By Lulu

Stacey, Donnie, and Lisa love to see their property fill up with bikers. If you haven’t ventured out on 2 or 3 wheels to Renegade’s in Crescent City, you really should! Good music, food and a relaxing view of the St. John’s River are enough reasons to take the ride, but once you get out of the rat race of Daytona, the country roads make this a great adventure destination. Renegade’s offer RV camping and cabins. They have a large inside dining room featuring delicacies including GATOR. A HUGE tiki bar for friends to gather for drinks and music. And if you are adventurous, they even have water sports.

While you are in the country a few of our other ad clients have great spots for a cold one which makes the trip to the country even more interesting. Find The Hideaway owned by Lisa and Sheldon, a very cool old wooden bar. And a cool old spot that has a new owner is the old Hermit’s Cove. It is now the Gnarly Gar, it too has a relaxing waterfront view, both beer and wine bars, and interesting stops for exploring. A brand-new ad client for us is 3 Bananas in Crescent City on Crescent Lake known for great food.
So do yourself a favor save a day for hitting the highway early and head to the country…you will be glad you did!

By Lulu

WOW! 8 years have flown by! Joe, Jimbo and the crew of male staff and beautiful ladies have been putting on one of the best parties in town for 8 years. Whether it is the talented ladies working the poles and entertaining the crowds or the bartenders passing you ice cold beer or stiff drinks, there is plenty to enjoy at Grandview. Theme parties such as their 80’s Disco Night or PJ’s & Lingerie Party are often on the calendar but coming up during Biketoberfest they are celebrating those on 2 wheels with a Full Throttle Bike Show in the parking lot October 19th. So, get on your saddle and join the fun!

By Lulu

Since November of 2018, every month a group of avid motorcyclists join at The Boat Bar in Port Orange to ride to unknown locations. If we missed a few months during Covid it was only because there was nowhere to ride! While NFL is being played, we generally switch from Sundays to Saturdays. October will be on Saturday, October 28th. KSU at 11am. Over the years we have made wonderful friends and been to interesting locations. If you are looking for new riding friends or places to explore. Ride with us on one this fall! We return to The Boat where Tony puts on a meal and the $5 we paid for the event also gives you a chance to win half the pot! And during Biketoberfest, Tony throws a party for all so join in the fun on Saturday, October 14th! The photos are from different monthly rides, but all photos can be viewed on our Thunder Roads Florida Facebook page in Albums.

By Lulu

Some very good friends of mine Ronnie and Mechele have definitely created their own Pot of Gold, with their restaurant and bar, Drifters. Not only is the food amazing with more than ample servings; the view is beautiful too! Whether you are downstairs at water level or up in the treetop bar, it is a destination place for good food! I have to thank Meg for providing the awesome photos of the food and the rainbow. Definitely could not have done better myself! Ronnie is a veteran and loves his Harley, I think having such a busy successful business may keep him off the saddle a little more than he likes! The place is full liquor, ice cold beer, and they are known for McHenry’s famous wings! Open Tuesday-Sunday you need to saddle up and pay them a visit. Best place to wet your whistle and cool your pipes!

By Lulu

A very energetic group of motorcycle enthusiasts have set up shop recently in Jacksonville, Florida. Red Dirt Motorcycles started in Lubbock, Texas and also has stores in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and now Jax. Future plans for spreading the eagle’s wings are Daytona Beach and Ocala. The Daytona Beach location is set to open in October at 594 Ballough Rd. Follow them on Facebook for grand opening events.

We rode up to Jacksonville in August for their Bike Day where we were treated to coffee, donuts, great live music, and yummy food by Poppin’ Smoke BBQ. Lots of peeps were bike shopping and although it was a typical hot Florida day no one seemed to notice. If you are looking for a large selection of high quality pre-owned bikes, check their shops out. Red Dirt prides themselves on exceptional customer service. Jacksonville’s Red Dirt is located at 83 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park.

Sometimes I wonder how much longer at 69 years old I could possibly want to do the magazine month after month. Don’t get me wrong it is a lot of FUN… but it is a lot of WORK too. Most women my age are golfing, cruising, and watching TV. Other than FOX, football in season and an occasional golf game I don’t watch much TV as TJ controls the remote 24/7. Nor is there really down time to just couch potato! Just when I think I should get out of the every 30-day rat race of putting the magazine together, I have people come up and introduce themselves and say how they follow the magazine all the time, even quote from it!

I was delivering at Big Bass Grill in Lake Panasoffkee and the couple in the photo came out and he said he has been reading Thunder Roads Florida for years and wanted me to meet his wife. So sweet. Or I make contact with someone that had won a trophy at OBs after he left the show, and he is so sweet and appreciative of the recognition for an old bike that our friend Cap would have loved if he was still riding the roadways of Earth and not heaven. The photo of the Cap Wilson award from OB’s was taken at the Shovelhead Coalitions Bike Night at The Other Place where Rich Dorsch came to pick up the trophy which happens to be the Thunder Roads Florida trophy!

So, thank you to all who let me know our efforts mean something to you. Our goal in doing this is to bring a magazine that highlights the good people of biking, the events that make a difference in people’s lives and the events that are just FUN too. Have a safe fall rally season if you see us out with our cameras follow the photos on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook. And if you haven’t hit follow there, please do it means a lot to our ad clients!!!

By Lulu

Some bar owners rarely interact with their customers. Sandrine, owner of The Hideout Lounge” is a friend to all who enter The Hideout. She loves what she does, and it shows. The bar is so much a part of the lives of those who frequent The Hideout that Rocky and Vicki Kurdyla threw their wedding reception there in September and allowed us in to snap a few shots. Tara decorated and prepared the party for them, and a beautiful party it was. The bar also has a rowdy crowd for Jeff and Nina’s Dirty Bingo twice a month. I went to one of their first bingos and went again this September. It is a lot of the same faces who follow Jeff & Nina to many of their bingo gigs!! I don’t think it is because they need another butt plug, I think they just like the fun people and the hilarious antics of the show!!! Occasionally Sandrine also brings in live music. Pool and darts tourneys are a mainstay here. And Tara does her $5 Bloody Mary Sundays. Also heard they will be starting “Taraoke”, and that Tara can SING! I just found out that Tara rides her sportster alone to New York. Gotta love a girl that rides, sings, and makes a mean Bloody Mary! The Hideout serves as the meeting spot for us when we take our annual Bike Week and Biketoberfest group rides out to the country, and this year it’s scheduled for Wednesday, the 18th of October. We meet at 10am so join us for a great day. If you are looking for a bar with good drinks, great staff and a place that loves their bike riders, find The Hideout Lounge at 1120 Derbyshire Rd. in Holly Hill!

By Lulu

So, every major motorcycle event includes sound off competitions now. And Karl from Volk’s Audio in Orange City has been entering and winning them for years. His newest creation is a bit like Dr. Frankenstein’s lab. Karl built the world’s largest Harley. The bike weighs 2000+ pounds and is powered by 9 lithium batteries. The fiberglass, paint, metal work, sound system and tuning were all done in house. Working day and night it took 6 months to complete “The Hulk”. With over 34 years of experience in sound systems, he constructed this bike to compete in the Extreme Class which requires over 22 speakers. The bike has 360 degrees of sound, even has speakers customized into the fuel tank. His first unveiling of the Hulk was in Miami at the Firefighters Fundraiser in May. He did not compete in the show, but the 3 Miami judges all said the sound was “super clear”. The Hulk is outfitted with Beyma high end audio speakers which create a crystal-clear sound. His sound is 50,000 watts with a price tag of over $150,000!! You can see The Hulk at the Bagger Nationals Biketoberfest competition at The Hard Rock Hotel on A1A Saturday, October 21st, where he will be competing for the top prize of $3000! The Hulk will also be displayed at Sound Wars at The Beaver Bar on Friday, October 20th during Biketoberfest. Karl specializes in all sound systems for all budgets!

By Lulu

Every summer for five years, OB has thrown a kick ass bike show filling their huge property. This year the Best in Show winner was Steve Coe, and the Ms. Americana Bikini Contest winner was Sage. Each walked away with $1000! Steve also has an article here dedicated to his winning bike. The band that rocked OB’s all afternoon was Groove Infusion. Everyone on the property seemed to enjoy the tunes, the great show bikes, and the beautiful girls on stage. Put this on your not to miss list for 2024! Listed are the winners of each category and more photos can be seen on Thunder Roads Florida under Albums OB’s Americana Bike Show 2023.

by Jeani G.

Gator Harley Davidson in Leesburg proudly celebrated their 30-year anniversary in style on Saturday, July 8. Family owned and operated since 1993, with 3 generations of experience, the Maliks take great pride in servicing their customers and establishing long-term relationships … plus they really know how to throw a party! The owner John, wife Julie, son Johnny, sister Janice and niece Rachel were all present with their families on this special day!

It rained a bit off and on, but that didn’t damper the spirits of the crowd one bit. Hypersona rocked the stage, while Jan kept the events and excitement moving along. With so much to do, it was hard to soak it all in … bikini bike wash by the lovely Dirty South Saloon girls, shopping various jewelry and biker apparel vendors, good eats served up by Royal Hibachi and Backdraft Grill (Central Florida Firefighters Charity), bake sale by Ladies of Harley and face painting for the kids. Thirsty bikers could wet their whistle at the Gator Hut Bar run by the Nam Knights Green Swamp Chapter or at the Firefighters Charity Alliance bar.

Gator Harley offered 30% off licensed products and aftermarket parts and accessories, while leather smith Marg, who has been with Gator HD for 22 years was on hand to sew on patches or tackle any of your leather repair needs.

The Women’s Bikini Contest and Men’s Hot Bod Contest were hosted by Amanda Rose, owner of Dirty South Saloon – the enthusiastic crowd had fun cheering on the contestants and choosing the winners with a prize purse of $500 each! Six beautiful and sexy bikini babes made it a difficult decision, while a last-minute entry won the men’s contest and donated part of his winnings to the Nam Knights and the Firefighters Charity Alliance.

The excitement never seemed to end. There was a 50/50 drawing and a drawing for a guitar autographed by Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl. The Bike Show with awards in 12 different classes was hosted by Full Throttle Magazine, while Fran Haasch Law Group sponsored the trophies and Gator Harley sponsored a $500 Best in Show cash award!

In a very touching moment, the Nam Knights Green Swamp Chapter presented John with a beautiful 30-year anniversary congratulatory plaque! If you missed this year’s event, stop by the dealership any time for great service with a smile. Thank you, Malik family, for the past 30 years, and here’s wishing you many more successful years to come!

By Lulu

If you haven’t visited the Space Coast dealership in Palm Bay, you really must. Tim Bishop puts on weekly events that feature amazing music and often scantily clothed biker babes. Tim says, “We got Somethin’ Goin’ On Every Weekend”. Their ads in the beginning of this issue have all the September happenings featured, but coming Sunday, October 1st is Rocktober Jam, a full day of rocking the biking community!! Space Coast H-D is also offering free camping on their great lawn during Biketoberfest by registering with the marketing department. November 19th is a free Texas Hippie Coalition event. Don’t miss Rolling Thunder’s Ride-In Toy Drive December 2nd, bring a $10 Toy for the huge party. And a good one coming up is Jim Morrison’s Birthday Celebration on December 9th. Tim works hard to keep things rocking the Space Coast, join in on the fun. They are located at 1440 Sportsman Ln. NE see you there!

For 29 years now motorcycle riders have taken a Sunday in October to benefit children who due to illnesses can’t attend a camp without medical care. Camp Boggy Creek provides a safe environment for kids to be kids! The Rossmeyer’s have been prominent supporters of the camp by hosting the yearly Ride for Children to Camp Boggy Creek. Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson has taken this as one of their causes and will not let the children down. Please see the press release below and make plans to join one of the largest rides in our area…for an amazing cause. Not only do the kids get a week of being kids at camp…the parents get a week to relax and enjoy a bit of time knowing their children are being cared for. The word recreation has a meaning that these kids and their families need more than most…RECREATE the ENERGY for life. Help keep this camp funded on October 8th. A thank you to the sponsors Outback Steakhouse that provide the meal at the camp, Hamlin & Asso., Miller Lite, and Jean Marie & Collin York…and to each of you that have ridden the past 29 years.

Destination Daytona to Camp Boggy Creek

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8TH

Registration begins at 7am, event ends at 1:30pm

Get your motorcycles ready to RIDE in support of children with serious illnesses and their families. Escorted by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, motorcyclists will enjoy an hour-long ride from Destination Daytona to Camp Boggy Creek. After the Ride participants and guests will continue the fun at the post ride party, which includes a catered lunch by Outback Steakhouse, live entertainment, silent & live auctions and more!

Event volunteer opportunities will also be available, check back to sign up to volunteer for this event! Visit http://rideforchildren.com to learn more!

By Lulu

First, I must apologize that this didn’t run sooner. I simply thought it had run, that may be happening because I am getting older and blonder. Each spring right before Bike Week the Sunshine Chapter of the AMCA hosts the Spring National Meet. 2023 they chose a new venue, and I loved it. They are now at the Daytona Stadium on LPGA. The place gives them all the room they could ever need. This is a GIANT vintage swap meet, antique bike show with AMCA judging, vendors, a chopper show on Friday, and there is also a banquet Friday night. In 2024 the event will be 2/28- March 2 (Thursday-Saturday). If you are looking for collectibles, parts or just an interesting day to spend outside check them out this spring! For info dunkship@myself.com.

By Lulu

When we pulled around the corner to drive onto the property for Mark’s Too Broke for Sturgis Party, I could not believe how packed the property was. We arrived thinking it started at 1pm, but Mark said the place had been packed since 10am. Of course, the band Gun Shy kept the crowd entertained all afternoon. Rain came in, as it always does in August in Florida, so we all crammed into the bar or under the porch to stay dry and drink!! A great time was had by all…all day long. He usually throws a big event in January for his anniversary so keep your eyes out for the date and ride out anytime to wet your whistle at Pirate’s Pub in Paisley.

Long time friend and Steve Coe’s pit crew member, Jimmy Green passed away after a two-month fight with cancer on August 7th, 2023. Born in Virginia 72 years ago he has been living in Coeville and they lovingly refer to him as Coeville’s “yard dog”. He leaves behind two children, his son Jimmy, and his daughter Shelby. Jimmy was a sheet metal union man working on large projects such as malls and hospitals. He loved Motorcycles, Stunt Car racing and pretty women! May Jimmy continue riding the highways in the sky!