Hollywood Stereotypes of Villainous Bikers

Robert Stewart’s profile (Times,. Feb. 15) of Rent-A-Gang was enlightening, to say the least. I’ve often wondered where Hollywood got their biker stereotypes, and now I know. They just call Dutch Van Dalsem, and he sends over an instant villain, bike included, at a reasonable rate.

The American free enterprise system is alive and well, as evidenced by this group making a living catering to an industry that often won’t take the time or money to see past the worst and most destructive stereotyping.

Those of us who are bikers take umbrage at this ongoing image in the entertainment industry. Recently, on an episode of “Sidekicks,” the hero was going undercover as a biker, but first, he had to make himself “dirty and smelly” to be convincing.

Two Clint Eastwood movies, “Any Which Way You Can” and “Every Which Way But Loose,” portrayed bikers not only as dirty, but hopelessly stupid as well. A little artistic overkill, that, but it’s nothing new in film and TV. Idiotic and unreal, but alas, nothing new.

Over the years, we’ve all seen politicians at the federal, state and local levels convicted of crimes. Do we all see universal crookedness among politicians? A very few teachers and priests have been convicted of child molesting, but does that make all teachers and members of the clergy pedophiles? There are currently two stories in the news, about police officers accused of brutality and even murder. Are all cops then brutes and murderers?

I would certainly be the first to admit that a lot of bikers have been convicted of a variety of crimes, probably more than would be indicated by a statistical analysis of their percentage of the general population. But not all bikers are criminals, any more than all Italians are members of the Mafia.

It seems appropriate that Rent-A-Gang can be found on Hollywood Boulevard, posing for tourists’ snapshots between acting assignments. Among my friends who are bikers, lounging around isn’t a high priority.

I know bikers who are engineers, editors, mechanics and construction workers, and a variety of other things. When they’re not working, they’re taking care of their homes and families. What little time that’s left over is often used for riding, not posing for the entertainment of tourists or producers. The Hollywood image seldom fits reality, though.

The next time I get shoddy service at a restaurant because I’m 6-foot-2, weigh 200 pounds and have a full beard, I’m going to remember Dutch Van Dalsem. The next time I’m denied access to a campground because I’m on a motorcycle, I’ll think of Rent-A-Gang. And the next time I hear about a biker who is denied any help during a roadside accident or emergency simply because of a vicious stereotype, I’ll think real hard about Dutch and his company and the people who hire them, and I’ll be sure and tell all my friends about them.

The next time there’s a biker toy run, maybe Dutch will be there. Or when a group of bikers get together to donate blood, maybe Rent-A-Gang will show up. When a biker gets no protection in court from the motorists who flatten him out of negligence, maybe his family will turn around and see if Dutch is there in court, taking part in their outrage. Then again, probably not. Dutch’ll still be in Hollywood. Where he belongs.

DONALD J. HUNT

Simi