By Lulu

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For the past several years Iron Horse Saloon has thrown a Labor Day weekend party that includes a car show with pin up girls on Saturday and a bike show with a bikini contest on Sunday. Lots of great photo ops when you have sharp cars, costumed girls and bikes and bikinis!! Throw in great live music and you have one great way to spend the weekend! Pictures of the winners are available online at ThunderRoadsFlorida.com.

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

If you are coming to Florida for the winter or just for Biketoberfest, I would like to welcome you to the land of the blue Q-tip headed, white knuckled, very slow Buick drivers, who can’t see over the steering wheel. Florida should change its name from the “Sunshine State” to “Geriatric Park”. When cages come from the North they are required to stop at the welcome station to have their directional signals disconnected. There is also a governor put on the accelerator to inhibit the vehicle from exceeding 45 mph on the interstate and 25 mph on all the other roads. Their tires are adjusted so that they always drive in the farthest left-hand lane. It doesn’t pay to yell obscenities at them because they’ve left their hearing aids at home. Flashing your lights at them is fruitless as most of them have Coke bottle bottom glasses with 20/500 vision. They’re unable to see the very wide white line at stop signs and traffic signals until their rear wheel is on it. Most don’t drive at night, so they have no idea how to turn their headlights on when in the rain or fog. Their reflexes tend to be slow, but they compensate for this by keeping their right foot on the gas pedal and the left foot on the brake causing the brake light to always be on. When you are on a multi-lane roadway, be careful when trying to pass them on the right. Changing lanes to them is like playing checkers. Not bothering to check their mirrors, they just move diagonally hoping that the space is empty. Instead of getting Kinged you may get Killed. Pay attention when in parking lots. The elderly drivers have cages that suffer from “unintended acceleration”. I seriously believe the drivers need to be recalled, not the cars.

Experienced riders typically operate their bikes in a more careful manner than most car drivers. Keep in mind that cage drivers don’t always give motorcycles the same courtesy as other types of vehicles.

Hints for riding around this Biketoberfest. Wear brightly colored gear. Watch for distracted drivers who are talking or texting on cell phones. Pay extra attention at intersections. Remember, if the sun is at your back, they may not be able to see you. Watch their wheels. Don’t split lanes. If you want to double the value of your bike – Fill it up with gas.

Since, I’ve been married 12 times I’m considered an expert on the subject. My friend said to me “I just want to get married and be happy”. I said “Pick one”. I told him if he wanted to avoid alimony-stay single. But, if you need to get married you need to learn some communication skills. Learn to say “Yes Dear” or keep your mouth shut. Question: If the bride wears white to show purity, why does the groom wear black?

I have more to say in my blogs on my website nobodiesopinion.com.

Check out my new e-book “How to Plan & Organize a Poker Run” at ThunderRoadsFlorida.com/poker-run.

See you on the shiny side of tomorrow.

By Lulu

Big Engine has certainly had a full slate of activities this past summer including performing in Sturgis. Even more exciting they released a new CD in August. I was in town for the party that Boot Hill Saloon hosted and the place was packed. Make sure you get one the music is some of their best ever!!

By Metric and Phoenix

Every day is Veterans Appreciation Day but last Saturday the Concerned Veterans of America organization along with Harley Davidson hosted a special Defend Freedom Tour at the historical big red building just off of I-4 in Orlando .The Defend Freedom Tour kicked off Friday with a free Concert by Madison Rising and country music star Alya Brown. On hand for the event was just about every Veteran organization in the state. The Gold Star Mothers, the USO, Operation Give Back all gave out to show their support.

The Museum of Military History from nearby Kissimmee brought some fantastic memorabilia to include a beautiful motorcycle from WWII. Saturday started out with a miracle, I got Phoenix out of bed before noon and we joined fellow Legion Riders from Chapter 74 for a quick breakfast at Dutcher’s Diner in Avon Park. After breakfast we made a speedy trip to the American Legion Headquarters in Orlando to rally with Legion Riders from across the state. We had the privilege to escort the Department of Florida Commander, Jay Conti to the event where he had the honor to be a guest speaker and make a historical announcement.

The Department of Florida American Legion and Harley Davidson of Orlando have established a new partnership. Veterans who purchase a Harley Davidson motorcycle from Orlando Harley Davidson will receive a gift membership certificate for their initial membership to the American Legion. What better way to celebrate defending freedom than the feeling you have as you mount up that new motorcycle and ride off with your fellow Veterans. Riders lead the way! RIDE FREE!!!

By Raven Van Pelt

American Legion Riders Post 9, 10737-101 New King Rd., Jacksonville, Florida held their grand opening on August 30th. The Legion opened their doors to all Legion members and to the public, with dinners, a band, and vendors.

The purpose and mission of The American Legion Riders Florida Chapters is to promote motorcycle safety and riding enjoyment through programs and activities that are in keeping with the aims and purposes of The American Legion by supporting programs, events, charities, parades and other ceremonies of The American Legion.

American Legion Riders each year take to their motorcycles and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for various Legion and local programs, across Florida.  For more information you can contact (904) 766-6035.   or visit our website at http://americanlegionpost9.org/home.htm.

By Lulu

Just returned from Key West…what a great place to spend time with friends. This year I was lucky enough to go with one of my friends from Pensacola, Kim and her husband James. They had never been to the Keys before so it was fun being the tour guide and watching someone experience something new. We did the poker run for Rotary which is why I was going and since we both were Rotarians it made it special to be doing it together. Bad weather was forecasted and friends cancelled their trip because of it. The number of vendors and bikes in the bike show were down quite a bit and I think the weather was the contributing factor. It is a shame since what we experienced was lower temperature than normal…and very little rain both made the event one of the best. The one afternoon shower just kept us in Irish Kevin’s a bit longer than usual and the lower temperature was a blessing. Kim and I even made time to get a sunburn and enjoyed enough cocktails by the pool to allow a photo op of us thinking we were kids again!

Kim and James have both been bike owners in the past and Kim has gotten back into a different form of horsepower…the kind that eats oats so they don’t have motorcycles. I think being down in the Keys and seeing and hearing the bikes may have planted a new need for two wheels!

We got to spend time with Mike from South Florida Bike Events and his posse which includes Terry Kirby. Just a great fun group of guys and gals. Thank you for your hospitality!

Also was invited to the pool party at the Casa Marina that the guys of Cartel Baggers threw. Boy do boys from Miami know how to party…guess one wouldn’t expect less! And it was a sea of Cartel Bagger shirts everywhere you looked on Duval. These guys know how to party and how to market themselves.

Come up and say hi during Biketoberfest, find a new friend to ride with and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

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To listen to most of the vendors and establishments in Sturgis the crowds were down a bit, mostly due to 2015 (next year) being the 75th Anniversary of the South Dakota rally. There were still plenty of bikes on the highways and plenty of bellies at the bars everywhere you looked. Buffalo Chip featured huge bands as always and I was fortunate enough to have VIP access to the Florida Georgia Line concert thanks to Russ Brown Motorcycle Law Firm. Easyrider Saloon, Knuckle Saloon, Broken Spoke and One Eyed Jacks were filled to capacity on most nights. There are vendors everywhere and of course bike shows. But what sets Sturgis apart from most rallies is the ride. Beautiful scenery is what awaits you when you hit the highway for Spearfish, Leads, Mount Rushmore, the Needles or Custer State Park. A special thank you goes out to Dean, Felicia and Ray for taking me riding 4 of the 35 days I was in South Dakota. Since I flew in it was depressing not being able to hit the pavement. If you don’t have this one on your bucket list for the 75th start saving it is just a magical place to visit.

On one more note, the guys at Sturgis Cycles were absolutely awesome to a friend of mine who found herself with a dead car battery…they came to the house, jumped her car and then took the car in for a diagnostic check. Like to give a shout out to people that go above and beyond!

By Lulu

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August not only took us to Sturgis, we also hit the road to south Florida and joined Mike and Dee Dee for their big event in Davie at the Round Up. The parking lot was full of vendors, spectators and bikes. The guys from Cartel Baggers out of Miami were in attendance in full force with awesome looking motorcycles. The sponsors Budweiser, Jagermeister, Twisted Tea, Monster, Bikers Inc., Southern Bike Night and the law firm of Gordon and Doner helped make this thing the place to be in August if you love to ride. The Twisted Tea bikini contest featured 9 women who competed for major prize money and the lucky first place winner went home with $1000! Music filled the air all afternoon and ended with north Florida’s famous band Big Engine! Put this on your events to check out next summer. We stayed at the Renaissance for only $85 dollars a night and it was gorgeous. It also gave us a chance to throw away a little money at the Hard Rock Casino. Thanks South Florida Bike Events for a great day.

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2000 years prior.

“A democracy is always temporary in nature. It simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse over loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship”. “The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During these 200 years these nations always progressed through the following sequence. From bondage to spiritual faith. From spiritual faith to great courage. From courage to liberty. From liberty to abundance. From abundance to complacency. From complacency to apathy. From apathy to dependence. From dependence back into bondage”.

The Obituary Follows: Born 1776, Died 2016.

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University, School of Law in St. Paul Minnesota points out some interesting facts concerning the last Presidential election. Number of States won by Obama 19, Romney 29. Square miles of land won by Obama 580,000, Romney 2,427,000. Murder rate per thousand residents in counties won by Obama 13.2, Romney 2.1.

Professor Olson adds, “In aggregate, the map of the territory Romney won was mostly the land owned by taxpaying citizens of the country. Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenant and living off various forms of government welfare”.

Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the “complacency and apathy” phase of Professor Tyler’s definition of democracy, with some 40% of the nation’s population already having reached the government dependency phase. If the President or Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to 20,000,000+ criminal invaders called illegals – and they vote – then we can say goodbye to the U.S.A. in fewer than five years.

We have a President who believes he is either a dictator or a king. He constantly informs us that the Constitution is meaningless and he doesn’t believe in the three branches of government by reminding us that he has a pen and a phone and he will bypass Congress. He needs a six-month vacation, twice a year. Our Congress, both the Senate and House of Representatives are controlled by establishment politicians who only care about their perks and their reelection. Sounds like a good time to consider term limits. Our government is the most corrupt it has ever been since its inception.

We need a revolution in this country. Not with pitchforks, torches or guns but with the power of the vote. We have a very important election coming up in November and everyone should realize how much is at stake. Apathy is the greatest danger to our liberty and freedom.

I used to be afraid of dying but now I’m afraid of reincarnation, God Bless our children and grandchildren because they are the ones who will be paying for this.

I’ve got more to say about this in my blog on my website nobodiesopinion.com

See you on the shiny side up tomorrow…

By Raven Van Pelt

American Legion Riders Post 54 and VMA Chapter 1046 held a benefit for the Florida Youth Advisory Committee, Saturday the 16th of August.

There was a Meet and Greet Friday night, and then Saturday a ride was held with about 100 people and 70 riders, with steak dinners upon return.  Sunday a breakfast was held for those who attended.

The Florida Independent Living Counsel Inc helps to assist and advocate for people with disabilities in achieving equal opportunities. There’s no place like home, and they mean real homes, not nursing homes. ADAPT is fighting so people with disabilities can live in the community with real support instead of being locked away in nursing homes and other institutions.

Florida Independent Living Council, Inc. believes that when people with disabilities want to work, they should. The Trust supports individuals and non-profit vocational rehabilitation programs throughout Florida with fund-raising, grant making and public awareness of disability issues.

They envision a seamless supportive partnership between Florida business and government to provide assistive technology products and services which will enable persons with disabilities to participate in independent living, education, work and recreation from birth to death.

For more information, you can contact Molly Goslin
Executive Director 850-488-5624