Hi, I've just come across this whilst doing some research on another subject. I started riding 'bikes in 1970. I visited the DZ twice, also Alex's Pie Stall. Dave the Rev (or Dave the Vic - take your pick), wasn't there when I was, but he's popped up in Media.articles on B'ham over the years. I used to go to the Tow Rope, and spend nights watching the drunks being thrown out of the Night Club opposite (Was it the Opposite Lock or similar?), other than that it was out to Corley on the M.6 as not many places were open after 11, and few welcomed motoircyclists.
The 'bike scene was changing then, in the 70's & 80's I was a Mechanic working for a major Dealer in B'ham and saw how the Jap Superbikes easily took over from the old & tired British bikes that were left around. Bringing newer people in Motoircycling who would otherwise have had cars. I also saw that, whilst the majority of riders were decent folk, there were some scum about. Bike thieves. We in the B'ham area knew who they were and where they lived. If you had a nice Bonnie, esp an Export one, they'd be after it. A number of my mates lost bikes to these lowlifes. A few are still around, although, like most of us who were Teenagers in the late 60's, we are now in our early 60's ! By the late 70's the 'Hells Angel' culture saw some following that lifestyle and congregating in certain locations. Violence, theft & trouble usually accompnaied these people. You mention Wolverhampton, they had especially rough gangs up there. I believe some of these folk were killed, either in Accidents or being shot. They all seeem to have expensive Harleys now, not an export Bonnie in sight !
To answer a few points......the Sutton Centre location was "The Cowsheds" a series of wooden bus shelters next to the Dog P.H. The Hayes Bros, Nij, Pete & Chris were around Falcoln Lodge, but I can't say where they lived exactly. There are quite a few old D.Z members who meet at Bassetts Pole, but not on a regular basis, some date from the start of the club, (Which used to be a night shelter for the City's down & outs at one time), to those who attended in it's last years of the early 70's.
The Badges, yellow with two interlocked rings with 'D' and 'Z' in are rarely seen now.
I know several Bob Johnsons...Which one are you? Tinny or Antiques, or another?
Hope this helps. P.
, they lived over falcon lodge sutton, last seen nich on stand at bulldog bash 97/98, hope they are doing fine and settled down by now!
