By Lulu

Motorcyclists from all walks of life love our vets. And that was obvious on the ride out of Stormy Hill Harley-Davidson in Clermont. The ribbon of bikes that rode from Stormy Hill H-D down beautiful hilly roads and ending at Texas Roadhouse in Clermont helped pay for a nail or two in a brand-new home for a severely wounded veteran. The group Homes for Our Troops based out of Taunton, Massachusetts were happy to pose for a photo when we flew up to Boston to check their organization out. This is a charity to get behind!!! It began in 2004 and nearly 90 cents of every dollar go DIRECTLY toward supporting the vets. They have a comprehensive selection process and build a house that accommodates their needs and put it where the veteran chooses to live. They provide each vet with a pro-bono financial planner for 3 years, a peer mentoring program and stay in touch with the new homeowners to insure they are successful in rebuilding their lives. As of August 2018, they have built and donated 260 custom homes nationwide. And when they talk of rebuilding lives by taking away the financial struggle of financing a home, particularly a home that addresses their special needs…I was impressed by this statistic…only 12% of the vets and 8% of their spouses had a degree or trade certificate before the home, but after their home was donated to them, 69% of vets and 90% of their spouses had obtained a degree or trade certification! And over 150 babies have been born to Homes for Our Troops recipients since 2010!! We met Army Sgt. Patrick Wickens and his family whose new home is in Orlando. They are thrilled with the home and with this organization’s continued concern for him and his family. Texas Roadhouses across the United States have become involved with this great cause. So, support Texas Roadhouse in Clermont! The food they served on the ride was AWESOME. They also are hosting a bike night on the third Wednesdays with Stormy Hill from 6p-til with DJ Rashad! And when you see a ride for Homes for Our Troops make plans to ride on them, it is the least we can do to repay the debt we owe these heroes…and with 90 cents of every dollar going directly to the vets this is one GREAT organization! If you’re interested in helping with their mission of “Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives”, check out their website www.hfotusa.org.

By Lulu

After missing a year, the Peterson family are back with the annual Key’s poker run which their father Phil started in 1972 for a total of 45. As many events experience growth and change, sometimes it is time to get back to basics and so was this year’s poker run. Rather than jump through major economic hoops imposed by Key West, which ate up a great deal of the profits for the charities, it was decided to run this like a true run…not a rally. I heard some complaints ranging from “Where is the Duval activities?” to people being irate that Key West eliminated all parking with barricades on Duval Street which discouraged the bikers who did stay in Key West for the weekend from partying in Irish Kevin’s, Dirty Harry’s and Sloppy Joe’s. There really wasn’t a crowd anywhere.

Personally, I enjoyed this run more than others. It was less hectic trying to run to bike shows, tattoo contests, bikini contest and the final event which is the ending poker hand. I enjoyed just having the stops to make, my cards to pull, drinks to drink, food to eat, pools to swim in and bands to listen to!!! And in the end…all we really care about as bikers is the ride! The stops after sign-up at Peterson’s were Gilbert’s Resort, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill, Marker 88, Island Fish Co. and Boondocks with the final Texas Hold em hand back at Gilbert’s on Sunday afternoon. As a past Rotary president I also care about the charity! And I hope those of you who have ridden on this event for years will realize that is what it is all about. Next year if they do this again I will probably stay somewhere besides Key West and book my final nights at Gilbert’s Resort which has beautifully remodeled rooms and a great sunset.

Amy Mechlowitz was the lucky winner of the Texas Hold Em final hand and walked away with $5,000!! The 50/50 let Steve Bukovack from Palm Coast win $600. 957 poker hands were sold, and I hope you will put this on your calendar for next year! The charities really appreciate your support!!!

By Lulu

Heather and John at Dirty Harry’s on Main Street in Daytona put another one in the “pilot’s log” with a perfect take-off and landing for this benefit run. For those of you not familiar with Angel Flight’s mission, it is to raise funds to assist pilots using their personal planes to fly those without funds to life saving medical care, supply delivery for disaster relief and reuniting families in desperate times. Those who took the ride out of Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach and reached in their pockets for the hands and auction items…a special thank you to all of you! There were hundreds on this run. It was a great day of old and new friends. The stops included Cheyenne Saloon in Palatka with owner Joe manning the poker draw, Renegade’s on the River in Crescent City, OB’s in Deland where Adam James was rocking the stage and ending at Dirty Harry’s for their free BBQ and great music by Redline. A few more people who need to be thanked for the huge success of this event is Rue & Ziffra, P. A. who have sponsored this for years. Rock of Daytona also have been huge supporters of Angel Flight. Daytona Estate Jewelry, FTI Performance.com, ECP Services Group, Oztopia, Worldwide Safety Consulting and Debbie Clark. One last thank you to Horny Dave for his cash contribution…he wasn’t on the ride but when he spotted us at Renegades he handed me a hundred bucks to add to the kitty!

By Lulu

One of my favorite musicians and just a great guy is Bobby Friss. In December there is a charity event he puts on at Quaker Steak & Lube on December 5th. Below is an interview with Bobby about the event!

TRM…Tell us about this Children’s Home Benefit you are organizing.

BOBBY…It takes place on Wednesday, December 5th at Quaker Steak and Lube in Pinellas Park, Fl. From 6-10 pm. Tampa area musicians will all donate their performances and we will have auction items throughout the evening. 100% of every dollar will be given to the kids the next day so they can have an amazing Christmas.

TRM…How did you get involved in this charity?
BOBBY…I hosted the first benefit in 1986 in Clearwater, Fl. Shortly after that WYNF FM in Tampa got involved co-sponsoring the concerts and over the years we made over $100,000.00 for the home. Gene Simmons, Lou Gramm, Billy Squire, and hundreds of Tampa area musicians have all played to raise funds for the kids at the Children’s Home Network in Tampa, Fl. I also donated the royalties from my song ‘Suzie Darlin’ off the Cut Loose album, and I have visited the kids many times over my 30 year involvement.

TRM…Who will be playing this year?

BOBBY…Robby Steinhardt formerly of Kansas, Stormbringer, the Torpedos, Ronnie Dee, Janelle Sadler, Ray Blade, members of Greg Billings Band and Highway to Hell, and of course my band. There will be some amazing jam sessions and special guests throughout the night. My good friend radio legend Russ Albums will help with the auction in between bands, so this will be an incredible night not to be missed.

TRM…Where can people donate if they can’t make the benefit?

BOBBY…We set up a GOFUNDME PAGE…BOBBY FRISS CHILDREN’S HOME BENEFIT.

TRM…Anything else you would like people to know?

BOBBY…Just a big thank you to you Beth and Thunder Roads Florida Magazine for helping promote this worthwhile charity that is near and dear to my heart!

And THANK YOU Bobby for bringing joy to children at Christmas and to all who love your music all year long!

By Lulu

Tony, owner of The Boat Bar in Port Orange came up with a new idea. One day each month, the gang will gather to ride to an unknown destination to be determined right now by luck of the draw. We attended the inaugural “Mystery Ride” in September which ended going to OB’s in Deland. We meandered through the back roads with some new friends and some familiar ones. Once we arrived at OB’s we had a few cocktails and visited with our great friend Ken that helps OB’s with their events, particularly the Wednesday night Bike Nights and their big panhead/shovelhead event in November! Once we downed a cocktail or two we saddled up for the return trip back to the Boat for a great lunch. Tony outdid himself cooking a whole pig for us. I must admit it was beautiful and delicious. His next mystery ride is Sat Nov 17th for a 9:00 A.M check in. Once again, we will throw some bar names in a hat and pick the days destination. Everyone is welcome, so come on out and ride with us. It promises to be a great day of friends and riding.

By Ron Cox

The LOH contingent of Naples HOG hosted its eleventh annual Fly Your Bra Ride on Saturday, October 6th. Premise of the ride was to encourage women and men to wear decorative bras in support of those who are fighting this terrible disease.

More than 150 motorcycles and easily more than 200 riders/passengers registered at Naples Harley-Davidson for the ride that took the procession through the heart of downtown Naples before ending at Six Bends Harley-Davidson in Ft. Myers. The ride was fully escorted by patrol cars and motors from Collier and Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Naples PD.

In year’s past the funds raised were given to the American Cancer Society for cancer research. The current policy is to directly support women who are battling cancer. Susan McDonald, a cancer survivor herself, is the Chairperson for the ride and indicated that Janet Clifford and Melissa Lopez will each receive half of the proceeds of the day or $4,000.

Upon arrival at Six Bends everyone was treated to a light lunch with soft drinks, entertainment by Teakwood Drive and an inhouse poker run.

We regret to report that as of October 5th Naples Harley-Davidson will be closed. The move is to consolidate business at Six Bends.

By Lulu

We were at the Cotee River Bike Fest and stopped in at Whiskey River on the Water for a drink and to fill our bellies. The bar changed owners and management this summer. If you haven’t been in this is a GREAT spot for those who love to ride. The food was delicious we tried the burger and Whiskey River Bourbon Shrimp! They also have an in-house smoker and produce their own Whiskey River BBQ and sauce. Chef Eric has a full menu of delectable entrees and appetizers including bacon wrapped scallops, Whiskey River Bourbon Pasta laced with shrimp and scallop in a bourbon butter cream sauce, wings and salads. Something for every taste bud!

What sets this bar apart is when they say “on the water” it is! They have inside AC seating, large outdoor under roof seating and then open on the dock seating with a beautiful view of the Cotee River. Add to that music daily and 14 TVs with the NFL Ticket. Our bartender Natalie was adorable and hard working. She let us know they have bucket specials during college and pro football game with Bud, Bud Lite and Ultra on Saturdays for $10.99 or Bud Lite, Shock Top or Mic Ultra draft pitchers for $7.99! On Sundays it switches to Yuengling, Miller and Coors buckets for $10.99 or pitchers for $7.99! They also have Happy Hour Monday through Friday 2-6pm.

If you are looking for a spot to host a holiday event they are booking now. They will be open on Thanksgiving evening but closed Monday and Tuesday for Christmas. Call now 727-849-2180.

Located at 5245 Limestone Dr. in Port Richey they are tucked under the bridge over the river on US 19. It is a perfect spot for you to cool your pipes and pick up Thunder Roads Florida Magazine!

By Lulu

So as anniversary bashes go…the Log Cabin definitely, had a little devil in the house. Tonya who pays attention to the smallest details had lit devil horns ordered for the AC/DC Tribute night and the entire place was a sea of glowing red horns. The band Thunder Jack had a standing room only crowd that spilled outside to the tables and tent they had erected for the night. The band rocked the place and I must say was one of the best tribute bands I have seen doing AC/DC. There are a lot of pictures from that night on our Facebook page at Thunder Roads Florida so check them out. And if you are looking for a nice place to ride to and throw a beer or cocktail down, check out Long’s. Waylon is a veteran who rides, and he is also a school teacher. So, support this families dream of owning a great bar…we love them and all the folks we have met at their establishment!

By Lulu

Being on the cutting edge is what the world-famous Bruce Rossmeyer dealership is known for. So, when I heard they were going to do the FIRST Trikefest I wasn’t surprised, if I was surprised by anything it was that no one has taken this on before as trike sales are a huge market now. Mid-September was their first event and I have heard that it will be happening again bigger and better in 2019. This one included a meet and greet on Friday, a ride on Saturday, live music, bike show and vendors. The Florida Trikers Association were in attendance and if you haven’t joined this group you might want to check them out, seem like a great group of people to socialize and ride with! So, ALL 3 wheelers get ready for September 20-22nd!

Photos by Kenneth Tornabene

By Lulu

So, for one year now Wednesday nights in Deland have been spent eating, drinking and listening to great bands at OB’s. The parking lot over the year has had to have pavement added for all the bikes, tables added for sitting and I am sure SR Perrott has had to increase the Twisted Tea and beer deliveries. Wednesday nights rain or shine have been rocking! Bands like Crashrocket and Penta have graced the stage and kept the crowd lively. Their year anniversary was the biggest night ever. So, if you feel like a ride to Deland, join in for the food which is a $3 to $4 special each Wednesday night, ice cold beer buckets and great music! A special thank you to David Sweat from Rue & Ziffra law firm for coming out for the celebration, WHOG Radio for the live remote, Bill Grotto from Twisted Tea for their giveaways…all made it one hell of a party!

By Lulu

A state-of-the art brand spanking new Harley-Davidson showroom is coming in 2019 to St. Augustine. The beautiful building will be located right off the east side of I 95 on the outlet mall property across from Field’s Cadillac. A ground breaking with breakfast was well attended, and St. Augustine is excited to have Harley-Davidson as part of the cities business family. The plan in adding this 5th Adamec store is to keep the merchandise location in the historic downtown shopping district and the addition of the new location will bring a full-service dealership back to St. Augustine. The three Jacksonville locations are on Baymeadows, in Orange Park on Wells Rd. and the Regency store on Atlantic. Adding one more location will keep Missy and Sarah working their buns off with events and promotions!! See the press release regarding this big announcement.
ADAMEC HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO OPEN FULL-SERVICE DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA (September 26, 2018) – Adamec Cycle Sales Co. Inc. announced today that it will expand its operations in St Augustine, Florida and the surrounding St. Johns County area with the addition of a new 35,000 square foot full service dealership. The new store located on 4.5 acres on Outlet Mall Blvd (at I-95 & 16) across from Fields Cadillac will be named Adamec Harley-Davidson of St. Augustine. This state-of-the-art facility will employ 25 people and is projected to open by 3rd quarter of 2019. Having Sales, Parts, Service, Rentals, Rider Training Class and an on site riding course will allow this to be a one-stop shop. Project cost is unavailable at this time.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to serve the Harley-Davidson customers & community of St. Augustine,” said Mark Adamec. “Our three dealerships have earned the Bar & Shield Award, Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s highest honors, eight years in a row for excellence in customer satisfaction and dealership operations. Our goal is to deliver an outstanding experience to all of our customers and offer them a full line dealership close to home.”
“As a third generation Harley-Davidson Dealer, we realize the importance of the relationship between the Harley-Davidson customer and their dealership,” Adamec continued. “We’re family!” Our grandfather believed it 87 years ago when he founded Adamec Harley-Davidson and the tradition continues three generations later. My brother Chris and I are extremely grateful to have this opportunity to bring one of the oldest continuous family owned Harley-Davidson Dealers to serve the Oldest City in the United States of America!”

Chris Adamec adds, “We feel this market is underserved and giving the great people of St. Augustine a dealership to call their own is a natural fit for Adamec Harley; and we are very happy to say Welcome to the Family!”

Adamec Harley Davidson is a Family owned business since 1931 that operates one of the nation’s largest Harley-Davidson Dealership Groups with four locations currently. Adamec Harley-Davidson of Jacksonville at Baymeadows, Adamec Harley-Davidson of Orange Park and Adamec Harley-Davidson at Regency on Atlantic Blvd. along with a Retail Outlet on St. George Street in the heart of historic downtown St Augustine.