By Tony & T-Rex

It’s Sunday Fun Day at Post 81, but we’re running late and can’t get the farm tractor to fire up. Finally, she comes to life and we’re off to Melbourne. ALP 81 is hosting Mike Kelly’s “Kids Without Christmas” Poker Run. The post has been hosting this event for 20 years. We show up, the band Phoenix is just starting to play, and Suzie “Q” is behind the bar and grabs us a couple of cold ones. We run into Post Commander Tracy “Stretch” Spence and he tells us it’s a five-stop run. First stop is ALP 117 then off to Camp Holly, Kelly’s Burgers and Beer, Cabana Shores and Chumley’s Depot, then back to Post 81 for food, raffles and prizes…One of the first back is J.D., the Director of the Legion Riders, and his wife. They tell me about their recent month-long road trip, then tells me they had over 100 sign up today. As the bikes roll in the party kicks into high gear, the band is rocking and has them up dancing. This place also rocks on Thursday’s 6-9pm and Sunday’s 12-4pm at the “Bunker” with food, music and adult beverages…I talk to J.D. before we roll out and he tells me they raised over $3,000 today. A great day at ALP 81, ride safe and see you in the wind…

By Lulu

Nefty and his crew love to entertain those who ride on two and three wheels. Nefty rides and he knows what a motorcyclist likes. Ice cold beer, stiff cocktails, great food and good music…and hot girls! All are at Ocalahan’s at their monthly Saturday evening bike nights. The bike nights run from April through November. At the final one in November, Big Engine rocked the large crowd. It was a little on the cool side so folks who braved the weather had on leathers, but lots of cars were in the parking lot! It was Han’s birthday so a cake with candles was on stage. Put the first Saturday of April on your destination list and ride to Ocalahan’s for the bike riding kick off party! A nice ride through the forest from Daytona, Ocalahan’s is located on Silver Springs Blvd. and they are happy to serve you any time of year!!!

By Lulu

Paula at Hard Rock Daytona Beach has a knack for finding cutting edge bike shows and events. Big Wheel Women and The King of Big Wheels had an extreme bike show and Sound Battle during Biketoberfest that was off the charts. With the help of sponsors that included Metalsport Wheels, Monster Energy, Butler Trucking, Jack Daniels Apple, and The Chopp Shop, the bikes that filled the banquet room were pieces of art. Builders such as Twin City Cycles Work, Evil Irons, Johnston’s Bodyworks and The Chopp Shop made this one rocking event. Add to that the grudge match between Munir and Dorian for the sound battle of the year. Prior to the grudge match, 3 different classes competed two bikes at a time to make the finals. The 3 categories were Lightweight which is 8 speakers or less (no subs), Middleweight was 14 speakers or less and heavyweight was 15 speakers or more!!! These are serious competitors with entry fees running between $100 and $200 dollars for the sound competition, but the prizes were grand $1000 lightweight, $2000 middleweight, $2500 heavy weight and $3000 for the grudge match.
The girls are planning another show during Bike Week and I for one won’t miss it!

By Lulu

Motorcyclists come from all areas of the world to experience Biketoberfest and Bike Week. In the center of it all is Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson who celebrated their 25th year in business. The complex known as Destination Daytona was certainly the “destination” for Biketoberfest as the place was packed with vendors and shoppers from all over. Music, bike shows, vendors, kegs and eggs to start your day gave everyone plenty of reasons to visit. The new Livewire test rides were an added incentive. The staff at Bruce Rossmeyer’s work hard all year long to bring you events and great music so ride in often and check out their showroom, you can even get your hair cut while your wife shops for that new belt!

By Lulu

The Boot Hill Saloon is one of the most nostalgic biker bars in the world. Anywhere I travel for a motorcycle event, I will see a Boot Hill Saloon T-shirt in the crowd. Just grabbing a new T-shirt makes it a must stop spot for Biketoberfest, but when you throw in great bands inside and out you just have to stay for a cold one or two. This Biketoberfest an added reason to park yourself on a barstool at the Boot was Chris Hiatt and Crash were back to play and it sure made us sorry they ever moved out west. Stonegrey, Blistur and Fat Cactus also took the stage during Biketoberfest. Karin and Alan provide more nights of music than just about anyone in town with six nights of music in their historic bar. Bike Nights on Wednesday live music begins at 9pm. Join them to celebrate New Year’s Eve with the ball drop and fireworks at midnight on Main Street.

By Lulu

Breathing life into a bar that was closed for years isn’t an easy undertaking. Dale’s Ales at 2400 N. Volusia Ave. in Orange City had been sitting vacant for many years when Stephanie Perras decided to try her hand at the bar business. Cleaning, remodeling and running into permitting problems were the first steps. Then getting a liquor license. All of that was a year ago now, as they just celebrated the first anniversary in November. The bar is biker owned and operated as Stephanie loves to ride on Rich’s backseat of his Harley. Stephanie a beautiful and vivacious brunette was born in Albany, New York. Her parents are from Massachusetts and she says she has always been drawn to Salem…seems like she is a bit on the hot, sexy “witchy woman” side. Stephanie is complete with “raven hair and ruby lips” just like the Eagles’ song. Along with being incredibly friendly and outgoing Stephanie is concerned with charitable causes and has volunteered while living in Boston for the Veteran’s Homeless Shelter.

Her bar is already getting a following of veteran bikers. A bit about Dale’s Ales current state of affairs includes live music Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8pm, and live music on Sunday afternoon 4-8pm. Lots of TV’s for sports fanatics viewing. Monday night is karaoke for the singers in their own minds. Tuesday Jam Night for musicians. Thursday, they have started a game night. Outside is a fire pit to warm your buns as the temperatures drop. The bar would love to be a poker run stop so put them on your list if you are organizing one. Now what makes them a “Cool Joint” over and above all we have mentioned is they are running a Friday night bike night. Friday is most peeps pay day so no excuse not to ride in for a cold one or two. They are offering live music, $3 Twisted Tea, $2 domestic longnecks for Friday night Bike Nights! They keep their beer iced down. And they always have $10 domestic buckets and $13 Twisted Tea, Mich Ultra and Yuengling buckets. I asked one of their bartenders Tamie who has been at Dale’s since their rebirth what she likes about her job, her answer was the customers and her owner. Tamie said, “Dale’s is a friendly, loving bar!” Don’t let the name confuse you. This is a full liquor bar! Look for big changes coming for 2020, the first being a Smoke House and kitchen! The rest we will have to wait for the New Year to report!

By Lulu

If you are in town for Biketoberfest you will without a doubt stop into the Iron Horse Saloon. Free music by some of the best entertainers in the country, Crager’s beef tips, one of their new T-shirts, a tattoo or tattoo contest, the Wall of Death, free samples from Bayer, Aleve or Dr. Scholl, are all great reasons to ride in. This year Montgomery Gentry, Marshall Tucker Band and of course David Allan Coe were some of the crowd favorites. Iron Horse is a staple of Daytona bikers all year round!

By Lulu

Carole King sang “My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue. An everchanging vision of the ever-changing view.” My tapestry is woven with threads of the people who enter my life. The color of the threads each person adds to the tapestry is determined by what they bring into my life. White is pure love. Green jealousy. Red anger. Blue sadness. Purple passion. Black evil, pain. Grey indifference. Pink fun. Yellow cheerfulness and sunshine. The longevity of knowing someone and the closeness you experience with them determines how much color they add to your tapestry.

Sometimes the person may add a great deal of color and yet their actual time in your presence can be quite short. I met a man a few months after Bull died. I was struggling to keep Thunder Roads Florida going after his death by suicide. Struggling with the work of a magazine that I suddenly owned due to his death, I was also struggling to be in the world of motorcycling without him. I walked into The Dog Pound in Bunnell to deliver the latest issue and several men I didn’t know were standing there. Billy Neal who I later would know as Bilkey said to me, “Girl you have the saddest eyes I have ever seen.” I burst into tears. He was so concerned about me he insisted I have breakfast with him the next day. And I did. After the tragic loss of a loved one you start to think you don’t want to burden your friends and family with your feelings, so a fresh caring listener was a blessing that morning. Bilkey added lots of sunshine and cheer to my tapestry that day. I only saw Bilkey one other time, when he came to the White Eagle during Bike Week several years later, but he called often to check on me and nicknamed me “Earth Angel”. He would send me shirts from different Harley dealers when he traveled. Our two encounters lasted no longer than a few hours combined…yet his checking on me as I recovered from the depth of sorrow added much to my tapestry.

I received a text in messenger late the other night, the name on my cell was Billy Neal. At first, I thought someone had hacked Bilkey’s Facebook because it said, “Is this Beth?” Then there was a message saying it was Bilkey’s daughter and she was relaying that Bilkey had died. Suddenly a rush of blue was added to my tapestry. I was so sad that he was gone, sad that I hadn’t spent more time with him, that I hadn’t told him how much happiness he had added to my life by caring about me when I needed someone. I was sad for his children too. I never asked Bilkey why he called me “Earth Angel”. Now I will never know, but I had a feeling as I cried for him while driving home, that he was comforting me as before and that now I will have an angel looking after me from above.

Many in Florida know Billy Neal. He was a bike builder from Ohio, but he visited Florida often and had friends throughout. He was bigger than life. Funny. Intuitive. Kind…I will miss him.

Tell someone how much they mean to you, be kind to a stranger that seems burdened and don’t forget your sunscreen…

By Lulu

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Denise and Rick Hilliard. First off, Denise has one of the biggest hearts! She and First Turn are always involved in great community events! They also have a terrific venue with open air seating on their giant deck and now MOST of it is covered. They bring in great bands, fuel the Tuesday night Bike Night crowd with cheap drinks and free grub. And the number of bikers that show up during Bike Week and Biketoberfest prove I am not alone in my love for this bar. This Biketoberfest, Tim Dugger was back from Nashville, so we stopped in to see him strum the guitar and entertain his fans. If you get a chance, try their Redneck Salad, it is my favorite on their menu, although they are really known for the Sizzlin’ Steaks!

Usually I write about how I love the people that surround me in this world of motorcycling. I love how patriotic, generous, and down to earth they are. I was a bit let down this month by some of our peeps in the motorcycling world. I witnessed bikers talking right through the playing of the National Anthem. Not only didn’t they shut up during it…they didn’t stand. I might as well have been at Kaepernick’s stadium. Oh, I was annoyed. Who does that? I don’t even want to use the excuse of being drunk. They simply were rude. Here is a guy on stage playing his heart out. Jasmine Cain with her hand over her heart. Most of the crowd standing. And about 20 lazy, rude, unpatriotic fools!

The other item of annoyance is when festival organizers go to extremes scheduling great, free music and you don’t bother to get out of the bars to show up. T. J. and I saw some outstanding free music at many events this year and people are jammed into crowded bars pounding shots and longnecks and missing out on amazing music. I do wish most organizers would realize they need to put the concerts on earlier in the evening, that bikers don’t want to be far from their final stops late at night, but why can’t we as adults pace ourselves a bit and take advantage of the shows these events put on!!

Now none of this means I don’t still love motorcyclists, I also witnessed Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl ride on a charity event as part of Cotee River Bike Fest. Evey single weekend I see people take the last $10 bucks out of their pockets to ride on a poker run for a worthy cause. I see veteran’s riding for the Patriot Guard and people like Willie at Tropical Tattoo helping veterans like he is a bearded Santa! But please live a little and try something other than the barstool at bike rallies. And for God’s sake and the sake of America, stand for any rendition of the National Anthem and shut up!

Ride on a toy run, call your parents and tell them you love them and don’t forget your sunscreen.

Lulu

Phaedra Lee knows how to fill her garage bar with people! Great musicians all year round, bike night with $1 longnecks and scantily dressed, hot, high-heeled women on stage during Bike Week and Biketoberfest makes Main Street Station your Destination party spot! For Biketoberfest, Main Street Station featured Warrant playing to a packed house. Big Engine, Bearded Brothers, Microwave Dave, Thunder Jack, Slippery When Wet, Sound Theory and more also entertained the throngs of party peeps on two stages. Twisted Tea sponsored the Miss Main Street Station Contest and giveaways were thrown to the crowd. Phaedra and her staff work hard all year to provide ice cold beer, cocktails and music in a great venue. Head on down to Main Street for their Wednesday night bike nights!

By Lulu

Well the weather God didn’t treat the Saturday for Cabbage Patch’s world-famous Coleslaw Wrestling competition too kindly but as the saying goes “the show must go on”, and that is exactly what the crew at Cabbage Patch managed to pull off. A torrential downpour almost caused the big event to be cancelled but the field finally dried up a bit, the rains stopped, and the girls wrestled! Just the production of making the oily slaw is a spectacle. Pounds of cabbage are dropped into a giant machine that chews it up and spits it out, then gallons of oil are added the whole mess is mixed up and just like that you have a pit of coleslaw.

Coleslaw wrestling isn’t all that happens at the Patch. Radical Randy puts on great bike shows. This year we made it to the Battle of the Baggers sponsored by Fran Haasch. I don’t know how the judges can pick one bike over the next. They were all awesome.

Cabbage Patch has things going on all year long, so particularly since the weather hurt their pocketbook a bit, be sure to ride out and enjoy a drink or two. It will be appreciated by the staff! And for a fun time during the holidays show up in an ugly sweater for their annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

By Lulu

There are many
things that make an event successful. For me starting on time, organization, advertising, good people running it, celebrities, a great crowd, good music, cold beer (and TWISTED TEA), strong drinks, hot looking women, good food, interesting things to see or photograph all are the components that make an event newsworthy and successful!! Chopper Time has all of this and one more that many don’t even know about, Willie gives the proceeds of the beer and Tea sales to a worthy cause each time. Biketoberfest, the veterans reaped the rewards of Willie’s biker pals’ appetite for a few cold ones! I always prefer Chopper Time in the fall because it isn’t quite the crowd and you can get in and see the detail on the bikes without fear of knocking a whole slew of them over. The lot was still packed with all kinds of old school and radical looking “chopped” on creations. Dave and Jodi Perewitz are regulars at this event, and it is always good to see them. A special thank you to all the crew who help make this happen, to Rue & Ziffra, PA for their support, Twisted Tea and Miller Lite for their sponsorship, to Rock of Daytona for the live remote and to each and every dollar spent by you who helped make this not only the best bike show in town, but also a wonderful event for veterans.

The winners are as follows:
Steve Broyles-Antique
George (Good Looking Customs)-Flatty
Mark Stevens-Knuckle
Brian Buttera-Panhead
Shannon Rae- Shovel Roadside Choice
Jacque Alexander-Evo
Kyle Rice-Twin Cam
Gina-Sportster
Dirtbag Choppers-Creative Custom
Ferge Takmen/Johnny Heffin-Triumph Stock
Frank Davis-British Custom
John Benedict-Best Metric
Tony Goodwin-Jap Custom
Gus Karnes-Rat Bike
Don & Sabrina Natter-Bobber
Matt Foster-Chopper/Cycle Source Choice
Jerry Jackman-Tropical Tattoo Choice & Perewitz Best Paint
Ed Skelton-Crowd Favorite & Cochise Chops Choice
Phil Anderson-Rick’s Choice
Kacey Ann Waring-Ladies’ Choice
Tino Periat-Clay’s Pick
Bruno Guillory-Bling’s Choice
Hatch-Reverend Al’s Choice
Marty Jester-Mo’s Image Custom
Paul Jabaly- B&D Customs & Willie and Roadside Hardcore
Emmanuel Raes-Tar Ball Run Choice
Shaun Ponte-Willie’s Choice
Nick Pen Mad Pen-Willie’s & Roadside Choice
(Space doesn’t allow us to post all winners photo in the printed version of the magazine but photos of all the winners are on our Facebook page Thunder Roads Florida)