By Phoenix and Metric

Thanks to the City of Eustis, the Lake County Chapter of the Nam Knights MC and the Patriot Guard Riders, the Lake County Vet Fest 2021 was once again an event to remember. The older I get the more I realize how important events like this must be shared with the younger generations. As evil around this country try to erase our history, it is more important than ever that we share their sacrifices.

While Veterans Day events are for all veterans, we must not forget the sacrifices of those who never returned home from the battlefield. The Vet Fest was a weekend filled with fun, food, music, and patriotic activities all around the county. The Vet fest included parades, bike rides, walks/runs, bed races and escorts to the walls.

However, the highlight for me was the patriotic ceremony held at Ferran Park on Saturday. The Patriot Guard Riders had both the Vietnam Memorial Wall and the Global War on Terrorism Wall on display. The two guest speakers gave a stunning recall of their experiences. The first speaker was John O’Kelly a born and bred Leesburg resident. He gave a chilling recall of the Lake County residents whose names appear on the Vietnam Wall. The second speaker was Carey Baker, a resident of Eustis, who served in the Global War on Terrorism. He gave a detailed description on the terrorism that we face today. We must remember “All gave some and some gave all” for all of those who have served in our military. Thanks to their service we are the “Home of the Free, Because of the Brave.”

Riding out of 2021 and into 2022 I am filled with mixed emotions. Can things in our country get any worse? We have so much to be thankful for in this great nation but it seems the people in charge don’t have a clue they are running us off a cliff of “no return” . But I was lucky enough to spend time with Lee Greenwood twice this fall and the people who showed up for his Meet & Greets were such awesome, patriotic Americans…it just gave me faith that we can still save ourselves from the fools that elected our current administration. The polls for the administration give added hope! The problem is we will have to suffer through three more years of the antics of Biden and Harris. It would be a blessing if anyone but Kamala was second in command.

Add to that this constant cry of racism the media and thugs in the street spew. Rittenhouse didn’t shoot a black man, yet without proof every left-wing station claims he is some sort of white supremacist. Anything to arm themselves with fuel to divide and conquer. Yet while at Thunder Beach we stopped in a bar where an exceptional black man was on stage singing his heart out. He stopped and started a Let’s Go Brandon chant to the packed bar. Then said “I lived through the 60’s, we survived the turmoil of moving beyond racism. What in the hell are these people unhappy about? I have a great life. Friends of every color. Let’s all just get along!” The crowd went crazy with cheers. Please God why can’t his message be what we hear anywhere other than on FOX News Channel?

Well, when we raise our glasses on New Year’s Eve let’s toast our great nation and the men and women who gave some and those who gave all…and be prepared to defend our liberties at the poll! If you didn’t vote…you must! If you did find five more to go with you! 2022 is the year we MUST be united and strong for our country.

Ride on a Toy Run, call an old friend at Christmas and don’t forget your sunscreen.

By Lulu

Scheduling didn’t allow me to attend Twisted Evolution Motorcycle Shoppe’s Customer Appreciation Party in November. I thank our West Coast rep Jason for taking the photos for me. He spends quite a bit of time motorcycle wrenching in his garage so I am certain he enjoyed getting to know Fred and Neil. This shop just loves to wrench on bikes and strive to make your riding a safe pleasure. Once again, they served up great BBQ by Sticky Fingers and all left with a full belly. The shop is closed Saturdays and Sundays. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9a-6p. Stop in and visit if you are in the Bushnell area. They are located at 212 N. Main St. The phone number for Twisted Evolution is 352-617-5224. The whole crew are great people who love their customers!

By Lulu

Any motorcycle rally, in any town, in any state centers around the Harley dealership. The Harley superstore in Ormond Beach is the driving force behind Bike Week and Biketoberfest! This year we all feared with the remnants and surge of Covid that the rally could be weak, but bikers proved the naysayers wrong. People on two and three wheelers of all ages and from all corners of the country were sick of being told to stay home. The Daytona dealership was packed with vendors, live music daily and bike shows. There was even a Powerhouse Arm Wrestling Competition. Lots of riders took advantage of the H-D factory demo truck to check out the new Sportster and Pan American. Every time I was in the showroom the line at the registers looked like Disney. Can’t wait to see what the Rossmeyers will bring in for Bike Week 2022 which is just around the bend!

By T. J.

One of the most worthy causes you can find anywhere is right here in Central Florida. The Bruce Rossmeyer Ride for Children benefits Camp Boggy Creek to help support children with serious illnesses and their families. It is an absolutely, beautiful place that does amazing work for these campers. The ride is a police escorted, no boots down ride with music, dancing, food, live and silent auction, and camaraderie at the destination. This year we couldn’t ride to the camp because of Covid concerns, but The Pavilion at Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona served as more than an adequate host venue. It is always a good time and a ride I look forward to. We are getting to know more and more of the regular attendees each year as well as retired NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace and other local dignitaries. The event is the weekend before Biketoberfest so if you haven’t made one yet, mark your calendar for next year. Join us for an awesome time!

By Lulu

With all the chaos of Biketoberfest going on, The Iron Horse Saloon set Sunday aside to celebrate Veterans and Gold Star Families with a special event. First was a ceremony with vets and Gold Star Mothers and a Gold Star Father being called on stage. I was honored to be on the bus with these families and the sacrifice of losing their loved one lasts a lifetime, effecting everyone who knew their son or daughter. Next Lee Greenwood took the stage to sing a few and closed with his crowd favorite God Bless the USA which every person sang along with! Many famous, rich performers in their 70’s would sit back, golf, and lay by the pool, but Lee has made a commitment to build houses for injured vets, already building three since starting the endeavor in 2021. He has a liquor brand named Soldier Valley that he chose a veteran owned distillery to produce and then a portion of the sale of each bottle of vodka, whiskey or bourbon goes towards these homes. Thank you to Lee Greenwood, Soldier Valley, Iron Horse Saloon, and all of us who purchased a bottle! By the way the bourbon is one of the smoothest I have ever had…and I am a bourbon girl.

By Lulu

Wednesday of Biketoberfest The Dog House started the party with Big Engine and a Twisted Tea party with giveaways, a game of diapering strangers with toilet paper and $2 Twisted Tea! The entire Biketoberfest Rhonda outdid herself with a great band line up and even midget wrestling. It is always a party at The Dog House so follow their ads in Thunder Roads Florida to see what the Dogs are up to.

By T. J.

The First Turn was rocking during Biketoberfest with a newly expanded outdoor area and full-size concert stage. They kept rolling into post Biketoberfest with a Jason Aldean Tribute show that was a slammed packed success. The whole deck outside the VIP area was standing room only and “Aldean” was right on point with the show. I’m not a country music fan at all, but this guy was good. I ran into a bunch of friends and had a good time. Check out Bike Night with Blues Jam on Tuesdays at 6 and Ladies Night on Thursdays from 7-10 for some mid-week activity and ladies drink free. Also, there is a big New Year’s Eve Bash featuring Hayfire, with VIP meals and champagne toast. Make your reservations early because it’s sure to be a sellout.

By Lulu

Tony and Dar look for a reason to throw a Boat Party and Biketoberfest Kick Off is one we won’t miss. The crowd filled the entire parking lot. Live music out back by License to Steal entertained us all afternoon. The BBQ was delicious and the staff kept our pipes wet! Look for their events in the magazine each month and join us for one of their monthly Mystery Rides. A great group of local bikers consider this bar their neighborhood bar and feel like they are family here.

By Lulu

I have known Karl for about six years and as long as I have known him, he has ALWAYS been about music and sound…crystal clear sound. Karl has tinkered in the bar business but his true love is building sound systems. He celebrated another year in business with a party at his store in Orange City. The shop is at 2491 N. Volusia. Karl carries all state-of-the-art lines and specializes in Harley sound systems. Any show that his bikes compete in ride off with top prizes. The party featured a bike show and sound competition. The parking lot was packed and the Murder Hornets were rocking inside the showroom. If you are looking to upgrade the sound system on your bike, boat, ,car or truck check out Volks Audio. Their number is 386-804-2797!

Photos by Chopper Dave
Article By Lulu

Well, a big event that we were not able to attend this year was the Willie Palooza benefit hosted by The Iron Horse. We came down with Covid, so I have to give a shout out to Chopper Dave for the photos. Lots of Willie’s friends worked hard to put an all-day music fest together with the gate all benefitting Willie. Bands including Jacksonville Slim, Reed Foley, Miss Intent and Cowboy Kid Rock Tribute played their hearts out. A raffle and 50/50 also added to the kitty. Mostly we all just wanted Willie to get back on his feet and he seems to be on that road to recovery, although there will be at least one more surgery to fix his pulverized ribcage. Thanks to Melissa, Bob & Sally at the Iron Horse, Lisa Henson, Sherry, and Scott DeMonico and all the others who have pitched in to make this a great event.

This has been an emotionally devastating year for T. J. and me. It started with the loss of his mother Vi in the spring, Willie’s bike wreck, followed by Cap Wilson’s death from a heart attack while riding his bike home, the loss of Big Steve Fritz that same week from a health crisis while riding out of state with friends. All these losses were simply tragic. But one that totally blindsided both of us was the loss of Catherine Connearney, the wife of one of T. J.’s childhood buddies, Brendan. I had just met this extraordinary woman in Sturgis, spent our first day sharing some of the most spectacular sights you can see on earth. Exploring The Badlands I snapped this photo of Brendan and Cat the first stop. I knew they were both lifelong AA & NA members who religiously attended meetings to remain clean and sober. That didn’t stop her from being full of life and just plain fun!! They left a day earlier heading all the way back to Punta Gorda, their new-found southern home. Once home they flew to Massachusetts to visit family and friends. I mentioned last month T. J. and I both came down with Covid. We were easily sick a full 10 days and took much longer to get our strength back. Beautiful Catherine and Brendan also got Covid. Less than 4 weeks later…she was gone. Never came off the ventilator. The reason I am writing of this is two-fold. First if you aren’t vaccinated that is your choice, but this disease just took a woman I had looked forward to spending many great trips with. I was robbed of the joy for living she exuded. Her husband and family and friends are crushed. The second reason I felt the need to share this woman’s story is the tributes that people wrote on her timeline upon hearing she was with the angels. It was something that nears sainthood. She touched so many addicts: mothers, daughters, sons, and fathers that were in the very deepest hole of addiction. Her passion and success for living the good life showed them they could be saved. They could find the strength. Many wrote they must carry on for her. Just cannot fathom why God chose this angel so many still needed on Earth. Live a life like Catherine helping others any way you can, kiss someone you love like it may be the very last time and say a prayer for Brendan.

By Lulu

For the past four years the Rossmeyer’s Harley dealership in Daytona has hosted a Trike Fest. Each year the event has grown. It included a Meet & Greet on Friday night with music by Dina & James, a ride on Saturday, live music featuring Adam James Society in the afternoon, and a breakfast at Beaver Bar on Sunday. There is plenty of free time to spend some time shopping in their state-of-the-art dealership and to bounce around Daytona to local haunts. This year a special feature was renewal of wedding vows by the pastor of Redemption Community Biker Church and cupcakes for the brides & grooms. Saturday night included a fun filled evening of Dirty Bingo by Jeff & Nina. One of the largest groups of riders were out of Jacksonville mostly on Slingshots, Coast to Coast. If you ride a 3-wheel vehicle, make sure you put this September event on your 2022 calendar!

Tony & T-Rex

Ok me and T-Rex are back, been a great three-month vacation. But the boss say’s get on your *farm tractor* and head out to Okeechobee to cover Big Brothers and Big Sisters’ charity event. It is a beautiful Saturday, on September 11th and we fire the bike up and take a 100-mile ride down to C. Scott Driver Park where the pavilion is lined with bikes already.
First up is the ROTC Color Guard from Okeechobee High School and our National Anthem is played by a young woman on a trumpet. After the anthem, Saddle Tramp kicked the tunes up, the beer tub was flowing, the food was on and the raffles were being sold. The event was great with a crowd in the 350 range, plus a 6-category bike show with first in each class receiving a Rough River Metal Work’s whiskey barrel trophy.

But that’s not all they have, CEO Stacey Watson-Mesley is raffling off a custom 2007 Night Train from now until Memorial Day 2022. There are 650 tickets at $100 a ticket plus 3 cash prizes and all the proceeds go to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River, & Okeechobee Counties. It was a great turn out for a great cause. And for the ride home you guessed it rain, but all for a good cause…

Ride Safe and Stay Dry