Triumphrat

TCL

Does anyone know the origin and significance of the spade design in motorcycle culture? I know the Ace Cafe is considered one of the pillars of cafe racing and the ace of spades was used for military symbolism. Other than looking cool, does the spade hold any meaning in motorcycle circles?

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Death or Glory

Rides a 2007 T-100

tc_dick

I see it in your eyes, take one look and die,
The only thing you see, you know it's gonna be,
The Ace Of Spades

[img]http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/ai__****eru/Band%20Stuff/LEMMYKILMISTERofMOTORHEAD.jpg[/img]

Other than that, I got nothin..

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'07 Silver Bonnie
Seattle, WA

Zansongs

LEMMMYYYY

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fourdeuce

I've heard that Wild Bill Hickok's poker hand he was holding at the time of his death contained the Ace of Spades - so supposedly aces and eights are the "Dead Man's Hand".
Troops in Vietnam are said to have also used the ace of spades as a "death card".
My guess is it's tie to motorcycle culture is the same as the iron cross - it was a symbol (rightly or wrongly) that was understood to be evil, nasty, and bad - exactly what a lot of "bikers" wanted to be associated with. They were shocking symbols for John Q. Public, so the counter-cultures of the time (hot rods, bikers, and surfers) latched on to them.
My .02...

Fourduece

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sweatmachine

"If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man, win some lose some it's all the same to me!!!!!!!!!!!" :gpst:

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bonniesaltrat

This doesn't answer your motorcycle connection question, but nonetheless interesting Ace of Spades trivia. I particularly like the Toy Story 2 reference. (I've obviously got kids.)

SaltRat

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SaltRat
2006 T100, Black & Red

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TCL

And don't forget the joker. Had to throw that one in. Lemmy stated that he'd wear black until they invented something darker.

[ This message was edited by: TCL on 2007-07-03 17:02 ]

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Nathan

Here's my guess:

I think that the Ace of Spades is the death card when using a conventional deck in a Tarot-y, tell-your-fortune sort of way.

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poop

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SLOBonnie

Actually, the Ace uses the club symbol...

And I am interested in why the Ace chose the club symbol rather than another (say, the spade).

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'07 black (checkered) thruxton
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rodburner

Maybe they are trying to say that they are the #1 club to belong to ?The "ace" of "clubs" ?

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