Gil Armas is one of the most in spiritual Old school bikers I’ve ever met. He was born in Los Angles just after WWI. He learned the plastering trade as a young boy and he also learned the excitement of ridding a Harley Davidson. He was 16 years old at the time.

Gil had been a member of the 13 Rebels MC until he joined Wino Willie’s new Yellow Jackets MC in the latter part of 1947. As he explained, he had wanted to race in the AMA sanctioned events and the Yellow Jackets provided a way to do that.

Later when the Yellow Jackets fizzled a realtor named Tannon asked to support him. Since he provided a Scout and Triumph motorcycles to do the racing, Gil took him up on it. He raced in the Ascot track regularly, competing in quarter, half and mile events. How did you do? I asked. “Oh I usually won most of them. Those were some top running bikes you know. Mr. Tannon kept them in top shape.” Yeah but Jim Hunter told me you were the most gut’sy and best racer around. “Well I got a kick out of doing it, and winning was the best feeling of all.”

Speaking of Jim Hunter, we call him our racing hero. But he told me that he didn’t even know how to ride very good until you took him out into the desert and taught him the ropes. And then he said you taught him how to race. “Hunter was quiet a character. He and I were best friends but he couldn’t ride worth a crap. One day he came to me and said – all the good racers get the best girls…teach me how to race!” And you did? “Yeah but he sure got hurt a lot. I decided to retire before I messed up my body too much, but Hunter just kept on racing, and he did real well. He sure paid for it in his older day though

You were that lead rider on the cover of our book “THE ORIGINAL WILD ONES”. What were you doing and who was that other guy behind you? Oh me and that guy named Drizz (with the Galloping Gooses MC) were putting on a show. I was doing close in circles while he rounded me with a bigger circle. That was in Hollister 1947? And didn’t you do a lot of donuts in the street too? “Yes and some guy from a motorcycle tire store provided the tires. I’d do donuts and burn up a tire, then they’d put another on and I’d go burn it up. I must have gone through a dozen and a half tires.”

Did you ever think the Boozefighters would grow to what it is today? No way – it was so different then. We never gave it a thought about what it would become. Besides – Wino didn’t want it to get too big back in those days. Said it would cost too much and be too big of a problem to handle. That’s why he put a limit on how many members before cut off. 20 I think it was.

So what advice would you give present day Boozefighters? I can’t give any advice. No one listens any way. But I would suggest…everyone just have fun!

Thank you Gil Armas for the interview and good night. If at any time any of us can do anything for you just let us know…for you are loved and respected!!!

JQ ‘HISTORY’