By Lulu

Hurricanes didn’t seem to keep the crowds away from Iron Horse Saloon during Biketoberfest. The place was packed when I was there. We popped in to visit Rusty and Steve at Southern Country Customs which was set up there since Broken Spoke wasn’t able to open for the fall rally. Caught great music by Cowboy, Tim Dugger and Bobby Friss, all amazing in their own right. This year Eddie Montgomery also filled the air with music as well as Saliva, although we weren’t able to catch them this time around. Like everyone else, I had to catch a bite of beef tips, purchase an Iron Horse T-shirt, and say hello to the guys at the Wall of Death! For Bike Week 2025 the staff at Iron Horse will be waiting for you, so hurry back!

By Lulu

For over 80 years Boot Hill Saloon has been rocking Main Street in Daytona Beach! And even after two major hurricanes this fall, they didn’t disappoint. Rockrage Radio and Bikers Info brought the party to the stage! Jasmine Cain, Def Leggend, Stone Temple Pilot STP Unglued Soflo, Leaving Eden, Fat Cactus, Greye, Sesame Plexer, Blistur, Vermillion, Redline, Second Shift, Ellie Lee, and Rockabilly Rockets all added to the Rock Party! Keeping their prices at $4 for domestics during Biketoberfest is almost unheard of on Main Street! Thanks to the sponsors that help keep this bar rocking Midwest Motorcycles, Twisted Tea, Miller Lite, and Rich Newsome Law. They are THE party on Main Street New Year’s Eve so put your party gear on and rock on!

By Lulu

With 2 hurricanes and the end of 4 years of Joe’s Bidenomics, Biketoberfest attendance was definitely down. Many hotels and campgrounds were not able to open at all and definitely not to full capacity. Chopper Time also had a few less bikes and the crowd wasn’t quite as dense as usual, but the weather was amazing, and all of the usual suspects were onsite! The BBQ served to help the Vets sold out! And just in case anyone doesn’t realize the saint that Willie is…Chopper Time benefits the Veteran’s Coalition. Everyone is a volunteer and even the tips for the bar staff goes in that kitty. Lots of great 2 & 3 wheel art rode into the packed parking lot and many happy men and women went home with trophies. If there is just one thing that I love to do each Bike Week and Biketoberfest it is Willie’s Chopper Time. It takes those volunteers to pull this thing off so a special thank you to the crew that gives their time! Special thanks to the sponsors Twisted Tea, Rue & Ziffra, J & P Cycles, Realty Pros, Guerrilla Fabrication, B & D Customs, Joker Cycle Works, Only Choppers, Hardcore Cycles, F N A Custom Cycles, Blings Cycles, US 1 Hogridin.com, Spectro Performance Oils, S & S, Morris Magneto, Joker Cycles Works, Prime IV, Broken Spoke, Iron Horse Saloon, OB’s, Rider’s Now Magazine, Cochise Chops, Choppers Magazine, Renegade Magazine, Cycle Source, and Old School Biker Magazine. Mike Jones from AOK Guns raffled off guns to help fund the Veteran’s kitty, go visit him in New Smyrna, his store his packed with what you need! Thank you also to Roadside Marty for keeping the show moving! The band Jacksonville Slim from Jacksonville played out back and kept the crowd entertained while waiting for the awards ceremony. All winners’ photos are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook under Chopper Time Album and more photos from the day. Oh, and if you are interested in getting some more ink etched into your pretty self, the artists at Willie’s are always happy to add to your canvas! Chopper Time is always the Thursday of Bike Week…God willing see you there!
WINNERS!
LADIES BUILD Kali Pilkington
BEST EVO Will Stacy
BEST KNUCKLEHEAD Mike Anastasio
WILLIE’S PICK Mike Vasey
BEST SPORTSTER Ed Coggeshall
BEST BOBBER Panhead Bob
BEST CHOPPER Adam Wilcox
BEST FLATTY Bill Denison
BEST RAT Brian Adiemior
BEST CUSTOM EVO Boner
SHOVELHEAD COALITION Bob Peterson
BEST CUSTOM Eric Allard
BEST METRIC Angel Whitehorse
BEST ANTIQUE Justin Krol
REV. AL’S PICK Cooper
BEST SHOVEL Ryan Barsin
BEST PANHEAD Jay Wright
WILLIE’S HARCORE Mark Mite
CROWD FAVORITE Thomas Eichman
TROPICAL TATTOO PIC Jason Eichman
BEST PAINT Johnny Dicula

Put on your Jingle Bells. It is time to celebrate the birth of Christ, the giving of love and gifts, and the end of 4 years of Biden. That is the last thing my Democratic friends will have to read about that! Seriously, December is a time of giving. I am the first to tell all my “friends before biking” how generous motorcyclist are…generous tippers, first to pull $10 out of the wallet for any charity, and always willing to come to the aid of a motorcyclist down on their luck. Well in this economy if you are able dig in those pockets a little more this Christmas season DO IT! So many on both the east and west coast had severe damage and are still trying to recover from their losses. Christmas for some children…and adults will be tough this year. Add to that the rotten economy, less people will be able to be generous to the red buckets with the bell ringers at the store entrances, or to toy drives. I would be surprised if everyone reading doesn’t know someone who had serious storm damage. TJ’s son had water in his home up to the toilet seats, had to carry his dog out of the neighborhood on his shoulder to let him find a dry spot to “go” on. He doesn’t have kids so he is fine, but if he had a houseful of children I am sure it would be harder to fill their stockings after replacing furniture and all that was lost. Even Food Banks could use some love! Thank you all for reading and putting up with me through the election. I am not joyous, but I am relieved and praying for our country and the world for a prosperous and peaceful 2025. Give your loved ones a giant bear hug, buy a stranger a drink at your local watering hole and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

So, all who came from near and far for the Coleslaw Wrestling at Cabbage Patch were out of luck this year. Back-to-Back hurricanes damaged the cabbage and made the event impossible. In fact, Cackleberry Campground across the street wasn’t able to open at all due to the flooding and I heard through the grapevine that Roger almost didn’t open the Patch. Thankfully he was able to be open and the vendors, bands, and bartenders were able to put a little in their pockets thanks to the crowds that came to town and to the Patch! We always make it to their Survivor Party featuring Joe Santana and Kingfish for a finale night of music and friends. Earlier in the week Scott Demonico threw a fundraiser for Rebel Tyler who was paralyzed in Sturgis and needs funds to fly him back to Florida. A guy from Pennsylvania presented a check for $1000 given by Injured Motorcycle Riders! Auction items, pizza and 50/50 helped raise funds for Rebel. Mr. Twisted Tea himself, Bill Grotto, went home with the cool Harley tank turned clock! That night Derek Trull’s band rocked the house. Some peeps only know Cabbage Patch for coleslaw wrestling. This bar is more like Cheers, where most of the bartenders have been there forever and know their clients as family, and love to hear those bikes pulling in. Keep this spot in mind for Poker Run stops!

By Lulu

During Biketoberfest Sorry Charlie’s had live music featuring Jasmine Cain, Deadlanders, Joe Payne, Professor Messer, Keg Country Band & Lucy Spotts. They even had full liquor sponsored by the All American Club and this year threw in a wet T contest for cash. Verifiably insane I entered, and at age 70, WON! I know it was only because I knew more people, so I donated the prize money back to Charlie and Amie’s charity the Humane Society. It actually was fun, but my sister is probably calling the people with white coats on me! Bike Week is coming so get ready to ride to Charlie’s for the party, but before that he has his anniversary bash coming on February 8th with Crashrocket and Whey Jennings!! Don’t forget to order his humongous pork loin sandwich when you are there, it is awesome!

By Lulu

Each Wednesday before Biketoberfest and during Bike Week, we take friends and people visiting Florida, sometime for the first time, out to our clients in outlying areas. The Hideout on Derbyshire Rd in Holly Hill is our meeting spot. This year our posse was less than usual; we have had as many as 45 bikes. But no matter how few or how many, we are a happy band of road warriors when we take off for our adventure! Our first stop was to a cool dive bar on the St. John’s River, the Gnarly Gar in Satsuma. By the time we hit here everyone was thirsty! Our second stop was 3 Bananas where we ran into the Steve and Rusty Wallace crew having their lunch. At their table were two of the guys that flew helicopters into the ravages of Hurricane Milton in North Carolina. Everyday heroes! Our group ordered a great lunch and then off we rode. Look at the picture of the yummy dessert they serve! The next stop was The Hideaway Bar & Grill in Pomona Park where Lisa always has a balloon arch celebrating different occasions, this time it was all for Breast Cancer Awareness. Ready for a bit of Crown Royal, we stopped next at Renegade’s on the River, where Stacey, (the owner) was onsite and posed for a photo with T J. Our final stop was back in Ormond Beach for the Chic Built Chopper Show during the weekly Shovelhead Night at The Other Place on Nova Rd. It was winding down by the time we arrived, as it is a long loop with kickstands up at 11am. Join us next year! It will be February 26th as Bike Week starts early this year. Might need your leathers!

By Lulu

There are people you meet in life that you have no idea who they are or what they will be in the threads of your life. Mike Jones is the owner of a small gun shop in New Smyrna on US 1, which is LOADED with guns of all types, and ammunition too. A perfect place for Christmas shopping. So, in that respect he is a Santa. He rides motorcycles, not a sleigh. He has a girlfriend. He has lots of friends actually. He likes to drink a bit; in fact, he sent me a meme a week ago that said 30 days sober…not in a row or anything!

But what really makes him a Santa is the charity work he takes his time, and sometimes his staff’s time to be involved with. I have seen him do gun auctions at Sorry Charlie’s and Chopper Time for veterans and at Iron Horse for St. Judes. Hell, I even won a 9 mm pistol at Sorry Charlie’s for the $20 donation. I never won a thing in my life before that. Yes, he takes the cost of the guns out, but he works the events, raffling as many guns as the crowds will allow and the profits go to the charity. He sells a deck of 52 playing cards; you get a 1 in 52 chance to win. Willie from Tropical Tattoo dresses up like Santa and delivers Christmas to the vets at Emory Bennett Home. I am sure some of the two gun raffle events he participated in for Veterans helped with their Christmas shopping…so Mike’s a Santa too. My reason for wanting you to know Mike is that he isn’t just a Thunder Roads Florida ad client; he is someone I am proud to call a friend. So…if you are looking to purchase a gun, ammo, optics, or accessories as a gift or for a Christmas present, go see Santa Mike at A OK Guns! Located at 648 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach. They also buy single pieces and estate gun collections. And always remember…Big Things Happen in Small Places!!

By Lulu

Due to the storms and just a crazy fall rally season we weren’t able to head up to the Panhandle. Lucky for us we met Tom Revis, a great guy that was going, with a better camera and eye than us! He kindly covered our ad client’s event at the Hideout in Ponce de Leon. We visited over the summer and this bar is really cool. Large covered outside seating, band stage with live music, biker games and a fountain pouring out of a motorcycle from the stage to WET the girls! The bands at this rally were Eazy Rider, Mark Kelley, Tennessee Outlaw, and Poison Whiskey. They are known at Hideout for “great food, loud pipes and good times.” It’s only a few miles off the exit, so if you are traveling on I-10 through the panhandle stop in and see these guys. Tell ‘em Thunder Roads Florida sent you.

By Lulu

Just north of Daytona is a great full liquor bar called 1405 Saloon Saloon at 1405 Moody Blvd. (Rte100) Bunnell, Fl. They have definitely brought back old school partying to Biketoberfest. The wet-t contest was fun for all, contestants, and spectators alike. 1405 are known for their great front and back porches, live music, and they have a bike night on Wednesdays so if you haven’t found this gem…get on your bike and ride!

By Lulu

Even though two major storms damaged a lot of our sunshine state, Biketoberfest happened! And the heart of Biketoberfest is definitely the property of Teddy Morse’s Harley Davidson in Ormond Beach. Vendors, bands, bartenders, and the rest of those who work the motorcycle rallies needed this boost to their economy, so with great effort the crew at Daytona Harley-Davidson made the rally happen. Lots of bike shows including Bike Show Mafia’s All Class Bike Show, the Godfather of Bass Sound Competition, Kory Souza’s No Class Bike Show, and the V-Twin Visionary Performance Motorcycle Invitational gave the throngs something to gaze upon. The Miss Teddy Morse’s Bikini Contest is always a crowd pleaser. Demo rides and bikini bike washes were available daily. At Saints & Sinners there were 11 days of 18 bands, definitely a place to sit drink, eat and enjoy great music!

By Lulu

John, the owner at Dale’s Ales talked me into brushing off the cobwebs and bringing back the monthly Twisted Tea Thunder Roads Florida Bike Nights. Dale’s Ales is a full liquor bar in Orange City at 2400 N. Volusia Ave. The new owners John & Elizabeth own several other bars, and John has been in the business for years! Their bike nights are on Tuesdays from 7-9pm in November they featured $1 wings, and $3 Twisted Tea so it was perfect for our party! The band on the stage outback was a Jam session hosted by X3. Out back is the Shack Out Back which has great food. The pool table inside kept our friends entertained as tonight was a bit brisk outside for our Florida blood. Check their ad out in this issue, ride out to one of their bike nights and help support their Toy Drive for Volusia County in December!