Step 1 : know your history.
As with any endeavour you set yourself on, you need to know some of the history behind it to understand the way the system works.
Let's go right back to the creation of the first real MC, The Hells Angels. Their history is a little hazy but many believe that the original Angels were members of the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division, an elite group of paratroopers trained to rain death on the enemy from above. They apparently called themselves Hell's Angels because they were known for parachuting into enemy territory with twenty pounds of TNT strapped to each leg. Originally, the Hell's Angels was a nickname that was also considered to be a badge of Honor. The name is not just associated with outlaw bikers but also with mercenaries, soldiers, warriors and troops who believe that they are risking all to fight for freedom and individual rights - especially the right to ride a great big Harley-Davidson Hog. After living on the edge for so long, many of them resisted working in a normal job to support the white picket fence lifestyle.
To compensate, the group purchased military surplus motorcycles and shared weekends riding the roads and venting their frustrations about suburbia by partying hard. This is how the gang, The Hell's Angles came to stand for individualism and rebellion against authority.
Step 2 : Know your machines
An equally important piece of knowledge to make your life as a prospect a little easier is knowing what kind of machines you ride, and choosing the right kind of machine is like choosing the right wife....you just need to get it right. Are you the big boy enthusiast who loves the loud roar of the knuckle-head, or the roadster rider with a love for the flat-heads. Whichever you may be it is vital that you know your machine like the back of your hand, your bike is your steed and it will carry you through your entire run as a MC member, it doesn't matter if its an old machine or a new model but its the pairing of the two that makes a great rider.
Step 3 : the not so fun part
Being a prospect is like being someones slave for a little while, you cater to the clubs daily chores, help around the clubhouse and just do whatever you are told. To get a little more technical a prospect is a man or woman who has made their intentions clear that they want to become a member of the club, or gang. It's a step up from a person who has been socialising regularly with the organisation, with the approval of the club members. If this person asks to part of the club (or gang), they are usually voted in by all or the top club members. Some say that at least three quarters of the members must vote in favour of the 'hang around' becoming a prospect.Once you become a prospect you have several months to prove your worthiness to the club through various functions which are determined by the biker gang. If you endure the test as a Prospect then you are voted into the gang or club and you are given a patch to prove your membership and allegiance to the organisation. That's what a prospect is in a nutshell, and every club has it's own rules.
Step 4: You are your patch
This is what all your hard work is for, The Patch, the face of the MC, the soul and the body alike. Once you've been patched in you become part of the patch itself, your actions from here on out reflects the club and is the pinnacle of respect. A patch is what a battalion is to a soldier, it's your brotherhood of rebels and Harley riders all with the same goal of freedom and exploration. It is also the symbol of your journey to becoming a member as each members time as a prospect was different, each went through their own unique set of trials and some took longer than others. But in the end its what completes each rider, from the crazy to the conserved we are all brothers of the same stitching.
Follow these simple steps and you'll be well on your way to becoming a full fledged member of your favourite biker club, so polish your crotch rocket and put on your lid for the reapers approach on steeds of steel and grease, to conquer the roads and explore the land and show the world how their freedom roars.
