By Lulu

Jan and Barry at Bay 3 Bar in New Smyrna on US 1 throw a Breast Cancer Bash each October to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. The male patrons are even known to don a frilly or sequined brassiere to help Jan raise some cash for the cause. Even TJ got in the act. Bay 3 Bar is a friendly place and boy do they love football here. So, get on your bike and ride down for an ice-cold beer in a really cool joint!

By Lulu

So, Iron Horse Saloon was the party hub for Biketoberfest 2020! Not that it isn’t always the must do bar during Bike Week and Biketoberfest for more than one reason…steak tips, David Allan Coe and T-Shirts! This year though, since Main Street was not permitted to be wide open with outdoor stages and vendors, it seems to me more peeps stayed on premise longer at the Iron Horse this rally. We were there for the night of Cowboy who does a great job of covering Kid Rock! Of course, we always must stop in for Craiger’s beef tips and to visit our favorite bartender Sherry!

By Ron Cox

When Benji McGuigan turned two years old he was diagnosed with leukemia. One year later, after rounds and rounds of treatments the medical bills have gone through the roof!!!

The McGuigan family turned to social platforms reaching out for help. The Hades Hounds LEMC answered the call and set up a Ride for Benji on November 7th. The biker owned and very biker friendly Sea-Craft Waterfront Tiki served as the host venue in Marinatown in North Ft. Myers. In addition to local riders, Hounds came from as far away as Georgia and North Carolina to participate.

Local merchants pitched in with merchandise, gift cards, bottles of liquid refreshment and so forth to be used in the raffle and silent auction.

We do not have a current status for this little man, but we ask for your prayers for Benji to live a long and healthy life.

By Lulu

The yearly Ride for Children was quite a bit different this year. Bruce Rossmeyer started this ride 26 years ago! The Rossmeyer family was not about to let something like COVID-19 stop them from fulfilling their yearly pledge of helping Camp Boggy Creek! For anyone who does not know, the Camp is in Eustis and allows critically ill children to attend a real camp with all the activities healthy children would partake it. They bring medical staff to camp to assist in the care these children can not do without. A chance of a lifetime for kids to forget they are ill and to just be kids! The parents do not pay for this gift!

Normally there is a VIP night prior to The Ride but because of social distancing they skipped that. Dunkin Donuts and coffee started the day, Miller Lite quenched our thirst and Colt’s Pig Stand filled our bellies with great BBQ. The ride had two celebrity riders this year, NASCAR’s Rusty Wallace and the fireman Tim Duffy in the famous photo riding his bike in full gear through the aftermath of the destruction on the first Twin Tower, only to have the 2nd tower collapse on him. The total raised by the sponsors and the loyal Boggy Creek riders despite COVID-19 was $330,440!! In Mandy Rossmeyer’s own words, “I still can’t believe it…I want to thank our presenting sponsor, John Hamlin with Hamlin & Associates and everyone that supported the ride this year!” A special thank you also must go out to Deborah Elaine Ringhaver for her donation of a servi-car that was auctioned off for tens of thousands and then was auctioned off again, as the winner allowed the second place bidder to buy the bike for his bid! Just an amazing event!!! Thank you to each generous soul who keeps this event alive! Bruce was certainly smiling on all of us that day!

By Lulu

2020 is one for the record books…seems like we are living in an episode of the Twilight Zone. In the world of motorcycle events since Bike Week 2020 Covid has disrupted every facet of life. On the good side, the Rossmeyer’s were able to pull off a Biketoberfest Rally in Ormond even though the City of Daytona Beach nixed the idea. Good crowds were in town for the event. Hotels were not full but were happy for the unexpected visitors who came despite the rally being cancelled by the mayor of Daytona. Vendors filled the parking lot at Destination Daytona, bikes entered the daily Bike Shows, lots of adult beverages were being consumed and the masks on the bartender did not keep any of them from looking sexy! A lot of credit must be given to the dealership for sticking their neck out and reaching in their pockets to put on an event, uncertain if people would ride in the face of Covid. Our economy in the greater Volusia County area needed it, the bands needed it, the vendors needed it, the local drinking establishments and restaurants certainly needed it and the hotels needed it. Hell, we all needed a reason to get out and break free of the COVID-19 cloud hanging over our heads. Thank you to those who came to visit our neck of the woods. We do appreciate your support of the Florida rallies. Check out Bruce Rossmeyers Daytona Harley-Davidson website for their events, they are always coming up with monthly things to keep us out on two wheels.

By Lulu

Our dear friends Tonya and Waylon Long actually both turned a year older this year…a significant year both turning the BIG 50, but the party they threw at Long’s was for their bar being another year older! This bar has regulars that are not only patrons but friends to the Long’s and to each other…it truly is a family and what do families do when you add a year…they party!!! So, Framing the Red came to town to make this a smokin’ hot party…and the Long’s had a gift for the band…a brand-new trailer!!! Yep these bar owners know a thing or two about entertaining. Good music, stiff drinks and great people and this is exactly why we wish them many more years of having fun being in the bar business!

By Lulu

In September, the Rossmeyer family gave 3 bikes away! During August you simply registered in the showroom, no purchase was necessary. The 3 lucky winners received phone calls to receive the exciting news. The 2020 Livewire went to Mark from Cincinnati, Ohio. The kid’s IRON E Balance Bike went to Lori from Edgewater. And the 2016 pre-owned Street 500 went to Paul from Palm Coast. Diesel filled the parking lot with live music and free BBQ by the Pig Stand filled our stomachs and according to TJ the “best I ever had”. A great day was had by all in attendance although we all wished we had taken one of the prizes home!

By Lulu

Each September as the years tick by, Joe Vece makes certain we take time to remember the lives lost on 9/11/2001. This year the ride was sponsored by Politis & Matovina law firm, Monster Motorcycles, Flagler County Florida, Hidden Treasure and Tropical Enterprise. Amidst Covid, things were a bit off for all events since March, add to that pouring rain…yet hundreds of people stood and rode to remember the tragic losses our country and families endured that day. This ride has always been free and is a solemn day of honor. I am always moved to tears. This year I realized as 19 years have passed, that children born in 2001 are graduating, marrying, having children of their own and if not directly touched by the loss…some have no real understanding of the fear, bravery and patriotism of that awful day in our history. We must ride so others see that we as a country will not forget! The speaker was Captain Richard A. Meo a author whose books on FDNY, 9/11 and History can be read at Firelines-Fatal Flaws.com. Riding under the huge American flag, presentation of colors, a wonderful rendition of our anthem, short speeches by elected officials, bag pipes and the ringing of the fire bell gave us time to reflect on where we were on that day and the images from TV flooded my thoughts. PLEASE ride with us in 2021 let’s make this the biggest event of the year as it will be the 20th year since all those lives were taken from this Earth.

By Lulu

Shireen and David Fletcher love to ride. When it became obvious that Shireen wanted her own masterpiece to add to their stable of one of a kind beautiful show pieces, she recruited Kory Souza to craft her build. She was searching the web for someone to create her dream and found Kory who happened to own a Teacup pig named Biscuit. The Fletcher’s ranch in Deleon Springs breeds miniature pets including donkeys, horses, goats and…Teacup pigs since 2007. Kory is an expert bike builder originally from Norton, Massachusetts and now building in Sarasota, Florida. David called Kory the next day. Shireen was thrilled to work with Kory as he was one of the only builders interested in converting a Harley that had a springer front end with a Rev Tech motor that blew their first time out, to a custom trike and because he allowed her to be part of the entire creative process. She found Kory to be very approachable about working with a woman. In Shireen’s words Kory made my riding dreams come to life! The paint scheme was 100% Kory and she said, “I think it’s simply breathtaking”. Shireen said, “Kory Souza Originals amazing crew exceeded my wishes and created “CinderFuckinRella” my one-of-a-kind trike!” It is a joy to ride.

The bike has a 110-inch S&S Motor and an amazing paint job by Jeff Urman. Future plans for her bike are to add 12-inch rear wheels. Since taking Best in Show at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona H-D 2020 Trikefest, they also took Best Trike at OB’s 2020 Americana Bike Show in October.

Shireen is originally from England although her careers have allowed her to live all over the world. Her husband David is originally from Bradenton. They both have made their home on a farm in Deleon Springs since 2006. The couple married in 2005. Both are retired equine dentists and the farm building business includes the sale of farm animals along with the education on care of the animals, farm buildings and fence construction. Their business name is King & Queen Building. The couple are outgoing and sweet, so we hope to see them at future shows and events.

By Lulu

This was the 3rd Annual Trikefest held at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson in Ormond Beach. It has grown each year, but I must admit with the Covid lurking over 2020 I didn’t expect much of a turnout…add to that it has been one of the wettest summers of my life. So I was happy when we went to the Friday night Meet & Greet at Saints & Sinners Pub and thrilled at the turnout on Saturday for the group ride through Volusia County and then the Trike Show which had to be moved to the Pavilion due to the RAIN! Sunday’s breakfast at Beaver Bar was another day of downpours. But the trike riders just weathered the storm and seemed to enjoy the third annual weekend event. I admire that with everything the Rossmeyer’s have going on through the year: Bike Week, Biketoberfest, the Ride for Children for Camp Boggy Creek, the monthly Super Swap Car & Motorcycle event, and their monthly Biker Block Party, that they were one of the first dealerships to recognize the growing family of trike owners and to plan something yearly just for them! Mandy wanted me to thank all 2020 attendees and ask everyone to spread the word for next years event 9/17 through 9/19! More photos from the event on Facebook Thunder Roads Florida Magazine.
Congratulations to 2020 Winners!
Best Performance-Paul Moniz
Best Pipes-Holli Hargis
Best Big Wheel Bagger-Millissa Angle
Best Paint-Steve Schneider
Best Wheels-Michael Stramondo
Best Lighting-Beth Davis
Best Stereo-Marianne Thomas
Best of Show-Shireen Fletcher

Well Biketoberfest has come and gone now, a bit off in numbers due to the Mayor of Daytona Beach being a complete dick, but a great time of riding, old and new friends, and music despite him. Coronavirus and an anti-biker mayor couldn’t keep motorcycles away! Someone with money is pulling his puppet strings and he has twice now hurt the bars within the city limits while the outlying venues on US 1 and beyond still welcomed the motorcycling community with open bars, music, vendors and smiles.

I want to brag on a crew of people that spent a day exploring our highways a bit off the beaten path of Daytona Beach. We set off on Saturday about 11:30am with about 10 bikes to ride out to Renegade’s on the River in Crescent City, picked up a couple bikes there too, rode next to Long’s Log Cabin in Welaka, then to Hermit’s Cove in Satsuma. Got back on the highway and rode all the way to Putnam Hall to Howlin Wolf and a final stop in Palatka at 3-D Saloon. It was quite a hike for us all. We got caught in the rain after dark heading back US 100 and dipped into The Bimini for cover. Ended the night at Iron Horse trying to see 4Play, but the rain caused us to miss them. Cowboy was already on stage and was rocking a good Saturday night crowd. What I was impressed by was that the crew from all over including, Deland, Crystal River, Wesley Chapel, Indiana, New York and Massachusetts, were more than willing to get on their bikes and RIDE!! They didn’t seem to mind at all that their day wasn’t spent walking up and down sidewalks in Daytona Beach. We got them to explore cool bars, dive bars, veteran owned bars…and all but the Bimini our ad clients!!! So, I must thank them for sharing the highway with us.

On another note, there is a great group of people who ride monthly out of The Boat Bar in Port Orange, we are not able to go on everyone, but when we are in town we wouldn’t miss it. I went in to close my bar tab and the bartender at The Boat Bar said something that has stuck in my mind since last month, “I just want you to know that I feel honored to be the bartender on the day of your Mystery Ride. They are the nicest group of people who are always willing to include new riders and wait on someone who might be running late.” It was nice to hear it from someone on the other side of the bar. I KNOW they are great people…we have been riding with some of them 2 years now, but the fact a bartender realizes they are good humans…just nice to hear! Proud of those guys and gals.

Join us on a ride sometime, buy a veteran a beer, ride on a toy run…and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce believes in being involved in their community and in supporting the local veterans. So last March a poker run was scheduled to raise needed funds for the Lee-Collier Honor Flight, but the event was cancelled due to the Covid crisis. This organization at no cost to the veteran honors their service by flying them to D.C. to visit their memorials. A flight can cost up to $100,000 and is totally funded by local businesses and individuals. 1000’s of veterans of the World War II, Korean and Vietnam era have received this honor. So, September the event was rescheduled so bikers rode to show their respect! The Badger’s & Biker Lifestyle, a local riding organization, helped coordinate the run. The ride started and ended at Gator Mike’s with stops in between that included, Capt’n Con’s Fish House, Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon, Bert’s Bar & Grill, and Hawgs & Dawgs. The Chamber would like to thank all who took their day to honor our veterans! Look for this event next year and put more vets on a trip of their life.

By Lulu

Few people can possibly live to have as many true friends as Tony Levi accumulated in life. We rode in pouring rain with more than a hundred other bikes leaving out of First Turn, stopping to pick up more riders at Bay 3 Bar and ending at a huge barn where a party was brewing despite the rain. Tony was just one of those people who the saying bigger than life was coined for. He filled the room with his presence. Yes, Tony was a large man with biceps that most men would need implants to get but his largeness was more than size. It was his genuine love of all in the room. His love he gave was LARGE and it is proven by the turnout in the rain for him. Those who knew Tony know of his involvement in Messenger for Homeless Vets another example of his caring for those in need in this world. Hearts were broken the day Tony left our earthly space. But I am certain he is continuing to watch over those he loved, and his memory will simply have to carry us on…and hopefully inspire us to be like TONY.