By Lulu

Another stellar year for Leesburg Partnership, the organization behind Leesburg Bikefest. The crowds were huge, miles of vendors for shopping and too many bands, bikini clad girls and bikes shows to get to see it all. This year the entertainment line-up included Vanilla Ice, Vince Neil and Uncle Kracker. The crowd for Uncle Kracker was one of the largest Sunday crowds I have seen.

The Friday night’s Miss Leesburg Bikefest bikini contest was jam packed with hot scantily clad baby dolls and that night you couldn’t see the end of heads in the crowd! The weather was beautiful, not nearly as humid and sweltering hot as it usually is. I made time to check out the huge parade of semi-trucks which was crazy. The dollar value of the paint jobs alone on these vehicles is nuts. Another crowd favorite by the numbers in attendance is the Mr. Lucky Man contest. The women were packed in like sardines under the tent to see the men line up trying to get the cheers for being their favorite.

One of the best parts of Leesburg Bikefest is the riding. The rolling hills of Clermont, including Sugarloaf Mountain Road, which is the second highest point in Florida, the farm lands north toward Ocala and the many lake front roads (after all it is Lake County) makes this a place to get out on two wheels for a bit while in Leesburg. Always in April, put this on your events to visit in 2020. Leesburg is one of the friendliest cities in the U.S. when it comes to motorcycle rallies.

By Lulu

One of our favorite rallies is Thunder Beach. Hurricane Michael cheated us out of the fall rally, not that so much damage was done to the actual structures of Panama City Beach but the relief workers, construction crews and displaced homeowners needed the hotels and campsites for temporary housing. Mexico Beach and areas just east of Panama City Beach were hit hard.

So, with much excitement we headed to Thunder Beach for bike shows, bikini contests, concerts, tattoo contests, vendors and good food and spirits. Many of our rally friends, including Sick Boy Motorcycles, Custom Lighting EFX, Bill Grotto and Twisted Tea, Ultimate Seats, Steven with Bayer, GUM and Dr. Scholl, and Rally Leathers were all in attendance either at Frank Brown Park, Harley-Davidson of Panama City Beach or at the new venue called Crossroads run by Scott Demonico.

This year’s headliner, Colt Ford and THE LACS played to a huge crowd Friday night. Black Stone Cherry had a bit of bad weather on Saturday night, but the crowds toughed it out. I think the Miss Thunder Beach bikini contest and the H-D bike giveaway might have added to the need to hang tough. As usual, Hammerhead Fred’s hosted some of the preliminaries for Miss Thunder Beach and for the Ms. Thunder Beach contest.

At Crossroads, the tattoo contest was one of the best I have seen. A great bike show was held by Southern Biker Magazine with surfboard trophies. Cartel Baggers walked away with best of show and even Cory Souza was in town for this one and added another trophy to his collection.

The Gulf Coast economy took a hit with the devastating hurricane in 2018, so put this year’s fall rally on your calendar to support not only the businesses in the area but the vendors and organizers of this great rally. The dates are October 23-27 so lock down your hotel reservations now.

By Phoenix and Metric-HD

Most of us know that the “Brotherhood” of the motorcycle world is deeply rooted in the origins of the military. All of those who have answered our nation’s call have a special bond with our fellow veterans. For those in the “Special Operations” family that bond grows a little deeper. Members of the 75th Ranger Regiment know that bond all too well. Out of the Ranger Regiment grew an elite motorcycle club made up of current and former special operation soldiers called The Killer Man’s Sons MC. Recently, the Killer Man’s Son MC wanted to raise money for a PTSD support dog. In true military fashion the Veterans-in-Arms VMC took up the task of putting together a poker run in Desoto County to help raise the much-needed funds. The ride originated at Fire’s Open Road in Arcadia and traveled through some of the curviest roads in the county.

At the end of the day, all the money raised went to sponsor “VICTORY”. Victory is a very young but beautiful Golden Retriever. Victory is still in basic training but already on duty. Victory is diligently standing watch over his surroundings. It was evident that Victory is going to be a great asset. Victory is taking a bite out of PTSD every minute of the day. God bless Victory and all the other service dogs that assist our Veterans.

By Marc Pica and Raven

On Saturday, May 11th the American Legion Riders Chapter 9, Flamingo Lake RV Resort and Dick’s Wings hosted the 7th Annual Boots on the Ground Poker Run and Concert to support K9sFor Warriors Foundation, The Florida Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund and Trees for America’s Troops. With over 1,000 people registered to ride and well over 3,000 people in attendance it was another great year of supporting these great Veterans organizations.

The weekend started on Friday with over 80 volunteers onsite to set up the Boots on the Ground, America Remembers Memorial Display which consists of over 3,000 boots, each with a picture of a Fallen Soldier or First responder that has perished since 9-11-01, their information and a flag. Friday Night kicked off the Pre-Ride party with about 300 people attending, with Fratello rocking the house.

On Saturday, the day of the Poker Run, KSU for the bikers was announce by a flyover by the Dreamland Squadron, a Hot Rod Car Show hosted by Callahan Cruisers and Golf Cart Poker Run added to the festivities. Dozens of the best biker gear vendors were on site as well to support. Saturday’s music line up was The Jacksonville Fire Fighters Pipes and Drums at 9:00AM, Creatures of Habit at Noon, Neon Whiskey at 3:30PM and Don’t Call Me Shirley at 7:00PM until 10PM. Once again, Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers, AKA the Saluting Marine from Rolling Thunder, was onsite to salute the riders as they left the Resort. Over 30 Vendors were on site and hundreds of great auction and raffle items were available to win. Make sure that you mark your calendars to be part of this great event each year. It is always the Saturday before Mother’s Day.

By Lulu

We define and write about “Cool Joint’s” based on unique settings, fancy food and specialty drinks, unusual bartenders or weird, fun events…but sometimes it is just the people who own and run the place! We went in June to a five-year anniversary party in New Smyrna at a very COOL JOINT Bay 3 Bar. The place is called Bay 3 because it is in an old garage, it is also a local icehouse that still sells ice! Being a beer and wine bar, owners Barry and Kay keep the beer ice cold which is VERY COOL, particularly in the heat of summer.

The other COOL factor about Bay 3 is great prices. You won’t find $3-4 domestics at Bay 3! If you are a Steelers fan this is your place to be during football season, but even us Patriot fans will sneak in to watch a game or two! The free peanuts keep you drinking, and the bartenders love anyone who walks in the door. During Bike Week and Biketoberfest their parking lot is full of thirsty riders particularly since they don’t raise their prices, but all year long it is a favorite spot for those on two wheels to COOL their pipes. Jan and Barry also are community minded and are involved in breast cancer awareness in the fall and love to be a stop of poker runs for any good cause.

By Lulu

Funny how in life you gain friends in odd ways. Friendships grow from things as simple as your kids playing ball together or as happenstance as riding on a poker run for a cause you have similar interest in. On our trip to the Ride to the Wall in D.C. an extremely friendly person checked us in, and T.J. offered her a ride on the motorcycle, he probably never dreamed she would jump at the chance…but she did.

And off she rode on her dinner break for a 30-minute two wheeled ride around D.C. while I sipped on cocktails at the bar with my best friend Sherry. Since then we have become friends on Facebook and we have similar political interests and she loves motorcycling. On Facebook I read Grace’s trip to Cuba was being cancelled due to the political problems of our times, so I typed come visit us in Florida. I love this free spirit’s spunk…she typed right back I will come in August. My point in this article is to be open to new friends.

They are the threads that create the tapestry of your life. I cherish my old friends and some I seldom talk to as they were “BMC”…before motorcycling…back when I was in Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, on the Hospital Board and involved in local politics. Still LOVE those peeps. Every once in a while, I hear from girlfriends from those days which seem like a lifetime ago. But when they call it is as if no time has passed and as if nothing has changed. I am sure they think I have fallen off the face of the earth and lost my mind for being involved in motorcycling, but they love me just the same.

I miss them bunches, but I wouldn’t change my life’s evolution because I have met so many people that I love too…Sherry, Allison, Amy, Ann, Bella, Bonnie, Cheralyn, Cheryl, Christie, Claudia, Crash, Dar, Dawn, Debi, Denise, Dora, Flea, Gina, Holliann, Jamie, Jan, Janet, Janice, Jeannie, Jen, Jessica, Jodi, Jody, Judy, Julie, Karin, Kay, Kim, Kitty, Kristi, Lilly, Lisa, Liz, Loopy, Lorrie, Mal, Mandy, Martine, Mary Ann, Micki, Missy, Neela, Neeltje, Nina, Patti, Patty, Paula, Pauline, Peggy, Phaedra Lee, Rachel, Raven, Rhonda, Roxanne, Sandy, Sharon, Shelley, Shelly, Suzi, Tammy, Tator, Tina, Toni, Tonya, T Rex, Vicki, to just name drop a few! And now Grace! Most of these new friends (new as in after motorcycling) I don’t really get to see much. The magazine keeps me busy and they are busy in their lives too, but they all add a richness I wouldn’t have known without them. Oh, and there have been plenty of men too!

So don’t forget, we need new people in our lives to create interesting times and memories. As much as I dislike things about Facebook I do like that we don’t lose contact with someone after we walk out of their door. Offer a stranger a ride, buy a drink for a First Responder or Vet and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Ron Cox

Riders and passengers from all over Southwest Florida registered at the SWFL Military Museum in Cape Coral to ride and raise funds for the museum to support its programs and services.

Riders started out in Cape Coral with additional card stops in St. James City and North Ft. Myers before ending up back at the Museum.

After a hearty meal followed by desserts and beverages a score of raffle prizes were given away. The winner of the poker run was James Carley with a hand of four fives.

This is the largest military museum in Southwest Florida with more than 30,000 square feet. The Museum also provides space for representatives from the Disabled Veterans Association (DAV) and Veterans Service Organization (VSO).

By Deborah Speicher

On the first Saturday in May of every year, lady riders are told to “just ride” to commemorate and celebrate being just that – a lady rider! Across the world, several organized rides have started with some events claiming over 1,000 riders. Florida is now hosting numerous International Female Ride Day events across the state. I got on my Purple Pony, met up with other lady riders and we rode over to New Port Richey Harley-Davidson for a day of riding, shopping, live music by the Papa Crawdaddy band, food and camaraderie.

To give us some more riding, the dealership organized a poker run; the proceeds of which benefitted the Suncoast SPCA. In addition to great prizes, there were informative short clinics and vendors to complete our day. It didn’t end there – there was an after-party held at a local sports bar, Apps & Tapps.

Kudos to New Port Richey Harley-Davidson and especially Kim Ray, Malinda Johnson and her Open Road Girl riding gear, and the rest of the sponsors for organizing this over-the-top day just for the ladies.

By Lulu

Each year in May in Saint Augustine at the World Golf Village there is a celebration of vintage motorcycles. The setting is around a beautiful lake creating a pleasant stroll to study the meticulously kept pieces of motorcycling history. This year the grand dame of motorcycling, Gloria Struck was the featured celebrity, lthough each person displaying their pieces of historic art help create this special event and are celebrities in my mind. K9’s for Warriors was the charity who benefitted from this year’s Riding into History. This was the event’s 20th year celebration of motorcycle history and we were honored to be part of it.