Club or MCC

[Ade67]

Whats the difference between being a club and being an MCC, or is there none?
A

[kiwidave]

This club, and other marque-related organisations, are usually full of experts, oldies and newbies, welcoming and a fantastic source of parts, info, adventures, memories and mates.

An MCC brings together like minded bikers in a social and (usually in Britain) rallying atmosphere with many of the benefits above.

An ''MC'' club is totally distinct. You know the names......but that is just about all us outsiders will really know. MCs are run under strict rules, become family to those who eventually are permitted to become full members, and whether you like it or not, are a part of the motorcycle scene worldwide and have to be taken into consideration when certain issues emerge.

And it's not really worth asking a member of associate ''why?'' or ''how do i join up?''..... Generally speaking, MC clubs find you. It's a world of commitment, and we don't encourage discussion about them on this forum because their business is not our business.

Some of our members belong to them, or have done.

Hope this helps.

[panheadpete]

Hi Ade;
Kiwidave has described the difference between an 'MCC' and an 'MC' perfectly, but I wonder if perhaps you meant the difference between, say the Clapham MCC and the HDRCGB?
That would be the difference between a motorcycle club for any motorcyclists from that area, or indeed from anywhere that just wanted to join that club, and our club which is national but specifically for riders of Harleys and there's no reason you can't be a member of both - or, indeed, many clubs if they fit your needs.
After that, the sub-divisions between Owners Clubs and Riders Clubs and Enthusiasts Clubs and Rally Clubs and Touring Clubs...eek
Cheers,
Pete

[banquo]

.... which makes me wonder why our Scottish Classic Motorcycle Club is SCMC and SCMCC. Is it time to panic...?

[Karl8115]

I'm a member of HDRCGB, and of Hells Angels MC, the main differences are;

a) We dont get a magazine thru the post for HAMC.
b) I dont have any tattoos proclaiming my membership of HDRCGB.

Otherwise things are pretty much the same...

Edit for those who doubt i can be a member of both;

[45Brit]

usages change over time

some older clubs, mainly on the Classic and vintage scene, spell their names 'So-and-so Motorcycle Club' but usually use the MCC format in their logos. The MCC format was adopted in the late 1940s by the VMCC, based on the VSCC ( Vintage Sports Car Club ). It was also commonly used to distinguish the name from the Motor Clubs ( ie car clubs ) who often used the MC form at the time. Most 'classic' and 'vintage' clubs follow this lead. They are MCC clubs by the above definition, and may be OCs.

an OC is usually an Owners' Club who spend a significant part of their time and budget on a spares scheme of some kind. Some use the 'Enthusiasts Club' or 'Riders Club' form, but they are all the same thing.



some clubs don't use initials at all; Matchless Motorcyle Club, for example, always spell it out in full. They are an ACU-affiliated club mainly concerned with trials, and have no connection at all with the former Matchless Motorcycles and their present Owners' Club


old-style rallying or touring clubs, such as the HDRCGB once was, are now quite rare. The spread of loud rock music and heavy drinking onto the rally scene in the 80s, along with the decline of motorcycles in regular daily use, tended to alienate older riders, and the Dragon Rally now bears little relation to the event I attended in the 1970s, to the extent that the organisers have at times found it necessary to partially conceal the location. Events based around sporting events, like Scarborough, have changed least. The BMF Show, as it now is, has changed out of recognition, hence the growth of peripheral events like the 'Tail End', or the regional events.

the middle-aged 'power rangers' seen clustered around burger vans from Abergavenny to Snake Pass on any sunny Sunday, aren't usually club members at all.

HDRCGB name is based on the simple fact that there is presumably an HD Riders' Club in quite a few countries, so this is the GB one...

[Karl8115]

Originally Posted by 45Brit

some older clubs, mainly on the Classic and vintage scene, spell their names 'So-and-so Motorcycle Club' but usually use the MCC format in their logos. The MCC format was adopted in the late 1940s by the VMCC, based on the VSCC ( Vintage Sports Car Club ). It was also commonly used to distinguish the name from the Motor Clubs ( ie car clubs ) who often used the MC form at the time.

Very interesting post, i shall recite that, feigning great wisdom, when i get asked the MC/MCC question (which happens frequently) from now on.
Thanks, respect is due for a sensible and learned answer.

[essjay]

Nice post 45Brit.

"The MCC format was adopted in the late 1940s by the VMCC"

I have never thought of myself as being in a MCC but now you've pointed it out..... "V" MCC member 42214

[45Brit]

I'd never thought about that.. to me, it's just what the club happens to be called.

as a general comment, British English uses both 'motorcycle' and 'motor cycle' interchangeably. American usage is normally 'motorcycle' ( or 'motocycle' for the Indian boys ), although they also use the term 'cycle' which in British English is normally used to mean 'pedal cycle'. British English renders 'motorcyclist' as one word, hence acronyms like BMF and MAG


Bemsee, the oldest motorcycle racing club in continuous operation in the world, have always used BMCRC as their initials, so you might say that 'MCC' was the definitive form for this kind of club.

[Ade67]

Originally Posted by kiwidave

This club, and other marque-related organisations, are usually full of experts, oldies and newbies, welcoming and a fantastic source of parts, info, adventures, memories and mates.

An MCC brings together like minded bikers in a social and (usually in Britain) rallying atmosphere with many of the benefits above.

An ''MC'' club is totally distinct. You know the names......but that is just about all us outsiders will really know. MCs are run under strict rules, become family to those who eventually are permitted to become full members, and whether you like it or not, are a part of the motorcycle scene worldwide and have to be taken into consideration when certain issues emerge.

And it's not really worth asking a member of associate ''why?'' or ''how do i join up?''..... Generally speaking, MC clubs find you. It's a world of commitment, and we don't encourage discussion about them on this forum because their business is not our business.

Some of our members belong to them, or have done.

Hope this helps.

Many thanks for the replies; this almost makes the "MC" element sound like a Masonic type org.
All I'm saying is as a biker and ex "Power Ranger" lol, this seems to be a taboo subject, in Dover they have the 69 MCC which consists of around a dozen guys in there latter years promoting the biker ways. There are no issues around joining and commitment etc.
Due to stereotyping and the social mindset, are we now moving away from MCC/MC association and in fact promoting disassociation!
I think Panheadpete had where I was coming from although I have taken on board all what has been said. I was amazed when attending the meet at Grizzly’s in Folkestone at how many Clubs etc there were around here.
Regards Ade