What’s in a name?

Seventy years and very few know.

2018 marks the 70th anniversary of Bulldog Riders Motorcycle Club, Inc. of Millington, MI. Now, isn’t that a mouthful? Well, how about these: Bulldog Riders, Bulldogs, Bulldog MC, Bulldog MX, The Dogs, The Southwick of Michigan, or just Dogs. To eighty-four members and seventeen life members, we may simply call it The Club, The Track, or any of the previous mentioned names. Those are just names and that is it. Bulldog Riders MC is more than any name it might be called; it runs much deeper than that. Bulldogs is a feeling, a dedication, a passion for the sport of motorcycling and especially motocross (MX).

How did the club get a name like Bulldog Riders, anyway? Please bear with me while I take you on a journey of one of the oldest clubs and MX tracks in Michigan.

While researching our Bulldog history one day in my office, I looked up the original incorporation documents. I was reading them just as an old friend stopped in to say hello. It was Johnny Ishmael.

I got up from my desk, hugged him, and asked, “Are you any relation to a William Ishmael?” He replied enthusiastically, “Well, yes. That was my father.” What an interesting afternoon we had there in my office. Fortunately for the Bulldog Riders MC—his mother Awanda was still living. She provided me with much of the history, and most importantly, the year we were established. Our articles of incorporation state: “To promote better motorcycling for social, educational, and personal enjoyment. Also for the holding of regular meetings of the club, for the promotion of field events, endurance runs, and group riding, and to do such things as will better the sport of motorcycling.”

Back in 1948, a handful of friends who shared a passion for motorcycles decided to form a motorcycle club. The club was fledging, and they did not have much in the way of finances. Because of this, they would meet monthly in each other’s homes.

PART 1 OF A SERIES by Stephen R. Phillips

The charter members were: Steve and Arlene Hess, William and Awanda Ishmael, Glen and Mrs. Hamilton, Manford and Mrs. Neuman, Sr., Gordon and Mrs. Harvey, Gerald and Lee Faiver, George and Mrs. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Ward, Mr. and Mrs. Angel, Mr. and Mrs. Doty, Harry Clark, and Ken Monroe.

On May 6th, 1950, William and Awanda Ishmael, Glen Hamilton, Manford Newman, Gordon Harvey, and George Smith bought a small parcel of land. It was approximately nineteen acres, situated on North Belsay Road in Millington, Michigan. Until this time, Bulldog Riders had been holding motorcycle events at various locations. But now they could hold events on land that they actually owned.

On February 1st, 1951, the group signed the articles of incorporation for the name Bulldog Riders Motorcycle Club. In 1952, the club wanted to join the AMA, in order to hold AMA-sanctioned competitive events. Unfortunately, they were one member shy of having the required amount of members to join at that time. In order to qualify for membership, they decided to put down Carman Ishmael’s name—the daughter of William and Awanda. She was five or six years old at the time.

During this time period, motocross had not yet migrated to the United States. We were calling these events “scrambles.” The members and their racing guests were riding big four strokethumping singles, like Triumphs, BSAs, Ducatis, and the like.

On June 4th, 1957, the group quitclaimed the land to the corporation at a declared value of $200. They built the first clubhouse in the southwest corner of the property.

Remember, this was a time without today’s technology, when people had to make phone calls or come together to communicate. I spoke to Tony Proffer after a Michigan Vintage MX series race in 2016. She is the daughter of life members Ted and Grace Proffer. Her comment to me was she felt closer to the families of Bulldogs than she did some of her own aunts and uncles. This was not meant in a negative or disparaging way. The club did a lot of activities together. Not just at the club grounds riding, meeting, watching movies, and having potluck dinners, but also on trips to places like Cedar Point, Daytona Bike Week, and the like.