The Club started in 1974 as a pub idea by Michael Gallacher and Stephen McKenzie, to support local road racers, this idea did not last long however, maybe another few pints.., before the aim changed to start a proper motorcycle club in the Renfrewshire area, the nearest established clubs at that time apart from the Vintage Club in Uplawmoor, were the Loch Lomond Club and the Mercury Club in Glasgow.

After an initial meeting in the Houston Village Hall with as many local motorcyclists as could be found the Club was formed.  

Strathgryffe means the valley on the sides of the river Gryffe – The main river that flows through Bridge of Weir where most of the clubs initial membership came from, now you know!. Why is the Club's badge green and black? – it comes Texaco’s corporate colour's at the time and we had an idea we could get free overalls for the Clubs sponsored riders and maybe some limited sponsorship and the idea of the colour's stuck until we changed over to red and black in the mid 90's.

The bike logo on the badge was nicked from the Motorcycle Mechanics magazine logo of the early 70's and the badge was originally supposed to be a 50p shape but came back from the manufacturers the wrong shape!..

A few of those original motorcyclists are still members of the Club today – John Hamilton, Stephen McKenzie, Alex Rankin, Ian Dominick and Iain Morton.

So armed with a plagiarised copy of the Loch Lomond Club Rules and Regulations and £5 each chipped in from the new elected Committee to provide some initial funds the Committee got to work.

The club was originally based in the Fox and Hounds in Houston for a few years then moved to the Cochrane House Hotel in Johnstone, club membership rocketed and we ended up with about 200 members by the early 1980's.

A move was forced upon us and the Club took on a nomadic lifestyle having a very brief move to Court Yard Hotel in Paisley, then a move to the Lugton Hotel in Lugton, then back to Johnstone in the Burnside Tavern, then the Railway Inn in Howwood, then the Johnstone Burgh Club in Johnstone, then the Pinetrees Inn in Crosslee, then a move into Ayrshire at the Balgray Inn in Barrmill, followed by a return to the Railway Inn in Howwood and then to the Trust Inn in Kilbarchan.

Our membership is has been as high as 200 and as low as about 15, but currently stands about the 20 mark.

The Club has held many types events over the years, Club Runs, Sponsored Walks, Games Nights, Treasure Hunts, Disco's, Dances etc. But its longest running achievement has been its 24 Bluebell Rallies.
                                                                                                Stephen McKenzie                                                                                          Secretary

8th May 2006