By Lulu

I had the pleasure and honor of covering the most amazing and patriotic event of my lifetime at Daytona International Speedway. The dream of young Ben Peterson was to put on this tribute to rewrite history and let Vietnam Veteran’s KNOW their efforts and losses are known and appreciated by us all!! He certainly learned it on his own, serving an eight-year career in the Army and experiencing the trauma of war. Upon returning to the U. S., he and his comrades were feeling vulnerable and were not only greeted by family, but he also cherishes the embrace of the earlier generation of Vietnam vets that were there to greet them…so that no one would experience the homecoming that they endured. Certainly, we all remember the stories of Vietnam vets being spat on, ridiculed, and being called “baby killers” by their own citizens. During this amazing 3-day event, speakers included Lt. Col. Ollie North, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ann-Margret, Major Gen. Patrick Brady, Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, Mark Geist, and Chris Noel. Military flyovers, parachuters, interactive exhibits even for young children, veteran resource expos, a bald eagle flying over the crowd of veterans, Sunday a motorcycle ride and world class country stars made this a spectacular weekend. The country stars were billed as Country for a Cause, including Toby Keith, Justin Moore, and Craig Morgan. One side of the huge infield was reserved for ONLY Vietnam Vets and chairs to take home were provided for them. On the other side were vets from all kinds of conflicts. The most moving part of the event to me was when Ben had the two sides turn and face each other for a group salute and told the Vietnam Vets it was time to pass the torch of protection on to the younger generations and for them to pick up the mantle. Everyone had tears! This young man and his non-profit organization “Engage Your Destiny” did one hell of a job. Thank you, Ben, your crew and all the volunteers who treated the 10,000 veterans to this tribute and to the 30,000+ crowd that came to honor the veterans!!! I met a vet on Sunday’s ride who rode his bike all the way from Oklahoma needing an oxygen tank to make the trip! He said it was on his bucket list and that it was one of the best weekends of his life! Many more photos from Sunday’s ride and the weekend are on our Thunder Roads Florida Facebook page. Go to our Albums to find the photos.

By T. J.

If you’re looking to upgrade the stock sound system in your ride, we have the place for you. Volks Audio, at 2491 N. Volusia Ave. in Orange City is a one stop shop for all your motorcycle, car and boat stereo system needs. Karl Biancardi, a native of Brooklyn New York, has been customizing and installing competition sound systems in Volkswagens and motorcycles in Florida since 1989. People from the Volusia County area may also know him from the early days as the bar owner at H2 Bar, J.R.’s Country Saloon, and Buck Wild. Those days are in the rearview and since then, he has been laser focused on sound. Karl uses all the big-name vendors in the industry including Beyma, Sound Digital, PRV, and Ground Zero to name a few. Complete builds start at $2,500 and can go as high as $35K for the “monster” version. In the last several years, Volks has become a big player at sound competitions all over Florida and the trophies are piling up with over 20 wins in several different classes. Karl has 2 of his personal bikes, a 2006 Ultra Classic and a 2022 Road Glide, as well as many customers bikes that are collecting hardware wherever they show up. Crystal clear sound and crazy high volume is what you get with your Volks Audio system. So, if you want your tunes to drown out road noise, go see Karl and his crew. He is always happy to see you and ready to talk motorcycles and music. Let Volks Audio make your dream sound system happen. And tell ‘em Thunder Roads Florida sent you.

By Lulu

Very dear friends of mine bought the Blackwater Inn in Astor last September. Ronnie and Mechele have been in the bar/restaurant business their whole adult life…and very successfully. I first met them at McHenry’s in Flagler, his last large restaurant in Keystone Heights was also called McHenry’s. After purchasing Blackwater, he sold his place in Keystone Heights and moved to Astor! Totally gutted the historic waterfront place and updated everything. As with any of his places the food is GREAT! The waterfront view here is amazing and the treetop outside bar is perfect for bikers. In May he threw a pirate & biker party complete with live music by The Grass Campers who were lots of fun! There were cash prizes for best dressed male & female pirate and biker. Twisted Tea provided a great cooler for a grand prize which a pirate loaded on the ship and sailed away with. Adorable Sophie sampled Twisted Tea for the masses and Rue & Ziffra who are known as “Attorney for Boaters (& Bikers) had t-shirts and coozies to giveaway. Thanks to Felicia for passing everyone raffle tickets. The weather was supposed to be horrific the day of the party so few bikes were in the parking lot but the place was jammed packed! Thank you to all who came out to support this fun event. Bet this won’t be their last Invasion!! But don’t wait for the next one get on your bike or boat and find this gem!!!

By T.J.

All of us that are into riding motorcycles accumulate stuff that we can’t or won’t use anymore. This includes parts, clothes and whatever else. Boxes, shelves, garages, and storage sheds fill up with things we “might need some day.” I had 31 years’ worth of that gear and finally decided if I haven’t needed it yet, then I probably never will. Our friend Chip Seager at Everything Biker Consignment in Sebastian was happy to take it off my hands and sell it for me. The exact location is 137 Sebastian Blvd. (512 Eastbound). Chip takes in parts, apparel, accessories, jewelry, and anything else motorcycle related and sells it for you on consignment. The split is 50/50. Chip was a prison guard for 27 years and upon retiring he went to work with a friend at a bike shop doing motorcycle detailing and basic service work. In 2016 he bought the consignment business. Since purchasing Everything Biker, Chip has had to expand his space to accommodate the shops popularity and growth. He is a personable, friendly guy and is thankful to have met many amazing people and friends that he could help over the years. The expansion has allowed Everything Biker to get into detailing bikes with the addition of Dixon’s Downtown Detailing. Dixon’s can take your ride back to that showroom shine with the latest ceramic coating treatment that offers a 10-year warranty.

You can also find Chip at bike nights, swap meets, rallies and other events around Florida selling his wares. He also enjoys jumping on his Electra Glide for a ride whenever he has a minute. Away from work time, Chip is the president of Central Florida East Coast Charities spearheading an annual children’s Christmas Toy Drive and is also very involved in The Richard Phillips Down Biker Fund which helps motorcycle crash victims. When you are ready to clean out the closets and turn it into cash, call or stop by Everything Biker Consignment and More. Tell ‘em we sent you.

By Lulu

This ride is by far one of my favorite events to ride on. Even though neither TJ nor I are early risers, somehow, we manage to make it to the Atlantic before the sun comes up to meet the folks on the beach for our overnight adventure. After we watched the sun rise, we headed over to Peach Valley on Granada for a quick breakfast and then followed our lead bike to the west coast of Florida. We arrived early enough to check in, grab a ride on a golf cart to find a few watering holes before dinner at Steamer’s to get back to the water’s edge in time for sunset. This year was our second trip to Cedar Key and the quaint Cedar Key Bed & Breakfast. This ride usually is in the late spring and you make all kinds of new friends who love to explore on two wheels! Thanks Mandy and Shelley for going to the trouble of putting these overnight excursions on!

Sometimes I miss having my own bike. It wasn’t a fancy bike or new. It was a 1999 Sportie given to me by Bull. I had it a few years. Rode it all over Sturgis. Never washed it one time. So, I laugh to myself every time we have an event when T. J. spends the day washing his just to get it dirty on the road. Then I realize how lucky I am to have a safe backseat I am usually welcomed to be on. Makes drinking okay, photography from the bike possible and I get to snuggle up to T. J. if I feel sweet. Although I don’t love the back support that keeps me from truly being able to straddle him! We are scheduled to go to the Ladies in Leather Parade in September where only women are allowed to ride. Thinking I will have to try to catch a ride with some hot red head!! T. J. will be so jealous!! Something like this makes me wish I still had my old scoot. But the reality T. J. keeps reminding me of I really suck as a driver even in a car. I REALLY CAN’T DISAGREE WITH HIM! Even my best friend Sherry chooses to drive my vehicle if we are going in my car. So, guess I have resigned myself to being a Back Seat Becky!

For you women who do ride your own, I am envious of your guts and gumption! You live life a bit more on the edge than most. You look good riding them and your independence is fierce. I have several friends who are in Women in the Wind and other ladies’ groups who ride all over the country…sometimes completely alone. BRAVO!

Buy a drink for a lady rider, for God sake do some research on the upcoming candidates…particularly school board peeps and don’t forget your sunscreen.

By T. J.

ATTENTION ALL LADIES!! If you haven’t heard of “Ladies In Leather” I have some good information for you. This organization was founded in 2019 by Mrs. Amber Cohen aka “Mama” in Sour Lake Texas. Her main purpose and goal were to form and develop a diverse family of women that ride, and she has done just that. Women of all races, nationalities, backgrounds, and professions are members and they ride all makes and models. The mission of the ladies is to get away and “just have fun!” The group has grown by word of mouth because of the good times had at a half dozen or so of their local events throughout the year and a more than 10,000 person Facebook following. Here in Florida, Mama hosts a meet and greet during Bike Week so look for that announcement in Thunder Roads Florida for 2023.

Over the past 3 years, Mama has organized and hosted the world’s largest traveling female motorcycle parade. Each year the event travels to a new location. It began in Llano, Texas with 378 registered riders and grew last year to 740 in College Station with 34 U.S. states represented. The 2022 parade is a 3-day event scheduled for next month (Sept 8th thru 11th) and promises to be the biggest yet. It will be held outside the state of Texas for the first time in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Beth and I will be making a mini vacation out of it. We will ride to the Ozarks in Northwest Arkansas, for a few days before rolling into Hot Springs on Friday for the notorious Friday night adult pool party. I hear just about anything goes. Two of the reserved hotels are sold out but The Arlington Hotel and Spa still has discounted rooms available for Rally attendees. Registration is $50 per rider and you receive a patch, pin, and a raffle ticket to win a 2022 Indian Scout Sixty that weekend. Boyfriends, husbands, and others are invited to the weekend festivities, but the actual 7-mile parade is women ONLY. I guess we can have a cocktail while we wait. For more info and details, go to Ladiesinleatherparade.com and get yourself booked in. We look forward to seeing a bunch of you out there in Hot Springs.

By Lulu

There are thousands of crosses in hundreds of graveyards across America that mark a life given for the sake of our freedom! Truett and Trish Duhon, owners of Lit’l Caesar’s Dive Bar in Interlachen, chose Memorial Day honor one of the town’s own fallen heroes. The ride started at Boogerville Hideout with stops at Saloon 17, The Watering Hole at Smith Lake, and the Howlin Wolf. The event included live music by Shack Rattlers and Backwater Jam. Auction items, raffles and 50/50 helped build the kitty for the Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Robert Jenkins whose family was present at the event. I witnessed the most moving presentation given by CMDCM (Ret) Ellis about our flag. Had me and even some burly bikers in tears. Other notables in attendance were the Mayor Ken Larson and Putnam County Commissioner Larry Harvey. It was genuinely nice that a local hero was honored and that his sacrifice was remembered through the scholarship!

By T. J.

Many years ago, Jeff and Nina Hayes owned a small beer and wine bar. They also liked to attend bingo nights at local spots around town for fun. One day they decided to start hosting bingo at their own bar, but they couldn’t offer cash prizes because that is gambling, and not legal in Florida. They needed something different and to make it fun. Thinking outside the box, Nina suggested crazy, naughty, and even dirty prizes, and Jeff and Nina’s Dirty Bingo was born!! It became a big hit. So much so that shortly after they sold their bar in 2019, other bar owners were calling to ask if they would take the show on the road to their bars.

In 2 years, Dirty/420 Bingo has exploded. Nina and Jeff are a riot, and along with two other teams are doing Dirty Bingo shows every Tuesday thru Friday at 20 places throughout Volusia and Flagler Counties. I have attended several of these shows and every time it is two hours of fun, laughs and toys! Their huge following travels to the different venues as the family grows. One of the crowd favorites is Nina’s famous pudding/Jello shots they give away as the night rolls on. Each bingo night has other games or contests tailored to the venue.

Not only do the hosting businesses benefit by having large crowds, a few of Jeff and Nina’s favorite charities receive large contributions from the bingo proceeds. VFW Post 3282 in Port Orange receives every penny of the bingo money raised on their night, and the Pawsibilities Animal Rescue Organization in Port Orange, of which Nina is very involved along with her friend and founder Kim, receives nice chunks of cash donations.

Follow and refer to the Jeff and Nina’s Dirty Bingo Facebook page for dates and locations. Cost is $2 per game, and you can play as many as ten games per show. Trust me people, this a show you want to see for fully clothed fun. Tell em Thunder Roads Florida sent ya.

By Lulu

As part of the Heroes Honor Festival Rolling Thunder and Florida American Legion Riders put on a free ride on Sunday from the Daytona International Speedway to Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona H-D where a huge American flag was flying for the large parade of patriotic bikers to ride under. I was incredibly pleased at the large turnout for this ride not only showing their respect for the Vietnam veteran’s being honored that weekend but also for all heroes lost during conflicts. The coverage for the Heroes Honor Festival will be in next months issue, but photos from both the ride and the festival can be found on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook. Thank you to Rolling Thunder, Florida American Legion Riders and to all who took their day to honor our military.

By T. J.

I want to send a shout out and congratulations to our friend Mark Juttelstad, who is the owner of The Alibi in Geneva. This is Mark’s first venture in the bar business and so far, so good. We recently attended the Alibi’s 5-year anniversary party and what a great day it was. Mark pulled out all the stops with live music all day and into the night. The new outside party deck provided the stage for the Acoustic duo Duplexer (Dina Medeiros, Jay Crosier) who started the show before being joined by Slack and Tyler from Murder Hornets to finish rocking out the afternoon session. Then the full Murder Hornets band took over and played the rest of the party. Food trucks were on site to feed the hungry and the Alibi’s friendly staff served up the ice-cold beer and wine. The Alibi is on E State Road 46 in Geneva and a beautiful ride through the woods from anywhere in central Florida. Alibi is open 7 days a week with live music on the deck every Sunday. Their kitchen offers up weekday lunch specials with a free drink. The food is delicious, and the price is right. If you get a chance take a ride out there or plan a ride to check this place out. You’ll be glad you did.

By Lulu

Photos of Kid Rock, Ted Nugent & Travis Tritt by Walt Lumpkin, and WaltPix Motosickle Stuff
Thunder Beach Spring and Fall Rallies have always been our favorite getaway! The music is always good, even with Covid when the city didn’t allow the large stage. The beaches are just beautiful and the view from the balcony of our accommodations at the Holiday Inn Resort in Panama City Beach makes waking up with a hangover tolerable! If you like to get on your bike and ride there are deserted country highways that lead to places like Chainsaw’s Corner to wet your whistle.

This year, the organizers took motorcycle rallies in Florida to a new level! I heard the concert line-up early on and that they were going to be charging admission for the headliners at Frank Brown Park and wasn’t sure what to expect from bikers. Would they pay for top notch entertainment? Well let me tell you, they hit it out of “the park”! Thursday was Travis Tritt playing to a full field! Friday, they brought in Ted Nugent!! I had never seen Sweaty Teddy, he put on one hell of a show. What a guitarist! They killed it on Saturday with Kid Rock who has more energy on stage than anyone I have seen…playing every instrument and “scrubbing” the turn table, going back to his Hip Hop roots. He even played the sax and then gave it to a lucky lady in the crowd! The VIP packages were well worth the money, including T-shirts, a place to sit if you wanted to, although most were on their feet going wild, free food, 2 free drinks and VIP motorcycle parking!!!

Pure genius for the organizers to pick 3 of the most politically conservative entertainers to perform in the Panhandle of Florida! Trump even made a video appearance during Kid Rock! The crowd sang at the top of their lungs to Ted Nugent’s patriotic song and to “We the People” by Kid Rock. The vendors had their largest crowds ever to browse their wares. Harley-Davidson of Panama City Beach gave away a Harley for the event and their dealership was packed when we visited! The Indian dealership also had live music with bikini bike washing! All the local watering holes had their parking lots filled with motorcycles so my bet is the fall rally is one you better get your tickets and rooms for early. The date of the fall rally is October 19-23, CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE THE FALL LINEUP!

By T. J.

Sandrine and the staff at The Hideout Lounge in Holly Hill on Derbyshire threw a 2-day celebration for their customers complete with live music and free food! 10 years of being in business successfully is something to celebrate…add in surviving two of the hardest years in business due to Covid lockdowns and difficulty getting staff…and you really have a reason to celebrate. Sandrine is just an adorable, hardworking bar owner who loves her family of customers. Red Gate rocked the bar the night I was there. The bar has darts, pool tournaments, Dirty Bingo, line dancing, karaoke, and great Bloody Mary’s on Sunday mornings with Tara! Did I say FREE pool on Tuesday nights and all-day Sunday? Stop in for a drink or two and congratulate them on 10 years!

By Lulu

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America has their National Spring Meet in New Smyrna Beach each year. The 3-day event includes a huge swap meet, antique motorcycle show, live entertainment, antique motorcycle field games and even a ride in Chopper Show put on by Chop Doc’s. The actual AMCA judging occurs the Saturday of the event. The overall objective of AMCA judging is to evaluate an antique motorcycle which is in original condition or has been restored to the same state as when the dealer received the motorcycle from the factory. The point system the judges use places great emphasis on using only original parts to bring antique motorcycles back to life. If you get a chance to attend one of their judging events you will learn a lot about the history of motorcycles and meet some wrenching maniacs who love to keep these old scoots road worthy.