By Lulu

For 17 years, Joe Vece and his organizations have put on a memorial service to honor those who lost their lives and continue to have health issues from the deadly terror attack on our country on 9/11/2001. I am concerned each year as we head to Flagler County for the ride that no one will show up…so many years have passed. But this year, as with every previous year, I was amazed at the community of bikers, residents and dignitaries that attended. The Red Knights first started this memorial ride 17 years ago, now Joe’s club, Knights of Inferno, along with the Punishers MC, Flagler County, Monster Motorcycles, Politis & Matovina, PA and Tropical Enterprises make this yearly memorial happen. Hundreds of riders watched the service and quietly prayed for our country, then got on their bikes and took the ride through Flagler and Volusia County to end with a great lunch provided by 1405 Saloon in Bunnell. I was pleased so many young riders were with us, many who didn’t look old enough to have been born when this tragic event occurred.

On 9/11 2001, 2996 individuals’ lives stopped! 1000s more were injured. And everyone in our country was horrified and in mourning. Only 20 survived the World Trade Center collapse. On Flight 11 ninety-two perished which crashed into the North Tower, Flight 175, fifty-one perished when it hit the South Tower and on the World Trade Center Property 2600 perished, some jumping to their deaths. On Flight 77 and in the Pentagon 189 perished. In a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, heroes on Flight 93 kept the terrorists from crashing into another site and all 44 perished. The youngest victims were two 3 years old on Flight 175. 10 were pregnant women and their unborn. 343 were New York City Fire Fighters and 71 were law enforcement officers. Since 2001 10,000 cancers in first responders have been attributed to the 9/11 event. 2,000 more have died from the exposure.

If you haven’t ridden out to Bunnell for one of the 9/11 Memorial Rides you really should make a point to, it makes you feel good about America. NEVER FORGET!!

By Jeani G.

On Sunday October 8th, Gator Ken and I joined over 550 participants for the exciting 29th annual Bruce Rossmeyer Ride for Children. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office did an amazing job escorting the ride from Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, stopping traffic all along the way and keeping the riders safe. Seeing the happy, smiling faces of campers, volunteers, and staff as we arrived was touching and very inspiring.

The successful event raised over $300,000 for Camp Boggy Creek, a non-profit medically equipped camp nestled on 232 acres that enables children with serious illnesses to enjoy an unforgettable camp experience where they can simply be kids … make new friends, engage in fun activities like archery, horseback riding, swimming, boating, music, woodshop, creative arts … and so much more.

Bruce Rossmeyer started this event a year before the camp opened and over the past 29 years, the ride has raised over $7 million dollars in support of this amazing facility. It was great seeing Bruce’s wife Sandy, and children Mandy, Shelly, Wendy, Will and many other family members enjoying the day’s festivities!

John Hamlin and Hamlin & Associates were the presenting sponsor, with a huge lineup of major sponsors: the Rossmeyer family, Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson, Jeanmarie & Collin York, Miller Lite, WHOG radio and the Rock of Daytona to name a few. Grand Marshals included Camp Boggy Creek Ambassador and actress Grace Van Patten, Katey Sagal, Kurt Sutter, Jackson White, Rusty Wallace, Doug “Danger” Senecal and Frank Scott.

Outback Steakhouse served a delicious lunch and Are Friends Electric kept the enthusiastic crowd entertained all afternoon with their unique take on rock ‘n roll. There were lots of fabulous silent auction items to bid on and the live auction was exciting and fun … especially the playful “bidding wars” that ensued between John Hamlin and Teddy Morse.

Every year, this fundraising event is a much-loved favorite of so many riders and organizations, and this year was no exception! If you couldn’t make it this time, we hope you can join us next year for the spectacular 30th anniversary gala and ride! In the memorable words of Bruce himself, “It’s all about the kids!”

By Lulu

One of the first people I met 17 years ago upon arriving in Flagler Beach was Glenn Iannillo, owner of Smile’s in Palm Coast. I have traveled from the Keys to Sturgis with Glenn and his girlfriend Sharon, and even the Playboy Mansion, so to say he is my friend is more than true. At the time he also owned Mother’s on A1A and then purchased The Dog Pound in Bunnell which he sold to the new owners that now call it 1405 Saloon. He has been in the bar business his entire life. Smiles on Palm Harbor Village Way in Palm Coast just celebrated 20 years! The place was rocking with music by DJ RU TEK and a delicious food spread was served to celebrate. Smiles is a full liquor bar with karaoke on Tuesdays and a DJ Thursdays and Saturdays. So, find yourself a bar stool and order a cold one when you are up in Palm Coast and Smile and tell Glenn Thunder Roads Florida sent ya!!

By Lulu

Tom and Lisa, owners of 1405 Saloon in Bunnell have certainly breathed new life into the old Dog Pound on Moody Blvd. They not only have made huge improvements to the saloon and property; they also have added energy to the nightlife in Bunnell with live music and events. I saw them in action on the free lunch for the 9/11 Memorial Ride in September with hundreds of bikes on the property getting quick service, a tasty BBQ lunch provided by 1405 and cooked by Angie’s House of Flavor and a great band Southern Chaos. They are also involved in Angel Flight annually and are always looking to be a stop for poker runs and other charity events! Lisa and Tom are hard-working community minded business owners who treat customers like family!

Coming up on November 18th is their 1-year anniversary bash and Tom’s 50th Birthday! Live music and food will add to the day’s event! Also, a couple of don’t miss events coming in December are the Micro Wrestling Federation on Friday the 1st and Completely Unchained on Friday the 29th. Check the ad inside for ticket info for those two shows.

October is always slammed full of traveling to events. We had Cotee River Bike Festival which we always enjoy, hanging out with the crew at Little Corona Cigar Lounge and listening to the great music on 3 stages. We jump on the bike Sunday morning to head to Melrose for Howlin Wolf’s Throttles & Bottles with a great day of bikes, booze, bike games, and burnouts. While there, suddenly I was in excruciating pain on the right side of my stomach! TJ had to finish the photography of the burnouts and bike awards. The pain had me in tears but didn’t want to leave until the event was done. Now, we still had almost a 2-hour bike ride to get home!

I was scared having no idea if it was my appendix, ovary or gallbladder and Biketoberfest 3 days away! I just wanted to get home. I was holding my side, crunched over behind him, riding with my eyes closed when suddenly we were on a bumpy dirt road with signs that read ROAD CLOSED AHEAD with barricades out in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to kill him!! As he maneuvered through and around the barricades, I saw the ER sign just ahead. Without my knowledge, he decided I needed to go to Putnam Hospital. That was a BLESSING.

Sometime heroes are boyfriends on Harleys. There was no one at the ER so within 15 minutes of arriving I was in CT and relieved to find out it was kidney stones, not any of the dire things I had imagined. Kidney stones are no joke, but no surgery required. A pain shot, nausea meds, and IV fluids, made everything fine. I was able to get on the bike an hour later and ride home.

That night, watching the news, I felt so much sorrow for people living life in Israel, the Gaza Strip, West End, & Ukraine, because for reasons beyond the citizens control, their lives are in peril. What if you lived in a war-torn country and got sick with anything…normal life is going on: people get sick, hear horrible health news like cancer, drop dead of heart attacks, infant sudden death and yet the war is ravaging their country, their homes, their loved ones.

My biggest worry of the day was having to ride on the motorcycle for 2 hours in pain, not that a bomb might take out the hospital, no power, no water, etc. That is really f’cked up!! St. Jude’s has rescued all kids with cancer from Ukraine because there was no electricity to keep chemo at the right temperature or to power the hospitals. Listen, whether you are on the red side or blue side of politics we better start really paying attention to politics and love this country that we live in. We are more secure and safe than the rest of the world, and right now our President seems hell bent on changing that!!!

Pray for those in harm’s way, drink lots of water to keep kidney stones away & don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

Every Wednesday OB’s throws a bike night with great live music 6 -10pm. The night we were there, Groove Infusion was killing it. Food specials by Tina & Rob for $5-6 bucks are served at the outside kitchen. If the special isn’t what you are hungry for, their burgers and onion rings inside are excellent!! A large crowd of OB’s regulars are always there for the party, and it is a bike night worth the ride for mid-week partying. The OB staff and Ashley are always ready to serve you and this month they will be busy doing just that. Along with Wednesday bike nights, they feature live music on Friday & Saturday nights, pool tournaments and great food, all this keeps OB’s a busy place. But in November, one of the largest bike shows in Florida happens on the 19th! Russ and Bob’s Panhead/Shovelhead Show starts at noon. This year they are adding a Vintage Bikini Contest for the older set! You must be 50 to enter! And the prize is $1000 cash!! Saddle up and ride in for a wonderful day on the 19th of November!

By Lulu

A favorite watering hole in the greater Daytona area for those of us on 2-3 wheels has been Saints & Sinners at Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson property. For 18 years this has been a mainstay of the Harley crowd, but last year Patti Miracle took the reins and ramped up the throttle with lots of live music, events, and fun. With tasty food, great music, friendly staff, and Patti, who needs anything more than that? We showed up for Big Engine as a weekend of music was scheduled to celebrate the anniversary. In November they have Rock It Fly November 11th 3-7pm and Green Tree Brothers doing a Pink Floyd Tribute on November 18th at 8:30. Follow them on Facebook for current events and other live music dates.