All About The Nomad Biker Gang
The Nomad Biker Gang, established in April 1966, is a unique motorcycle club where membership is not geographically bound. This article delves into the origins of the club, its iconic Flying Boot logo, and the concept of Nomads within the world of motorcycle clubs.
A Nomad is an individual who may or may not be a member of a motorcycle club, not tied to a specific geographic region. The concept is especially relevant for clubs like military veterans’ organizations, where members are dispersed across the United States without enough members in one area to form a chapter.
The Nomads Bikers Club was founded in April 1966, with the constitution being inspired by the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) constitution. Key figures in the formation included Nick Ehrman, Les Hayden, Pat O’Connor, and several others. The founding members gathered in the lounge of YMCA's Observatory in April 1966 to establish the club.
The club initially associated itself with the YMCA, which housed a large garage for repairs and modifications. The garage was essential to the club’s operations, and Nick Ehrman, one of the founders, was appointed as Garage Manager to oversee the work.
The iconic Flying Boot logo of the Nomads was created in 1966 by Mike Wrightford and Pat O’Connor. The idea struck them during a lecture at the University of Cape Town (UCT) as they dreamed of owning bikes like the BSA Gold Stars and Velocettes. Mike quickly sketched the logo, which Jerry Day turned into the club’s official emblem.
In most motorcycle clubs, members wear a protective rocker on their jackets to represent the chapter or region to which they belong. For the Nomads, their territorial rocker simply reads ‘Nomads’ or ‘Nomad,’ symbolizing that they are not tied to any specific chapter or region, but are full members of the club.
While Nomads can be hosted by any chapter, they are not committed to any one chapter, as each chapter operates independently. Nomads often reside in regions without enough members to form a chapter, and they may either live solitary lives or be sent to create new chapters where permitted.
