but it's part of the cult. It's fun. It's It's pretty rad. It's pretty rad. It >> does look fun. Like I said, from what I saw in Arizona, I didn't realize Arizona was such a big biker place. I'm glad it wasn't there during biker week. I got to tell you that. But uh it looks like a blast. The name of the book in this book is a blast. It's a series of books actually. Grim Reaper Motorcycle Club is the name of the series. It's written by Dr. Shawn Michael Brandon. It is a gritty action-driven story about a group of bikers who build their own family, form their own club, and fight their way through enemies, violence, and impossible odds as they begin their transformation into a feared outlaw brotherhood. Doctor, thank you so much for joining me here today.

[00:32:01]>> Really, thanks for having me. I appreciate it.

[00:32:03]>> I appreciate your time, your insight, the wonderful work you've done on this book, and your service [music] to this country. I salute you, sir. Thank you so much. To the folks at home, I'm Logan Crawford, thanking you for your time this time. Until next time.

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