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A motorcycle club (MC) is an organized club of dedicated motorcyclists who join together for camaraderie, strength of numbers, companionship during a mid-life crisis and peer group acceptance. Motorcycle clubs have a group of elected officers, a probationary period for new members, and a measure of privacy about their internal structure, bylaws, and membership. As part of becoming a full member, an individual must pass a vote of the membership and swear some level of allegiance to the club. Each club has a unique club patch (or patches) adorned with the term "MC" that are worn on the riders vest, known as colors. Membership in an MC is much different than membership in a motorcycle riding club, because it is the pinnacle of the counterculture, "outlaw" biker lifestyle. Image File history File links Gnome-globe. ... A motorcycle (or motorbike) is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... Midlife crisis is the notion, popular in certain cultures, that many middle-aged people go through a period of dramatic self doubt brought on by the realization that their life is half over and they havent accomplished what they once wanted to. ... A peer group is a group of people of approximately the same age, social status, and interests. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Counterculture (also counter-culture) is a sociological word used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day,[1] the cultural equivalent of political opposition. ...

Motorcycle clubs are historically divided into two types: One-percenters, and everyone else (or 99-percenters). One-percent clubs were named in a famous statement attributed to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), describing certain troublemakers as only one percent of motorcyclists. There are a great many clubs for motorcycle riders who refer to themselves generically as motorcycle clubs. Though technically correct, these clubs are not considered MCs by members of "outlaw" MCs, i.e clubs who wear an MC patch, who regard these other clubs as motorcycle riding clubs. In the UK they are designated as MCCs ^[1]. AMA Logo The American Motorcyclist Association is a U.S. organization of more than 280,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists legal rights. ...

History

The oldest motorcycle clubs in the U.S. are the Yonkers MC, founded in 1903, the San Francisco MC, founded 1904, and the Oakland MC, founded in 1907. The Yonkers Motorcycle Club was formed in 1903[1] in Yonkers, New York and is arguably the oldest active motorcycle club in the United States. ... The central patch or colors of the SFMC The San Francisco Motorcycle Club (SFMC) was founded in San Francisco, California in the year 1904. ...

Membership

Hells Angels MC New York City clubhouse

The typical internal organization of a motorcycle club consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, road captain, and sergeant-at-arms.^[2] 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 512 pixel Image in higher resolution (1727 × 1106 pixel, file size: 404 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Hells Angels Outlaw... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 512 pixel Image in higher resolution (1727 × 1106 pixel, file size: 404 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Hells Angels Outlaw...

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. A formal induction follows, in which 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". Hazing is an often ritualistic test and a task, which may constitute harassment, abuse or humiliation with requirements to perform random, often meaningless tasks, sometimes as a way of initiation into a social group. ...

Most one-percenter MCs do not allow women to become full-patch members, but women can hold special status with the club. Membership in what authorities term 'Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs' is often racist as well as sexist,^[3] and membership in the Hells Angels is closed to African-Americans, Native Americans,^[4] and Jews.^[5] 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. A motorcycle club (MC) is an organized club of dedicated motorcyclists who join together for camaraderie, strength of numbers, companionship during a mid-life crisis and peer group acceptance. ...

Larger motorcycle clubs often acquire real estate for use as a clubhouse or private compound. These clubs often have security features such as closed-circuit television monitors, motion detector lights, and barbed wire-topped fences. As well, the clubhouse or compound walls may be reinforced materials such as plate steel or kevlar to provide ballistic protection.

Colors

OPP Sgt. Dave Rector positions Bandidos vest seized in raids near Iona Station prior to a news conference in London, Ontario. Note MC and 1% patches.

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", or, sometimes, "cuts", a term taken from the early practice of cutting the collars and/or sleeves from a denim or leather jacket. Many non-outlaw motorcycle riding clubs (as opposed to MCs) such as Harley Owners Group (HOG) also wear patches on the back of their jackets or vests, but the letters "MC" are nowhere to be seen on such patches. This is an important distinction, for only true motorcycle clubs sport the "MC" moniker. The Harley Owners Group is a club for Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners. ...

The colors will either consist of a, one-piece patch, two-piece patch, or a three piece patch. The Three Piece Patch Set consists of; the top and bottom patches, usually crescent shaped, are referred to as rockers. The number and arrangement of patches is somewhat indicative of the nature of the club. Most one-percenter clubs will have a three-piece patch arrangement; few have a one-piece arrangement. Not all (or even most) clubs sporting a three-piece patch are one-percenters, however. 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, for 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 some other punishment. Contrary to recent popular belief, a 5 Piece Patch Set does not exist. The separate designation patch (MC, VC, SBR, etc) is sometimes called the CUE Patch. Some clubs do not counted it as part of the color set.

Law enforcement agencies have confiscated a clubs colors and other club paraphernalia when they raid a clubhouse or the home of an MC member, and they often display these items at press conferences.^[6] These items are then used at trial to support prosecution assertions that MC members perform criminal acts on behalf of their club. Courts have found that the probative value of such items is far outweighed by their prejudicial effects on the defense. ^[7] Look up Paraphernalia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

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 incidents. One of the earliest and most notorious of these occurred in Hollister, California in 1947^{[8] [9]} 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 4 to July 6 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".^[10] A house sitting atop the Calaveras Fault Hollister is the county seat of San Benito County, California. ... On Independence day, 1947. ... A cover of Life Magazine from 1911 Life has been the name of two notable magazines published in the United States. ... The Wild One is a 1953 outlaw biker film. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... AMA Logo The American Motorcyclist Association is a U.S. organization of more than 280,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists legal rights. ...

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 shaped 1% patch to wear on their vests as a badge of honor. 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-percenter clubs point out that the term "one-percenter" simply means that they are committed to "biking and brotherhood", where riding is not just 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.^[11] Two rhombi. ...

Sonny Barger and others went even further than wearing the rhombus-shaped patch on their colors and had the symbol tattooed on their upper bodies. In his autobiography, Mr. Barger recalls how, early on (1950's), there was an informal agreement amongst the one-percenters, regardless of gang affiliation, with certain guidelines such as "no stealing" (from each other), no "rat-packing" (on fellow one-percenters) and so forth. However, Sonny and his fellow members soon quit the "one-percenters club" because, as he describes it in his book, they felt that the other self-described one-percenters were not of equal status to the Hells Angels, and since a Hells Angel's primary allegiance needed to be to his fellow Angels, there was no need or desire for any such further affiliation with this self-described group.^[12] Sonny Barger (born ?1939) is a founding member of the original Oakland, California chapter of Hells Angels, and perhaps the best-known member of the Hells Angels. ...

Ninety-Nine Percenters

While one-percenters garner much publicity for their activities and misdeeds, there are many, many more motorcycle clubs and bikers that instead identify as ninety-nine percenters, that is to say, not one-percenters. Indeed, as of March, 2006, the American Motorcyclist Association, an organization that is the very antithesis of one-percenters, counts 269,884 active members and many chartered clubs.^[13] AMA Logo The American Motorcyclist Association is a U.S. organization of more than 280,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists legal rights. ... Look up Antithesis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

99%er MCs include police, military, and firefighter clubs (or a combination thereof) such as the Iron Pigs MC, Steel Horse Posse MC, Iron Warriors MC, Shamrocks MC, Blue Knights MC, Choir Boys MC, Knights Paladin MC, and Wind and Fire MC. Various military and veterans MCs include the U.S. Military Vets MC, the Warrior Brotherhood Vets MC, the Vietnam Vets MC, the Leathernecks MC, American Badgers MC, and the Buffalo Soldiers MC. Still other MCs include the Boozefighters and the San Francisco MC. One online directory of MCs lists 216 clubs.^[14] The Boozefighters were one of the first American working-class motorcycle clubs formed in California just after the Second World War. ... The central patch or colors of the SFMC The San Francisco Motorcycle Club (SFMC) was founded in San Francisco, California in the year 1904. ...

In addition to the many independent and "outlaw" MCs, there are a great many motorcycle riding clubs, including those sponsored by various manufacturers, such as the Harley Owners Group, Iron Indian Riders Association, Honda Riders Club of America, BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, and several others. Other riding clubs exist for a specific purpose, such as the Patriot Guard Riders, who provide funeral escorts for military veterans. The Harley Owners Group is a club for Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners. ... The Patriot Guard Riders is a group of veterans, motorcyclists, and others, based in Kansas, who make it a practice to attend funerals of members of the U.S. armed forces killed in Iraq, if receiving invitations from the families. ...

Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs

Anthropologist Daniel R. Wolf, who wrote his PhD thesis based on original research done during his membership with the Rebels MC in Canada, defined an outlaw motorcycle club as, "technically," ... "a club that is not registered with the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) or the Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA), which are the respective governing bodies for the sport of motorcycling in the United States and Canada. The AMA and CMA are themselves affiliated with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the international coordinating body for motorcycling whose headquarters are located in Paris, France."^[15] It is significant to note that this is a much broader definition than both the term "one-percenter", and the one used by law enforcement agencies in describing what they now refer to as outlaw motorcycle gangs. PhD usually refers to the academic title Doctor of Philosophy PhD can also refer to the manga Phantasy Degree This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ... This article is about the thesis in academia. ... The American Motorcyclist Association is a U.S. organization of over 250,000 motorcyclists which organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists legal rights. ... The Canadian Motorcycle Association was founded in 1946. ... The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM, International Motorcycling Federation) is the governing body of motorcycle racing. ... A gang is a group of individuals who share a common identity and, in current usage, engage in illegal activities. ...

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Criminal Intelligence Service Canada have designated four MCs as Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs), which are the Pagans, Hells Angels, Outlaws MC, and Bandidos,^[16][17] known as the "Big Four".^[18] These four have a large enough national impact to be prosecuted under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute.^[19] 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.^[20] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police 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".^[21] F.B.I. and FBI redirect here. ... Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) is an inter-agency organization in Canada designed to coordinate and share criminal intelligence amongst member police forces. ... The Pagans Motorcycle Club is a motorcycle club formed by Lou Dobkins in 1959 in Prince Georges County, Maryland. ... This article is about the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. ... Outlaws MC colors The Outlaws Motorcycle Club is a motorcycle club that was formed in McCook, Illinois in 1935. ... Bandidos Washington State The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club with a worldwide membership linked to organized crime including drugs and prostitution. ... RICO or the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act is a United States law which provides for extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... Extortion is a criminal offense, which occurs when a person either obtains money, property or services from another through coercion or intimidation or threatens one with physical harm unless they are paid money or property. ... Panamanian motor vessel Gatun during the largest cocaine bust in United States Coast Guard history (20 tons), off the coast of Panama. ... RCMP redirects here. ... The Provincial Court of Manitoba hears cases relating to criminal law and family law and other statutes. ... For other uses, see Violence (disambiguation). ...

The FBI asserts that OMG's collect $1 billion in illegal income annually^[22][23] and that street gangs, prison gangs, and OMGs are the primary retail distributors of illegal drugs in the US,^[24][25] with OMGs dominating US meth trade distribution.^[26][27] In 1985,^[28] a three-year, eleven-state FBI operation named Roughrider culminated 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.^[29] River City Ransom gameplay (U.S. NES Version) River City Ransom (ダウンタウン熱血物語 Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari Downtown Hotblood Story in Japan and Street Gangs in Europe) is a video game for the Nintendo Family Computer and the Nintendo Entertainment System from the now defunct Technos Japan Corporation, released in 1989. ... A prison gang is an unofficial term used to denote any type of gang activity in prisons and correctional facilities. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events... Meths or meth can also refer to: Methamphetamine Methanol Methylated spirit Methadone The Hebrew word מת (Meth), meaning death. ... Retail selling Street selling is the bottom of the chain and can be accomplished through purchasing from prostitutes, through cloaked retail stores or refuse houses for users in the act located in red-light districts which often also deal in paraphernalia, dealers marketing merriment at night clubs and other events...

Canada, especially, has, in the past two decades, experienced a significant upsurge in crime involving outlaw motorcycle gangs, most notably in what has been dubbed the Quebec Biker war, which has involved more than 150 murders^[30] (plus a young bystander killed by an exploding car bomb), 84 bombings, and 130 cases of arson.^[31] The increased violence in Canada has been attributed to turf wars over the illegal drug trafficking business, specifically relating to access to the Port of Montreal^[32] , but also as the Hells Angels have sought to obtain control of the street level trade from other rival and/or independent gangs in various regions of Canada.^[33] The Quebec Biker war refers to the violent turf war that began in 1994 and continued until late 2002 in Quebec, Canada. ... Murder is the crime of causing the death of another human being without lawful excuse, and with intent to kill or to cause grievous bodily harm. ... For other uses, see Car bomb (disambiguation). ... This article is about explosive devices. ... The Skyline Parkway Motel in Afton, Virginia after an arson fire on July 9, 2004. ... The Port of Montreal, located in Canadas second largest metropolis, is one of the busiest on the North American continent, and the largest inland port on Earth. ...

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,^[34] and the Hells Angels sponsors charitable events for Toys for Tots. ^[35] An early official promotional photo from the Toys for Tots program Motorcyclists fill eastbound I-76 for the 2002 Toys for Tots parade to benefit patients at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia InPhonics CEO and CFO present the results of the companys Toys for Tots drive at InPhonic...

Relationships between MCs

In the United States, many MCs have established state-wide MC confederations. These confederations are composed of 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, or willingly accept, "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. ^[36] With the exception of Law Enforcement Clubs^{[citation needed]} , smaller clubs usually comply, since members of a family club are usually unwilling to risk injury or worse. Another tactic used by one-percent clubs is to force smaller clubs to join the AMA and wear an AMA patch. This is considered an act of shame by some clubs, and a club thus forced may wear an upside-down AMA patch on their colors as a form of protest and to retain their dignity.

Certain large one-percent MCs are rivals with each other and will fight over territory and other issues.^[37] 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 may have initiated the confrontation to bolster their status.^[38] Another melee, this time 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".^[39] Mongols MC colors The Mongols MC is a motorcycle club located in the United States and Mexico that was formed in the San Fernando Valley of California in the 1970s [1]. The club claims chapters in California, where law enforcement officials estimate there are 200 to 350 members, Nevada, Oklahoma... Laughlin is a census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States. ... The Pagans Motorcycle Club is a motorcycle club formed by Lou Dobkins in 1959 in Prince Georges County, Maryland. ...

Motorcycle clubs in popular culture

Part of the mystique surrounding MCs has been driven by books, movies and television, beginning with the so-called Hollister riot in 1947, about which two articles appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, and another in Life Magazine featuring a large staged photograph of an intoxicated subject on a motorcycle parked in a bar. On Independence day, 1947. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Todays San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. ... A cover of Life Magazine from 1911 Life has been the name of two notable magazines published in the United States. ...

A series of biker movies followed, beginning with The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando, and culminating with the award-winning Easy Rider, with its iconic Captain America chopper. Many of these were B movies, a staple of 1960s drive-in theaters. In 1966, Hunter S. Thompson (who later started the movement known as gonzo journalism) wrote Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, giving readers their first inside glimpse into the most notorious motorcycle club of all. The Wild One is a 1953 outlaw biker film. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... Wyatt, Mary (Toni Basil), Billy and Karen (Karen Black) wandering the streets of a parade filled New Orleans. ... The Savior Not Made By Hands (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek εικων, eikon, image) is an artistic visual representation or symbol of anything considered holy and divine, such as God, saints or deities. ... Chopper may mean: Chopper (motorcycle), where many parts were removed (chopped) or replaced Raleigh Chopper, a bicycle model styled and named after these motorcycles Helicopter, slang for chopper (archaeology), a type of crude stone tool Mark Brandon Chopper Read, Australian criminal, author and recording artist Lambda Chi Alpha, nickname for... This is a history of B movies in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Hulls Drive In Theatre, outside Lexington, Virginia A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. ... Hunter Stockton Thompson (18 July 1937 – 20 February 2005) was an American journalist and author, famous for his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. ... Hunter S. Thompsons famous Gonzo logo. ...

The 1969 Altamont Free Concert incident thrust the Hells Angels front and center for the killing of a concert-goer by a Hells Angels member, Alan Passaro, who was, along with other club members, by some reports, providing security for the Rolling Stones at the event. Meredith Hunter, was stabbed multiple times by Passaro and other Hells Angels members. Film evidence later showed that Meredith Hunter was holding a gun. Passaro was charged with murder but was later found to be acting in self-defense and acquitted. For other uses, see Altamont. ... Alan Passaro Alan David Passaro (August 23, 1948 – March 29, 1985) was a notorious Hells Angels member famous for the 1969 stabbing of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont rock-festival during the Rolling Stones set. ... This article is about the rock band. ... Meredith Hunter Meredith Hunter (October 24, 1951 – December 6, 1969) was a spectator at the infamous Altamont Free Concert. ... Meredith Hunter Meredith Hunter (October 24, 1951 – December 6, 1969) was a spectator at the infamous Altamont Free Concert. ...

Since Hunter S. Thompson's ground-breaking book, more books have followed, including former Angels president Sonny Barger's, Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club, and, more recently, Edward Winterhalder's account of the Bandidos, Out In Bad Standings; Inside The Bandidos Motorcycle Club. William Queen‘s “Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America’s Most Violent Outlaw Motercycle Gang” Sonny Barger (born ?1939) is a founding member of the original Oakland, California chapter of Hells Angels, and perhaps the best-known member of the Hells Angels. ... Edward Winterhalder (born 1955) is an American author, entrepenuer and leading authority on motorcycle gangs. ... Bandidos Washington State The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club with a worldwide membership linked to organized crime including drugs and prostitution. ...

The Discovery Channel has featured looks inside several MCs including the Devil Dolls. The film Beyond the Law is based on the true story of Dan Black, an undercover officer who infiltrated a one-percenter MC. The 2007 Disney film Wild Hogs tells the story of four friends who have an encounter with the fictional Del Fuegos MC. The original script used the Hells Angels, causing the Hells Angels to sue Disney for trademark infringement.^[40] Discovery Channel is a cable and satellite TV channel founded by John Hendricks which is distributed by Discovery Communications. ... Beyond the Law is a 1992 film written and directed by Larry Ferguson. ... Disney may refer to: The Walt Disney Company and its divisions, including Walt Disney Pictures. ... Wild Hogs is a 2007 comedy film starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy. ...

Notable MCs

See also: List of motorcycle clubs for a more comprehensive listing; below is just a small sampling of some of the most famous or notable clubs.

Notable motorcycle clubs include (in alphabetical order): This is a list of articles of motorcycle-related clubs. ...

• Bandidos MC
• Banshees MC Worldwide
• 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

Bandidos Washington State The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club with a worldwide membership linked to organized crime including drugs and prostitution. ... The Boozefighters were one of the first American working-class motorcycle clubs formed in California just after the Second World War. ... Hells Angels New York City The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (or Corporation) is a world-wide motorcycle club for Harley Davidson riders only. ... Mongols MC colors The Mongols MC is a motorcycle club located in the United States and Mexico that was formed in the San Fernando Valley of California in the 1970s [1]. The club claims chapters in California, where law enforcement officials estimate there are 200 to 350 members, Nevada, Oklahoma... Not to be confused with outlaw motorcycle clubs in general. ... The Pagans Motorcycle Club is a motorcycle club formed by Lou Dobkins in 1959 in Prince Georges County, Maryland. ... The central patch or colors of the SFMC The San Francisco Motorcycle Club (SFMC) was founded in San Francisco, California in the year 1904. ... The Yonkers Motorcycle Club was formed in 1903[1] in Yonkers, New York and is arguably the oldest active motorcycle club in the United States. ...

References

1. ^ Motorcycle Org UK - club and non-commercial bike listings
2. ^ Motorcycle club and riding club education
3. ^ Ozbiker: Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
4. ^ University of Maryland, Gangs in Maryland
5. ^ Laurier College
6. ^ "Five charged in murders of eight Bandidos bikers", CTV.ca, 2006-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-10-24. 
7. ^ In the United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit Nos. 95-2829 and 95-2879; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOHN E. IRVIN and THOMAS E. PASTOR, Defendants-Appellants
8. ^ Dougherty, C.I.. "Motorcyclists Take Over Town, Many Injured", San Francisco Chronicle, 1947-07-05. Retrieved on 2007-10-24. 
9. ^ Dougherty, C.I.. "2000 'Gypsycycles' Chug Out of Town and the Natives Sigh 'Never Again'", San Francisco Chronicle, 1947-07-06. Retrieved on 2007-10-24. 
10. ^ The Austin Chronicle, 5/19/2006, The "One Percenters"
11. ^ Outlaws MC website, What is a Outlaws MC 1%er Today
12. ^ Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Ralph "Sonny" Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club [1]
13. ^ AMA Newsroom: Facts and Figures, retrieved September 10, 2007
14. ^ Motorcycle Club Index, retrieved September 25, 2007
15. ^ The Rebels: A Brotherhood of Outlaw Bikers, by Daniel R. Wolf, University of Toronto Press, 1991
16. ^ FBI Safe Street Violent Crime Initiative Report Fiscal Year 2000
17. ^ Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) Annual Report
18. ^ Connecticut Gang Investigators Association
19. ^ Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) Annual Report
20. ^ Austin PEA State University, Organized Crime Investigation
21. ^ Public Safety Canada: Organized Crime Fact Sheet
22. ^ CNN, The Hells Angels' Devilish Business
23. ^ CBC News, In Depth: Biker Gangs
24. ^ Narcotics Digest, Gangs In The United States
25. ^ DEA Testimony
26. ^ CNN, The Hells Angels' Devlish Business
27. ^ Phoenix New Times
28. ^ Phoenix New Times
29. ^ Time Magazine, Busting Hell's Angels
30. ^ Guardian Observer
31. ^ Public Safety Canada, Organized Crime Fact Sheet
32. ^ The Biker Trials: Bringing Down the Hells Angels, by Paul Cherry, ECW Press, 2005
33. ^ Fallen Angel: The Unlikely Rise of Walter Stadnick in the Canadian Hells Angels, by Jerry Langton, Wiley & Sons, 2006
34. ^ Bikernews.net
35. ^ Missoulian, Storm Approaching
36. ^ Ex-Hells Angels official says cops kept out of club by Adrienne Packer, Las Vegas Review-Journal; retrieved 7 October, 2007
37. ^ Words from an MC patch holder
38. ^ Las Vegas Review Journal, 4/30/2002; LAUGHLIN SHOOTOUT: Signs told of melee in making
39. ^ The New York Times, 3/13/2002; Metro Briefing |New York: Central Islip: 73 Bikers Indicted
40. ^ 'Litigation against movie release' (March 8, 2006), HAMC vs Walt Disney

Banshees MC Worldwide Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Books and Newspaper Articles

• Winterhalder, Edward, Out in Bad Standings: Inside the Bandidos Motorcycle Club - The Making of a Worldwide Dynasty, Blockhead City Press, 2005/Seven Locks Press, 2007 (ISBN 0-9771-7470-0)
• Winterhalder, Edward, & De Clercq, Wil, The Assimilation: Rock Machine Become Bandidos – Bikers United Against the Hells Angels, ECW Press, 2008 (ISBN 1-5502-2824-2)
• Veno, Arthur, The Mammoth Book of Bikers, Constable & Robinson, 2007 (ISBN 0-7867-2046-8)

External links

• Outlaw Biker World - biker news
• Outlaw Biker (UK)- Worldwide Biker News
• Motorcycle Club & Riding Club Education
• Conventional Wisdom Regarding MC Patches
• CNN article on outlaw bikers
• The Assimilation: Bikers United Against The Hells Angels by Edward Winterhalder and Wil De Clercq - ECW Press 2008 (ISBN 1-5502-2824-2)
• Living on the Edge: Riding with the Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club in Pennsylvania - Blockhead City Entertainment 2007