Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs & OMG's, attempting to get at the truth

I wrote an article on my time with the Iron Order MC in Edmonton recently and a lot of the people who decided to make some pointed remarks about the veracity of this Outlaw Motorcycle Club quoted articles written by the Aging Rebel in their argument that the Iron Order is a cop club and a bunch of posers who buy their patches.

The Iron Order MC has been on the receiving end of much wrath on the Aging Rebel blog.
The Internet is filled with information and mis-information and sometimes deciphering what is fact can be challenging. Often times there is just enough truth in something that is written as to make it appear credible.

Up until now I have largely ignored the Aging Rebel as the topics he generally covers are of no interest to we Canadians, or should I say this Canadian.  However, that has changed now that the Iron Order MC is here in Canada.

Around the time I wrote about my time with the Iron Order MC's Snow City Crew, there was a shooting that took place in Florida and a man died.

The two clubs involved are the Black Pistons MC and the Iron Order MC.
Reportedly a prospect of the Iron Order MC shot and killed a full patched member of the Black Pistons MC during a bloody fight.

There have been articles written by the Aging Rebel that make claims that this situation was somehow a murder.  According to various articles elsewhere, there have been contradictory statements and eye witness accounts offered up as "evidence" and the police in Jacksonville Florida released the "facts" that they are able to.

Watch the News Video here: 

http://www.news4jax.com/news/nippers-shooting-investigation/26850654

Because of one of his recent articles Feds Talk About The Iron Order,  where in the Aging Rebel claims that the Iron Order are now labelled an OMG by the ATF, I made a number of calls to the ATF and finally got through to a representative at the Public Affairs Office to have the referenced report verified.

The gentleman I spoke to spent several days looking into this report and the veracity of the information on the Aging Rebel Blog with regards to this report.

Here is what this spokesperson told me:
The report that the Aging Rebel refers to and quotes from is a 40 page unclassified report.

The spokesperson is not sure how the Aging Rebel came to be in possession of an emailed report that is meant for law enforcement personnel only. It is not meant for public consumption.

The spokesperson also told me that the snippet that appeared on the Aging Rebel Blog was taken out of context in terms of the greater report and that the writer of the report made a small mistake in how the 2 groups were designated in his description of an altercation between an OMG and the OMC.

He also expressed that the ATF does not designate who is an OMG and who is not, they simply deal with the violence that erupts as a result of the presence of any gang be they motorcycle related or street.

He verified with other agencies that the Iron Order MC is NOT deemed to be an OMG.

If you want to verify what I am writing here, you can do exactly as I did, call the Office of Public Affairs for the ATF  at (202) 648-8500.

Here is the quote from the Aging Rebel Blog:

Begin Quote: 

“In southern and central Maryland, the Iron Horsemen MC is furious that the Iron Order continues to don a three-piece patch. In the past 2 months, there have been several bloody confrontations between the two. On February 28, 2014, both were involved in a melee at a strip club in Baltimore. Iron Horsemen members were equipped with bats, knives, MagLite flashlights and hammers. Even though nobody was killed, both OMGs suffered major injuries. One week later, as three Iron Order members were idling at a red light in Prince George’s County, they were viciously attacked by several car loads of suspected Iron Horsemen members. Two of the three Iron Order members were severely beaten with bats, ax handles and crow bars. The assailants were not wearing colors or indicia that depicted they were Iron Horsemen members, supporters or associates.

“The Iron Order is one of the fastest growing motorcycle clubs in the United States. Members wear a traditional three-piece patch with a State bottom rocker. The fact that they wear the State bottom rocker has infuriated the HAMC, Outlaws, Iron Horsemen, Pagans and Bandidos. More importantly, many of their members are police and corrections officers, active-duty military and/or government employees and contractors.

“Over the past 4 years, the Iron Order has had several violent confrontations with each of the aforementioned OMGs. Per the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), in 2013, an Iron Order member was run off the road by a Bandidos member. In Clarksville, Kentucky, the Iron Order and Outlaws have been involved in several violent altercations. On May 14, 2011, HAMC South Carolina Nomads member William Sosebee stabbed an Iron Order member outside a bar in South Carolina. Despite the violence, they continue to move into territory controlled by one of the Dominant Seven.” End Quote

So why am I so interested in what is going on between clubs in Florida and the rest of the USA?

How could their "shit' down there possibly have anything to do with us in Canada?

• Well, we have 5 chapters of the Iron Order MC in Canada, there are 8 or 9 chapters of the Outlaws MC in Canada.

• Top that off with the announcement that the Outlaws have set up shop in Saskatoon where there is a chapter of the Hell's Angels.

• Add in the tensions between the IO and the Black Pistons MC (a "puppet" or support club of the Outlaws MC AKA the AOA) after the shooting in Florida and the fact that there is an IO chapter in Edmonton.

There is a potential for rivalries and issues to flair.
We are after all discussing men and their territorial mind sets, these kinds of rivalries go all the way back in time to Cane and Abel....

I am not saying there will be trouble, but I am saying that we all need to be educated as to the politics and goings on in our community.

Why?

Well, these are after all Motorcycle Clubs and some of them may attend events that you attend.
If tensions get high, it could become unpleasant and potentially lethal, just look at what happened in Hollister a few weekends ago.

The MC world affects those of us who do not ride in that world in that they are the ones who generally get the headlines, aide in the creation of the visions others have of the rest of us who ride alone or with the various MRC's etc., and when they come to events, sometimes they bring the Gang Squads with them. When that happens we are all subject to being photographed and having our plates photographed by law enforcement.

Knowledge is power. 

It is far easier to stay out of any potentially bad situation when you know the players and the playing field. Being situationally and rivalry aware can help keep you out of harms way.

I am going to attempt to write a series of articles on the MC world and hopefully we will discuss the conflict between the Iron Order MC and the Black Pistons MC - the Outlaw MC (AOA)

I have interviewed a couple of members of the upper echelon of the Iron Order MC and have requested interviews with members of the upper echelons of the Florida chapters of the Outlaws MC.
I have not heard back yet from the Outlaws MC, but so far, 10 days later, no one has responded to me to discuss their position.

It is my hope that by creating some dialogue, that there can be an education of sorts in this community as to who is who and what is what.

If you want people to know about your club, who you are and what you represent - I want to hear from you:
bdbetty @ gmail.com (remove the spaces).

The series of articles that I want to put forth is not meant to "push" or "condone" any one point of view but to educate those who want to be, on what the points of view, philosophies and values are of these clubs from their perspective.

How they resonate with you is up to you. What you take away from the articles is up to you.

My goal is to truly be a messenger of many, and educator so to speak, so that you can come away with a balanced and impartial perspective on the various factions, and decide on who you want to associate with or not.

Look for the first article soon...

In other news, Sturgis North AKA Sturgis Canada has, before they even got my counter offer to settle, offered me a second resolution - they would like to buy $1,000 worth of advertising and give me 30 - 4 day passes to their event to sell.  I have rejected that offer and my attorney has sent of my counter offer.  We shall see if there is a resolution there soon or not, in the meantime, I still have a $3,000 lawyer's bill I have to pay so we are holding an auction of SOA art which started yesterday with "Bobby" and will continue for another 8 days until all 9 Pieces are gone!

The Defense Fund Auction for Sons of Anarchy art  by Mark Mullen is on over at: www.beltdrivebetty.com/auction-home

Have a fantastic day everyone!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The last season of Son's of Anarchy and a great Art Auction

As many of you know this upcoming season of Sons of Anarchy will be the last.

And, as many of you know, I am in a lawsuit and need to raise the funds to fight the "charges" against me.  For those of you who don't know what the lawsuit is about, please visit my Defense Fund Page.

The reason that the final season of SOA ties into me being sued, is that a talented young man named Mark Mullen has donated an entire set of his pastels of the original cast of the Sons of Anarchy to my defense fund.

Mark met Charlie Hunnam through a family friend who was working on the set of "Pacific Rim" and when Charlie saw the renderings of Young Jax, Mature Jax and Clay he wanted to support Mark in his bid to go to college and help pay his way.  Charlie challenged young Mark to create the entire original cast and he did.  Good to his word, Charlie took them to the set and 8 out of 9 of these amazing pieces were autographed. William Lucking had already left the show and so was not available to autograph the piece of "Piney".

These prints are all accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and photos of Charlie Hunnam and Mark together.

I helped facilitate the auction of the originals and Mark decided to donate set number 25 of 25 to my legal defense.

Once season 7 of SOA is over, these actors will never again autograph anything as their character.

Besides this set, there are 2 or 3 other sets left to sell.  Once they are gone, they are gone!

The auction starts on Thursday July 17th with one piece featured every day.

I need to raise the funds to pay a lawyer to defend me.

Right now, my goal is to raise $10K, 3 of that is needed ASAP to pay for this latest lawyer's bill.
The other $7 is to cover the appearance of my lawyer before the courts in Surrey. 

Because of this lawsuit and my crash, my business has suffered. I am just getting caught up on three months of invoicing, marketing materials that have to go out and getting ready to finally mail our phone books out. It's been draining, time consuming and frustrating.

As another way of growing the business and services we offer:


I am offering 25% commission to all riders and or riding clubs who bring new businesses to the Rider Friendly Business Association.

If you are interested in making some money for your club or yourself, give me a call. I need sales people and reporters in every province!

If you are interested in promoting your community, your businesses, your events - get in touch!  bdbetty @ gmail.com
Fix the spaces!

Have a great day everyone, and please ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

UPDATED - Saskatchewan's R.A.G.E. President REAR ENDED

Rhonda was lodged under the car, miraculously
she suffered minor injuries and is already home and resting
Photo: Neil Hein, VP R.A.G.E.

The woman who has been working tirelessly as the president of the Riders Against Government Exploitation had a guardian angel on her shoulder last night as she experienced one of the most horrifying things every rider faces - being rear ended.

From eyewitness accounts, Rhonda Cwynar and a friend were riding when this incident took place, not stationary!

Rhonda was impacted by the drivers side bumper, pushed almost up to her riding companion's position and then the SUV climbed over the bike. Rhonda was trapped underneath the SUV, still on her bike.
Allegedly the driver of the SUV was IMPAIRED AND TEXTING at the time.

Allegedly she never looked up and never hit the brakes.

Rhonda is lucky to be alive and as unscathed as she is.

Rhonda is one of many volunteers working hard to keep Saskatchewan's riders as safe as is possible and protecting their pocket books at the same time. R.A.G.E. is all about holding government accountable and "lobbying" for equitable treatment of riders.

Photo shared from Facebook

Their government insurance, SGI, needs to address bad drivers and the fines, demerits and penalties.

It is something the entire R.A.G.E. team and their strategist Don Fuller have been working hard at.

Rhonda Cwynar, she is a wonderful woman who is deeply passionate about working for fair treatment of the riding community.

There will be some sliver linings that come out of this crash - I always look to find the silver lining...
(You have to otherwise you'd go nuts.)

Because this crash happened to a person who sits on the Motorcycle Review Board at the SGI round tables, Rhonda is going to be able to chronicle everything that happens as you move throughout the system and call them on stuff that you or the rider down the road would never get to.

She is going to be able to lobby to change the bad driver laws in an even more powerful way than before. (Saskatchewan's fines for chronic bad drivers are a joke). Nothing like first hand experience to give you that"edge".

She is going to be able to lobby to really change the texting and driving laws and driver awareness and education.

Photo shared on Facebook

I am deeply thankful that this single mom is able to continue being a mom...
I am deeply thankful that this woman is still alive to be able to do this work.
She truly had a guardian angel on her shoulder.

And, if the riders from Saskatchewan get behind R.A.G.E and start lobbying for change in their own communities, start really lifting their voices together, you in Sasktechewan are the best hope for the rest of the country - to see massive change in DRIVER education and awareness happen.

In other news, Liane Langlois of M.O.D.E.L reports that the Edmonton Noise Bylaw is being challenged.  Join the Edmonton Motorcycle Club Facebook page to find out more on what to do if you have a ticket.

Please visit the M.O.D.E.L. blog for information on the bylaw and how to contact M.O.D.E.L.

Have a great day everyone,  I'll update you more on Rhonda's condition and the information on her crash as more info becomes available.

UPDATE: From CJME
The 40-year-old woman allegedly driving the SUV, Tanja Hinks, is being charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm and driving while exceeding 0.08.

Update from Rhonda herself: I have a broken ankle, broken collar bone and tissue trauma but I am in one piece thanks to wearing good gear in part and a guardian angel who had other plans for me.

I want to thank all my well wishers, it means so much to see the support and comments. You have no idea how much.

I'll keep you up to date through our VP Neil Hein and Belt Drive Betty.  Thanks again folks, I am one grateful woman today, sore but grateful.

PLEASE ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you, and please consider wearing good gear.

Belt Drive Betty,
Editor & Rider

Why Outlaw MC's and 1% clubs appear to have such a hatred for certain MC's

The motorcycle community is over 115 years old and with that age comes tradition, history and protocols that far too many in this community have ZERO idea or knowledge about.

The motorcycle is a wonderful conveyance that takes us to see fabulous sights, lets us revel in Mother Nature, both the good and the bad, and allows us to meet people we would otherwise never get to know.  Riding a motorcycle erases so many barriers to conversation, almost everyone who rides tends to feel some sort of connection to another person on a motorcycle.

UNLESS you wear a 3 piece patch and then watch the mixed reaction you get.

You'll see everything from fear to abject admiration and respect along with hostility and resentment.

I am not talking about the reactions of non riders here, but of those right in our own community.  

In a previous article that I did on Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs, I covered much of the history of the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs and how they came to be. Predominantly a man's world, the three piece patch world is one of extremes.  Loyalty and hatred often run equally as deep in this world.

I want to talk about some of the reasons there is so much tension between the 3 piece patch clubs, especially in the US. (As our community here in Canada grows, and more people want to bring an established club from the US to Canada, you will start to see some of those tensions grow here.)

Three piece patches, more than any of the other patches in our community make it very easy to identify who is who, but only when proper protocols are addressed in putting the proper identifiers on your cut.

Sadly there are those who are truly muddying up the waters and making it tough on everyone and those clubs that do that are troublemakers, pure and simple either that or they are ignorant of the MC world and are about to get an education.

The 1% faction of the Outlaw Club world in particular has a problem with other clubs that do not identify who they really are.

• If you are a 3 piece patch Motorcycle Ministry, then you are to put MM for Motorcycle Ministry on your cut.
• If you are a Veteran's 3 piece patch club, the you should have VMC as your designation.
• If you are a Law Enforcement club, then you should have LE MC as your designation. 
• If you are a first responders 3 piece patch club then your designations should be PS MC (Public Service).  Often times fire and ambulance use the symbols of their profession and by doing so identify themselves accurately.
• If you are just a group of guys who does not accept law enforcement in your club then your designation should be MC and you should be approaching the local dominant club about your cut and your bylaws , etc., so they know you are not there to be in their business.

And then there is no man's land — the clubs that allow both civilian and law enforcement - there is no official designation for those clubs, so they wear the MC and get called out as cop clubs among other things.

These clubs are the ones that are in purgatory.
They are open clubs in that they do not care what you do to earn your living, what bike you ride as far as brand goes, they care about your character.

These clubs party too hard to fit into the AMA world.

They are outlaw clubs with a hang around and prospecting phase, but because they allow Law Enforcement officers, retired and active, they don't fit into the CoC world either.

The two most hated types of MC's in the Outlaw world are those of Law Enforcement MC's who do not fly the LE designation on their cut and those Outlaw Clubs who allow Law Enforcement officers as part of their club.

The Law Enforcement Clubs who do not fly the LE designation on their cut are, in my mind, troublemakers and should not be trusted by anyone be you in an MC or just Jane Q rider.  

These men are looking for, or to cause trouble. Why else would they not run the LE on their cut?
It could be about infiltration of another club, getting intell for work or it could just be that they are bullies who like to fight.

In every case that I researched they all proudly declare on their web sites or Facebook pages that they are law enforcement clubs so they aren't doing a good job for intel or infiltrating other clubs, but they don't fly that designation in their colours. To me these guys are looking for fights and often times these law enforcement clubs do end up in big melee's.

They bring discredit to their badges and unneeded and unwanted grief in the Outlaw MC and consequently the riding world.

Those LE Clubs that refuse to put the LE designation on their cut, often times are the clubs that everyone has most reason to fear, as they will provoke fights with the other clubs, they seem to be rogues and revel in that.  These types of LE MC's leave a bad taste in the non MC rider's mouth too because they further that stereotypical fear/resentment of all things cops that is steamrolling through our society these days.

Here's a few articles to help you understand the grief they cause:

Police Biker Clubs Draw Scrutiny in Wake of Bar Brawl

Police Biker Clubs. Are They Hurting The Credibility Of Law Enforcement?

Lines Blur between cops and bikers across the country

Law Enforcement biker gangs: Damaging Officers Credibility?

They are being purposely evasive about stating who they are and what their intentions are when they are on their bikes and that causes fights - we are after all talking about men, their pride, their sense of territory and mostly their sense of honour.

In the 3 piece patch world, when you clearly identify that you are a Motorcycle Ministry, a Veteran's MC, an LE MC, the other MC clubs generally ignore you because they know and understand you aren't in their stuff, their business, or out to do harm in their territory.  Especially if you have the good sense to introduce yourself and your cut to the other clubs that are around if there are any in your area.

There is very seldom any kind of real animosity.  It's more an air of indifference. Live and let live.

BUT, when you purposely leave that LE off of your colours, your are perceived as being dishonest and devious and that goes against everything that the MC's stand for.  

In the Motorcycle Club world it is important to stand up for what you believe in and to be who you say you are and when you don't shoot straight in the way you represent yourself via your colours you have already proven yourself to be dishonourable, untrustworthy.

No one says you don't have the right to wear the cut of an Outlaw, but wearing the right designations on your cut is as important as the right designations on your uniform at work.  If you are a cop and you are only a corporal, try wearing the stripes of a sergeant and you will get your ass called out and fired most likely. Same shit here - say who you are, be forthcoming and honest or get the shit kicked out of you for being a liar, a poser.

RESPECT is something these particular LE MC's have no idea or clue about and I bet they are the officers on the job the rest of their fellow officers have questions about too.

In my opinion, the LE MC's that do not identify themselves as such on their cut are the biggest bunch of asses in the world. They put everyone around them at risk and don't give a shit, they are the epitome of what is wrong with our society.

For those like the Iron Order who accept all walks of life and for whom there is no real designation in our community, they too often get lumped into the "Cops" + "Posers" category and they tend to be the kinds of clubs who refuse to "ask permission" of the local dominants for their patches to be approved.

These clubs tend to end up in a lot of altercations having to defend their right to be who and what they are.

They are in no man's land, and the ride they take will be filled with land mines, and only the bravest will navigate them and still be standing, having fully earned their place in the MC world.  If there was a designation specifically for clubs that were outlaw but all inclusive with respect to brand and job, we could possibly save further angst and discord in the MC world.

Perhaps the No Man's land clubs should consider starting to use a designation like OC - Open Club or AI - All inclusive club or EO - Equal Opportunity then every other Outlaw Club in the world would know that these people are no threat, not in their business.

But then maybe it would also take away the "fun" of fist fights and bar brawls....and you would not have the great war stories to share if the other Outlaw MC's left you alone...

The bottom line is that...No one in the MC world gives a shit about and your club you unless you are misrepresenting yourself or your intentions. No on in the MC world care's about you unless you are in their business.

So if you want to stay out of harms way, then stay out of their claim bars, away from their clubhouses and parties and don't play tough guy by trying to start shit or it will end badly.
If you are looking for a fight, if you are trying to prove you are tough and bad assed, then have at it - the chaff will rise to the top to be blown off by the wind.

In one day of research I came up with over 90 LE MC's and 49 of them properly represent who they are while 42 of them do not fly the LE designation on their cut.

I came up with 4 no man's land clubs that aren't territorial, aren't in anyone's business and yet they are lumped in with the cop clubs who don't fly proper designation because they allow law enforcement members.  (They allow politicians and lawyers too but no one seems to take offence to these professions as far as membership - only cops)

One of the 4 non man's land clubs has no MC or LE designation and let's women in - so they shouldn't be flying an Outlaw Cut - period. (Iron Plainsmen)
Remember these are supposed to be MEN'S Clubs.

I haven't had a ton of time to research how many no man's land clubs there are, but if there are many, then setting up a designation for their cut would solve a lot of issues.  I truly don't think these clubs are purposefully trying to misrepresent themselves, but there is no designation as an identifier that they could use and so they are deemed untrustworthy and as trouble makers by the 1% and Outlaw MC's.

Here is a list of LE Clubs and how they designate themselves... the first 49 clubs seldom ever have any issues with the other Outlaw MC's, the second group, 43 of them are the ones you will most often hear of in altercations and brawls.  The other 4 have mixed reactions and are also often involved in altercations.

LE MC's Who wear the right Indicia to reflect who they are:

Armaduras LEMC	LE Present
Americas Guardians PS MC	PS - Publice Service Designation
Archangels MC	One Piece Patch  - No LE Present
Blue Bloods LEMC	LE Present
Blue Breed MC	LE Present
Blue Iron LEMC	LE Present
Blue Knights	LE Present
Blue line Brotherhood	LE Present
Blue Steel MC	LE Present
Blue Thunder LEMC	LE Present
Brotherhood of Valour MC	One Piece Patch with 911 In Centre - No LE Present
Brothers of Justice                                               Bullets MC Copperheads MC	LE Present - Updated December 2016 Le Present Now - Updated May 2016
Defenders MC	LE Present
Empire of Freedom LE/MC Puerto Rico Inc.	LE Present
Enforcers MC	LE Present
Exiled Saints LEMC	LE Present
Expendable Souls MC	PS  - Public Service Designation
Expendables MC	LE Present
Forsaken Few LEMC	LE Present
Forsaken Guns LEMC	LE Present
Guardian Nomad LEMC-H Town Boys Chapter	LE Present
Gunners LE MC	LE Present
Iron Angels LEMC	LE Present
Iron Circle LEMC	LE Present
Iron Law LEMC	LE Present
Iron Saints LEMC	LE Present
Iron Shields LEMC	LE Present
Knights Paladin LEMC	LE Present
Knights of Valor MC	No LE Present but a Blue Line they believe shows they are LE
Law Dogs LEMC	LE Present
Lawful Sons LEMC	LE Present
Legacy Knights MC	LE Present
Loyal Warriors LEMC	LE Present
MFC LEMC	LE Present
Protectors LEMC	LE Present
Public Guardians LEMC	LE Present
Reguladores RED RIVER LA	LE Present
Retribution LEMC	LE Present
Rolling Badges LEMC	LE Present
Sanctioned Few LEMC	LE Present
Shields Of Honor LE/MC Old South Chapter	LE Present
Sons of St.Michael LEMC	LE Present
Souls of Justice LEMC	LE Present
Southern Justice LEMC	LE Present
Thin Blue Line LEMC	LE Present
Tier Rats LEMC	LE Present
VINDICATORS LEMC PENNSYLVANIA	LE Present
Warriors of Justice LEMC	LE Present
Watchmen MC	LE Present
Wheelmen LEMC	LE Present
Clubs that are misleading in their Indicia
Alpha Doggs LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
American Kights MC	NO LE In Indicia
American Lawmen MC	NO LE In Indicia
Arresting Souls MC	NO LE In Indicia
Blue Maniacs MC	NO LE In Indicia
Blue Reapers MC	NO LE In Indicia
BROTHERS IN BLUE MC	NO LE In Indicia
Brothers of Justice MC	NO LE In Indicia
Choir Boys LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
City Heat MC	NO LE In Indicia
DEDICATED FEW MC	NO LE In Indicia
Extorris MC	LE/MC Inside a Diamond
Gunfighters MC	NO LE In Indicia
Hard Headed LE MC	No Cut photos to be found
Hired Guns MC	NO LE In Indicia
Huntsmen LEMC	No MC in Indicia
Iron Brotherhood	NO LE In Indicia
Iron Guns MC Oakland	NO LE In Indicia
Iron Spartans MC	NO LE In Indicia
Justified MC	NO LE In Indicia
Knights Cavalry M.C.	NO LE In Indicia
Lawmen Motorcycle Association	NO LE In Indicia
Lex Talionis MC	NO LE In Indicia
Loyal Few LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
Nam Knights MC Merrimack Valley MA	NO LE In Indicia
Punishers LEMC	NO LE In Indicia
Redeemers LEMC	NO LE or MC in Indicia
Renegade Pigs MC	NO LE In Indicia
Roughnecks Motorcycle Club (RMC)	NO LE In Indicia
Sacred Sons MC	NO LE In Indicia
Sentinels Motorcycle Club	NO LE In Indicia
Smokin Guns MC	NO LE In Indicia
Sons of Armageddon MC	NO LE In Indicia
Specialists MC	NO LE In Indicia
Sworn Few LE	No MC in Indicia
The Untouchables MC	NO LE In Indicia
TrenchMen MC	NO LE In Indicia
Tribunal MC	NO LE In Indicia
Usual Suspects MC	NO LE In Indicia
Wild Pigs MC	NO LE In Indicia
No Man's Land Clubs
Shamrocks MC	Started out LE but now is just MC Accepts police members
Necessary Evil MC	Accepts Law Enforcement
Iron Order MC	Accepts Law Enforcement
Iron Plainsman	Accepts Women - No MC or LE Designation on Three Piece Patch accepts law enforcement, vets

Strength & Honor MC                                 Started out as LE but now accepts vets etc and public service employees

For the rest of us, this has been a community service message that hopefully helps you keep your ass out of the middle of something that has nothing to do with you!


Have a great day,

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

What makes your arse pucker?

Too often we riders never discuss our fears, we think that the fear makes us less of a rider than the next guy or that others might think we are idiots for feeling the way we do about something.

But I think talking about our fears, sharing our arse puckering moments can help us all be better riders.  You might say something in just the right way that finally a light alb goes off in my head about a challenge or situation that I need to learn...dialogue, sharing - that is some important and powerful stuff!

This is July, Motorcycle Safety Month, the SINGLE MOST DANGEROUS month of the year for riders.

People are on vacation, the roadways are busy, filled with tourists lookylooing at the animals grazing in the National Parks, or deciding last minute that they are pulling into a motel that is across two lanes of traffic, or driving so fast to get somewhere to relax that they forget the journey is part of the vacation too and they put others at risk.

Top that off with all of the truck traffic moving the goods across this country that we all need to run our lives and businesses with, often times, they are on tight time schedules and some go so far as to push other motorists to drive beyond their ability or get run over...

The Road is filled with dangers of all kinds; from our fellow motorist, game, road and infrastructure conditions, weather conditions, road debris and flying debris...

But testing ourselves, facing our fears is also part of what riding a motorcycle is all about.

It's about testing our own metal, finding out what we are made of and celebrating the ride, the feeling, the freedom, the empowerment...the courage, the strength, the tenacity, the love. It's all about honing our skills and growing as people.

There are things that scare the absolute bejeebers out of me...things that cause my arse to pucker, things that I put all of my focus on when I am dealing with them...

Like passing a semi.

Often times when I am in a group riding situation, I find myself riding with riders who never consider what would happen to them if the tread came off of one of those trailer tires or what if a brake pot exploded.

My fear comes from having been a passenger in my father's semi as a kid for hundreds of thousands of miles over about a 12 year period and seeing first hand the destruction that can be caused by recapped tires, of seeing and feeling what it was like when a brake pot literally exploded and seeing  the shrapnel that flew everywhere.

When I ride with others and it comes time to pass a semi, I wait until that other rider is in front of the driver tires (the front tires) of the truck before I begin to make my move.  I want to get around that vehicle as fast as I can and if that means going 10 over to do it, so be it, I am NOT going to hang beside a semi trailer with all that potential shrapnel around me any longer that I absolutely have to.

There are a ton of situations that can cause one's arse to pucker, the arse really is the smartest organ and instinct/danger information translator in the world.

When your arse puckers, you'd best be on your game, danger is imminent!

So, what causes your arse to pucker up when you are riding and what does it feel like to overcome that fear or that obstacle?  I would LOVE to know!

If you'd like a chance to win a $50 Tim Horton's Gift Card, and you are on Facebook, search for Belt Drive Betty  and submit your best safety tip to the #RideAnotherDay Contest on my Personal Page!

Look for this photo to enter the contest at:

Have a fabulous day and please remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you and please consider wearing good gear!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

The Sturgis North Lawsuit - the gift that just keeps on giving

Well folks, my lawyer has finally gotten word on what is happening with the Sturgis North Lawsuit and it's NOT PRETTY.

As many of you know, Ray Sasseville and Joan Hanson of Sturgis North, now Sturgis Canada are suing me for slander and defamation.

The suit originally had 7 defendants but Ray and Joan offered to settle with 6 of the defendants with no real caveat against anyone.  They offered to settle with me as well, but their offer was preposterous and I have been waiting for my counter offer to go to them.

My attorney wanted to ensure that all of the other lawsuits had in fact gone through the courts and were well and truly settled before he filed my counter.

And then the lawyer for Ray and Joan and Sturgis North, Gerhard Pyper was suspended by the BC Law Society.

Ah yes, this lawsuit is a gift that just keeps on giving...

The suspension of the lawyer representing Sasseville and Hansen complicates everything ten fold.

According to the BC Law Society, they do not have a lawyer who is prepared to take on Mr. Pyper's cases and so Ray and Joan will be treated as self representing, as Ray had filed a motion to self represent even though Mr. Pyper was still handling their correspondence.

So what does this mean for me?

Well, we now have to deal with two individuals instead of one lawyer.

My counter offer should be in their hands shortly and once it is I will share with you the document that my lawyer sends out so that you can read for yourself whether there is any true substance to their claims against me or not.

If they do not accept my counter offer to settle, then I am looking at $40-50 thousand dollars to see this thing through.

The immediate need is to raise another $10,000.

That is to cover this new letter to go out, and the time my attorney is going to have to take out of his office in Salmon Arm to petition the courts in Surrey for a change of venue and a bond for costs.

According to my attorney, the Surrey court is a mess, it takes 3 months for orders to be filed - like the 6 we are waiting on from back in May!

It can also take, even with an appointment, up to three days for a lawyer to get in front of a judge to prove why a change of venue makes sense.

That's with an appointment - a date and time that he is supposed to meet with the judge!  We could get lucky and the appointment could happen on time, but apparently, there are many times where lawyers have had to stay over one and two extra days because a hearing before them took longer than scheduled.

My lawyer costs approx. $7,000 for every day out of his office!

My attorney does not hold out much hope for a resolution to this irritating case any time soon....

So we will be holding an on line auction for some amazing SOA art from an autistic artist named Mark Mullen.  Mark is one talented young man!

We helped him auction off the originals of the original cast members of SOA - all were signed by the actors except for Piney and now he has donated a set to me to help with my defense fund!

25 certified copies of this set were made and we will be auctioning off the 25th set!  All come with certificates of Authenticity!

I will let you know the particulars in the next few days!

I hope you have a fabulous day and remember to ride like everyone around you is blind and cannot see you!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider









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A Little Education on the MC World

I write this article with respect to all and to help educate those who want to understand a little of the MC world.  My knowledge is most likely not complete as I am female and not privy to several things in the male only MC world, but what I have learned and know to be true is what I am sharing with you today. Please visit the links I provide to further educate yourself.

As long as there are people, this world will always be a place filled with ego, hidden agendas and subterfuge and on the other side, honesty, integrity and loyalty.

There are good cops who do their jobs with integrity just as there are bad ones.  There are good priests who don't go around molesting young boys just as there are those who do harm.  There are good politicians who truly want to make a positive difference and others who lie and manipulate, cheat and steal.  There are good bikers, riders and enthusiasts who just want to ride and do good and there are those who do bad and also ride.

In the cruising-touring segment of the motorcycle community there are so many political mine fields to walk through, largely due to the mis-information doled out by the police, the main stream media and the people involved in the motorcycle clubs.

Our community has grown so fast, here in Canada, in 2003 there were 350,000 registered for highway use motorcycles, that number in 2013 was just over 700,000.

With that growth comes ignorance of our culture and traditions. And no, I am not being demeaning.
It is up to the "Old Guard" to teach the young ones, the new ones and remind the returning ones, how the motorcycle community is structured and why.

There used to be a time when I could walk into any biker rally and by scanning the patches of the people around me, I knew who was who and where I wanted to be.  Not so today.  Today our patches and colours have a diluted hierarchy, a muddying of the colours so to speak.  And that alone is enough to cause tension. We have laws and bylaws that see patch holders forced to remove their cut in order to go into a drinking establishment or licensed event.  Now you really are in a mine field.

We are human and as such, many of us seek others of like mind to share the connection the ride provides.

Many who are drawn to the motorcycle community are "A" type personalities, independent thinkers and consequently we often times don't play well with others.  Hence, almost every day of the week a new club is springing up or one is shutting down, generally over disagreements on how a club should be run or by a dominant who will not allow a certain cut to be present.

My article yesterday on my time with the Snow City Crew of the Iron Order Motorcycle Club has stirred some controversy, mostly from members of other MC's in the US and Ontario.  These people accuse the Iron Order MC of being a cop club, and with the recent shooting of a Black Piston's MC  patch holder by a prospect of the IO MC, well let's just say things in the US look set to get real ugly.

The Black Pistons MC is a support club of the Outlaws MC.

Let's get a little bit of a history lesson going on here...

Motorcycles have been embraced by people of all walks of life, including women, since their inception, but our community experienced a huge shift and growth after World War II.
Not unlike the one it has seen in the last ten years.

You hear the term "Brotherhood" used a lot in the community, but many don't understand the term, at least not fully and not as it is uniquely meant in our community.

Many men returning from the war after serving in combat units that were tight knit brotherhoods came home and felt like islands.  No one in the civilian world could relate to them and the horrors they saw and sometimes committed in the name of war.  After all no one in the civilian world had ever relied upon another man to have his back and keep him safe.  No one in the civilian world had experienced the deep fear, the deep gratitude and the deep sorrow of war in the way these men had, so how could they understand them?

Not unlike our soldiers today, these men, many of them suffered from what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

They grew up in a time when men didn't complain, they didn't share their emotions much and no one recognized PTSD for what it was.  The only people they were comfortable with were those that they didn't have to explain anything to - their fellow soldier.  Many of the original "Outlaw" Clubs were founded by ex service men and ex police officers. They do after all share a similar "Brotherhood" in their jobs.  The man on the battlefield that does not put his brother before himself was considered a coward and generally didn't last long in combat.  Your very life relied on the man behind you, beside you and in front of you.  You ate together, worked together and protected each other in ways your own biological family members would never dream of, hence the term "Brotherhood".

Many of these men of like mind and experience also self medicated by partying, to put themselves as far away from the horrors and nightmares as they could.  We see the same issues today.

The infamous Hollister riot of July 4th 1947 is what gave rise to the term 1% Outlaw Biker.
According to history, the Gypsy Tour Motorcycle Rally Revival event, an AMA sanctioned event saw way more bikers than in years preceding the war. The small 4,500 person town was swelled to over flowing and as happens with large groups of intoxicated people, their were fights, drunk riders stunting and racing, people sleeping on the streets and anywhere they could lay their head down as there was a huge shortage of accommodations.(We all know that much of the Hollister  story was staged by the media).

The AMA was erroneously attributed with the following statement that many believe is the beginning of the term 1% and Outlaw being used in our community:
"The trouble was caused by the one per cent deviant that tarnishes the public image of both motorcycles and motorcyclists" and that the other ninety-nine per cent of motorcyclists are good, decent, law-abiding citizens."
Nontheless that is the Urban myth about how Outlaws MC's and 1%ers got their name.

The truth is that many of these men formed clubs after this event in retaliation to the way the AMA treated them and their hard partying ways.

Traditional MC's that are sanctioned by the AMA or CMA here in Canada sometimes sport a three piece patch and are law abiding clubs.  In the 1980's many clubs did choose to sew their top and bottom rockers to their center patch to differentiate themselves and some adopted MCC as part of their name, while others kept the MC.  Many AMA sanctioned MC's are actually racing clubs....

The Yonkers MC is the Oldest known MC formed in 1903, they started as a bicycle club.  

They are what is termed a Traditional MC: Wear a three piece patch, are AMA Sanctioned, a men's only club, the adhere to a strict code of conduct. It is not clear if they require a prospecting phase.

The 13 Rebels Motorcycle Club is another one of the oldest MC's around, founded in 1937 and was founded by 13 top AMA racers, again, wears a one piece patch, AMA sanctioned and men only.  Their moto is: "Not to bully the weak. Not to fear the powerful."  They adhere to a strict code of conduct. Although they wear a one piece patch, their code is similar to that of the traditional 3 piece patch clubs.

Another MC sanctioned by the AMA is the Wingmen who have been around since the late 70'S

http://www.9339mc.com/index.html, they wear a three piece patch, have a strict code of conduct and require a prospecting phase.

Confused yet?

MOST but not all Outlaw motorcycle clubs started out as motorcycle clubs with a drinking/partying problem.  They simply wanted to have what they deemed to be fun.

The Boozefighters MC were founded by "Wino" Willie Forkner after he was ousted from the 13 Rebels MC for his rowdy ways.  They were formed in 1946 and started with the philosophy of Ride, Party & Brotherhood.  There in lie the major differences in the Traditional AMA sanctioned MC's and  the non AMA sanctioned Outlaw MC's.

Family oriented, but hard partying describes most Outlaw MC's, many consider themselves to be basically law abiding but all will defend their families, their brotherhood and their country.

What ties these clubs together under the banner of Outlaw is their prospecting period. YOU EARN your patch, you don't just buy it.  The patch is club property and it is a privilege to wear it and the responsibility of every prospect and patch holder to protect that property.  

These types of clubs seldom if ever claim a territory.

1%er MC's are yet again different. They not only wear the three piece patch and have a prospecting phase, but they generally sport the 1% diamond on their chest. Not only are these MC's not sanctioned by the AMA but they claim territory.  

The Outlaws MC were formed in 1935 originally as the American Outlaws Association

The Hells Angels MC were formed in 1948 

The Bandidos MC were formed in 1966 

NOT ALL Outlaw Clubs are 1% Clubs, but all 1% Clubs ARE Outlaw Clubs.

So now that we have a little bit of history on who and how Outlaw MC's are and came to be, and you are thoroughly confused - let's get on with the Iron Order MC controversy.

It is my understanding that the 1% MC world resents the Iron Order for primarily two things: 

1) not asking permission to exist from the dominant clubs and not following CoC Protocols especially since they are not AMA sanctioned.

2) they are considered by many a cop club because they allow law enforcement officers as members if they can pass the prospecting phase and one of their founding members was a cop.

There are deep rivalries and hatreds in the US in particular when it comes to this MC and they were not made any better by the shooting in Jacksonville that took place last week.

The entire Outlaw MC world is a mine field.

Many Veteran's MC's are Outlaw MC's that have a prospecting phase and allow police officers in their fold.

Many Police MC's are Outlaw MC's in that they require a prospecting phase and sport a three piece patch and some of those MC's have been known to conduct themselves as if they were 1% clubs.

Our community is fraught with politics and pressure from the outside and the inside.

The fighting amongst the MC's can turn deadly in a heart beat and remember, many of the people drawn to these types of clubs have military, police and fire fighting backgrounds and generally the muscle to back up their point when in an altercation.  

You do not have to be a "criminal" club to get caught up in the worst of situations, you do that by putting that patch on your back.  Even when you ask permission of a local dominant and get it, that doesn't mean that when you travel you have the right to wear your patch in their territory,  or so I am told.

Many clubs that have started in the last 10 years or so have not followed the protocols of going to the dominant of their region before sporting their cut, some because they didn't know that was protocol (there's that whole education thing) and some because they do not believe that in the land of the Free, the home of the Brave, that they should have to.  That is because many of them have military or police service time in their background and feel they fought for their right to be who and what they are.  Some clubs don't agree with that mind set.

Their argument is who did the Hells Angels, the Bandidos, the Rebels, the Outlaws or any other club pre 1988 ask permission of for their right to exist?

The CoC that set out the protocols was founded in 1988, in Canada they are the Ontario Confederation of Clubs and in the US - NCOM National Coalition of Clubs 

That causes tension, like it or not.

If you choose to wear the cut of an Outlaw Club, then you need to be prepared for the day when, not IF, you have to defend that cut and your brothers and yes, that can mean with your life.

If you are what is termed a Law Abiding MC, that means little if a member from a territorial club resents your presence and decides to "handle" things.  

This is a man's world, one where violence is justified as protection of one's patch, brother and territory first and foremost.  All men on both sides of the fence swear an oath to their club and their brothers.  And whether any of them get the irony of it all or not, they will all die to defend what they believe in.

The irony of the situation from a female's perspective is that they are separated by so little.

They have far more in common than they might think, but grudges, personalities and other forms of rivalry abound.

They all believe in Freedom, Brotherhood, Family, Loyalty, Integrity.  They all EARN their patches, and they are all rebelling against society and its structure in one way or another. And yet, so many can't stand each other.

It is not a world for the faint of heart.  It can get ugly. Very ugly.  But no matter who I have ever talked to be they Outlaw MC or 1% MC member, they all feel the same way, their membership in the club of their choice is as essential to them and their lives as breathing is for the rest of us.

The rivalry, the angst, the political issues aside, every man I have ever met that has taken the steps to hang around, prospect and ultimately become a patch holder says the club has changed their life and given them something that was missing in their lives.

There are many who THINK they seek that kind of brotherhood. There are few who make the grade.  

And that my friends is what I know about the MC world.

Have a safe day...

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider