ABOUT US...

In 1945, Emil Kreofsky, the owner of Columbia Harley Davidson, formed a motorcycle club in conjunction with the shop. They used the name of the club when it was located in Los Angeles: “Black Cats Lucky 13 M/C”. The club changed the name to Vancouver Black Cats M/C and obtained an AMA charter under that name in September 1945.

The club met at Columbia Harley Davidson for some time and then moved to Sifton Grange Hall. (When this writer met the club in 1956, they were at the Grange Hall.) At that time, the members rode to events.  The Gypsy Tour at Long Beach Washington was the biggest “run” available and the members watched the Australian Pursuit races on the beach, rode around sight seeing, and rode in the parade through Long Beach. They also had poker runs, hare and hound runs (off road) and field events.

The Black Cats leased land for a 7/8 mile TT track on 39th Street in what is now Vancouver from Ken and Daisy David. Seventy members strong, the club put on scrambles, mud scrambles and general play days at the track. The competition members competed and the road members put the races on.  Everyone worked hard but we always had fun as well.  We held other events at the track location at times.  Members of the Portland Black Jacks M/C joined us for some of those events.

Eventually, we lost the track, when the David’s found it necessary to sell the land. Most of our members became road riders.  A few competition road riders hung on, and one of them and his wife still attend the club picnic each September.  Membership dropped to thirty and then began another upswing as road events became more available. The American Motorcycle Association sanctioned Road Runs, Field Events, & Poker Runs.  The membership put on several events each year.

In the 1960’s, member Helene Redman was voted “Most Popular & Typical Woman Rider” of which there were only 10 in the nation each year.  Helene rode to Daytona Beach, Florida to receive her honors.  In 1976, Sandy Ruff, was elected to this elite group and flew to Daytona Beach where she rode a borrowed bike on the track for the presentation.  Boy that was exciting!  The club put on AMA sanctioned Poker Runs, Map Runs, Road Runs (timed events), Grand Tours, as well as Campouts where we put on a Poker Run and Field events over a weekend with meals, dancing, and lots of yarn swapping.

During recent years, as our membership grew older (and better), those still having motorcycles rode events put on by other clubs and our membership dwindled. Now we are beginning to grow again and we invite you to join our chapter.

For more information on joining our club, click the “Contact Us” button in the margin.