To honor March as Black History Month, Twisted Road is tipping our helmets to some Black motorcycle riders who were not only champions on two wheels, but pioneers in a sport that, historically, wasn't welcoming to riders of color. From starting all-Black biker clubs to building iconic motorcycles and bringing home championship wins, Black riders continue to break records and barriers. Learn more about some of the badass Black riders who have revved into motorcycle history and paved the way for the others.
Bessie Stringfield
Widely-known as the "Motorcycle Queen of Miami," Bessie Stringfield was the first Black woman to ride solo across the United States (eventually taking eight trips in all). She broke the glass ceiling for both women and Blacks in the moto field. Stringfield was also one of the select few civilian motorcycle dispatch riders for the US Army during WWII. In 2000, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) created the "Bessie Stringfield Memorial Award" to honor outstanding achievements by a female motorcyclist. In 2002, she was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall Of Fame located in Pickerington, OH.
Benjamin F. Hardy
Ben "Benny" Hardy, opened Hardy's Motorcycle Service Shop in Los Angeles soon after WWII, and was a custom motorcycle builder best known for crafting some pretty iconic motorcycles. Most famous was his "Captain America motorcycle," which he built for Dennis Hopper in the epic motorcycle film Easy Rider. Hardy, also called "King of Bikes," customized the moto from a Harley-Davidson Panhead. His desire to share his vast knowledge of motorcycles made him a highly-regarded mentor to other South Central LA motorcyclists.
Clifford A. Vaughs
Like Hardy, motorcycle builder Clifford "Sonny" Vaughs was a Black motorcycle builder known for the choppers in Easy Rider. According to an excellent article in Ride Apart, "Dennis Hopper acknowledged Ben Hardy and Cliff Vaughs on the director commentary of the Easy Rider DVD in 2009, but it wasn't until 2014 when Fonda finally made things right with a written letter to Vaughs, saying "...I gave Cliff a sketch that I had drawn in Toronto Canada on September 27th, 1967. It was a rough sketch of the teardrop gas tank... It is not too late to give you and Ben Hardy the praise you deserve in designing the iconic bikes in Easy Rider." Nicknamed, "Billy Bike," Vaughs was also a civil rights activist and filmmaker, and longtime member of the Los Angeles chapter of Chosen Few Motorcycle Club.
Tobie Gene Levingston
Tobie Gene Levingston founded the East Bay Dragons (originally started as an all-Black car club) in 1959. It was the Bay Area’s first all-Black motorcycle club and one of the first in the nation. Levingston spent more than six decades as club president with the intention to provide a place for fellow African Americans to gather, away from the rough streets of Oakland. He was also wrote Soul on Bikes: The East Bay Dragons MC and the Black Biker Set which offers a glimpse into a time when "when it was a revolutionary act for a Black man to ride a Harley chopper."
Tommy "Tombo" Bolton
LA-born Tommy “Tombo” Bolton started riding at the age of 19 and became one of the most accomplished Black motorcycle drag racers of all time. Tommy's greatest accomplishment was in 1990 when he became the first Black racer to race over 200 mph at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis, TX, just over 30 miles outside of Dallas. He continues to inspire riders with his TomBo Racing company, building unique bikes that go 180-214 mph and putting his own twist on them with cool designs and even better function.
Rickey Gadson
The legendary Rickey Gadson learned to ride young. In fact, he was able to maneuver a powerful motorcycle by the age of nine—even though he wasn't tall enough to touch the ground while seated. He rode on to become an 11-time drag racing champion. Gadson also hosts the Caffeine and Octane Show in Atlanta, GA and is a drag racing instructor, passing on his skills and passion for two-wheels to others (including his nephew Richard Gadson who is earning his way to the top of the drag bike racing world).
Jason “Captain America” Britton
Britton, known as the "Godfather of Freestyle Stunting" is a straight-up legend. He has earned his position as one of the most well-known sportbike freestyle stunt riders in the world through grit, hard work, dedication, and determination. His athletic style of riding takes stunting to a new level and has truly elevated and transformed it into an art form. Britton has set the bar high for what it means to be a freestyle rider.
Porsche Taylor
Porsche Taylor, founder of Black Girls Ride (BGR) magazine, was born in Honolulu, and raised in Los Angeles. Her passion and love for all things motorcycles has helped her to become a well-recognized and accomplished rider who has clocked thousands of miles on the open road. As her love of motorcycle culture grew, so did her curiosity about other women—specifically women of color—in motorsports. She quickly recognized this group of trailblazers was under-represented. With a desire to showcase these riders, Taylor founded BGR in 2011 to highlight women from all walks of life who love to ride—both professional racers and everyday riders.
James “Bubba” Stewart
American motocross racer James "Bubba" Stewart, is often referred to the "Tiger Woods of Supercross” or "The Fastest Man on the Planet" due to his athletic talent and speed. He has competed in both the AMA Motocross and Supercross Championships. Bubba was only four years old when he had his first motocross race; he won 84 amateur national titles before he was 16. In 2002, Bubba turned pro and in 2008 won every race of the AMA Motocross season.
Twisted Road Tip: To learn about another inspirational female Black rider, check out our profile, Female Motorcyclist Gevin Fax on 3 Times That Motos Changed Her Life.
