For all those who came out for J-Bird‘s “The Black Bird Ride” on May 1st, 2010. We wanted to send out a thank you to all for attending, especially are Brother’s and Sister’s from Infamous Iconz MC ! Motopsychoz MC will hold a ride in honor of J-Bird every year on May 1st. hopefully we can make it bigger and bigger each year so our Brother is never forgotten! I would also like to give a shout out and a Thank You to Motopsychoz Mc – Road Captain – Phedo! Good looking Brother on that beauitful ride you set up!

Starting a Motorcycle Club (MC) is actually considered an insult to the existing clubs. So first off. I would suggest that you do some research into other MC’s and see if one fits your style. Also see our post on “Why Men Join Motorcycle Clubs”.

 There is a hierarchy amongst the clubs and it starts with the dominate 1% MC in your local area. If there is no 1% MC in your local area, keep looking because there is one somewhere in your state. But in respect to the older MC’s and the pioneers of the MC world contact them and they may or may not lead you in the right direction. If they do not help you there are the regular 99% MC’s, which are usually part of a confederation or coalition and they can give the right information needed. After the motorcycle clubs there are Riding Clubs, Sports Clubs and Associations. You may need to do your research and understand the customs of the biker community. We also have a post on “biker terminology” that will start your research.

Things you may need to consider before contacting an MC: The first and main decision an individual needs to decide on is what kind of club they want to make it. The different types of clubs are list above and that does not include starting a 1% club. After your main decision is made and you know what direction you want to take your club, the next step is to make sure they have enough riders (members) to start a club and when I say “enough riders” I mean enough members that ride on a motorcycle. It is easy to start a club and get members but it is another thing to have members that ride. By this time if you are still interested in wanting to start a club the next thing you need to do is create a name and logo. Keeping in mind that you need to make sure there is no existing clubs anywhere with the same club name or logo. Now before you go any further this is the time you find out who the dominate club is in your area and get their consent. They also may have an organization to handle the lesser clubs. If you get this far then you do not need my help anymore.

Remember to be respectful because these guys are the pioneers of our community and if things don’t work out in our favor, stick around and show interest just because they didn’t vote in your favor doesn’t mean no (unless they literally tell you NO!). This might be a test to see how serious you are about the MC. But do not force the issue if things do not go your way. There are hundreds of clubs out here that will fit your needs. You have to remember you are dealing with people who put their club first and live to be a biker. These are things that most people  do not understand. So very important!!!!! Do your research!!!!   Also find out your local MC gathering nights and get out there and meet people. Networking is key in our community.

Champ – Motopsychoz MC

Also stop and check out our posts on the “Overview Structure Of An MC”.

 “Prospecting”

“Do You Have What It Takes”

Feburary 20, 1984 to May 1, 2009

Never Forgotten!

                                                

Frank Rios, 1947-2009: Motorcycle buff in 1967 co-founded Hell’s Lovers, one of Chicago’s first integrated biker clubs – Jan 11, 2010 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – By Lolly Bowean.

Formed in 1967, Hell’s Lovers helped break race barriers.  A Harley-Davidson buff that was turned down when he tried to join a motorcycle club in the late 1960s, Frank “Claim-Jumper” Rios started the Hell’s Lovers, one of the first integrated biker organizations in Chicago.  “He got to know people across the United States, and he knew the different clubs,” said his son, Demetrius Guyton. “He enjoyed the wide-open road. The fun part of the road trips was hanging with his bros, even with the breakdowns.”

Mr. Rios, 62, died of cardiac arrest attributed to complications from diabetes Monday, Dec. 28, at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, his son said. Mr. Rios had moved from Chicago’s West Side to Milwaukee in 1997.  A Mexican-American from the West Side, Mr. Rios was an outsider among existing motorcycle clubs when he started the Hell’s Lovers in 1967.  “He put the name on his back, and it took off,” his son said. “He hooked up with a childhood friend, and they formed a nation.”

Overseeing his own club allowed him to meet others who danced to their own rhythm, his longtime friend, Andrew “Poolie” Poole said.   “When people liked the way we lived, they jumped onboard with us,” said Poole, also a founding member of the Hell’s Lovers. “We believed in each other.”   The Hell’s Lovers have about 50 members in Chicago and claim more than 1,500 members across the country in states like Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, Georgia and Maryland, Guyton said.   “When you’d see us coming, you’d wonder, ‘How’d they all get together?’ “Said Ralph Collier, who joined in 1972. ”We’d freak people out because we had all kinds of people: black, white, Mexican.

“Many motorcycle clubs have an outlaw reputation, and members of the Hell’s Lovers had occasional scrapes with the law over the years. But Mr. Rios managed to stay out of serious trouble.  “It got to be wild and crazy at times,” Collier said.  “Half our stories can’t be put in print. There were times when tears had to be shed. But you lived to see what would happen the next 5 minutes.”

Mr. Rios, a boxing and martial arts instructor, rode his Harley regularly until four years ago, when he started suffering complications from diabetes.  Mr. Rios is also survived by a sister, Loretta Bernard, and four grandchildren.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-obit-rios-11-jan11,0,5262311.stor

Condolences to all of Claim Jumpers Family and Freinds!

                                                               - Motopsychoz MC 

FREE BIKER IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE! – Jan 6, 2010 – Wisconsin – A FELLOW BIKER and former MARINE from Wisconsin with a serious medical condition needs your help to simply be set free earlier based upon personal hardship.  “We really need bikers and supporters to sign our petition so my husband can come home where he belongs”, Maury’s wife, Valerie pleaded.

Maury Tradewell a righteous biker and motorcycle mechanic (has put many bikers back on the road from his shop at home) had a serious medical reaction at home several months ago.  His wife called for emergency assistance and the police arrived with aggressive behavior against Maury rather than as an emergency response (because he has a history of being tough).  The authorities arrested Maury saying he was non-cooperative and his probation (of which he completed 4 1/2years without incident with 6 months left) was revoked not long after – thereby imprisoning him for 15 months until completion of his bid in Nov 2010.  

In that time Maury has suffered a brain aneurysm and his health has failed.   While authorities are hard on Maury because he is a biker, supporters like Saddle Tramp Magazine, AlphaBiker.com, BikerLowDown.com Radio and B.A.D.(Bikers Against Discrimination) seek help from the motorcycle world “to sign a petition to modify a sentence for our brother of the open road, Maurice D. Tradewell of Pardeeville, WI.   We are asking for a sentence reduction to time served.”

The petition will be presented at an upcoming hearing to show citizen support for Maury’s early release.    Please sign the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freemaury/

Original URL: http://www.bikernews.org/wtn/news.php

DJ Devast8, a killer Milwaukee DJ who is a friend of many members of Motopsychoz MC has been offering some of his mixes for free! The least we could do is offer to host them on our site after all the great music he spins. So check the following links for some of the best mixes around.
(right click and “save link as” to download them to your computer)

Back to The Old School Volume 1

Back to The Old School Volume 2

ElectroSexual Volume 3

Notte Volume 2

Notte Volume 7

Notte Volume 8

The Good Life Volume 1

The Good Life Volume 2

The Good Life Volume 3

The Good Life Volume 4

……….Let’s Talk Jesus Christ.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Meeting with the Twelve at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked, “Whom say ye that I am?” Simon Peter, the chief Apostle answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15–16). Peter later testified that Jesus “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20). He was “in the beginning with the Father, and [is] the Firstborn” (D&C 93:21).

When the Father’s plan—the plan of salvation and happiness (see Alma 34:9)—was presented (see Alma 42:5, 8), one was required to atone to provide redemption and mercy to all those who accepted the plan (see Alma 34:16; 39:18; 42:15). The Father asked, “Whom shall I send?” He who was to be known as Jesus freely and willingly chose to answer, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27). “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever” (Moses 4:2).

In preparation, the earth was created: “By the Son I created [the earth], which is mine Only Begotten,” declared the Father (Moses 1:33; see also Ephesians 3:9; Helaman 14:12; Moses 2:1).

Titles of Jesus Christ

He was known as Jehovah by the Old Testament prophets (see Abraham 1:16; Exodus 6:3). The prophets were shown of His coming: “Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” (1 Nephi 11:21; see also John 1:14). His mother was told, “Call his name Jesus. … He shall be … called the Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:31–32).

Many titles and names are descriptive of His divine mission and ministry. He Himself taught: “I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” (3 Nephi 9:18). “I am … your advocate with the Father” (D&C 29:5; see also D&C 110:14). “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). “I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven” (Moses 7:53). “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger [or] thirst” (John 6:35). “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” (John 15:1). “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25). “I am … the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16), “Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am” (D&C 29:1).

He is the Mediator (see 1 Timothy 2:5), the Savior (see Luke 2:11), the Redeemer (see D&C 18:47), the Head of the Church (see Ephesians 5:23), its Chief Cornerstone (see Ephesians 2:20). At the last day, “God shall judge … men by Jesus Christ according to [the] gospel” (Romans 2:16; see also Mormon 3:20).

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16); “wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth” (2 Nephi 2:6).

The Prophet Joseph Smith was often asked, “What are the fundamental principles of your religion?”

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”1

Humility of Jesus Christ

At the time of His arrest before His Crucifixion, the Lord had come from Gethsemane. At the moment of betrayal, Peter drew his sword against Malchus, a servant of the high priest. Jesus said:

“Put up again thy sword into his place. …

“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:52–53).

During all of the taunting, abuse, scourging, and final torture of crucifixion, the Lord remained silent and submissive—except, that is, for one moment of intense drama which reveals the very essence of Christian doctrine. That moment came during the trial. Pilate, now afraid, said to Jesus: “Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” (John 19:10).

One can only imagine the quiet majesty when the Lord spoke: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). What happened thereafter did not come because Pilate had power to impose it but because the Lord had the will to accept it.

“I lay down my life,” the Lord said, “that I might take it again.

“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18).

Atonement of Jesus Christ

Before the Crucifixion and afterward, many men have willingly given their lives in selfless acts of heroism. But none faced what Christ endured. Upon Him was the burden of all human transgression, all human guilt. And hanging in the balance was the Atonement. Through His willing act, mercy and justice could be reconciled, eternal law sustained, and that mediation achieved without which mortal man could not be redeemed.

He by choice accepted the penalty in behalf of all mankind for the sum total of all wickedness and depravity; for brutality, immorality, perversion, and corruption; for addiction; for the killings and torture and terror—for all of it that ever had been or all that ever would be enacted upon this earth. In so choosing He faced the awesome power of the evil one, who was not confined to flesh nor subject to mortal pain. That was Gethsemane!

How the Atonement was wrought we do not know. No mortal watched as evil turned away and hid in shame before the Light of that pure being. All wickedness could not quench that Light. When what was done was done, the ransom had been paid. Both death and hell forsook their claim on all who would repent. Men at last were free. Then every soul who ever lived could choose to touch that Light and be redeemed.

By this infinite sacrifice, “through [this] Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3).

“Atonement” in Scripture

The English word atonement is really three words: at-one-ment, which means to set at one; one with God; to reconcile, to conciliate, to expiate.

But did you know that the word atonement appears only once in the English New Testament? Only once! I quote from Paul’s letter to the Romans:

“Christ died for us.

“… We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:8, 10–11; emphasis added).

Only that once does the word atonement appear in the English New Testament. Atonement, of all words! It was not an unknown word, for it had been used much in the Old Testament in connection with the law of Moses, but once only in the New Testament. I find that to be remarkable.

I know of only one explanation. For that we turn to the Book of Mormon. Nephi testified that the Bible once “contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record” and that “after [the words] go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away” (1 Nephi 13:24, 26).

Jacob defined the great and abominable church in these words: “Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God” (2 Nephi 10:16).

Nephi also said, “Because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, … an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them” (1 Nephi 13:29). He then prophesied that the precious things would be restored (see 1 Nephi 13:34–35).

And they were restored. In the Book of Mormon the word atone in form and tense appears 39 times. I quote but one verse from Alma: “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also” (Alma 42:15; emphasis added).

Only once in the New Testament but 39 times in the Book of Mormon. What better witness that the Book of Mormon is indeed another testament of Jesus Christ?

And that is not all. The words atone, atoneth, and atonement appear in the Doctrine and Covenants five times and in the Pearl of Great Price twice. Forty-seven references of transcendent importance. And that is not all! Hundreds of other verses help to explain the Atonement.

Agency

The cost of the Atonement was borne by the Lord without compulsion, for agency is a sovereign principle. According to the plan, agency must be honored. It was so from the beginning, from Eden.

“The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency” (Moses 7:32).

Whatever else happened in Eden, in his supreme moment of testing, Adam made a choice. After the Lord commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth and commanded them not to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, He said, “Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Moses 3:17).

There was too much at issue to introduce man into mortality by force. That would contravene the very law essential to the plan. The plan provided that each spirit child of God would receive a mortal body and each would be tested. Adam saw that it must be so and made his choice. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).

Adam and Eve ventured forth to multiply and replenish the earth as they had been commanded to do. The creation of their bodies in the image of God, as a separate creation, was crucial to the plan. Their subsequent Fall was essential if the condition of mortality was to exist and the plan to proceed.

Necessity of the Atonement

Nephi described what would happen to our bodies and our spirits except “an infinite atonement” was made. “Our spirits,” he said, “must have become like unto [the devil].” (See 2 Nephi 9:7–10.)

I seldom use the word absolutely. It seldom fits. I use it now—twice:

Because of the Fall, the Atonement was absolutely essential for resurrection to proceed and overcome mortal death.

The Atonement was absolutely essential for men to cleanse themselves from sin and overcome the second death, spiritual death, which is separation from our Father in Heaven, for the scriptures tell us eight times that no unclean thing may enter the presence of God (see 1 Nephi 10:21; 15:34; Alma 7:21; 11:37; 40:26; Helaman 8:25; 3 Nephi 27:19; Moses 6:57).

Those scriptural words, “Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee” (Moses 3:17), introduced Adam and Eve and their posterity to all the risks of mortality. In mortality men are free to choose, and each choice begets a consequence. The choice Adam made energized the law of justice, which required that the penalty for disobedience would be death.

But those words spoken at the trial, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11), proved mercy was of equal rank. A redeemer was sent to pay the debt and set men free. That was the plan.

Alma’s son Corianton thought it unfair that penalties must follow sin, that there need be punishment. In a profound lesson, Alma taught the plan of redemption to his son and so to us. Alma spoke of the Atonement and said, “Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment” (Alma 42:16).

If punishment is the price repentance asks, it comes at bargain price. Consequences, even painful ones, protect us. So simple a thing as a child’s cry of pain when his finger touches fire can teach us that. Except for the pain, the child might be consumed.

Blessings of Repentance

I readily confess that I would find no peace, neither happiness nor safety, in a world without repentance. I do not know what I should do if there were no way for me to erase my mistakes. The agony would be more than I could bear. It may be otherwise with you, but not with me.

The Atonement was made. Ever and always it offers amnesty from transgression and from death if we will but repent. Repentance is the escape clause in it all. Repentance is the key with which we can unlock the prison from inside. We hold that key within our hands, and agency is ours to use it.

How supernally precious freedom is; how consummately valuable is agency.

Lucifer in clever ways manipulates our choices, deceiving us about sin and consequences. He and his angels tempt us to be unworthy, even wicked. But he cannot—in all eternity he cannot, with all his power he cannot—completely destroy us, not without our own consent. Had agency come to man without the Atonement, it would have been a fatal gift.

Created in His Image

We are taught in Genesis, in Moses, in Abraham, in the Book of Mormon, and in the endowment that man’s mortal body was made in the image of God in a separate creation. Had the Creation come in a different way, there could have been no Fall.

If men were merely animals, then logic favors freedom without accountability.

How well I know that among learned men are those who look down at animals and stones to find the origin of man. They do not look inside themselves to find the spirit there. They train themselves to measure things by time, by thousands and by millions, and say these animals called men all came by chance. And this they are free to do, for agency is theirs.

But agency is ours as well. We look up, and in the universe we see the handiwork of God and measure things by epochs, by aeons, by dispensations, by eternities. The many things we do not know, we take on faith.

But this we know! It was all planned “before the world was” (D&C 38:1; see also D&C 49:17; 76:13, 39; 93:7; Abraham 3:22–25). Events from the Creation to the final, winding-up scene are not based on chance; they are based on choice! It was planned that way.

This we know! This simple truth! Had there been no Creation and no Fall, there should have been no need for any Atonement, neither a Redeemer to mediate for us. Then Christ need not have been.

Symbols of the Atonement

At Gethsemane and Golgotha, the Savior’s blood was shed. Centuries earlier the Passover had been introduced as a symbol and a type of things to come. It was an ordinance to be kept forever. (See Exodus 12.)

When the plague of death was decreed upon Egypt, each Israelite family was commanded to take a lamb—firstborn, male, without blemish. This paschal lamb was slain without breaking any bones, its blood to mark the doorway of the home. The Lord promised that the angel of death would pass over the homes so marked and not slay those inside. They were saved by the blood of the lamb.

After the Crucifixion of the Lord, the law of sacrifice required no more shedding of blood. For that was done, as Paul taught the Hebrews, “once for all … one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Hebrews 10:10, 12). The sacrifice thenceforth was to be a broken heart and a contrite spirit—repentance.

And the Passover would be commemorated forever as the sacrament, in which we renew our covenant of baptism and partake in remembrance of the body of the Lamb of God and of His blood, which was shed for us.

It is no small thing that this symbol reappears in the Word of Wisdom. Beyond the promise that Saints in this generation who obey will receive health and great treasures of knowledge is this: “I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them” (D&C 89:21).

I cannot with composure tell you how I feel about the Atonement. It touches the deepest emotion of gratitude and obligation. My soul reaches after Him who wrought it—this Christ, our Savior, of whom I am a witness. I testify of Him. He is our Lord, our Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father. He ransomed us with His blood.

Humbly I lay claim upon the Atonement of Christ. I find no shame in kneeling down in worship of our Father and His Son. For agency is mine, and this I choose to do!

Wellington, Nov 18 NZPA – Angry bikers have vowed to step up protests against the Government’s plans to ramp up their ACC levies.

Thousands of bikers descended on Parliament yesterday over the issue and shouted down ACC Minister Nick Smith as he tried to address them.

With the planned changes, riders would have to pay $257.58, a raise from $58.97, to register a moped.

All motorcycle registrations currently cost $252.69. But from 2010/11 bikes from 125cc to 600cc would go up to $511.43, while those over 600cc would be $745.77.

Dr Smith met in the Beehive with some of the bikers following the protest and said the scale of the hikes was likely to be paired back.

“I’ve indicated to them that it’s unlikely that the Government will agree to the scale of increase that the ACC board has recommended,” he told reporters.

However, bikers have said they planned to cause further disruption in coming days to ensure their message gets through.

Biker Anne James said a large congregation and protest was planned for Auckland on Sunday.

“Hopefully, with any luck, there will be no car parks left in Auckland city on Sunday morning,” she told Radio New Zealand.

Ms James said the bikers would not break any laws, but the scale of their actions was likely to cause large-scale congestion and disruption in Auckland.

One of the organizers of yesterday’s “Bikoi”, Brent Hutchison, said bikers were not going to “roll over” and let the Government follow through with its plans. “The war has just begun.”

He said bikers had plenty of ways to continue causing disruption without breaking any laws and suggested future protests could bring cities to a stand-still.

REBEKAH CAVANAGH

November 9th, 2009

NOT HAPPY: Vietnam War veteran John Scally says he was forced to take his vest off at Darwin Airport. Picture: JUSTIN SANSON

A WAR veteran says he was ordered to remove his leather vest that bears his service medals when going to farewell a friend at Darwin International Airport.

John “Skully” Scally was outraged and offended when told by officers it was for “security reasons”.

But Mr Scally, 62, who served in Vietnam with the Army, is a member of the friendly NT Chapter Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club and also has a club patch on his vest, and believes he was targeted because of all the recent “hysteria” about bikie gangs across the nation.

“I am a Digger – I’m a grunt,” he said. “I’m not an outlaw. I’m not a bloody crook.

“I was harassed and humiliated all for no reason – it is a disgrace.”

Mr Scally, from Wanguri, in Darwin’s northern suburbs, said he refused to take his vest off at the airport.

He said he was held by security, who used “standover tactics”, for 25 minutes in full view of the public.

“I wear this for the 60,000 servicemen and their families who have done it tough over the years,” he said. “It’s like your wedding ring. When you put it on you are making a commitment.

“We done our time and we earned our stripes. I don’t deserve this.”

Airport chief executive Ian Kew said it was not the vest that security had a problem with.

He said there were “prohibited items” attached to the vest and that once Mr Scally removed them he was allowed to move around the airport.

The prohibited items were some old, inert bullets that had been made into decorative keyrings and were hanging from the side of the jacket.

“There were other things on the vest that were ignored that would be more of a weapon than they were,” Mr Scally said.

Mr Scally said it is not the first time he has been refused entry to a place because of the stereotype that comes with his vest.

He said he has been kicked out of pubs and clubs in Darwin and interstate.

Nov 8, 2009 – Kingman, Arizona - By Jim Seckler – As a state highway patrol helicopter circled low over head, bikers from 40 motorcycle clubs throughout Arizona met Sat in Kingman.  The meeting held Sat at the American Legion post in Kingman was planned a year ago and is held throughout Arizona by the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs, alternating between Arizona cities. Bullhead City will host a meeting Nov. 7, 2010.  Saturday’s meeting was to be held in Fort Mohave but moved to Kingman for a planned ride past four Kingman establishments, which recently adopted a no colors policy. Colors are patches on a vest that identifies a biker’s motorcycle club.

An officer from the state gang task force was parked across the street from the American Legion post, taking photos of the bikers. Police cars from Bullhead City and Kingman and from the Arizona Dept of Public Safety drove by, making the law enforcement presence felt.  About 500 to 600 bikers assembled after the meeting on a ride past the four bars, which included Chuy’s Broiler, Cerbat Lanes, Sportsman Bar and Mad Dog’s in Kingman.

ACMC advocates for biker rights and meets twice a month, discussing issues like helmet or emission laws or pushing for biker-friendly legislation. There are about 40 clubs in the state, according to Dan Balentine, who is president of the Desert Road Riders Motorcycle Club in Fort Mohave as well as the secretary for the ACMC. Balentine said that ACMC is in the process of hiring a third lobbyist to work on the no colors policy initiated by some bars and restaurants in Kingman.

One ACMC lobbyist, going by the name of Skypilot, is based at the state capital in Phoenix and works with the legislators while a second lobbyist work on federal issues in Washington, D.C. Skypilot reported that he is talking with state legislators on motorcycle issues such as right of ways, emissions, discrimination by law enforcement, correctly fastening license plates and extended yellow lights. Balentine cautioned bikers during the meeting to obey all traffic laws when riding past the four bars, not to give law enforcement an excuse to paint a negative picture of bikers.

ACMC’s president Ray “Still Ray” Fitzgerald, said the object is to draw attention to the way the gang task force illegally forces bars to adopt the no colors policy or face having their liquor licenses pulled. One biker spoke of the Phoenix PD closing the gates of a cemetery, keeping bikers from attending several memorials.

DPS officers also reportedly pulled over several Hells Angels traveling to the meeting Sat morning on I-40 about 18 miles east of Kingman and arrested Sonny Barger, one of the founders of the club. Barger, 72, was getting off his bike when he was arrested for going several miles over the speed limit. Other Hells Angels were also ticketed, according to a club member.

Balentine said ACMC’s mission statement is to educate the public of the positive aspects of motorcycle clubs and lawfully oppose intrusion to biker rights. He previously said he has had no problems wearing his colors in bars, restaurants, even casinos in the Bullhead City and Mohave Valley area. Wearing his colors in the Laughlin casinos has also not been an issue, even after the infamous 2002 shooting between two rival motorcycle clubs during the Laughlin River Run. Especially after the 2002 Laughlin shooting, Balentine said, there has been unfair stereotyping that all bikers who wear colors are dangerous outlaws looking to cause trouble. At the meeting were members from a Christian motorcycle club and one member of a club representing firefighters and paramedics

Article URL: http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2009/11/08/news/local/local2.txt