HMP, please recommend.
those books might be as interesting
as the Mafia books i read years ago.
Hell's Angels by Yves Levignes
Under and Alone
Those three are the first to come to mind, all will give insight to the way they allow people in, how they conduct themselves in various situations, how they make their money etc.
As far as the Outlaws - I live in Lexington...well, close to it. Outlaw area.
My father hung out at a shop owned by one, my (biological) mom's bike got worked on there some and she even thanked the guy when her bike was featured (cover) of Easyriders. Hell, my grandfather went and visited the guy in prison for many years. I grew up around some of them, still see some here and there being around this area.
I'd love to know more about them, lots about the HA out there, I'd like to learn more about O.
As far as them in Charlotte, it was mentioned above, and in the Yves book (which is set in early 80s), they talk about this big war between them and the HA were many were killed.
Respect is key, from what I can tell.
Im sitting in a coffee shop in Lexington right now, ten feet from another table. A couple months ago an Outlaw walked in, I have no idea who he is/was, but I asked him if I could ask him some questions, if he could maybe identify some folks in a photo. He seemed...hesitant. I told him who I was, who my father was, that we knew such and such who ran said shop above, and that my grandfather went to visit that man in prison in Florida for years, they were friends. Hell, he came to my grandfather's funeral. I said I had a pic of my grandfather with some guys, I thought they were O, he sat for a moment, yeah, he knew them. We chatted, he asked if I wouldnt mind sending that pic to him, shoook my hand, went on about his day. Nice guy, he seemed.
The folks Ive met, I dont know what they've done. I dont want to know, it doesnt matter to me. They've all been very nice to me and my family. But I am always interested in learning more about that culture, what's happened around the country and world with these clubs.