Once upon a time      

..There was a couple of guys, who during their teen ages, spent their time after school at “Sofia” Youth Centre in the south of Stockholm. During this time, they were driving mopeds and developed their interest in mechanics and it was then natural to continue with motorcycles. The leaders of the Youth Centre helped to organize so that they were able, free of charge, to use the cellar.< One of the guys began to import old police-Harleys from Belgium in the late 60th, which ended up at “Sofia”. They found new owners right away and bikes began to be built… Another of the guys wanted to have the cellar to run a business within the bike building, but he faced strong opposition when the purpose of the place would be for bike builders with an interest in the riding, friendship and brotherhood and to develop their knowledge in mechanics. That ended the business idea for good.

The bike building intensified and after a while it appeared up more guys with the same interest. They came from different parts of Stockholm. They had heard about the bike building at “Sofia” and some of them had a Harley or a chopper at home. It was unhealthy to park your bike in the street even in the 60th so they took their bikes to "Sofia" where they could share experiences and tools and it was a lot safer.

They drew large yellow lines to the floor in the cellar and then they built up booths. The booths were needed so that every one would have their own space for their bike. They talked now about to form a biker club which also became reality after a while. One of the guys was active in different associations so he got that knowledge and became the chairman.

They decided that the name "Sofia Hogs" was good and related to the district. Patches acquired, but no back-colors at that time, only a small patch on the sleeve. The first patch is a bit of a cult, they decided for an eagle. They used the eagle of the U.S. dollar, and turned the head. The patch was handmade in Pakistan, it was a good thing in itself, but the eagles beak looked like a parrot, see the picture.

"Sofia Hogs" was born…… .. the year was 1968.

This was during the great "hippie" -era, with all that it entailed. The "hippie"-era still, however, remain largely at the club, that’s what makes "Sofia" so special. When they went for a ride, it was rarely they could go together. They dispersed as soon as they came out on the street and was seen again when they arrive to their destination or when they came back to "Sofia", no one had a driver's license. The cups got nuts even then and it wasn’t many police cars. They could come running right out into the street to stop you.

1970 "Gärdesfestivalerna" a big music happening in the early 70th in Stockholm. They received their inspiration from Woodstock in the US. This musical movement was a protest against the commercial evolution in the society. "Hippies" and "Red Socks" in a big mess and of course Sofia Hogs. The guys at Sofia Hogs had no interest in politics but the music was damned good. The bands that played were well known in Sweden at this time and this type of events was rare, so of course we were all there.

The cellar at the Sofia Youth Centre was getting too small, the club expanded.

1971 - 72 They moved to a big stable with a great view, also in the south part of Stockholm. It was an old horse stable of The Pripps breweries. They didn’t use it any longer and with help from one of the heads of the Breweries, Sofia Hogs got to rent it.

It was a huge building and high to the ceiling. No booths needed to be built cause the stables booths were still in place. It was the spot for 2 members of each booth. The place had a fantastic view from the terrace outside. You could see all sailing tournaments from the first balcony, as well as on new years eve, we had the best view.

1972 "Hog Farm" a large bunch of American hippies came in buses to Skarpnäcks Airport (now residential area) outside Stockholm for a musical-flower-power happening-week. They had everything in their busses, they could even deliver a child in there. There was a huge lightshow and good music. They also served all different kind of “tea”. "Sofia" remained there throughout the week.

1973 The first biker parties were hold in Flaten, a beach area just outside Stockholm. It was the guys from “Blåsut” which arranged them. They had to borrow beer from Sofia because it came so many people. The guys from “Blåsut” became members in Sofia a few years later, and The Flaten parties continued but then held by in Sofia.

There were no chopper clubs at this time…. hardly any clubs at all. The biker clubs that existed were only touring riders, no choppers or Harley. "Sofia Hogs" is the first chopper club in Sweden, according to MCM (Motorcykelmagasinet) the first in Europe. Twin Club was formed in 1969. Denvers and Carolina was formed in 1973 and they became the best friends of Sofia.

1975 In mid-70's had the club New Year parties. Many people came and everyone was dressed as unrecognizable, it was damned fun cause most of the guys could really keep “the face” throughout the night….

Kebnekajse which was a known group at the time, played often at "Sofia". Sometimes, they came down and jammed purely sporadic. Some of the members jammed with them, it was awesome, and the rest of the gang played on small drums or anything else they could find.

There were a lot of pin ball tournaments and football games of course. That the football game stopped at all was incredible.

The building and modifying of the bikes continued, the guys learned how to put the machines together gradually. After finishing the winter season they took their bikes to the Hot Rod Show in Stockholm, the only show that was focusing on modified cars and bikes. The interest for the building bikes grew, the bikes were really cool but…… .. tours on the road, however, could take a long time, not by the ride but by repairing. One trip they ride about 120 km in 6 hours, or was it 6 km in 12 hours…..

It was like this the Swedish biker-era began, with bikeriding, bikerparties and bikerclubs. Sweden was a paradise for bikeriders from all over the world at this time.

1976 The club did a bike show at the Modern museum in Stockholm as a protest and an alternative to the commercial "Hot Rod Show" which was the only alternative at the time. The show was very successful, of course there were so many other kinds of visitors, not only bikers.

1978 Now the community had decided to tear the stable down. The members fought long to retain the "place" with demonstrations and everything in its power, but it should be demolished. They teared it down and build up Old people’s homes on the spot, which later became tenant-ownership apartments. This was a major defeat, not only for the club but for the urban landscape of Stockholm as well.

Now Sofia Hogs had to find a new place. The club was among other places offered an old house at a hospital area. Foolishly enough they turned it down because they couldn’t get a trike through the entrance. That they deeply regret today. The chairman of the club was involved in different associations and knew how to deal with people at the Swedish government. He visited them several times in the case. The offer the club received was far off and on a totally wrong side of town, in Akalla, north of Stockholm. "Sofia" was a "South"-club. They didn’t want to move outwards, but they had no choice, they moved to Akalla, where the club still remains today.

The club changed chairman because the old one had other undertakings. A new chairman would be selected and the ticket fell on another gentleman which instead of chairman now was called president.

After much work to get the place in order, there were now room enough to got a proper workshop with machinery of various kinds and room for varnishing (lackrum), and there was now a real kitchen.

They were not supposed to stay in Akalla, it felt more like a stopover. Some of them still see it as an intermediate landing, despite the 30 years at the this place.

1979 A great advantage with this place over the years has been the access to land around it. It has done that they have had significant parties, especially in the 80's before it turned up so many biker clubs in Sweden that had to share the weekends. The first party in Akalla was 1979 when they named the party “RUN TO THE FUN “, and that name still remains and the party is hold in august every year.

On the Hot-Rod Show in 1979 the club members built up a copy of the front of the old clubhouse. It was the last protest for tearing The Brewery down. At the scenery they put up an army tent and placed the bikes around so it looked realistic. It was a success, but it didn’t bring the old clubhouse back, it was already gone.

1982 Some of the members went down to the French Riviera for a warm nice sun. They found a camping in Toulon, where they struck down. This camping was after this trip considered as a biker-camping and the members came back to it for several seasons. Sofia Hogs became good friends with the owners of the camp site.

1983-1993 will be printed later…………………

1994 The Sofia Hogs Picture-book was released and they had a release party at the Culture House of Stockholm. Several of the club's bikes were displayed there and large posters of the members were set up at the huge windows against the streets. Source of the book was a couple of guys who thought it would be cool to document the club in pictures. They followed the club for a few years and as a result, this sovereign picture-book came out. (There are still some items left to buy, if someone is interested.)

The club received permission to hold dragracing events at Barkarby airport, that became a great thing. Supertwins and other drag-bikes competed for the fastest time……will be printed later…………….

2004 In the middle of the night the guys were raised by the fire in the barn that was connected to the clubhouse. Some nabors in the area called the fire department, and it was panic at the club. Some of the guys are living there, but before they knew it half of the barn had been burned down. In the barn, there were coaches, digger machines and a lot of the club's equipment for the parties. Everything was completely destroyed. Fortunately, the insurance covered the damage to a large extent, but the barn will never be built up again. The municipality has already taken that decision.

Well, the time has passed and some members have come and gone but the club remains the same, it has a very deep characterized ground to stand on. No major turnover of members, only recently some has left the club for other activities and some has left the earth life unfortunately, so an exchange of a few has taken place. Many old members are still there and so is the old soul, heart and will and that will hopefully stay for a long long time to be. The cool thing with Sofia is that if you occupies yourself with other activities for a while, you can always come back to "Sofia" and feel that the soul remains the same.

The bike-building has progressed and today there are some nice bikes being built at Sofia. It is first and foremost, the newer members which account for the enthusiasm, until the point when they’ve been members for a while, then it stops, sort of, they have probably then became real “Sofians”. As most Bikers know in Sweden, the older “Sofians” bikes looks the same as when they were built in the 60 - 70 - and 80's they never change them, maybe one or other starter engine will be put in and some repair jobs on the engines maybe...