By Lulu

Everyone who knows anything about motorcycle bike shows has been to Chopper Time at Tropical Tattoo for Daytona Bike Week in the spring, and Biketoberfest in the fall. Sometimes you can barely squeeze between the bikes to get a photo, and it is almost impossible to find someone in the crowd! 2025 spring event was that situation on steroids! PACKED like sardines! The band, Fat Cactus, was playing in a packed yard. Mike Jones and his posse spent the day helping to raise funds with his gun raffle for the Veteran’s Coalition that Willie helps support with the beer and alcohol profits, including the bartenders’ tips!!! Following is an article that one of our ad clients and one of Chopper Time’s sponsors wrote about Willie and what an amazing man he is! This year the sponsors included Rue & Ziffra law firm, Twisted Tea, Cycle Source Magazine, I Love BadVentures, Only Choppers, Morris Magneto, Hogridin, Spectro Oil, S & S, OB’s, Hardcore Cycles, Broken Spoke, Bling Cycles, Joker Cycle Works, EMC Shocks, A OK Guns, Dustin’s BBQ, Veteran’s Support Fund, Jessica Macy, Rider Now, Realty Pros, Iron Horse Saloon, Renegade Cycles, Guerrilla Fabrication, FNA, A1 Cycles, and Cochise Chops. Thanks to all who help make this an amazing day of bikes, booze, tattoos and helping our local veterans! Photos of the day and all the winners pics are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook, please like and share!!

By Lulu

Historic downtown Deland is a bustling college bar/restaurant and quaint shopping scene, but the first Saturday of March it was a motorcycle mecca. Bikes everywhere. Vendors, bands, bars, and great restaurants made this a destination ride. We managed to spend some time at Issues and Da Vinci’s where Crashrocket was entertaining the huge crowd in the courtyard. This rally is always early March and a wonderful way to spend a day of riding and partying with friends!

So many amazing things happened this spring all due to the incredible generosity of the biking community. During Bike Week, Iron Horse Saloon and Broken Spoke auctioned off guitars for the Veteran’s Coalition for a total of $40,741 and St. Jude for a total of $38,148. Iron Horse threw their 3^rd Saddle up for St. Jude Poker Run in April and raised $48,917 more. Chopper Time at Tropical Tattoo gives the days alcohol sales to the local vets! A bike shop up in Deland, Sledz East, threw a poker run for the parents of a boy killed in his neighborhood by dogs and raised a bundle. Thunder by The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival raised $240,000 for Suncoast Charity for Children. There were also poker runs and benefits all over the state of Florida every weekend. I know I have said this before, but it needs to be repeated. I was a president of Rotary back in my life before motorcycles. A Rotary Club has 4 avenues of service and does fundraising to help individuals, their city, the country, and the world. Most members are rather affluent, so donations should be easy to give, and I am not taking away from the work Rotarians do. As a 2-time Paul Harris Fellow I was honored to be involved with them. BUT it takes a special kind of “people” to take their free time almost every weekend to either work to put on charity rides and benefits, donate to the cause, or take their last $10 bucks and their only day off to ride for a person they don’t even know that is in need. AND THAT IS BIKERS!! Thank you for sharing your world with me. I could name many who are earning their real wings to heaven, but I want to mention one true Angel on Earth, my best friend Sherry Fletcher. She works tirelessly on her events. She organizes them, she makes baskets or donations to all kinds of events, she drives friends to doctor visits, and she houses people in her own home if needed. Thank you to all who live the biker life…don’t stop doing what you are doing! You make a difference. Saddle up for a charity event soon, buy a stranger a Twisted Tea and don’t forget your sunscreen.

By Jeani G.

Bike Week wouldn’t be complete without hitting the saddle to ride to the World-Famous Iron Horse Saloon for a roundup of fun and great music. Lots of bike parking out front and in the corral beneath the deck with plenty of space to kick back, grab a cold one and enjoy people and motorcycle watching with your friends or make some new friends!

Always popular are the Iron Horse event T-shirts and delicious mouth-watering Craiger’s steak tips. Enjoy your favorite beer or cocktail served up by friendly bartenders, relax with a Chrome cigar, and shop for biker accessories at the variety of cool vendors – custom lighting, jackets, helmets, bandanas, waterless bike wash, jewelry, food, and lots more. Maybe it’s time to get yourself some new ink onsite at Willie’s Tropical Tattoo … and don’t forget to experience the thrill and speed of the Wall of Death to round out your Bike Week adventure!

Beautiful Lisa emceed this year’s fantastic entertainment lineup including Parmalee, Eddie Montgomery, Creed Fisher, Saliva, and Whey Jennings. Other bands rocking the non-stop party were Bobby Friss, Cowboy, Buckshot, Jess Zimmerman, Highway to Hell, Dirty Grass Soul, Loose Lips, Moonshine Bandits, Are Friends Electric, Gun Shy, JB Walker and more! The headliners signed guitars which were auctioned off pre-show (Whey Jennings also autographed a really cool denim jacket, while Eddie Montgomery signed one of his hats) with all proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Veterans Support Fund.

Owners of the Iron Horse Saloon, Sally, Melissa, and Bob always throw a great Bike Week bash and this bar is very involved in the community sponsoring amazing charitable events, poker runs and corn hole tournaments all year long! Be sure to pay them a visit and tell ‘em Thunder Roads Florida sent ya! Happy trails!

By Jeani G.

WOW … so much fun and excitement at the Broken Spoke Saloon during Bike Week, it’s hard to choose where to begin. The beautiful venue under a canopy of magnificent oak trees was packed everyday with motorcycle and car enthusiasts, music lovers and people watchers alike, enjoying the great weather and sunshine.

Amazing bike shows brought lots of eye candy for motorcycle lovers to enjoy. New to the Spoke this year, Kory Souza Originals No-Class Bike Show was a big hit with a fun variety of bikes. Warren Lane’s True Grit Show brought out some of the coolest antique, custom, and vintage bikes. The awesome Cycle Source Custom Bike Show awarded prizes in 28 classes, while fan-favorite Perewitz Custom Paint Show gave us a myriad of gorgeous bikes to drool over. Dennis Kirk’s Garage Build Amateur Bike Show showcased some unique home-wrenched rides. So many amazing and beautiful bikes surely made judging a hard task!

Jay Allen, creator of the Broken Spoke and racer in the 200-mph club, emceed the events all week long. Beautiful women graced the stage in the Twisted Tea Bikini Contest, and Bill Grotto revealed this year’s Twisted Tea Sweepstakes Bike built by Chris of Cycle Source. And for you car lovers, Bad Ass Car Club presented a Vintage Car Display on the final day of the event.

Southern Country Customs brought several of their beautiful high-end super custom bikes to sell. Adding their flair of NASCAR know-how to their builds, Rusty and Stephen Wallace were on site all week to chat with and are always happy to pose for pictures and sign autographs.

Beautiful bartenders and hard-working bar backs quenched the huge crowd’s thirst to the beat of great live music around the clock. Bands included Bobby Friss, Cowboy, Whiskey Heart, Buck Shot, Loose Lips, Dirty Grass Soul, Whiskey Heart, Papa Wheelie, Jess Zimmerman, Are Friends Electric, to name a few. And of course, world famous Hairball rocked the stage 6 nights with their awesome 80’s rock-n-roll party! Patriotic and charitable, Hairball honored veterans bringing them onstage to thank them for their service and the band autographed guitars which were auctioned off to benefit both the Veterans Support Fund and St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital!

Lots more pictures of this year’s event can be found in albums on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook page. Hope to see y’all back at the Broken Spoke in October for Biketoberfest!

By Lulu

Always a reason to celebrate at The Boat Bar in Port Orange. Hell, it is the home of the $2.50 longnecks all day…everyday! You just don’t find that anywhere else! Now add to that Old School Banditz playing their hearts out for you, free food and a 50/50 suddenly it is a REAL party, kicking off the Daytona Bike Week! The owners Tony and Dar go to so much trouble all year long for the patrons they call friends. You just have to love this bar. Oh, and don’t forget the monthly mystery ride they host! Join in the fun and tell them you saw this in Thunder Roads Florida Magazine.

By Lulu

The last Friday night of Bike Week each year is an event that if you haven’t seen it, you MUST! The huge wooden bike complete with a frightening looking rider stands tall in an open field. Visitors are allowed to sign the bike before the lighting of the bike which happens well after dark. If you haven’t been, let me warn you, GET THERE EARLY! Traffic is backed up to get on the Volusia County Fairgrounds for this. Don’t fret though, there is plenty to entertain you while you wait. Always a great band, and beautiful girls for the Miss Burning Bike Contest keeps us all amused. There are vendors and bars, stunt shows and fire performers. And then the grand finale lighting of the bike. Put this on Bike Week 2026 not to miss list. More photos of the night are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook. Please like and share!

By Lulu

The past couple years I have worked with Erik on the antique bike show and swap meet that he has been a part of. This year the name of the event and the venue has been revamped. “The Meet” was held at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, with a huge piece of property for the swap meet, food vendors and an inside building for the antique bike show. Lots of peeps were checking for the parts they need for their old scoots, and the two times I was on the property it was busy. This venue is also part of the Fastlane Campground’s 10-day event that ends with the Burning Bike, so I think this really works! “The Meet” brought people out who may never have seen the bike being constructed, and people coming to see the bike got to be introduced to an old school swap meet and antique bikes!

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”.