Steve McQueen Car & Motorcycle Show 2014: Workin' Progress

Workin' Progress Part 1

Workin' Progress Part 2

Chino Hills CA, June 6-7 2014 - Staff recruiters at the Boys Republic in Chino Hills CA must have an easy job. Meeting and talking to some of the hired hands at The Friends of Steve McQueen Car & Motorcycle Show yields a predictable statement: “I (visited/volunteered/lived) here once in (pick year) and fell in love with the place and the boys. They offered me a job and I’ve been here ever since.”

Boys Republic Staff

Mark Hardwick, Boys Replublic Northern California Aftercare

Tenure is long term – 10, 20, 30 years of service is not unusual at Boys Republic, even in an era today when there is no such thing as job security elsewhere. The staff also tends to put the needs of their students at the forefront, like it’s all family and not just institutional conformance. They expect the students to earn their keep, learn workable skills and keep care of the community assets.

Steve McQueen Car & Motorcycle Show 2014

In such an environment, formerly troubled youth are able to feel like they are in a caring home - and they respond in a positive manner. The Car Show provides an opportunity for the students to give back, especially for the dozens of cooking class students who prepare and serve dinner to the Friday fundraising dinner crowd.

Watching the boys work the meals and tables with smiling faces and professional demeanor – no one is fooling around. You wonder how any of them could have possibly been otherwise disenfranchised to find to themselves here. As a practical joker and class clown, I did not have the same public class these young men have at their age. The Boys Republic system works with great results.

The annual event raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, which goes long ways to pay for goods and services not immediately forthcoming to a non-profit organization. Surely a hundred people – staff, volunteers, supporters and sponsors all put up a lot of effort and cash to make the show happen. The track originally built by volunteers in 1949 transforms into a temporary showroom for some of the best cars that can be had.

While the Boys (and Girls) Republic campus may always be a work in progress, they are always working hard and making much progress. Next show June 6 2015!

Music by Kevin Krieg and Derek Bisutil