Hell of a road block

ABOUT 500 members and associates of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang have thumbed their nose at authority by riding from their clubhouse at Browns Plains to Yatala and back in a massive show of force.

Members from as far away as New Zealand and Sydney are believed to have joined the large convoy of hundreds of bikies who thundered down the M1 during what was the club's 16th annual 'Good as Gold' poker run at the weekend.

The Gold Coast Bulletin watched the gang's clubhouse in Tradelink Road at Hillcrest and again during the ride after viewing a poster advertising the run, which promised thousands of dollars in cash giveaways and prizes for participants along with a 'free feed'.

 

Supporters and police lined the streets as the mass of bikies left the clubhouse for destinations including Redland Bay and a tavern at Yatala before returning home.

Several members were spotted doing burnouts and riding on the wrong side of the road during the run while motorists just tried to stay out of their way.

The poker run is traditionally used by motorcycle gangs to raise money and to recruit new members.

But bikie sources said they believed the run was also designed to be a show of force to other clubs such as their rivals, the Finks, whose numbers on the street have been depleted after a string of arrests landed several members behind bars.

In 2006, five people were wounded after a gunfight between the Finks and Hells Angels at the Royal Pines Resort ballroom.

More than 1800 people were at the venue when bikies used guns, knives and fists, as well as throwing chairs during the riot.

The Hells Angels found themselves on the receiving end of even more bad publicity after a man believed to be at the centre of the gunfight, Christopher Hudson, allegedly shot three people in the centre of Melbourne last year, killing one.

Mr Hudson allegedly went on the run and is believed to have visited Hells Angels members to have his tattoo 'removed' before eventually handing himself in.

Mr Hudson was a member of the Gold Coast chapter of the Finks before he defected to the Hells Angels in late 2005.

The move infuriated Finks members, leading to the violent clash at Royal Pines, when more than 40 Finks stormed past outmuscled security guards before Mr Hudson was shot.