By Lulu

The “Disney” of Bike Week is the huge oak covered property with the sparkling white lights. This is the prettiest biker bar in the world. And the huge crowds prove it is a favorite of those on motorcycles. Along with being beautiful, it features fire pits, free peanuts, almost daily bike shows, Jay Allen as the emcee, great bands including Hairball, vendors, lots of bars with beautiful staff both male and female! Add to that the guitar auctions that generous bidders benefit the local veterans’ association (Veteran’s Support Fund) and helped raise the $125,000 Iron Horse Saloon donated to St. Judes in April. I want to thank each and every one of the good-hearted people that make such a difference every weekend helping great causes, and in particular this bar and Iron Horse Saloon for taking these causes on. It takes work, community involvement, and lots of good humans who volunteer! During this year’s event there was Kory Souza’s No Class Bike Show, Warren Lane’s True Grit, Beats, Bags & Bass sound off, Cycle Source Custom Bike Show, Perewitz paint show, Dennis Kirk’s Amateur Bike Show, Clay Moto Vicla Show and Bad Ass Car Club Vintage Car Display. My favorite night of the week was Dave Perewitz birthday party and the sea of canary yellow shirts the Hamsters all wear. Of course, music is what keeps the crowds there late into the night, Hairball, Bobby Friss, Rachel Stacy, Cowboy, Hippies & Cowboys, Loose Lips, Buck Shot and Demun Jones were the main acts that rocked the stage.

By Lulu

PACKED! Some people claim Bike Week crowds were down, or people weren’t spending money this year, but you certainly wouldn’t know it by the crowds I saw at Teddy Morse Daytona Harley-Davidson. Of course it is the epicenter of Bike Week! This year the pavilion housed hundreds of bikes for sale!! The stage at Saints and Sinners had live music and the bikini contest. We didn’t make it to the 38 Special Concert, but I heard a huge stage had to be constructed for that band. Vendors filled the massive property even beyond JP Cycles. Bike Shows included a Full Throttle show, Proper Performance Show by H-D, Women’s Ride in Bike Show, Urban Rides Magazine All Cycle Show, Bike Show Mafia’s All Class Show, and the Flying Piston Benefit Breakfast. There was also a sound-off “Thunder at the Beach.” Live music is always a feature at Saints & Sinners, this year “Live from Nashville,” Preston Jones and Rob Leines were featured and on the final Friday a free 38 Special Concert. On the final Sunday, a Survivor Party and vendor shopping kept the parking lots full.

By Lulu

Out in Welaka is Waylon and Tonya Longs bar, Long’s Log Cabin. They are known for bringing great music and parties to their slice of heaven out in the country. The theme parties there are always over the top! Sherry, Gator Ken, Jeani, and I went to enjoy the live music by Love Monkey!! If you get a chance to hear them, this is a really entertaining band. The Cabin is a perfect place to wet your whistle on a ride out to the country, and they love having poker runs or charity events at their place.

By Lulu

Photo credit for 38 Special to Tom Bender
For 28 years, in February, Lucy Nicandri and her co-worker Lisa Baer – along with a dedicated team of volunteers – put on one great weekend of Music and Motorcycles! The purpose is what makes it such an amazing weekend at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. The event raises thousands of dollars for the Suncoast Charities for Children! Title Sponsor, the James M. Doss Charitable Foundation, matches every donation raised up to $35,000! Presenting sponsors for the event are Sarasota Ford, Precision Garage Door Service and Top Tier Towing.

Major Sponsors included United Rentals, Budweiser, and USA Fence. The small fee for live music all day is money well spent. This year’s event included vendors, car and bike shows, biker games, food vendors, a Charity Dice Run and live music. The headliners this year were Night Ranger, 38 Special, and Montgomery Gentry. Opening acts included Bobby Friss, Crossfire Creek, Maiden Cane, Downsyde Up Band, and Given to Fly, a Pearl Jam Tribute. This year Paul Teutul Jr. held two days of a meet & greet. People were lined up for photos. This year Suncoast Charities for Children raised $310,000 with a total raised to date of $3.3 million dollars. This charity helps support critical programs and services for local children, teens, and adults with special needs. Put next year’s date of February 19-21, 2027, on your calendar! Join in for a great weekend of music and grow your angel wings by doing something to help children!

By Lulu

This year the Deland Bike Rally was the last Saturday of February. The streets were packed with motorcycles. Vendors and live music gave visitors plenty to do! Two of our favorite stops for the day in downtown Deland are Issues and DaVinci’s. The Budweiser Clydesdales were available for photos. I was lucky enough to take photos of a fun young couple who got married by the fountain in downtown Deland during the rally, Scooter from Feed the Obsession BBQ performed the ceremony. Put this on your event planning schedule for March 6th, 2027!

By Lulu

Boy, I can’t believe another year has passed so quickly. Sorry Charlie’s Corner in Samsula turned 4 years old in February. The crowd enjoyed great music by talented Sam Lowe and Whey Jennings. I absolutely love Whey, not only for his talent but also for how enthusiastically he helps raffle guitars, hats or even a jacket for the Veteran’s Support Fund! He is a really good human! 2025 brought a major change to Sorry Charlie’s in that they went full liquor, which since I am a Crown girl I am happy, although I do love the Twisted Tea Lite. Charlie’s is one of the only smart bars around that offer it! If you haven’t tried Charlie’s burgers you MUST. I had to stop twice during Bike Week for them. But the best thing Charlie’s offers is a really GREAT staff! Amie has put together sweet, fast, and honest bartenders who I absolutely love…each and every one! Check out their ad in this issue for their May events!

By Lulu

A packed house again! Each year in February, Heavy from Midwest Motorcycle throws a great bike show, filling up the Beaver Bar like a weekend during Bike Week! Sponsors help to host this anniversary event and this year the sponsors included Politis & Matovina, Chrome Premium Cigars, Strip Club Choppers, Twisted Tea, Tropical Tattoo, Cochise Chops, Cycle Fever, Who’s Hot Online, Barney’s Leather, Biker Info USA, ABATE of Florida Daytona Beach Chapter, Riding & Flying Productions and HOG Radio. Lots of beautiful bikes entered and unique trophies for the winners. The band rocked the place all afternoon. Congratulations to Heavy for a long successful business enterprise. He told me recently he must be “getting old”. Now instead of raising hell in his free time, he spends it doing community projects like the Save the Cemetery (Pinewood across from Boot Hill Saloon). The next community clean-up day is May 17th from 9am-2pm!!! Join in for an enjoyable day of community service!
BIKE SHOW WINNERS

SHOVELHEAD TIE-MICHAEL POLITIS & SCOTT PETLOCK
BOBBER-MARSHALL GREEN
PRO STREET-STEVE (NO LAST NAME GIVEN)
KNUCKLEHEAD TIE-TINKER & MANDY ROSSMEYER
IRONHEAD-JR KIRLIN
FLATHEAD TIE-ELEANOR ARNOLD & RICHIE BURKEY
FXR-JIM MILLER
EVO-(1) WILLIAM TURI
(2) HIRAM MCCARTY
CHOPPER-(1) STEVE TATRO
(2) MARCUS ORABONA
RAT BIKE-SCRAPEY HAWKINS
PANHEAD-(1) RON TURCHI
(2) JAKE JACOBS
METRIC-IRVIN BUCEK
SPORTSTER-DALE LARRIMORE
SIDE CAR-ELEANOR ARNOLD
SOFTAILS- KATIE GINELLA
TRIUMPH-(1) LOREN MILLER
(2) FRANKIE MOLINARO
OLD SCHOOL-RICK WECKTSSER
BEST PAINT-SHANE TWIDDY
PEOPLES CHOICE-KATIE GINELLA
BEST OF SHOW-GARY PANKRANTS

By Lulu

For the last couple years, the first weekend of Bike Week, Erik Dunk organizes a swap meet at the Volusia Fairgrounds billed as “The Meet.” The venue is also the home of the infamous Burning Bike the last Friday of Bike Week. Lots of vendors, food trucks and a bike show were featured this year. For those who love old motorcycles and swap meets check it out in 2027!

It was brought to our attention that in the April issue I had an error in my Pony Tales. I stated that RCBC church is doing an auction for a motorcycle when really it is a raffle for a motorcycle with the bike being given away in July. It is a 1958 Panhead They are still selling tickets!! The raffle is benefitting their church building fund. I also need to congratulate Sherry and her team of volunteers for the amazing $125,000 they raised this year for St. Judes. I know how much time, energy and prayers went into this, particularly since Sherry is living with me while she builds her new house!!!

On a sad note, two friends are riding the skies now. Rainman, Alex MacCrae passed in a motorcycle accident on US 1 in Port Orange. He had four children and a grandchild. He rode that bike EVERYWHERE. He often joined us on the Mystery Rides out of The Boat Bar, if something was happening Rainman was there. He came to my Christmas Party this year at my house and when he arrived, he wanted to know where we were going? He thought it was a ride…if he knew it was just dinner and friends he would have gone somewhere better!!! I will miss him. He was hard of hearing, and it took me a bit to get used to being certain to talk to him in his good ear!!!

Then I heard a long-time friend Don Weber passed in March also. I think he would have been 81 on April 2. Haven’t seen him around a lot lately but spent many good times with him back in the day.

Hug your family and friends while you still can, buy a stranger a beer and don’t forget your sunscreen.

By Lulu

For those who love vintage things, it was a beautiful weekend in February for shopping for parts or memorabilia and looking at beautifully restored antique motorcycles. Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium on LPGA Blvd was the site of the sprawling rows of vendors selling their wares, food trucks, and the vintage bike show. I spotted lots of old friends…not that my friends are all old! But their bikes actually are!! This event is always the first weekend of Bike Week. See you there next year!

By Lulu

The first Sunday of Bike Week, Koolaids Kustoms hosted a Built Not Bought Motorcycle Show at the Inn Between in Deland. It is a great setting for a bike show with the large oaks, outside and inside bars, and outdoor stage. Live music was featured, a fund raiser for autism, the reveal of the autism bike and a pin-up girl contest made the day complete. If you haven’t checked out Ethan’s cool joint, take a ride to Deland and have a drink. The bar is full liquor and a good spot to cool your pipes this summer.

By Lulu

Each rally season Tony and his staff at the Boat Bar in Port Orange, put on a party with music and food. This year Old Skool Banditz played outside for the crowd all afternoon. The food is always great! But what The Boat is known for and what packs them in all year long is $2.50 longnecks. If you haven’t found this gem you should, or you could join us for the Mystery Ride on May 24th 11am.

By Lulu

In Leesburg on Route 441 sits one of the MOST active dealerships in Florida. Jan is constantly involved in charitable causes for locals in need, firemen, veterans, and children. She works her rear end off! The Malik’s who were celebrating their 32nd year are in business of course to sell bikes, but they take the concept of “Harley Family” to the next level, giving back to their community of riders. This year the party was complete with a Full Throttle Bike Show, sound competition, live music for a packed house by Hayfire, the Firefighters Charity of Central Florida’s Chili Cook Off and a cornhole tournament. What a day! The Gator Spring Bike Rally ad is in this issue and is in conjunction with Leesburg Bike Fest. A bikini contest is part of the event on Saturday, April 25th, at 3pm. See you there!!!

By Lulu

Each January Pirate’s Pub celebrates their customers who have kept their doors open another year with a party! Free food, great music, and a day of old and new friends is what you will find at this event! Swamp Juice was the band this year and they really rocked the house. We rode with a large group out of The Hideout Lounge on Derbyshire Rd. in Holly Hill to participate in the festivities. A pretty ride through the country takes you to Pirate’s Pub so pick a day to visit them and don’t forget their Too Broke for Sturgis Party in August!!

By Brittany Read

If you’re headed to Leesburg Bikefest 2026 and looking for a place to slow down and enjoy the ride, take the scenic cruise over to Lake Panasoffkee. Big Bass Grill offers a relaxed lakeside stop where riders can unwind with fresh seafood, cold drinks, and live music Saturday and Sunday from 1–5 PM overlooking the water. Just next door, Big Cypress Lakefront Pizzeria serves handcrafted pizzas made with homemade sauces and fresh ingredients.
For riders traveling in, the on-site Lake Panasoffkee RV & Campground offers full-hookup RV sites and comfortable cabin rentals, all just steps from the restaurants and lake views. Guests can book online at lakepanasoffkee.com and receive 5% off food during their stay. It’s an easy place to park the bike, enjoy a good meal, and take in the quiet side of Florida’s lake country.

Big Bass Grill 965 County Road 439 Lake Panasoffkee 352-793-8150 bigbassgrill.com
Big Cypress Lakefront Pizzeria 352-444-2338 907 County Road 439 B Lake Panasoffkee lakefrontpizzeria.com
On site accommodations can be booked at lakepanasoffkee.com.