NEVER SOFTEN
Bob McMillen
Bob McMillen Taking Care Of Business in 1947, behind what is known now as Harbor College, Wilmington, California (est. 1950). The location of Blooming airport prior to WWII. Bob said that the landing. . . well, any landing you can walk away from is a good landing. . . although he did walk funny for a few days. . .
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"Original"
Bob McMillen
4 wheels are for the body . . .
2 wheels are for the soul . . .
1 WHEEL IS FOR THE . . ."Original" YELLOW JACKETS!
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Bob 'Pappy' McMillen
Gardena Yellow Jackets
The Gardena, California Yellow Jackets Motorcycle Club, the Original Yellow Jackets, are believed to have been in existence much earlier than the start of World War II; even as early as 1930. However, the last surviving member, and a highly respected and published motorcycle historian, Bob McMillen, believe it's 1938. The Original Yellow Jackets, also known as just the "Originals", competed in competitive races sanctioned by the American Motorcycle Association (AMA). They were American men, many of which were combat veterans that wanted to push life to the edge. They wanted to live life to the fullest and slide across the finish line not refreshed, but wore out and out of gas! Bob says the originals weren't about politics or business; it was about racing! The "Originals" maintained simple ideals focused around their family, work when they could fit it in, and then the club...while never losing sight of good times. They would meet at a small bar called the 'Crash Inn' in Southern California. The owner of the Crash Inn was an honorary member. He supplied the meeting place, and of course the beer (No wonder he was an honorary member!). At any given time, there could be many different clubs represented at the Crash Inn drinking together. Clubs that could be found included the Sharks, the 13 Rebels, the Top Hatters, the Boozefighters, the Hounds, the Hells Angels, and the Galloping Gooses, to name a few. They would belly up to the bar, laugh, drink, and have a good time. Of course that was a much different time. Some of the Gardena chapter did go to the July 4th, 1947 Hollister, California celebration. Many stories of the exploits were brought back and retold. They were outlandish, but nothing like the sensationalistic news the media broadcast. The Yellow Jackets had several notorious members that flew under the Yellow Jackets name for racing purposes only. They were Johnny Roccio, and "Wino" Willie Forkner of the Boozefighters. It seemed that the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) had an issue with the Booze Fighters and wouldn't let them race. Well...where there's a will there's a way!
*Note: As there were several Yellow Jacket clubs, Bob believes that the Yellow Jackets kick started by Wino in order to race in AMA sanctioned races was based out of Los Angeles, California. They could be identified by their race jerseys that had the words Yellow Jackets arched over mc on the back. There
was no accompanying logo or center patch. It was a veryunique time in history in that Wino and his racers wereactually members of their LA Yellow Jackets and theBoozefighters at the same time.
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