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Norrisperformance
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 12:45 pm: |
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Outrider Never seen anybody in the club fight, or even need to. Not that kind of club. But If I had to, and I hope I don't. I would step in to help a brother, just like he was blood. I'm sure you would do the same for a good friend. Family, job, then club, that's the way it should always be! I myself, don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. I just like to ride. Some of the guys do drink, but never when riding. There are a lot of good clean MCs. 95 % of clubs are good clubs. You could find bad people in any club. Even a golf club. (Message edited by norrisperformance on April 26, 2005) |
Norrisperformance
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 12:59 pm: |
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Outrider When you talk about initiations, your talking about the 1% clubs, called out law, or power clubs. Your not talking about the good ole boy's type MC's Two different worlds! |
Outrider
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 01:00 pm: |
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I'm sure you would do the same for a good friend. Good point. Hell, I even intervene on behalf of strangers in one way or another. Just understand that my questions and comments have to do with understanding where you were coming from as terminology and switching back and forth between good clubs and whitewashed gangs is sometimes hard to communicate in writing. Glad to hear you are a good guy in a good group. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 01:34 pm: |
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So any other ettiquite issues? Am I going to get assaulted for passing a club on a ride (politely, just like I would pass anyone else if necessary), or shot by Club A for helping somebody broken down wearing Club B colors? I won't ride by a broken down bike, regardless of the circumstances. And I had a case where a big group jumped on a road right behind me while I was riding solo once. I just did what I do for any bike, stayed ahead and out of their way so long as the pace was sane, if they wanted to go faster I would have gotten over and waved 'em by. The bigger issue would be if I came up behind them and they were doing 55 and I had plenty of room to pass and not interested in an hour at a group formation pace. |
Mikej
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 01:56 pm: |
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If you're passing a large group watch for leaders turning left ahead. Respect and curtesy work regardless of the group - usually. If oncoming traffic appears then gently slightly merge into their formation or hold the centerline like a tightrope until the oncoming traffic passes. If you do start a pass and see the leaders up ahead slow to turn left (or right) then slow and get to the left shoulder until the last bike passes, then follow at a prudent distance until they're all off the road. Or do what works for you. You just never know when someone unkindly will see fit to take pleasure in your displeasure, so even doing the right thing in the right way still may lead you down the wrong path. It always pays to at least know a little bit about local hostilities if you're a local. For example you'll rarely if ever see anyone wearing Hells Angels colors around the general Milwaukee region, at least I haven't. There's so many clubs and gangs and relationships that it's impossible to know what'd be needed to know for those times it'd be good to know, or something like that. I know nothing. And I was somewhere else at the time. Have a nice ride and don't worry about the residual stuff. Rain is residual. |
Norrisperformance
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 05:41 pm: |
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I’m a newbie to the club I’m with right now. But here’s what I’ve learned being around different clubs over the years, and listening to the old timers. Conversations with 1 %ers should never be about club related issues. Unless your asking for some kind of approval. That little MC on a jacket will get you in a whole lot of trouble really quick. Make sure you have the approval from the power clubs before you fly any colors. They need to no you are no threat. Never wear your colors when your by yourself. Only wear your colors when your riding, or at a function. Never repeat gossip about any club, your just asking for trouble. Never say, or show you support any 1% club, the guy your talking to could always be a 1%er, you never know. Avoid bars where 1 %ers hang out, if you ain’t there you don’t have to say, you didn’t see or hear nothing. Remember there’s a lot of clubs that have law enforcement, firemen, and law abiding citizens as their members. Most clubs are about brotherhood, riding and having a good time. Not all clubs are territorial. Why would someone want to be apart of a club???? If you join a club that’s national, you always have someone to visit, and somewhere to stay, when ya get there, and lots of friends to ride and hang out with. I have not witnessed the great bond between brothers in a club,anywhere else. And there is always some big rally going on. I know nothing, and I ain’t seen nothing!! |
Tomzweifel
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 07:15 pm: |
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So.... this would be colors? |
Outrider
| Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 10:49 pm: |
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Tom...Nope, That's Advertising! |
Cataract2
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 08:00 am: |
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What's up with MC getting you in trouble? I'm still a bit lost on that one. |
Norrisperformance
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 09:19 am: |
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Cataract2 When you put MC on your jacket. Which stands for motorcycle club. Your saying the same thing as, there’s a new sheriff in town. And 1% groups want have that, you’ve got to have their approval before you can put that little MC on your jacket. If you don’t get the approval first’ and they catch you, they will cut them off, or take your jacket, and that’s if they want to be really nice about it. Could result in a trip to hospital or the grave. They have to know your club is just a good ole boys club, and you pose no threat to their territory. But if you get their approval your club will end up with a few perks. I can say no more about the perks. (Message edited by norrisperformance on April 27, 2005) |
Bomber
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 02:02 pm: |
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1% as a term refering to motorcyclists of a certain ilk comes directly from an AMA piece relatively soon after the circus in Hollister CA (which was very late 40s, if memory serves) the tenor of the country at the time was lots of hand waving over lots of threats to the perceived Norman-Rockwell-esque nature of the country (which likely never existed) -- among those threats were juvinile delinquents (see the movie Blackboard Jungle, resulting in some of the first federal weapons laws {switchbaldes}) and Motorsickle Gangs (see Wild One) The AMA piece in question was stating that the vast majority of motorcycle enthusiasts were decent, hard-working, law abiding citizens who happened to enjoy riding motorcycles -- only 1% of riders were a problem -- those who LIKED thinking of themselves as a problem adopted the moniker, and, 45/50 years later, Ned's yer uncle (what ever the heck that means) Norris' points about club etiqutte are accurate in my experience, but can be boiled down to the following -- there are those who are looking for an excuse -- don't give em one remind me to tell you about my favorite "clash of colors" story, an event that took place at the late, very much lamented Highland House outside of Chicago -- |
Mikej
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 02:12 pm: |
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"remind me to tell you " Consider yourself reminded. A "Reader's Digest" version would be okay too. (Message edited by mikej on April 27, 2005) |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 02:18 pm: |
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You need to be aware of the local etiquette no matter who you are or where you go. That said here is my "social club" colors....... not an MC |
Norrisperformance
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 04:30 pm: |
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Diablobrian That is really cool! I like it! |
Diablobrian
| Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 05:11 pm: |
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Norris, you, or anyone else that wants to can join. I don't own it, just a member.http://www.cobbsociety.com/main.html Anyone that has been to sturgis will recognize "The Ice Cream Man From Hell" This is one of his brain children. |
Bomber
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 09:24 am: |
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Mike -- you're asking ME for a reader's digest version? phew, that's gonna be tough for me . . . .. bout 15 years ago, at the highland house (think of Alice's rest or marcus dairy joint in chicago) the HD/Chopper crowd parked right up front by the entrance -- the joint draw two wheeled enthusiasts of every stripe, old beater honda dreams to gray market euro gems to nice knuck choppers to some guys from Wisconsin introing new bikes with funny aircleaners on the side . . . .. anywho, a very ratty pan chop pull up behind a buncha HDs near the front door -- the rider, wearing "Wheelmen" colors, shuts down, dismounts, and prepares to go inside for coffee, heavy weaps, white slavery, directions to the nearest house of worship, who knows? with his chop where it was, he was blocking about half a dozen baggers from exiting their parking spaces (these vessels require a great deal of sea-room to manuever, remember, the there were no Z50 tugs available to help with their departure) one of the bagger riders, also wearing colors (ID in a bit), asks the chop pilot, very nicely, "if ya move your scoot, me and my partners are leaving, and you can have a spot right by the door." big smile on his face, friendly demeanor, cooperative attitude the chop pilot sez "eff you," cept eff was another word ;-} "No, really," bagger captain says," we're leaving, and you can have our spot, keep you eye on your bike, right up front, all ya gotta do is more about 6 feet and we're outa here." "I SAID, eff you." by this time, there are about 60 folks standing in the general area, watching the show, which is far more active than the usual sunday morning at HH . . . . .. thos who could see the bagger rider's colors were grinning like loons, for reasons soon to be revealed "awright, I've tried being polite sir, really, please move your bike, and let us leave," sez captain o my captain. Where upon the chop rider steps up to the bagger captain, and swings on him with a fist. Now, as one who, in my younger days, had cause to develop a certain appreciation for unarmed conflict, I noticed that the chopper rider was going about this allllll wrong -- flat footed, weight on his forward foot, swinging a round house fist from way back in next county, telegraphing his punch -- in short, a typical bar room brawler who was likely looking for a handy poll cue or bar stool to finish this thing off Bagger-man, on the other hand, was on the balls of his feets, ready to move in any direction, smiling slightly (no doubt recognizing the bad place the chop rider had put himself), and generally acting like he was completely in control of the situation (btw, he had about 6 other guys with him, all with the same colors, put they were hanging back, smiling, picking gyros omletes outa their teeth and chuckling) at long last, the special delivery punch makes it to the bagger rider's neighborhood, he grabs the fists, twists it in such a way so as to force the chop pilot to his knees, and while the bagger pilot is helping the chop rider closer to the ground, I see my first glimpse of his colors .. . . . Blue Knights (MC for LEOs, for those who don't know) anyways, a Highland Park squad appeared PDQ, and the chopper rider was assisted into the back seat -- I don't think he hit his head more than two or three times getting into the squad now, the lesson is, no matter which side you normally find yourself on, ya just gotta have a well developed sense of situational awareness . . . . or, like Sarge usta tell us, "stay Alert, Stay Alive" I almost felt sorry for the Wheelmen member -- but not quite I miss teh highland house a great deal (moment of silence) |
Mikej
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 09:42 am: |
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Thanks. 'twas a good story, foreshadowing and all, A+ . The Highland House sounds like a place I would have liked to visit. I'd had hopes of getting some work done on the M2 in time for the CrudRun but other issues have surfaced (remind me to tell you off line next time we're in the same county, not a good situation), so I'll be on the S2 if I can make it. Funny how I've not seen many colors on that run. |
Spatten1
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 09:49 am: |
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Bomber, excellent story! If you haven't read the Rogue Warrior series, check it out. Sounds like you could have written it. |
Mikej
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 09:53 am: |
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http://www.dickmarcinko.com/ |
Bomber
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:09 am: |
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Mike -- you woulda love the scene, certainly -- the biggest draw was the eclecticism (sp?) of the gathered tribes -- none of the self-imposed segregation found at so many scooter-trash places looking forward to seein you when I see you -- I'll keep my eye open for the S2 . . . . . patch wearers tend NOT to go where they will be greatly outnumbers, whcih could, fo course, lead to another series of observations, but I'll be good ;-} Spatten -- thanks, sir, high praise -- met Mr Marcinko briefly years ago in a land far away -- I've read a few of his books (great airport reading!), and I greatly admire his being able to turn that particular life-experience into a revenue stream -- |
Norrisperformance
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:33 am: |
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Bomber Was he drunk, high, blind, or just stupid. You know he knew about the Blue Knights, or at least you think he would have. Great story! |
Bomber
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 01:14 pm: |
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Norris -- dunno, sir -- my guess is that there was an altered state of consciousness added to the "I'm the baddest so n so in town" affect that often accompanies the membership in a group (not limited to MC groups, that's for sure) wish I could take credit for the story, but, as is ofetn the case, reality supercedes anyone's imagination! |
Cataract2
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 02:03 pm: |
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Got a group of the Blue Knights around here. Good group of people. What a moron that guy was. All he had to do was move the bike for a minute. Geeze |
Norrisperformance
| Posted on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 02:13 pm: |
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Bomber Yes Sir, I know the type. I used to work with a guy, who took on three city cops at a Jimmy Buffet concert. Not to smart, he ended up with a broke rib, and a bunch of community service. From what I was told, they took him down pretty quick. I went to a car auction with him once, and vowed after that, to never to go anywhere else with him. He was always looking for trouble. Always talking junk, and wanting to arm-wrestle. He used to be an amateur boxer. Not my kind of buddy !!!!!!!!! (Message edited by norrisperformance on April 28, 2005) |
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