I have no idea what a bike club is like in the USA. Are they just social riding clubs or race based?

In all fairness, in my experience you join the club (racing) applicable to your bike and require a UCI licence. If you have a hybrid and join a Road Bike Club, you are hardly going to be able to participate, as they usually abide by UCI rules. The hybrid is not a road bike (by definition of the UCI) and therefore can't be used in events covered by UCI rules.

As for snobs, you get them in all areas of hobbies and past-times.