News
Sports
ENLARGE
Like so many things in American culture, the origins of “Throwbacks Thursdays,” a motorcycle gathering held the third Thursday of each month at Paco's Tacos in downtown Grass Valley, can trace its roots back to the end of World War II.
Many of the veterans from WWII (like veterans from any action) returned home to find civilian life rather dull and unfulfilling. Most initially missed the intense camaraderie, action, and hard-core celebrations of victory and defeat of wartime service — even though they wouldn't go back for a million dollars.
Being raised during the Depression, the WWII veterans knew how to make things from scratch, out of nothing with little guidance (a vital wartime skill that was instrumental for victory).
Upon returning home, many returned to a sport they dabbled in before the war or were exposed to during the war — motorcycles.
With plenty of military surplus bikes available, they were picking them up cheap and stripping them of nearly everything that was deemed unnecessary in an effort to reduce weight and increase performance.
Thus, the “Bobber” was born, named after it's shortened or ‘bobbed' fenders and styling,
Throw in a surplus A-2 leather flying jacket complete with nose art and patches, form a club with your own set of rules (and patches), eschew official sanctioning of the American Motorcycle Association and enjoy celebrations like the old days, and you got yourself the first Outlaw Biker Club. Pose for a sensationalized photo on the cover of Life Magazine, and the rest as they say is history.
The crowd that gathers at Paco's Taco's is not about to descend on downtown Grass Valley and wreak mayhem. They are more a product of the current great recession and ongoing wars.
Upon return from his second tour of Iraq in 2009 as an Army Infantry Officer, Capt. Jared Wambaugh, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry, decided he'd had a belly full of war. It was time to return to family, friends and the family business, Paco's Tacos of Grass Valley, owned by his father David Wambaugh.
Soon after returning from Iraq, Jared resumed the vintage motorcycle hobby he grew up with and learned from his dad who used to be a Triumph motorcycle mechanic.
Jared's current bike is a custom 1966 Triumph chopper. Choppers are custom designs that became popular with veterans returning from Vietnam in the '60's and later immortalized in the movie “Easy Rider.”
Choppers generally share the minimalist attributes of the earlier bobbers, but the frames are cut or ‘chopped' and the front-end raked to give the long chopper look.
With his leadership skills, Jared soon formed a core group of like-minded custom vintage motorcycle enthusiasts who had the right ride, the right attitude, and the willingness to help others.
Calling themselves the “Throwbacks,” Jared asked his dad if he could host a gathering at the restaurant. David agreed and the first gathering saw 12 bikes, the following month that number doubled.
A typical Throwbacks Thursday can bring as many as 50-60 custom vintage bikes in a free, family-oriented event featuring enthusiasts from all generations.
Throwbacks Thursday is a retro sign of the times. Gone are the recent building bubble days where every doctor, lawyer, home builder and homeowner bought the biggest, shiniest new Harley Davidson or expensive custom shop-built chopper. Everyone was a weekend biker.
What's a rebel to do when your cause goes mainstream? Return to your roots of handcrafted, minimalist, one-of-a-kind, deeply personalized bikes designed and built on a shoestring budget.
Check them out at Throwbacks Thursdays, the third Thursday of each month from 5-9 p.m. at Paco's Tacos in Grass Valley.
Many of the veterans from WWII (like veterans from any action) returned home to find civilian life rather dull and unfulfilling. Most initially missed the intense camaraderie, action, and hard-core celebrations of victory and defeat of wartime service — even though they wouldn't go back for a million dollars.
Being raised during the Depression, the WWII veterans knew how to make things from scratch, out of nothing with little guidance (a vital wartime skill that was instrumental for victory).
Upon returning home, many returned to a sport they dabbled in before the war or were exposed to during the war — motorcycles.
With plenty of military surplus bikes available, they were picking them up cheap and stripping them of nearly everything that was deemed unnecessary in an effort to reduce weight and increase performance.
Thus, the “Bobber” was born, named after it's shortened or ‘bobbed' fenders and styling,
Throw in a surplus A-2 leather flying jacket complete with nose art and patches, form a club with your own set of rules (and patches), eschew official sanctioning of the American Motorcycle Association and enjoy celebrations like the old days, and you got yourself the first Outlaw Biker Club. Pose for a sensationalized photo on the cover of Life Magazine, and the rest as they say is history.
The crowd that gathers at Paco's Taco's is not about to descend on downtown Grass Valley and wreak mayhem. They are more a product of the current great recession and ongoing wars.
Upon return from his second tour of Iraq in 2009 as an Army Infantry Officer, Capt. Jared Wambaugh, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry, decided he'd had a belly full of war. It was time to return to family, friends and the family business, Paco's Tacos of Grass Valley, owned by his father David Wambaugh.
Soon after returning from Iraq, Jared resumed the vintage motorcycle hobby he grew up with and learned from his dad who used to be a Triumph motorcycle mechanic.
Jared's current bike is a custom 1966 Triumph chopper. Choppers are custom designs that became popular with veterans returning from Vietnam in the '60's and later immortalized in the movie “Easy Rider.”
Choppers generally share the minimalist attributes of the earlier bobbers, but the frames are cut or ‘chopped' and the front-end raked to give the long chopper look.
With his leadership skills, Jared soon formed a core group of like-minded custom vintage motorcycle enthusiasts who had the right ride, the right attitude, and the willingness to help others.
Calling themselves the “Throwbacks,” Jared asked his dad if he could host a gathering at the restaurant. David agreed and the first gathering saw 12 bikes, the following month that number doubled.
A typical Throwbacks Thursday can bring as many as 50-60 custom vintage bikes in a free, family-oriented event featuring enthusiasts from all generations.
Throwbacks Thursday is a retro sign of the times. Gone are the recent building bubble days where every doctor, lawyer, home builder and homeowner bought the biggest, shiniest new Harley Davidson or expensive custom shop-built chopper. Everyone was a weekend biker.
What's a rebel to do when your cause goes mainstream? Return to your roots of handcrafted, minimalist, one-of-a-kind, deeply personalized bikes designed and built on a shoestring budget.
Check them out at Throwbacks Thursdays, the third Thursday of each month from 5-9 p.m. at Paco's Tacos in Grass Valley.
