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''This article is about "American-style" motorcycle clubs (MCs) as a specific cultural phenomenon, not motorcycle riding clubs in the generic sense of the term.''
A 'Motorcycle Club' (MC) is an organized club of motorcycle riders who follow a series of traditional rules for participation in the club, including, but not limited to, a group of elected officers; a probationary period for new members; the wearing of a specific club patch (or patches) adorned with the term "MC"; a measure of privacy about their internal structure, bylaws, and membership; and some level of sworn allegiance to other members of the club.
The typical internal organization of a motorcycle club consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, road captain, and sergeant-at-arms [1]. Localized groups of a single, large MC are called 'chapters', and the first chapter established for an MC is referred to as the 'mother chapter'. The president of the mother chapter serves as the president of the entire MC, and sets club policy on a variety of issues.
There are a great many clubs for motorcycle riders who refer to themselves generically as motorcycle clubs. Though they are grammatically correct, these clubs are not MCs in the strictest sense of the term, and members of MCs (as defined in this article) regard these other clubs as 'motorcycle riding clubs'.
MC members are not usually referred to by their given names, but instead refer to each other by nicknames, or 'road names', sometimes even displaying their road name on the club vest. Whether or not this practice was carried over from the military aviation history of colorful pilot callsigns is not known.
The earliest motorcycle clubs were started following World War II by pilots looking for the same thrills they experienced during the war, though the reputed oldest motorcycle club is the Yonkers MC, founded in 1903. Other notable early clubs include the San Francisco MC, founded 1904, and the Oakland MC, founded 1907.
The membership process for most motorcycle clubs begins as a guest or "hang-around", wherein an individual is invited to some club events or meets club members at known gathering places. If the guest is interested,or a club asks the hangaround to join he may become a member. If accepted, they remain a prospective member, or 'prospect', for some minimum time period, participating in some club activities, but not having voting privileges, while they are evaluated for suitability as full members. Some clubs refer to a potential member as a probationary member or 'probate'. Though probationary status is usually reserved for those that already have the necessary knowledge and experience to be members. For example, if an entire chapter switches from one club to another, the members are Probationary members for some period of time.
Some amount of hazing may occur during the prospecting period, ranging from the mandatory performance of menial labor tasks for full patch members to sophomoric pranks, and, in the case of some outlaw motorcycle clubs, acts of civil disobedience or crime. During this time, the prospect may wear the club name on the back of their vest, but not the full logo, though this practice may vary from club to club.
To become a full member, the prospect or probate must be voted on by the rest of the full club members. Successful admission usually requires more than a simple majority, and some clubs may reject a prospect or a probate for a single dissenting vote. Some form of formal induction follows, where in the new member affirms his loyalty to the club and its members. The final logo patch is then awarded.
Full members are often referred to as "full patch members" and the step of attaining full membership can be referred to as "being patched".
Most one-percenter MCs do not allow women to become members. Membership in what authorities term Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs is often racist as well as sexist,[2] and membership in the Hells Angels is closed to African-Americans, Native Americans,[3] and Jews.[4]
The primary visual identification of a member of an MC is the vest adorned with a specific large club patch or patches, predominantly located in the middle of the back. The patch(es) will contain a club logo, the name of the club, and the letters "MC", and a possible state, province, or other chapter identification. This garment and the patches themselves are referred to as the "colors".
The colors for some clubs can consist of a single, one-piece patch, while other clubs may have a three (or more) piece patch. In the latter case, the top and bottom patches are referred to as 'rockers'. Not all 3 piece patch(es) are 1% or outlaw club, few outlaw/1% clubs have a big one piece. A club can also be an outlaw club and not be 1%(or Diamond club) or vice versa, although very rare.
The club patches always remain property of the club itself, not the member, and only members are allowed to wear the clubs colors. A member must closely guard their colors. Allowing ones colors to fall into the hands of an outsider is an act of disgrace and may result in loss of membership in a club, or worse.
One MC successfully sued a law enforcement agency for the return of a members colors following a police raid.
Members of motorcycle clubs are often viewed in a negative light by traditional society. This perception has been fueled by the movies, popular culture, and highly publicized isolated incidents.
One of the earliest and most notorious of these occurred in Hollister, California in 1947[5][6] and is now dubbed the Hollister riot. Whether or not an actual riot occurred is debatable, but there was a motorcycle rally in Hollister from July 4th to July 6th of that year that was attended by about 4000 people. Several newspaper articles were written that, according to some attendees, sensationalized the event and Life magazine ran an article and a staged photograph of an intoxicated subject on a motorcycle parked in a bar. The film ''The Wild One'', starring Marlon Brando, was inspired by the event, and it became the first in a series of movies that depicted bikers and members of motorcycle clubs in this stereotypical manner.
The press asked the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) to comment on the Hollister incident and their response was that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens, and the last one percent were outlaws. Thus was born the term, "one percenter".[7]
During the 1940s and 1950s, at rallies and gatherings sponsored by the AMA, prizes were awarded for nicest club uniform, prettiest motorcycle, and so forth. Some clubs, however, rejected the clean-cut image and adopted the "one percenter" moniker, even going so far as to create a diamond (rhombus) shaped patch labeled "1%" to wear on their vests as a badge of honor. The 1% patch is also used to instill fear and respect from the general public and other motorcyclists. Other clubs wore (and still wear) upside down AMA patches. Another practice was to cut their one piece club patches into three or more pieces as a form of protest, which evolved into the current form of three piece colors worn by many MCs today.
One percent clubs point out that "one percenter" simply means that they are committed to "biking and brotherhood", where riding isn't a weekend activity, but a way of living. These clubs assert that local and national law enforcement agencies have co-opted the term to paint them as criminals. [8]
Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) have designated four MCs as ''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs'' (OMGs), which are the Pagans, Hells Angels, Outlaws MC, and Bandidos,[9][10], known as the "Big Four."[11] These four have a large enough national impact to be prosecuted under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute.[10] The FBI asserts that OMGs support themselves primarily through drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, and extortion, and that they fight over territory and the illegal drug trade.[13] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Gazette, quoting from the Provincial Court of Manitoba, defines these groups as: "Any group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have voluntarily made a commitment to band together and abide by their organizations' rigorous rules enforced by violence, who engage in activities that bring them and their club into serious conflict with society and the law". [14]
The FBI asserts that OMG's collect $1 billion in illegal income annually[15][16] and that street gangs, prison gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are the primary retail distributors of illegal drugs in the US[17][18], with outlaw motorcycle gangs dominating US meth trade distribution.[19][20] In 1985,[20], a three-year, eleven-state FBI operation named Roughrider culiminated in the In the largest OMG bust in history, with the confiscation of $2 million worth of illegal drugs, as well as an illegal arsenal of weapons, ranging from UZI submachine guns to antitank weapons.[22]
Canada, especially, has experienced a significant upsurge in crime allegedly involving these MCs, most notably in what has been dubbed the Quebec Biker war, which has involved more than 150 murders[23] (plus a young bystander accidently killed by an exploding car bomb), 84 bombings, and 130 cases of arson[24].
Members and supporters of these clubs insist that illegal activities are isolated occurrences and that they, as a whole, are not criminal organizations. They often compare themselves to police departments, wherein the occasional "bad cop" does not make a police department a criminal organization. One biker website has a news section devoted to "cops gone bad" to support their point of view[25], and the Hells Angels sponsors charitable events for Toys for Tots. [26]
In the United States, most MCs have established state-wide MC 'confederations'. These confederations are usually composed of most MCs who have chapters in the state, and the occasional interested third party organization. The confederation holds periodic meetings on neutral ground, wherein representatives from each club (usually the presidents and vice-presidents, but not always) meet in closed session to resolve disputes between clubs and discuss issues of common interest.
The largest one-percent club tends to dominate the confederation, using their numbers to impose their will on other clubs. Sometimes clubs are forced into "support" roles for a one-percent club. Smaller clubs who resist a large one-percent club have been forcibly disbanded, e.g. told to hand over their colors or risk war. Smaller clubs usually comply, since members of a family club are usually unwilling to risk injury or worse. A one-percent club does not always befriend a AMA club; in rare instances, a club does take over another club that is AMA, mostly by force.
Some large one-percent MCs are rivals with each other and will fight over territory and other issues. [27] In 2002, members of the Mongols MC and the Hells Angels MC had a confrontation in Laughlin, Nevada at the Harrah's Laughlin Casino that left three bikers dead. Police intelligence reports indicate that the Mongols initiated the confrontation to bolster their status. [28]. Another melee between the Hells Angels and the Pagans MC occurred in February, 2002 at a Hells Angels convention. Police reports indicate the Pagans were outraged that the event was held on what they considered their "home turf".[29]
Notable motorcycle clubs include (in alphabetical order):
★ Bandidos MC
★ Boozefighters MC
★ Hells Angels MC
★ Mongols MC
★ Outlaws MC
★ Pagans MC
★ San Francisco MC, the second oldest MC in the United States
★ Yonkers MC, the oldest MC in the United States
1. Motorcycle club and riding club education
2. Ozbiker: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
3. University of Maryland, Gangs in Maryland
4. Laurier College
5. Dougherty, C.I. "Motorcyclists Take Over Town, Many Injured." ''San Francisco Chronicle''. July 5, 1947
6. Dougherty, C.I. "2000 'Gypsycycles' Chug Out of Town and the Natives Sigh 'Never Again'." ''San Francisco Chronicle''. July 6, 1947
7. The Austin Chronicle, 5/19/2006, The "One Percenters"
8. Outlaws MC website, What is a Outlaws MC 1%er Today
9. FBI Safe Street Violent Crime Initiative Report Fiscal Year 2000
10. http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report2003/outlaw_2003_e.htm Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) Annual Report]
11. [Connnecticut Gang Investigators Association]
12. http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report2003/outlaw_2003_e.htm Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) Annual Report]
13. Austin PEA State University, Organized Crime Investigation
14. Public Safety Canada: Organized Crime Fact Sheet
15. CNN, The Hells Angels' Devilish Business
16. CBC News, In Depth: Biker Gangs
17. [http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/news/2005_10_04_NDW_Vol_4_No_40_Gangs.pdf Narcotics Digest, Gangs In The United States
18. DEA Testimony
19. CNN, The Hells Angels' Devlish Business
20. Phoenix New Times
21. Phoenix New Times
22. Time Magazine, Busting Hell's Angels
23. Guardian Observer
24. Public Safety Canada, Organized Crime Fact Sheet
25. Bikernews.net
26. Missoulian, Storm Approaching
27. Words from an MC patch holder
28. Las Vegas Review Journal, 4/30/2002; LAUGHLIN SHOOTOUT: Signs told of melee in making
29. The New York Times, 3/13/2002; Metro Briefing | New York: Central Islip: 73 Bikers Indicted
★ Outlaw Biker World - biker news
★ Motorcycle Club & Riding Club Education
★ Conventional Wisdom Regarding MC Patches
★ CNN article on outlaw bikers
★ Out In Bad Standings; Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club by Edward Winterhalder, Blockhead City Press 2005 USA
A 'Motorcycle Club' (MC) is an organized club of motorcycle riders who follow a series of traditional rules for participation in the club, including, but not limited to, a group of elected officers; a probationary period for new members; the wearing of a specific club patch (or patches) adorned with the term "MC"; a measure of privacy about their internal structure, bylaws, and membership; and some level of sworn allegiance to other members of the club.
The typical internal organization of a motorcycle club consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, road captain, and sergeant-at-arms [1]. Localized groups of a single, large MC are called 'chapters', and the first chapter established for an MC is referred to as the 'mother chapter'. The president of the mother chapter serves as the president of the entire MC, and sets club policy on a variety of issues.
There are a great many clubs for motorcycle riders who refer to themselves generically as motorcycle clubs. Though they are grammatically correct, these clubs are not MCs in the strictest sense of the term, and members of MCs (as defined in this article) regard these other clubs as 'motorcycle riding clubs'.
MC members are not usually referred to by their given names, but instead refer to each other by nicknames, or 'road names', sometimes even displaying their road name on the club vest. Whether or not this practice was carried over from the military aviation history of colorful pilot callsigns is not known.
| Contents |
| History |
| Membership |
| Colors |
| One Percenters |
| Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs |
| Relationships between MCs |
| Notable MCs |
| References |
| External links |
History
The earliest motorcycle clubs were started following World War II by pilots looking for the same thrills they experienced during the war, though the reputed oldest motorcycle club is the Yonkers MC, founded in 1903. Other notable early clubs include the San Francisco MC, founded 1904, and the Oakland MC, founded 1907.
Membership
The membership process for most motorcycle clubs begins as a guest or "hang-around", wherein an individual is invited to some club events or meets club members at known gathering places. If the guest is interested,or a club asks the hangaround to join he may become a member. If accepted, they remain a prospective member, or 'prospect', for some minimum time period, participating in some club activities, but not having voting privileges, while they are evaluated for suitability as full members. Some clubs refer to a potential member as a probationary member or 'probate'. Though probationary status is usually reserved for those that already have the necessary knowledge and experience to be members. For example, if an entire chapter switches from one club to another, the members are Probationary members for some period of time.
Some amount of hazing may occur during the prospecting period, ranging from the mandatory performance of menial labor tasks for full patch members to sophomoric pranks, and, in the case of some outlaw motorcycle clubs, acts of civil disobedience or crime. During this time, the prospect may wear the club name on the back of their vest, but not the full logo, though this practice may vary from club to club.
To become a full member, the prospect or probate must be voted on by the rest of the full club members. Successful admission usually requires more than a simple majority, and some clubs may reject a prospect or a probate for a single dissenting vote. Some form of formal induction follows, where in the new member affirms his loyalty to the club and its members. The final logo patch is then awarded.
Full members are often referred to as "full patch members" and the step of attaining full membership can be referred to as "being patched".
Most one-percenter MCs do not allow women to become members. Membership in what authorities term Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs is often racist as well as sexist,[2] and membership in the Hells Angels is closed to African-Americans, Native Americans,[3] and Jews.[4]
Colors
Motorcycle club vest, with logo. Note small "MC" on deaths head logo patch.(Smithsonian Institution)
The colors for some clubs can consist of a single, one-piece patch, while other clubs may have a three (or more) piece patch. In the latter case, the top and bottom patches are referred to as 'rockers'. Not all 3 piece patch(es) are 1% or outlaw club, few outlaw/1% clubs have a big one piece. A club can also be an outlaw club and not be 1%(or Diamond club) or vice versa, although very rare.
The club patches always remain property of the club itself, not the member, and only members are allowed to wear the clubs colors. A member must closely guard their colors. Allowing ones colors to fall into the hands of an outsider is an act of disgrace and may result in loss of membership in a club, or worse.
One MC successfully sued a law enforcement agency for the return of a members colors following a police raid.
One Percenters
Members of motorcycle clubs are often viewed in a negative light by traditional society. This perception has been fueled by the movies, popular culture, and highly publicized isolated incidents.
One of the earliest and most notorious of these occurred in Hollister, California in 1947[5][6] and is now dubbed the Hollister riot. Whether or not an actual riot occurred is debatable, but there was a motorcycle rally in Hollister from July 4th to July 6th of that year that was attended by about 4000 people. Several newspaper articles were written that, according to some attendees, sensationalized the event and Life magazine ran an article and a staged photograph of an intoxicated subject on a motorcycle parked in a bar. The film ''The Wild One'', starring Marlon Brando, was inspired by the event, and it became the first in a series of movies that depicted bikers and members of motorcycle clubs in this stereotypical manner.
The press asked the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) to comment on the Hollister incident and their response was that 99% of motorcyclists were law-abiding citizens, and the last one percent were outlaws. Thus was born the term, "one percenter".[7]
During the 1940s and 1950s, at rallies and gatherings sponsored by the AMA, prizes were awarded for nicest club uniform, prettiest motorcycle, and so forth. Some clubs, however, rejected the clean-cut image and adopted the "one percenter" moniker, even going so far as to create a diamond (rhombus) shaped patch labeled "1%" to wear on their vests as a badge of honor. The 1% patch is also used to instill fear and respect from the general public and other motorcyclists. Other clubs wore (and still wear) upside down AMA patches. Another practice was to cut their one piece club patches into three or more pieces as a form of protest, which evolved into the current form of three piece colors worn by many MCs today.
One percent clubs point out that "one percenter" simply means that they are committed to "biking and brotherhood", where riding isn't a weekend activity, but a way of living. These clubs assert that local and national law enforcement agencies have co-opted the term to paint them as criminals. [8]
Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) have designated four MCs as ''Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs'' (OMGs), which are the Pagans, Hells Angels, Outlaws MC, and Bandidos,[9][10], known as the "Big Four."[11] These four have a large enough national impact to be prosecuted under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute.[10] The FBI asserts that OMGs support themselves primarily through drug dealing, trafficking in stolen goods, and extortion, and that they fight over territory and the illegal drug trade.[13] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Gazette, quoting from the Provincial Court of Manitoba, defines these groups as: "Any group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have voluntarily made a commitment to band together and abide by their organizations' rigorous rules enforced by violence, who engage in activities that bring them and their club into serious conflict with society and the law". [14]
The FBI asserts that OMG's collect $1 billion in illegal income annually[15][16] and that street gangs, prison gangs, and outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) are the primary retail distributors of illegal drugs in the US[17][18], with outlaw motorcycle gangs dominating US meth trade distribution.[19][20] In 1985,[20], a three-year, eleven-state FBI operation named Roughrider culiminated in the In the largest OMG bust in history, with the confiscation of $2 million worth of illegal drugs, as well as an illegal arsenal of weapons, ranging from UZI submachine guns to antitank weapons.[22]
Canada, especially, has experienced a significant upsurge in crime allegedly involving these MCs, most notably in what has been dubbed the Quebec Biker war, which has involved more than 150 murders[23] (plus a young bystander accidently killed by an exploding car bomb), 84 bombings, and 130 cases of arson[24].
Members and supporters of these clubs insist that illegal activities are isolated occurrences and that they, as a whole, are not criminal organizations. They often compare themselves to police departments, wherein the occasional "bad cop" does not make a police department a criminal organization. One biker website has a news section devoted to "cops gone bad" to support their point of view[25], and the Hells Angels sponsors charitable events for Toys for Tots. [26]
Relationships between MCs
In the United States, most MCs have established state-wide MC 'confederations'. These confederations are usually composed of most MCs who have chapters in the state, and the occasional interested third party organization. The confederation holds periodic meetings on neutral ground, wherein representatives from each club (usually the presidents and vice-presidents, but not always) meet in closed session to resolve disputes between clubs and discuss issues of common interest.
The largest one-percent club tends to dominate the confederation, using their numbers to impose their will on other clubs. Sometimes clubs are forced into "support" roles for a one-percent club. Smaller clubs who resist a large one-percent club have been forcibly disbanded, e.g. told to hand over their colors or risk war. Smaller clubs usually comply, since members of a family club are usually unwilling to risk injury or worse. A one-percent club does not always befriend a AMA club; in rare instances, a club does take over another club that is AMA, mostly by force.
Some large one-percent MCs are rivals with each other and will fight over territory and other issues. [27] In 2002, members of the Mongols MC and the Hells Angels MC had a confrontation in Laughlin, Nevada at the Harrah's Laughlin Casino that left three bikers dead. Police intelligence reports indicate that the Mongols initiated the confrontation to bolster their status. [28]. Another melee between the Hells Angels and the Pagans MC occurred in February, 2002 at a Hells Angels convention. Police reports indicate the Pagans were outraged that the event was held on what they considered their "home turf".[29]
Notable MCs
Notable motorcycle clubs include (in alphabetical order):
★ Bandidos MC
★ Boozefighters MC
★ Hells Angels MC
★ Mongols MC
★ Outlaws MC
★ Pagans MC
★ San Francisco MC, the second oldest MC in the United States
★ Yonkers MC, the oldest MC in the United States
References
1. Motorcycle club and riding club education
2. Ozbiker: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
3. University of Maryland, Gangs in Maryland
4. Laurier College
5. Dougherty, C.I. "Motorcyclists Take Over Town, Many Injured." ''San Francisco Chronicle''. July 5, 1947
6. Dougherty, C.I. "2000 'Gypsycycles' Chug Out of Town and the Natives Sigh 'Never Again'." ''San Francisco Chronicle''. July 6, 1947
7. The Austin Chronicle, 5/19/2006, The "One Percenters"
8. Outlaws MC website, What is a Outlaws MC 1%er Today
9. FBI Safe Street Violent Crime Initiative Report Fiscal Year 2000
10. http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report2003/outlaw_2003_e.htm Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) Annual Report]
11. [Connnecticut Gang Investigators Association]
12. http://www.cisc.gc.ca/annual_reports/annual_report2003/outlaw_2003_e.htm Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) Annual Report]
13. Austin PEA State University, Organized Crime Investigation
14. Public Safety Canada: Organized Crime Fact Sheet
15. CNN, The Hells Angels' Devilish Business
16. CBC News, In Depth: Biker Gangs
17. [http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/news/2005_10_04_NDW_Vol_4_No_40_Gangs.pdf Narcotics Digest, Gangs In The United States
18. DEA Testimony
19. CNN, The Hells Angels' Devlish Business
20. Phoenix New Times
21. Phoenix New Times
22. Time Magazine, Busting Hell's Angels
23. Guardian Observer
24. Public Safety Canada, Organized Crime Fact Sheet
25. Bikernews.net
26. Missoulian, Storm Approaching
27. Words from an MC patch holder
28. Las Vegas Review Journal, 4/30/2002; LAUGHLIN SHOOTOUT: Signs told of melee in making
29. The New York Times, 3/13/2002; Metro Briefing | New York: Central Islip: 73 Bikers Indicted
External links
★ Outlaw Biker World - biker news
★ Motorcycle Club & Riding Club Education
★ Conventional Wisdom Regarding MC Patches
★ CNN article on outlaw bikers
★ Out In Bad Standings; Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club by Edward Winterhalder, Blockhead City Press 2005 USA
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