Two skaters roll with the crunches at a Bay City Bombers game. Metropolitan's Harmon Leon takes on the Bay City Bombers By Harmon Leon Hayward, California, is home to the Bay City Bombers, formed in 1954. Many derby greats were spawned here. Hayward is to roller derby what Texas is to serial killers. A banked oval metal track lies in the center of the Hayward High gym.
Several skaters zip around.
Others sit on the bleachers, putting on skates. Collectively, this is not a pretty bunch. Big in the '70s, the game's still populated by original cast members. I'm younger than some players by a good 20 years. A red-haired boy on Rollerblades leans over the rail.