March Profile

NATIONAL AMBASSADOR

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

`DANCER’ Dan Colao got his “N” patch back in March 2005 when he was promoted to “NATIONAL AMBASSADOR.” He received that distinction for the many years of traveling to far away places and promoting our BFMC.

In December 1999 he and JQ traveled on their motorcycles through frigid weather to Los Angles to deliver a love offering to Jim Hunter and Red Dog Dalgren in which both were in separate hospitals.

Up on arrival they stayed with ORIGINAL WILD ONE Johnny Roccio (dob 6-23-26) and his wife Jeannine. Dancer established a close common bond with the Roccio’s, Jim Hunter, Red Dog, and Jim Cameron during those few days. Later he befriended Vern Autry, Jack Lilly and ORIGINAL BOOZETTES Virginia `DAGO’ Day and Teri Forkner.

Dancer has always been welcomed back and does maintain frequent visits to our ORIGINALS. He is the bridge between the beginning and the current club members.

A couple of weeks ago Dancer flew out to L.A. Dago picked him up at the Long Beach airport and drove him to the Roccio’s house. He said while she aimed and pulled the trigger on her jalopy…he found reason to catch up on some praying !

During the four days he stayed with Johnny - Jim Cameron (dob 4-10-24) came over. They talked about BIKES, BIKES, HOT RODS, BIKES AND MORE BIKES. And of course all of that related to the good old days when everyone was younger and wilder.

MR. AMBASSADOR thanks for keeping the WILD ONES going.

DANCER’ is truly a traveling “BFMC NATIONAL AMBASSADOR.” In the past 10 years of membership he has traveled on his motorcycle from the EAST COAST to the WEST COAST at least once per year…every year. Actually he has gone to California several times each year since 1999. He is well known and liked by all of our ORIGINAL WILD ONES.

He has been on all our long GYPSY TOURS except one. And he sandwiches in numerous other bike trips, to include Sturgis, Daytona, Four Corners and most all Spring National Meetings. Once we road to Memphis for such a meeting and at its conclusion I asked Dancer which rout he wanted to take on our way back home. He said, “I think I’ll go by way of Chicago. I’ve got a sister up there I haven’t seen in a long time, and since I’m this close I think I aught to run by and say hello.” It didn’t seem to be in the neighborhood for me so we parted company. Two days later he was back home, almost beating us. Of course he rode all the way from Chicago to Fort Worth only stopping for gas and an occasional snack. He’s one tough IRON BUTT rider.

Last year Dancer rode to Bike Week in Daytona and met up with Charlie Lecach, a French writer. Dancer educated Charlie about the BFMC, gave him some patches and stuff in which were used in a special story. Charlie featured a five page story in “FREEWAY EXPRESS” (The top biker magazine in Europe) about the Boozefighters. We got a tremendous increase in hits on our National website from Europe after that and it lead to the forming of the French BOOZEFIGHTERS TRIBUTE GROUP. The two of them are going to meet again during Bike Week March 5, 2005.

Also last year Dancer and some others were interviewed and filmed by GREYSTONE PRODUCTIONS while in Sturgis. It will be aired on the History channel soon. (See WILD WHEELS in our Archives section)

Dan Colao didn’t just fall off the turnip truck and become a Boozefighter. He has been riding motorcycles ever since he was 13 years of age. He started a career with American Airlines as a mechanic back when they were still flying DC-3’s and DC-6’s. Forty-five years later he retired as a Chief Mechanical Inspector. He can boast that he never lost one of his planes because…THEY DON’T FLY UNTIL DAN SAYS THEY CAN! And he never leaves anything to chance.

After retiring from AA he joined the Boozefighters to keep his life exciting and adventurous. Ever since he has been traveling far and wide spreading the good word about our club. Dancer is truly our most accomplished “NATIONAL AMBASSADOR.”