By Lulu

There is NOBODY doing Old School Motorcycle events like Howlin Wolf! Burnouts to cheering crowds until tires turn to fire! Wienie Bites! Plank Rides, Slow Rides, Keg Rolls…bikes losing control! That is just good old fashioned biker fun! Add a bike show with sweet rides, vendors, tattooing on site, food, beer & booze, and girls gone wild! I am telling you guys it is worth the beautiful ride to Putnam Hall for an afternoon of stepping back 15 years in time. I always see old friends and meet new ones here. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the band, which this year was Twisted Fate rocking the day away. This event is spring and fall so come out and join the party! More photos of the winners of all the events on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook under Albums.

by Jeani G.

The weather could not have been more beautiful for Midwest Motorcycle’s 31st Anniversary Antique & Custom Bike Show at the Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach on Sunday, February 23rd. Heavy and Christine outdid themselves again with an awesome bike show and anniversary party, filling the venue to capacity! This bike show never disappoints and is always a great event to hook up with biker friends you haven’t seen in a while and to meet some great new folks.

The Beaver Bar served up their well-known delicious Sunday breakfast buffet. The lot was overflowing with antique and custom bikes as far as the eye could see, making the judging a difficult task, with over 25 different classes. Jared handcrafted the one-of-a-kind trophies, each as unique as the bikes in the show … and each winner picks the trophy of their choice! The servers kept the drinks flowing, the vendors were busy selling their wares or services, Professor Messer provided morning music, while Fat City band kept the party rocking all day long – this band makes you wanna get up and dance!

Be sure to stop by Midwest Motorcycle’s shop for all your motorcycle needs. Located at 444 N. Beach Street in Daytona Beach, they are a family owned and operated full service shop, whose friendly and knowledgeable staff does it all – sales, service, rentals, parts, apparel, custom builds, vintage bike restoration, welding, full machine shop, powder coating, painting … even 24 hour towing. Phone is 386-257-6265 and check out their website at MidwestMotorcycle.com.

Thank you to everyone who came to the celebration! Midwest’s bike show takes place every February – be sure to mark your calendar and come join the fun next year! Find the winners’ photos and all the pictures of the day on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook page in the Midwest Motorcycle 31st Anniversary album under photos. Winners are listed below!

Midwest Motorcycle 31st Anniversary
Antique & Custom Bike Show Winners

Touring Nick Weir
Panhead Jesse Cash
Panhead 2nd Place Roy West
Bagger Eric Wood
Bagger 2nd Place William Harley
Bobber Fernando
Side Car John Lehman
Sportster Harold Scott
Softail Katie Ginella
Knucklehead Jeff Ference
Big Wheel Bagger Bobby Thorne
Sport Bike Jordan Thorne
Metric Pat Cassella
Indian Leduck Motorcycle
Triumph Steven Dunne
Trike Ralph Borwegin
Pro Street Jason Wood
Flathead George Caselle
J.D. Pat Cecchini
Chopper Ken Mcdonald
FXR Dale Wilson
Iron Head Ed Coggeshall
Shovel Head (3 way tie) Bob Peterson
Shovel Head Ron Miller
Shovel Head Jim Miller
Evo Justin Krol

People’s Choice Katie Ginella
Best In Show Steve Coe

By Lulu

Gator Harley-Davidson in Leesburg has been selling the motorcycle lifestyle for 31 years!! Family owned and operated, the Malik family with the help of Jan, always make sure their customers feel appreciated. Their involvement in charities, bike nights, veteran needs and with the firefighters, shows they care. Jan and the dealership put much effort into making it feel like home. The 31st Celebration included a bike show and sound off by Elite Baggerz out of Leesburg, a parking lot full of vendors, the band Hayfire on stage, and to make the day complete, a chili competition! Whether shopping for a new ride, pipes, T-shirts, or bling, check them out while in town for Leesburg Bikefest. See their ad in this issue for the line-up of entertainment. More photos from the party are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook page.

By Lulu

One of our favorite weekend rallies is on the banks of the Cotee River in downtown New Port Richey. Three stages, vendors, great music, a beautiful park setting, streets closed to motorcycles, then throw in a bikini contest (this year in an old theater) and a bike show hosted by Minh from Venom Cycles, what more could you ask for. Well in this instance a lot more! The Fire & Iron MC hosts a poker run on Saturday morning out of the H-D of New Port Richey to raise money for a children’s burn victims camp. Nothing better than combining fun with helping others! Cotee River Bike Fest usually occurs in the fall, but due to Hurricane Helene ravaging the west coast of Florida, they had to make a decision that anyone who has put so much effort into organizing hates to call. They rescheduled it! That means the bands, the vendors, the logistical team, the poker run…all of it has to be reworked! Well Tina & Steve Farrell and their crew pulled it off and the show went on mid-January without a hitch! They got lucky most of the weekend. It really didn’t rain much until the last day, although rain was projected for the weekend.

One of the reasons we love this event is since the first one we attended we got to be friends with Tim Fussell and his crew at Little Corona Cigar Bar. That is our home base while we are in town. We love those guys! The music at the rally in January was outstanding with Bearded Brothers, Jasmine Caine, Bobby Friss, Signs of Sacrifice, Scream Machine, Hypersona, The Wicked Serenity, Dirty White Boys, Powerhouse 2.0, Disaster Piece, Plush Velvet, Remnants Alter, Supply Chain, Alter Ego, Jack Knife, All Jacked Up and one of my personal favorites The Hair of the Dog. I have confirmation that they are going to move it back to October so join us in New Port Richey, although the date hasn’t been set at print time. More photos of the weekend are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook. A special thank you to Fran Haasch law firm, The Kangaroo, the City of New Port Richey, Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey, Monster Energy, Brown & Brown Insurance, Doran, Beam & Farrell law firm and Team Farrell.

By Lulu

2025 marks the 18th year of celebrating Pirate’s Pub in Paisley. The years have had some trials, as at one point the building was lost to a fire. But Mark and Tanya have the place in tip top shape, and it continues to be a good destination ride for those of us who like to ride. For the anniversary, a free spread of yummy food was devoured by the hungry masses. The band Steel Kickin played on the outside porch and even got some up dancing. If you haven’t found the Pirate’s Pub it is situated out on County Road 42 which is a beautiful country highway with little traffic. They throw a great “Too Broke for Sturgis Party” in August, but don’t wait for that…ride out to the Pub and let them know Thunder Roads Florida sent you!

Occasionally, someone submits something that I need to find space for in the limited pages we can afford to print each month. And Joe’s poem I felt would be enjoyed by all who read and ride. Thank you for the submission, Joe, this is exactly how we all feel about “The Ride.” Enjoy the read, try a new highway and don’t forget your sunscreen!

TALE OF TWO
by Joseph J. Vandruska
Orange City, FL

Pack my bags, get ready to go.
Harley’s idling, ready to roll.
The route’s been planned, from dawn to dusk.
Rest stops here and there, for both of us.
Open road ahead, sites to be seen.
As we continue on, feeling serene.
Waterfalls, mountains, people and towns.
As the old Harley don’t let me down.
Heat from my bike, while sitting at a light.
Heat from the sun, and its glare so bright.
Pass through cold pockets, chill the skin.
The tunnels through the trees, rays of light filter in.
A smile on my face, the excitement I’m feeling.
Tears from my eyes, winds rushing by.
Keep gas in her tank, food and drink in my belly.
The headlight takes over, when daylight is gone.
So, my Harley keeps moving along.
A tent and bedroll, when the day is done.
The Harley’s resting now, so am I,
But in the morning, we’ll be ready to fly.
Me and my Harley, till the day I die.

by Jeani G.

On January 18th a celebration of life was held for Russell “Grizzly” Grandshaw, or as many of you know him, the “Beef Jerky King”. His beloved Linda “Mother Nature” hosted the beautiful event at the Seminole Fraternal Order of Eagles #4147 in St. Petersburg, FL.

Originally from upstate New York, Grizzly was a Veteran who proudly served in the US Navy as a Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman (HTFN). He settled in Pinellas Park Florida where he owned and operated a successful roofing business and he and Linda became longtime residents and motorcycle enthusiasts. Grizzly was larger than life … he always had a welcoming, infectious smile for friends and strangers alike. He loved to cook and often did so for community and charity events where he’d feed hundreds of people, as well as get-togethers with friends! Grizzly made the best beef jerky by far … unique in that he thinly sliced sirloin bottom round and smoked it in actual wood-burning ovens.

Gator Ken and I first met Grizzly and Linda about 26 years ago at Nova Campground in Port Orange during Bike Week; we had so much fun riding, watching concerts, cooking and telling stories around the campfire, that we all kept the same campsites for many years and became fast friends. Our group of campers included Foot & Kim, Doug & Connie, Al & Sharon, Steve & Bev, Ed & Jeri, Billy & Susie, Fred & Mary, Shovelhead & Deb, Brenda & Eddie, Junkyard, Buzz, Dawn, Tina, Frankie and too many more to mention. Over the years, we’ve lost several friends from this group, but they all live on within our hearts and memories.

It was really nice to see and catch up with our Nova Campground crew albeit the circumstances … so many wonderful memories of the great times we shared … ride free Grizzly, you’re forever in our hearts! More pictures from the day can be found on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook page – just look under photos for the album called “Grizzly’s Celebration of Life Jan2025”.

By Lulu

Each month one of our ad client’s that has a monthly or weekly Bike Event is scheduled for a Twisted Tea Party. In March, right after Bike Week we scooted over to Sorry Charlie’s for their Thursday night Bike Night that features live music. We had a special treat as Keg Country was singing the night away. We played strongest woman and strongest man games; beautiful Katye sampled several types of Twisted Tea for the crowd including my new favorite Twisted Tea Lite. You can’t get it everywhere, but you can at Sorry Charlie’s!! The next party will be at Goodfellas Beer & Wine in Edgewater on Saturday, April 19th, from 7-10pm, live music, beer bucket specials, food truck and $3 Twisted Tea that night. Come out and play. More photos from Sorry Charlie’s party are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook.

by Jeani G.

If you’re looking to spend a great time with friends or to meet new ones, take a country ride out to Long’s Log Cabin Bar, a quaint hometown bar tucked away in the center of Welaka. This historic bar is Biker/Veteran owned by Waylon and Tonya who are just wonderful people, and they truly support their locals, Veterans, bikers, and live music.

We stopped in on February 15th when the band Penta rocked the stage with their brand of classic rock, 70’s/80’s and funk sound. The place was absolutely packed with locals and folks from afar. There were three birthday parties going on: Brandi, Paul, and Mary Jane. Lots of folks hit the dance floor, while the staff cheerfully served up ice cold beer, cocktails and great munching bar food, pizza, and wings.

They also throw amazing, themed parties – we attended their March 4th Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras party where dressing in Mardi Gras flair was encouraged … it was so much fun – lots of bright-colored outfits with masks and beads galore! They served delicious homemade jambalaya, gumbo, and corn bread. JW Gilmore and the Blues Authority Band entertained the crowd all evening, with lots of folks tearing up the dance floor all night long.

There’s always something special going on: Mondays pool tournament; Tuesdays Texas Hold ‘Em; Wednesdays Karaoke (1st and 3rd Wed each month) – sometimes Trivia night, sometimes acoustic music; Fridays and Saturdays live music and Sundays Sports. They. Be each week’s schedule on their Facebook page and the bar is located at 699 3rd Avenue, Welaka; or give them a call at (386) 603-5040. Be sure to take a ride out sometime soon and let them know Thunder Roads Florida sent you!