The TrailBlazers ... A Brief History

Basically, we’re a group of fun-loving motorcycling enthusiasts and racers whose mission is to keep the spirit of motorcycling alive in Southern California by gathering annually for a get-together banquet and, occasionally, other functions as the spirit dictates.

A.F. Van Order founded the TrailBlazers in 1936. As a Los Angeles area motorcycling enthusiast, he would round up a number of fellow riders from that era and they’d have their sessions of bench racing. By 1940 it was time to get more serious (and formal) and the first of many annual banquets was scheduled. It was a “Stag” event – men only. Pioneer motorcyclist Paul “Dare Devil” Derkum was elected the 1^st president of the TrailBlazers at the 1940 banquet.

World War II put a damper on such activities, as most of the members had gone off to fight for Uncle Sam. The cadence was restored following the war, with Van Order at the helm. When “Van” passed away, others continued the tradition, including publisher Floyd Clymer. After Floyd’s death in 1970, however, the annual gatherings were in limbo for several years.

Spear-headed by Max Bubeck and Earl Flanders, the banquets were reactivated in the mid-1970s, and ladies were more than welcome to attend. Eventually, motorcycle editor and publisher Bill Bagnall took the helm and presided over the TrailBlazers for many years. Bagnall later turned over the leadership duties, which have been carried on since by Don Emde, Walt Fulton Jr. and current President Keith Mashburn. Bill passed away in 2006.

A wide variety of motorcycling enthusiasts and celebrities have attended past TrailBlazers banquets. Early day legends such as Jim Davis, Cannonball Baker, Jack Milne, Ed Kretz, Floyd Emde, Ben Campanale and others were regulars, as were Hollywood stars such as Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen and Keenan Wynn.

To spice up the evening’s festivities, themes were added such as “Big Bear,” “Daytona,” “Catalina,” “Motorcycle Clubs,” “Famous Tuners,” and “Off-Road Competition.” More recently we have added the “TrailBlazers Hall of Fame” and the “Dick Hammer Award,” which is a beautiful “Mach Warrior” sculpture given for “Desire, Drive, Determination and accomplishments in the motorcycle world.” Over time, the popularity of these get-togethers has swelled, with our present day always sold-out banquets drawing nearly 500 attendees.

In recent years, the TrailBlazers became affiliated with the Motorcycle Industry Council, the industry’s major trade organization.