Where it all started

The Club began in a garage in historic Bastard & South Burgess Township in Delta, Ontario, Canada in January 2002. With a keen interest to belong to a motorcycle riding club like the one he left behind in Toronto when he moved to Delta, Ernie Olivo decided to place an ad in the local paper to see if anybody would be interested in joining a club that he wanted to form. The response was impressive. Some of the originals made their living from working and racing motorcycles; Fred Crawford, his misses Marilyn rode a 41 Indian, Barry Brown collected old bikes and parts used an 1840 stone mill somewhere in Westport where the group would gather and discuss transmissions and original paint along with Paul O’Reilly and a couple of others, usually over a beer or 2.

The Club was originally intended as a chapter of the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group - CVMG. The club's name became, with a bit of controversy, 'Old Bastards Vintage Motorcycle Club’ - OBVMC or OBs for short. Ernie was the first President and remained so for several years. Meetings were held monthly at various members shops and the group expanded.

Members over the years have included a police officer, a teacher, Recorder Times newspaper columnist Mike Hart, a figure skating coach, musicians, photographers, mechanics, taxi drivers, insurance reps and more!

As a group we are motorcycle enthusiasts, riding and fixing brought together by an interest and in some cases a passion for older 2 wheeled machines. Today the Club is incorporated as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe riding, fundraising activities and motorcycle related events.

Since many of our motorcycles and their owners are a bit older and some of us a bit cranky, the name 'Old Bastards' suits us well.

SENATOR PROUD TO BE A BASTARD!

Senator Bob Runciman, former MPP for the rural eastern Ontario riding of Leeds-Grenville, once told the provincial Legislature that he was proud to be a Bastard. He also accused Ontario Premier Bob Rae of being a Bastard.

“Proud to be a Bastard” refers to local Bastard Township people protesting the amalgamation of local townships in the province of Ontario.

The occasion was the 20th anniversary of the township of Bastard and South Burgess, which is named after a... Bastard. Rich in Loyalist Ontario history, this is also the area that became home to that great Canadian patriot, Benedict Arnold, after the U.S. War of Independence. Because of his loyalty to the Queen, Arnold was given 1,800 acres of prime land in the Bastard township area. Many Americans, on the other hand, are taught that Arnold was one of the worst traitors in American history. To our friends south of the border, he was... a Bastard.

Runciman told the Legislature that residents of the Bastard township provided pins, one of which he was wearing, that said, "I'm Proud to be a Bastard." This was the first time that MPP's could remember Liberal and NDP MPP's all agreeing with something that Runciman said. Runciman went on to say that an original song had been commissioned. (To be sung by Bob and Doug McKenzie, eh! -- ed.)

"Premier Rae and his family have been longtime summer residents of the township," Runciman continued. "Although I frequently disagree with many of his government's initiatives, we're proud to have him as a resident and a legitimate Bastard." There was wide agreement from both Liberal and PC MPP's on this point.

Bastard Township Ontario Canada from whence comes our name.