By Lulu

This year due to Covid, I suppose, Deland Bike Rally didn’t happen during Bike Week. So, Kristi at OB’s in Deland stepped in and put on a Yuengling sponsored tattoo contest with Willie from Tropical Tattoo and a bike show with Cap Wilson. Bad weather and heavy rain that day may have dampened the event but lots of tattoos entered. OB’s also had great live music all week and stunt riders to entertain the bike week crowds. Look for their Americana Bike Show coming up June 13th the place was packed last year, and don’t forget their Wednesday night Bike Nights.

By Lulu

80th Bike Week was another year for the record books for Iron Horse Saloon. The crowds were awesome, weather mostly fair, David Allan Coe still filled the place, T-shirt sales were brisk, the lines for the Wall of Death long and Craiger’s famous steak tips filled many a belly. Bobby Friss, Highway to Hell, Whey Jennings, and Creed Fisher all entertained the masses. Great job Melissa, Sally, Steve, and Sherry for being a favorite of bikers from all over the world.

By Lulu

Finally, a great Bike Week at the Cabbage Patch Bar in Samsula. The past few events have been rained on, Covid attacked and basically even shut down the final weekend last year. This year the weather God was good, the crowds huge, the coleslaw wrestling girls fierce, some even good looking and the bike shows put on by Radical Randy were well attended. Battle of the Baggers and the Traditional Ride-In Bike Show sponsored by Budweiser and Fran Haasch Law Group had some awesome creations. The property was full of vendors selling their wares. The music at Cabbage Patch included Big Engine, Duval County Line Band and Joe Santana all were some of my favorites of the rally. Look for more fun at Biketoberfest, but remember the bar is open for fun all year.

By Lulu

The beautiful property that is home to the Ormond Beach Broken Spoke Saloon was lively all day and night for Bike Week 2021. With live music by Saliva, Bobby Friss, Stone Senate and Hairball, the bar had some of the best music in town. Bad Apple Bash featured rat rods, choppers, hot rods and a rat bike show, Warren Lane’s True Grit is a vintage bike gathering. Cycle Source featured a custom bike show. Perewitz paint show and Dennis Kirk’s Garage Built Show are always a crowd gathering event. The Broken Spoke ad claims to have the best bartenders on the planet and since some are my friends I MUST agree. The new kid on the block for Bike Week 2021 was famous NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace and crew with their new custom-built bikes, Southern Country Customs. Rusty was very gracious with his fans and enjoyed the meet and greets sponsored by Miller Lite.

By Lulu

The parking lot was packed Bike Week 2021. Locals and visitors to our great slice of the state all know that Denise and Rick Hilliard strive to have a place where it feels like you are sitting in your yard at home. The huge outdoor tiki area is mostly covered now so you are in the shade and if rain does occur you stay dry. The music from Hayfire on Country Night to Blues on Bike Night Tuesdays, the music is always above par and Bike Week was no exception. But what First Turn is and always has been known for is the Sizzlin’ Steaks and great seafood! If you haven’t been, try the Firecracker Shrimp, Redneck Salad (my favorite and enough for two) or the steak which really does sizzle! Come with an appetite but be patient as everyone is experiencing help shortages and the food is prepared for you. First Turn is on US 1 in Port Orange and they are always happy to host a poker run too!

By Lulu

The Sunshine Chapter of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America celebrated 50 years during Bike Week 2021. Field games, swap meets, AMCA judged bike show, a chopper show, low country seafood boil was all part of the festivities for the National Meet. This year they honored the U. S. Navy. For those of you who love the history of antique motorcycles this is a yearly event not to be missed.

Coming up in May is another amazing event for antique bikes at The World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Riding into History is on April 24th and Wayne Carini, from Chasing Classic Cars is the Grand Marshal. This year’s theme is Brilliant British Bikes.

By Lulu

The Dog House on Nova Rd. in Port Orange has become one of the most attended bars for Bike Week. Rhonda brings in bands like Molly Hatchet and Big Engine for music enthusiasts. Midget wrestling for those who like kinky stuff. And the crowd favorite is always scantily clothed women and this year’s bikini contest sponsored by certainly was eye appealing candy. Paige walked away with the first-place prize and that girl has a smoking body. A special thank you to Scotty Boy Landscaping for the sponsorship of this smoking hot contest! Twisted Tea sponsored a kick-off event with giveaways and games, thank you Billy and Twisted Tea. Not Bike Week? This bar is always searching for new things to entertain their patrons. The food is great, Dirty Bingo…dirty, customer appreciation BBQ a must do and weekly music for every taste. Put your kickstands up and check out The Dog House to see what Rhonda is up to.

By Lulu

Tucked away in Deland on Old New York Avenue is a “Cool Joint” The Inn Between Bar. I thought the bar’s name was because it is between two sets of railroad tracks, but reality is the bar is “between” two other locals stops, Emmy’s and what is now called Shady Oaks. It is directly across from the Amtrak station, which is also the future site of the SunRail Station due for construction in 2024. The Inn Between is what I remember local bars being like when I was a kid tagging along with my father. Regulars gather for conversation, stiff drinks, ice cold beer and friendship. The pool table is put to good use here. Outside under huge oaks is a nice sized lot with picnic tables, outside bar and large stage which the owner, Ethan, puts to use on Saturdays 3-7pm with live Blues music. Tuesdays is karaoke night at the Inn. Ethan’s bartenders are always friendly and happy to sell you a $3 longneck or mix a $4 well anytime! Tuesdays-Thursday nights Smokin’ J’s BBQ is available and they have White Castle burgers available all the time.

The owner of the Inn Between Bar, Ethan Williamson, is originally from Augusta, Maine. After graduation he went to a vocational school for machinist, then went to AMI for being a Ducati certified mechanic. Then at 23 he joined the Army. He was deployed to Afghanistan and served in combat for 5 years. His MOS was a Forward Observer 13 FOX. The conversation with Ethan then turned to motorcycling. He started riding on his Dad’s 1982 GS 1100 E sitting on the tank while his Dad controlled the beast. But even before he could reach the ground, he would sneak off on it and his Dad would have to catch him to safely bring the bike to a stop. At 13 he got a 1973 Honda CB 350 4 cylinder. And learned to work on his bikes at home. He even has built his own Bobbers and for a bit focused on Triumphs. Fifteen years ago, his first Harley was a 1981 Ironhead Sportster and then a 1986 FXR. Now his personal bikes are a 2014 Street Bob and a Sportster he is working on. Ethan’s grandmother was from Deland so he chose to settle here as an adult. Owning the bar leaves little time for recreation other than occasionally jumping on his bike for a ride with his adorable girlfriend Nicole on his backseat. But when he has some free time, he enjoys competitive Bass fishing. I really like to frequent businesses owned by our veterans and encourage all who travel the greater Daytona area to search out The Inn Between at 2486 Old New York Avenue, Deland. He has a Low Country Boil to celebrate Raymond’s 63rd birthday on Saturday, May 8th. This is a yearly event and the blues band will be heating up the stage from 3-7pm that afternoon. We plan on being there so join us for a great Saturday afternoon.

By TJ

Down in Palm Bay is a state-of-the-art dealership Space Coast H-D. During March they had great live music, a daily bikini bike wash and stunt riders. I stopped in to spend Friday afternoon with them during Bike Week and enjoyed the staff and patrons at Space Coast.

By Lulu

Each bike event or rally we attend has a uniqueness that sets it apart from others. Of course, Sturgis is all about the ride, Daytona the party, Thunder Beach is the spring break of bike rallies and Thunder by the Bay combines the feel of a county fair with a music festival. One thing that sets it apart is there is a fee to enter the gated event at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, but the $5 entry fee allows profits to be donated to the Suncoast Children’s Charity in Sarasota. This year’s event had great weather and crowds!

The 22nd Thunder by the Bay’s headliner was Molly Hatchet but also included Greg Billings Band, Maiden Cane, Nobody’s Fool, One Night Rodeo, The Lost Boys, Twinkle and the Tucci Project. An amazing bike show billed as Choppertown Live was in an indoor building and was one of the best I have seen. Vendors, including our friends at Sanity Jewelry and Rally Leather, burn out contests, a motorcycle sound off competition, a 17-class bike show and the United We Ride American Strong Charity Ride completed the 3-day event. Put this on your event calendar next year for a fun music filled weekend.

We decided to spend a day with friends hitting some of the local watering holes and managed to revisit Peggy’s Corral for a stiff cocktail or two and good music. We also followed Joe, Kris, and Glen to Gator Lounge and The Ride Hard Saloon.

By Lulu

On the eastern coast of Florida in Stuart is Treasure Coast Harley-Davidson and in February they hosted the first Treasure Fest 2021. The weekend festival included a custom bike show hosted by Radical Randy, vendors, a full liquor bar, great music by Saving Abel and Nova Rex, Ives Bros Wall of Death, tattoo expo and Johnny Lange with Strip Club Choppers. A special thank you to Shawn from Treasure Coast and the staff for a great time. Although serious rain was forecasted peeps did show up and did not let the short downpour ruin the event. A thank you to the sponsors of this new event Rubenstein Law, Twisted Tea, and Pennsylvania Pole Academy. Treasure Coast H-D has more events planned in the coming months, so stay tuned.

Bike Week 2021 was in my estimation one of the best! Crowds were here all 10 days, spending money and seemed to really be enjoying the Florida sunshine and our “open state” policies. I am certain there will be a backlash reported by the media of superspreading bikers and how awful we are not to be wearing our armor of cloth on our faces!

But I was really impressed that on the last Saturday of Bike Week Governor Ron DeSantis visited Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson. I am so sad I missed his visit to Bike Week 2021! The left will certainly consider it a political risk for coming to a large event, for not keeping a mask on, and for having a beer with motorcyclists! But I think it was damn awesome! Add to that, he is taking a stand against the crap they call “Critical Race Theory” that some want to indoctrinate our school kids with and stated, “Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money.” I absolutely love him! If only he could talk some sense into the Mayor of Daytona Beach…

We have some major events coming up in our state for April including Gator Harley Spring Rally the 22nd-25th

By Lulu

Heavy Kastrul from Midwest Motorcycle has a reason to celebrate, another successful year doing what he loves, living and breathing motorcycling. Heavy and Christine from Midwest have thrown one of the biggest events of the year at Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach each February for the past several years. The weather God kept the skies dry just long enough to have a successful day of music with Crashrocket, a bike show with some great creations and the unique trophies presented on stage to the winners. Scott Foxx from Capone was onsite with a few of his custom bikes he is building at Midwest. These bikes start at $15,000 for unique rides that are insurable and able to be financed. See more pictures of the event at Thunder Roads Florida Facebook.

Dennis Hernandez & Associates, PA

If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, your insurance company may use these tactics to try and reduce your claim compensation!

They can pay the same doctors over and over to testify against accident victims.

The defense can claim your ongoing pain has another source Laws designed to protect the insurance companies leave juries in the dark

Insurance companies have a pool of defense doctors that they often call upon to testify against the victim who received injuries so minor that they went away in 90 days. They testify that the continued medical treatment required for the patient was necessary but unrelated to the crash.

The defense can claim your ongoing pain has another source.

The defense scours every medical record of the injured person to find any neck, back, head, shoulder, or knee complaint in their prior medical history. No matter how long ago this complaint was documented, the defense attorney and defense doctors will hone in on this particular record. In other words, they will say the injured person was already hurt before this crash. In addition to claiming any accident-related injuries went away in 90 days, the defense doctor will also say all the victim’s medical treatment after that point was merely coincidental. The defense will claim those additional treatments would have been needed whether or not the crash occurred because of the previous medical condition. However, many of us have reported pain in various parts of our body over the course of our lifetime. That does not mean we experience that pain on a daily basis the crash, doesn’t it only make sense that the pain in those areas must have gone away as well?

Few people have spotless records of “no injuries” or “no pain” to any part of their body throughout their lifetime. Their reason if a victim is over 20 years old, then he/she is subject to degenerative natural aging processes. Therefore, they argue it is not unusual for people 30 to 60 years old to need spine surgeries simply because they are getting older.

I have seen defense lawyers who note nothing was found in the victim’s prior medical records for the neck, back, or shoulder. Despite this, they still leave the impression something else must have happened other than the horrific crash to cause the victim’s injuries. Believe it or not, some juries actually end up believe this nonsense.

Laws designed to protect the insurance companies leave juries in the dark.

In one case I tried, the defense brought in a sweet woman close to 70 years old to sit at their table.

They introduced her as a “corporate representative” of the company being sued. The truth was she knew nothing about the crash and was not even an employee of the company. The judge did not allow me to question her in front of the jury or tell the jury who she was. Consequently, the jury likely believed any verdict decided would have been entered against this sweet older lady, instead of the defendant company – which had an ample amount of insurance coverage. No lawyer in his or her right mind would bring a case against an individual or corporation within adequate insurance to cover the claim. Florida’s Non-Joinder Statute does not allow disclosure to the jury of the amount of insurance available for the victim to recover.

The defendant’s lawyers, who are appointed by the insurance company, can claim a verdict against their clients would be devastating. In reality, neither the individual nor the corporation will ever pay a dime. This is just another insurance trick to avoid paying what they rightfully owe.

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By Lulu

Bay 3 Bar in New Smyrna Beach is known for being the locals second home. Not only are the beers ice cold and inexpensive, the staff and owners are super friendly. But what sets this bar apart from many is the involvement of their patrons. If a charity or party is planned…everyone participates. So, I should not have been surprised when TJ and I along with Royce and Kenny entered the back building with our crockpots, full of what we thought would be chili winning contenders, and 22 crockpots were already lined up…and that we probably would be on the losing end of this contest. The chilis were of all types and heat levels. Royce and Kenny’s “3 Ring Circus” had 3 meats, 3 beans and 3 peppers…the surprise meat in theirs was gator…and was honestly my favorite, much better than mine. But the winning chili was exceptional.