Women and the Motorcycle Club World

If you look at some of today's Motorcycle Clubs you can tell that women don't seen to fit in to well. Below are some photos that show the at one time in the mid 1960's women not only fit, but were 1%'er patch holders.

From 1958-1967 a women named "Mother Ruthie" rode with the Galloping Goose, Road Regents and the Satans Slaves before joining the Straight Satans. In 1961 she started riding with the Coffin Cheaters and the SoCal, Dago and Berdoo chapters of the Hells Angels.

Outlaws M.C. 1960's

Satan's Slaves MC 1960's

El Forastero MC 1960's

Bandidos MC 1960's (1% female member on right)

Outlaws MC 1960's (1% female member)

  

             Hells Angels MC 1960's

1% female member

Hells Angels MC 1960's

Hells Angels M.C. 1965

Hells Angels MC 1960's

Hells Angels MC 1960's

Hells Angels MC 1960's

A.M.A. vs the "Outlaw" Motorcycle Clubs

There has been a long standing feud between the American Motorcyclists Association and the "Outlaw" Motorcycle Clubs, which continues on to this date. The feud all started over racing in Southern California. The A.M.A. held racing events for A.M.A. members and A.M.A. clubs only, but the "Outlaw" clubs thought they should be included. The "Outlaw" clubs also held racing events which was open to anyone who paid the entrance fee to race, even if they were an A.M.A. member. Due to the "Outlaw" clubs having no national organization and required no membership fees, the race pay outs were less then the A.M.A. races. The 1947 Hollister California A.M.A. Gypsy Tour event had a cash pay out of $4000, which is why the event had such a large turn out.
 

1965 - "Outlaws" trying to enter an A.M.A. SoCal race, A.M.A. not allowing Outlaws into the race, Police stand-by
(Hells Angels, Galloping Goose and Comancheros MC's)

"Outlaws" waiting outside while not being allowed into the above A.M.A. race

True meanings of One, Two and Three Piece Patches

The one item that lets everyone know you're a member of a motorcycle club is the "club patch or colors". All club patches vary in name, color, size and design, but everything has a meaning. To understand a clubs patch or standing/hierarchy in the biker community, you must do your homework on that club.

The following is what has been widely talked about, passed on, written in books, listed on the internet and taught to the Police for many years;

1-piece patch club = small law abiding club
2-piece patch club = support club for the 1% clubs
3-piece patch club = large outlaw club (criminal organization)

1% diamond = worn by the outlaw clubs
13 diamond = worn by support clubs for the outlaw clubs

While this may be true in some parts of the country, it is by no means a standard. This should not be believed or taught as a standard, each club needs to be looked at individually. Each club additionally needs to be evaluated for the activity they are involved in. Some clubs are involved in legal activities and some are involved in illegal activities and some are involved in both. Just because a 1-piece patch club is listed above as a law abiding club doesn't mean the aren't committing crimes, additionally because 3-piece patch club is listed as an outlaw club doesn't mean its committing crimes.

1-piece patch (El Forestero MC 1% club)

2-piece patch (Vagos MC 1% club)

3-piece patch (law enforcement clubs)

Police and the 3-Piece Patch

Why don't motorcycle club members like the Police? Because the Police can take away their freedom. The bikers want to by free of societies rules and control and the Police are in the way of that.

You would think that both the Police and the Bikers would have a good understanding of the "Biker World", but it's not true. I have personally talked with supposed Police Experts in the O.M.G. field. I've learned that while most of these experts may be good at putting a few bikers in jail, they don't understand the biker culture and history, which would help them understand how it works. I have also talked with many "Outlaw Biker" types that while are knowledgeable about the club they belong to, don't know the real biker history.

The "Outlaw" bikers and the Police have been at odds since the early 1960's. The bikers say the Police are profiling them, the Police say the bikers are criminals. Both are partially correct, some Police are profiling and some bikers are criminals. The Police have been told for years that all bikers are criminals. The non-criminal bikers have been trying to overcome that image, with little success. The criminal bikers continue to commit crimes, which tarnish the image of the no-criminal bikers. This has been an ongoing struggle between good and evil  for 40 years.

The Police are taught that the 3-piece patch are a sign of the bigger "Outlaw" clubs, and the 1-piece patch is for the smaller law-abiding clubs. But the truth is a person needs to know what the club is about, not how patches the club wears.

The biggest problem is the misinformation in both the biker and Police communities. Some people in both groups learn the correct information and history and act accordingly while others believe the ignorance.

The Police need to learn who the criminals are and act accordingly.

The bikers need to learn the history of the motorcycle community and where they fit into it.

There is a misconception in the Police community that if you wear "Biker Colors" you are emulating the "Outlaw" clubs no matter the clubs purpose, the police say "why do you want to emulate the "Outlaw" clubs?", this type of thinking is ignorant. The fact is the "Outlaw" clubs of the 1960's are emulating the clubs which came before them, 60 years worth. Second, its the criminal element in the clubs which make the difference between the good clubs and the bad clubs.

For the most part being a member of a law abiding motorcycle club is similar to being a member of a car club. Members belong to something they enjoy and have something in common with others. Many car clubs are vehicle (make and model) specific, just the same as some motorcycle clubs. Most car clubs and many motorcycle clubs have a "anyone who agrees to and follows the clubs by-laws can join". Some more serious motorcycle clubs in addition to having by-laws have a strict probationary period with a strict set of rules.

By taking time to study the background and history anyone can determine what they are looking at.

Hells Angels M.C. 1965

Galloping Goose M.C. 2012

3-Piece patch (motorcycle club) 1960's

3-piece style patch (Car Club)

Car Club jacket

Motorcycle Club jacket

Car Clubs posing for a photo

Motorcycle Clubs posing for a photo