Jess Bravo still packs a piece everywhere he goes.
A piece of local history.
By MIKE FITZGERALD
Associate Publisher/Executive Editor
Jess Bravo still packs a piece everywhere he goes.
A piece of local history.
Bravo, who turns 82 years old this week, is one of the original members of the Top Hatters Motorcycle Club.
He first rode into Hollister in 1937 at the age of 16. This weekend, he made the trip again on his Harley to the Hollister Independence Rally.
“There are a lot more bikers now and a lot of nice people,” said Bravo on Saturday, as he stood under the Top Hatters tent in front of the Whiskey Creek Saloon. “Back then there were a lot more radicals. And everyone had a lot less money.”
The Lemore native, who now lives in San Jose, was of course wearing his signature headgear.
“That’s how we got our name because I had a top hat,” he said.
Bravo said he bought his first Harley in 1941 for $550. In 1990 he bought another Harley, this time shelling out $11,000.
“They went up quite a bit in 50 years,” he said with a smile.
Bravo said he rides about four times a year. And the Hollister Rally has always been one of his favorites.
“There are some new buildings, but downtown is pretty much the same,” he said. “Hollister hasn’t changed that much.”
Bravo said there are only about five original members left in the Hollister-based Top Hatters, which started in 1947 and is one of the oldest clubs in the country.
One of the founders is his 79-year-old brother, Joe, who also made the rally and sported a top hat of his own.
Bravo said that he wasn’t much of a fighter, but that everybody was tough back in his day.
“Or at least they thought they were,” he said.
He took a break from riding while being married for 35 years. But he said there were plenty of girls before and after.
What about now?
“I’ve only got one girlfriend and here she comes,” Bravo said with a grin.
“He’s telling you the truth there,” said Conchita Solomon with a laugh, as she greeted her top-hatted man.
How long will Bravo continue to ride?
“As long as I can,” he said, the roar of motorcycles filling the steamy, late-afternoon air. “I still love to ride.”
