By Lulu

Vendors, bike shows, booze, Budweiser, bands, and girls slopping around in oil and cabbage make Cabbage Patch a must do during Bike Week. Even the Budweiser Clydesdales had more fun at the Patch than any other stop they made, as in the open field they were able to canter a bit. I love Radical Randy and always make the trip out to the Patch just to snap a shot or two of the great looking bikes that show up for a chance at taking home a trophy! Had to buy a couple of the awesome blinged out bandanas from Michelle and I always stop in to see Scott Demonico’s “Rally Leather” tent. On that subject please, please make sure you support the vendors as soon as the rally schedule opens back up, these peeps make their living traveling from state to state and so much of their income was lost due to the corona virus shutting down Leesburg, Thunder Beach, Myrtle Beach and possibly even Laconia at the time of this writing. Coleslaw wrestling and all the fun that goes on with that was able to go on since Samsula was not on the closure list during the shutdown. Make sure to ride out all year long to visit Cabbage Patch Bar. Ronnie and Roger Luznar work hard to put the rally party on at their property but all year they are open and love to see you ride in!

Wow, we have just been living through the most bizarre period in the history of our country! Everyone on lock down in their homes. Only essential workers can earn a living. A crazy governor in Michigan not allowing you to buy paint or seeds at Wal-Mart even if you are there buying groceries. People dying in nursing homes and you must wonder how did they even get exposed? Through all this, our clients in Florida that own bars and restaurants are at best, able to serve food curbside or by delivery. Most bike dealerships are down to doing service and parts.

In every walk of life business has been brought to a standstill. Parents are trying to teach their kids stuff they do not even understand themselves as class work is being done at kitchen tables. Greg Gutfeld on FOX News Channel was making a funny observation today, stating that it will be a shock to the education system if at the end of the summer kids complete a years’ worth of study in 3 months and with better GPA’s. We all want our routines back, as well as the freedom to go about our normal lives again. BUT we also want to be healthy, so as good Americans we have suffered through this Covid purgatory to the best of our ability. I beg all of us to pay attention in our shopping and spending when this is over to BUY AMERICAN products.

Write to your legislators demanding that we bring our drug production back inside our borders. I had no idea that most of our antibiotics were being produced in China…did you? Smithfield Foods has supposedly been bought by China. I will not be buying their products! I also found out that wild caught frozen fish is being processed in China too. What the hell? I am not a conspiracy believer…but I have a hard time believing that people eating bats caused this to spread across the globe and kill so many people…particularly people locked up in nursing homes!

One final wish as we open our state back up, is that we can get our magazine back on course…please support our ad clients…they have all been hurt by this pandemic that crippled our country. Get on your bike and visit our ad clients, hit a bike night or two, visit a dealership or bike shop and make a purchase. Tip your bartenders and waitresses a little extra knowing that they have been without income for an extended period. I don’t have a crystal ball and have no idea if, with this May issue, our state will be opened back up in some capacity, but we can only hope.

Stay healthy, call a friend to check on them. Some are very isolated. And if you get on your bike for a ride…don’t forget your sunscreen.

By Lulu

What a crazy Bike Week 2020. Boot Hill Saloon, the most historic bar for Bike Week partying had to endure the ridiculous closing on the last Saturday of Bike Week costing the bar, bartenders, bands, and vendors dearly at their Main Street location. Luckily their new hot spot Boot Hill Outpost, which they have worked hard to make a nice drinking spot on US 1 in Ormond Beach, was able to remain open for the entire event as only the mayor of Daytona Beach closed things down less than 48 hours before the whole thing would have been over anyway, while the rest of the county was business as usual. Please spend your drinking dollars all year long with our ad clients. Boot Hill has a Wednesday night bike night with live music. They have great live music 6 days a week at the Main Street location. Stop in and see the Boot Hill Outpost with a beautiful new outside deck, new pavement and nicely redone inside! If Laconia is not cancelled and you are riding up, stop in and have a few at Boot Hill up there.

By Lulu

Bike Week and Biketoberfest the Rossmeyer’s Harley-Davidson is packed with shoppers inside buying apparel, bike parts and new and used bikes! Outside vendors are selling their wares or demonstrating their products to the masses. Trolley rides bring you up to the dealership from far away parking spots. TJ got an invitation to join Chris for a once in a lifetime ride on the Budweiser’s Clydesdale Parade! The horses are spectacular creatures and immaculately groomed. Live music filled the stages, beautiful bartenders kept the drinks flowing and bike shows were featured under the pavilion. Thank you for TJ’s ride and all you guys at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley for an awesome Bike Week!

By Lulu

Denise, owner of First Turn in Port Orange outdid herself Bike Week 2020 with some of the biggest music nights in the greater Daytona area and the huge crowds proved it. The Razorbacks absolutely packed the place. And a special night was the Chris Hiatt experience with sidekicks Crash and Tommy Mac joining in for a Stevie Ray tribute night…even setting his guitar ablaze. The menu during Bike Week is pared down but delicious fare kept bikers well nourished. As soon as we get back up and running post CoVid lock down, the Tuesday night bike night will resume with dirt cheap longnecks and a bit of free vittles…so get on your bike and join us at First Turn on US 1 in Port Orange for GREAT music and a nice Tuesday evening!

By Lulu

The powers that be blessed the World-Famous Iron Horse Saloon and didn’t close down Bike Week the final weekend of Bike Week, so business was booming the entire event. Great bands including Colt Ford, Uncle Kracker and Parmalee entertained huge crowds. Yuengling sponsored a great tattoo contest emceed by Willie from Tropical Tattoo. The Wall of Death had long lines to see the trick riders snatch dollars out of their hands. David Allan Coe was able to sing his old tunes and was onsite signing memorabilia for fans. The Craiger’s Steak Tips were being devoured and the 2020 T-shirts were being donned. Iron Horse has live music the entire event from noon to midnight each day! This year Iron Horse is celebrating their 40th year in business. Drop in and toast this milestone with their crew!!

By Lulu

As soon as we get out of Corona lock down, we will all want to feel the wind in our faces. Take a ride out to the country and tour Putnam County, about a 45-minute ride to open highways and great watering holes. Renegade’s on the River is the mac daddy with a huge tiki bar right on the St. John’s river. Donnie and Lisa King, with the help of their hardworking daughter Stacy, John, and the crew work hard to keep up with the crowds that find themselves on barstools at their spot. The cabins, RV spots and water access make it accessible for all. If you have not tried their Gator you simply must! Next stop is almost across the street. The River Pub, owned and operated by Bobby and Monique, is known for great food and impeccable service. Ice cold beer and full liquor too awaits. Our friends Tonya and Waylon have Long’s Log Cabin in Welaka. A nonsmoking bar now, they do have seating outside and are full liquor and food now. A new ad client with us is Hermit’s Cove, another waterfront spot located in Satsuma. This is by far the ultimate dive bar!!! Stop in and Say hi to Gary and Pam. It is beer and wine only, but they have outside theater seating for watching the river flow by. Last stop is in Palatka with a stop at Amy and Donnie’s 3-D Saloon. We just love this hard-working couple. Full liquor and some of the best original live music from time to time.

By Lulu

I have lots of favorites for Bike Week. But my favorite spot to just sit and watch the show whether it is great bands like Hairball, bike shows almost daily, minibike races, or just people watching is the Broken Spoke Saloon. The owners have made this into a Disney atmosphere with sparkling white lights in the massive oaks, saddles swings, free peanuts, swinging smoking hot bartenders or the most buffed up male bartender in the world, this is just the perfect location for chilling! Famous Jay Allen emcees the entire Bike Week and thankfully they were spared early closure for the corona virus by the Ormond hierarchy. Look for them to open again during Biketoberfest!

By Lulu

In Port Orange, the total rebirth of The Dog House was evident during Bike Week 2020. Every time we were on the property the place was packed. Rhonda and her crew have put a huge amount of energy into making this a great destination all year long, but especially during Bike Week with bands like Confederate Railroad and Molly Hatchet gracing their stage. We helped a bit with the fun and threw a little Twisted Tea event with Baby Bottle sucking of Twisted Tea and giveaways during their kickoff party.

Bill Grotto and the beautiful Twisted Tea promo girls loved meeting the folks at The Dog House. Plans when this corona thing passes is to have a weekly bike night and rumor has it, they will be having live music and $1 longnecks. The great back yard with covered porch and huge inside bar allows for seating no matter the weather. Let’s get on our bikes and visit the crew at The Dog House as soon as we can!

By Lulu

If you haven’t shopped Skip’s Western Outfitters located off International Speedway in Daytona Beach, you are missing out on a boot superstore. Specializing in Western apparel, boots, and hats, they also have a huge selection of Harley boots. This store has over 15,000 boots with lines including Ariat, Lucchese, Roper and Corral to name a few…and of course Harley! I have never seen so many cowboy hats anywhere. The hat line includes some of the finest, Resistol, Stetson and Charlie 1 Horse. Skip’s was established in 1979 and has been adding to the lines they carry and their square footage over the last 40 years.

I got a special birthday surprise when T. J. arranged for me to go in to take photos during Bike Week of the store and shoppers…to my surprise I was one of the shoppers! Devin and T.J. told me to pick out my favorite pair and after trying on many different styles and brands, I went for comfort and bling ending up with a pair of blue and red Corral square toed cowboy boots. I happen to be a boot collector so there couldn’t be a better surprise for me! Along with the largest selection of boots, they also have belts, jewelry, clothing, sunglasses, and gifts. A second location in Osteen may be more convenient to you but when you are over in the Daytona area you simply must stop in to see this Western megastore. Their online shopping is at SkipsBoots.com.

By Joe and Pam Dunn

The 22nd Annual Thunder By The Bay Music and Motorcycle Festival in Sarasota, Florida is a great three-day event that raises money for Suncoast Charities for Children. If you have never been, it is worth the trip for a good cause. We had an awesome time listening to great bands, such as the Heart Tribute Band Love Alive, In the Light of Led Zeppelin, Ultimate Def Leopard and the headliner band, Warrant, as well as many others. The drinks were flowing, there were lots of vendors, a bike show, burnout contest, Cycle Circus stunt show and even a poker run on Sunday. Even though the rain rolled in for a bit on Friday night, it did not stop the crowd from coming. The bikes kept rolling in. The crowd even doubled on Saturday night! It is clear, that when it comes to raising money for families in need, especially children, you can always count on our biker family. They truly do have a heart of gold! For more pictures of the event go to our Thunder Roads Florida’s Facebook page.

By Lulu

Each year Heavy and Christine from Midwest Motorcycle invade the property of Beaver Bar and put on one of the year’s best attended events anywhere. The bike show trophies were off the chain! Everyone lucky enough to go home with one has a unique piece of art to go with their award-winning bike. This year Midwest was celebrating their 26th year in business. That is an awesome acheivement in this day and age. The antique and custom show was rocked by Crashrocket and Matt Oree Band all afternoon and into the evening. A special thanks to Barney’s Leather, Unleashed Jewelry, One Sexy Biker Chick, Dale Garza Radio, Squirrel Trophy’s, Cap Wilson, Euro Cycles of Daytona, Stavely Coastal Cycles, Brigit Custom Works, Pin-Ups of Daytona, Who’s Hot Online, Mark Hall Riding and Flying, Cycle Fever, Politis & Matovina, and WHOG Radio all for helping put this event on each year. A lot of hard work goes into creating an event of this size. More pictures from the days’ events are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook’s page.

By Raven Van Pelt

It’s that time again for the pre-Bike Week car and bike show hosted by Callahan Cruisers of North Florida at Adamec Harley-Davidson on Baymeadows in Jacksonville. Live music by Bluesdog 66 rocked the place as people came out to walk around and check out all the bikes and cages. Vendors from jewelry to food were on hand as well. Raffles and custom trophies completed the day. If you haven’t had a chance to visit Adamec’s newest addition to their collection of dealerships, ride to St. Augustine and check it out.

By Raven Vanpelt

BIG ENGINE rocked the outside stage at CHOPPER’s Bar & Grill on a beautiful Sunday afternoon on Highway 17 in Oceanway. The bar served pulled pork sandwiches to the crowd. New owner, Mel Compton and his staff made every customer feel like family. Chopper’s always has a great atmosphere and great entertainment. Live music outside on their back deck makes for a perfect place to spend time with friends. Inside is a full-service bar, pool, darts and great food!! Check out their events on Chopper’s Facebook page and make this a stop on your next ride or poker run. Also, take a look at their ad in this magazine for more info.

WOW, what a mess our world is in. I had every intention in writing this to knock our mayor in Daytona Beach for making such a ridiculous decision to cut the last Saturday of Bike Week out for ONLY Main Street…totally unfair!!! Why should those bands, bars and vendors suffer when US 1 and beyond partied on?

No one went home, Saturday night Main Street was full of bikes, Iron Horse and Broken Spoke were packed, and I don’t believe they saved a life by the stunt they pulled. If it was such a crisis that one more day mattered it should have been a crisis all over the U.S. Now a few days later it is, so they say. 44 of our ad clients have had their establishments shut down with a day’s warning. No pay for bar staff, no sales for owners, no sales for the distributor, no bands paid! And this is just in our little microcosm of the world. I called everyone that was having to close due to the government mandate.

The ads in this coronavirus issue are still open currently or hope to be open by mid-April. The rest were thankful we allowed them to opt out as everything is so uncertain. Leesburg Bike Fest is cancelled. PLEASE put the 2021 rally on your list and if Thunder Beach can pull 2020 off please go!!! These vendors and local businesses are really hurting from this, particularly after 2 hurricanes in the recent past! I want to give a special thank you to the ad clients who supported us in this trying time, particularly Grandview Live who is shutdown for the 30 days. They said, “you support us, so we want to support you!” that gesture moved me to tears as it is costly to print this magazine. We pared this to our smallest issue ever rather than not print at all. There is still plenty to read in our magazine each month. We strive to make it more than just a yellow page book of ads. And figured if you are home stir crazy at least the joke page might entertain you.

We as a nation are all under stress about this. For me, more so about the economics and the fear this will hurt Trump’s reelection. But let’s not forget that for many people right now, it is how will I pay my rent? Even worse, if you happen to contract this damn thing, all the fear that comes with that suddenly becomes very real…although I still haven’t heard of one person from Bike Week that had it. Hope that stays true!

So, use your hand sanitizers, if they don’t impose Martial Law get out and ride an empty highway to nowhere and back and don’t forget your sunscreen.