By Lulu

Sometimes what makes one bar cooler than the next is music, location, ambiance…but what sets Chris’ Lounge apart from most, is history. It has been owned and operated by a family that loves motorcycling and motorcyclist for twenty-eight years. Chris Robino took a one-story building on a corner in Holly Hill and had a vision to put a second story on it and make it a neighborhood bar that was “out of this world” …and she did in 2000! The aliens lurking about the bar remind us of just that. Chris’ daughter Gina has taken the reins of her mother’s business and is keeping to her mom’s recipe for a great bar…great prices year-round, good drinks, ice cold beer, fun staff and treating everyone that comes in the door like family.

Upstairs there are pool tables that host their pool leagues and darts for those who enjoy dart leagues. Downstairs an almost always packed bar full of regulars in all sorts of conversations enjoying their ice-cold beers or stiff drinks poured by some of the greatest bartenders around! Chris’ Lounge is a favorite of those on two wheels, NASCAR fans and locals. The bar is open 7am to 2am 365 days a year and parties on days like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are just an ongoing tradition there. But frankly it is always a party at Chris’.

In 1998 a truck ran right into the front of the building taking out the front wall. It happened right before happy hour luckily and no one was hurt, amazingly they just boarded up the bar and business continued as usual right through the Christmas holidays. Nothing keeps the doors from opening at Chris’ Lounge!

The story of the military man holding a rifle and a flag was one that I was interested in learning. Debbie a bartender at Chris’ for 26 years says that they have always had many vets frequent the bar on a regular basis, so when Chris saw the statue at a retail establishment down the street, she had to have it as a tribute for veterans and our military. Debbie says people come in thinking it is an Army/Navy store but walking in the front door and finding a bar…often just made them “regulars” from that day on. The statue has been vandalized and in fact this is the second one.

Gina Robino does ride her Fat Boy when she can slip away. Her mom in her younger years had a BSA. So, the fruit didn’t fall far from the tree in the Robino family. Gina and her staff are happy to host poker runs and are involved in lots of local charity events. They even do bake sales for local veteran charities.

So, whether you are in town for the races, Bike Week or a local who hasn’t found Chris’ Lounge, stop in at 1301 Ridgewood Ave. in Holly Hill and find out why the regulars “Love this bar” just like the Toby Keith song. The bartenders are Debbie, Gina, Kelly, Tina, Donna, Ashley, Valerie, Kimmi, Teresa, Rockin’ Rhonda and Colin. Each and every one of them will be happy to make you happy anytime of the day…it’s happy hour all day at Chris’!

By Lulu

The one thing I must say about those who ride two-three wheels out of The Boat Bar in Port Orange is they like to ride!! At the drop of dime, they will pony up and go anywhere…anytime. So, we planned to make a day of it and make our “mystery ride” a pre-planned trip to Gator Harley in Leesburg to watch Bobby Friss play a set and to check out Gator’s charity event for PTSD for local firefighters, which included sampling awesome chili and BBQ. The weather was perfect. The crowd upon arriving at Gator was filled to the brim…standing room only!

On the way to Gator we took a mystery detour and visited Ken & Jeanne’s place (The Groggery) for a cold one. The gang which is normally 15-20 of us was a bit overwhelming for our host and hostess with the mostest…as we were hitting about 50 for this trip! But they handled it with their usual southern charm and kept the beer and cocktails flowing.

If you want to meet and ride with some great friends, the mystery ride is monthly out of The Boat Bar in Port Orange, generally leaving at around 11am for sights unknown, ending with dinner, there is a $5 donation that gets you your meal at the end and in for the 50/50 raffle. We have a blast when we can join so check out their ad each month for date and time!!!

A special thank you to Jan and the folks at Gator H-D for always doing so much for the community and for bringing bikers such great entertainment.

By Lulu

In Ft. Lauderdale at 381 Prospect Road is a great spot for those who like a good biker bar. Owned by a guy who loves on and off road motorcycling, Dan goes out of his way to treat those who frequent his place like family. The last Saturday of every month, if you ride in to Boar’s Nest Saloon on your bike, you will be treated to free food, great music and good ol’ brotherhood!

We went on a day of heavy rain and still had a couple riders…I must admit we were in the van since we were down in Ft. Lauderdale for the weekend, but he fed us for free anyway! It was scrumptious sausage and peppers with fries! TJ ate all of his sandwich and half of mine! Everyone in the bar was friendly and willing to pose for our cameras. The beer is ice cold, they have full liquor and a pool table for those who like to shoot a game or two. When you are visiting the Ft. Lauderdale/Oakland Park area ride in to wet your whistle and cool your pipes! Tell em Thunder Roads sent you.

By Lulu

Twenty years ago, Bikers Bash was launched. This year they honored founders, the late Bruce Rossmeyer and his family and Rita and Rick Case. The gala was held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino with a fabulous dinner, live music and tables full of silent auction items to bid on. There was also a live auction of incredible packages which even included Super Bowl tickets, but the auction item of the night was a motorcycle built at Mr. Motorhead’s with the assistance of the children from the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County.

The bike started as a 2006 Fat Boy and with donations from Arlen Ness (accessories), Samson (exhaust), Artyek (paint), Southeast Powder Coating, Kovac Automotive (tires) and Tucker V-Twin (accessories) the result is a throwback to the 70’s names “El Gordo Loco”. I was told the generous gentleman, Tommy Hartmann, who purchased the bike donated it back to be auctioned again! The Boys and Girls Club of Broward County serves 12,032 kids who spent a total of 2,710,785 hours at the club. The children range from 6-18 years old.

Participants in the club benefit with increased academic success, physical fitness and better lifestyle choices, and building of good character and citizenship. A special thank you to title sponsor Alligator Alley Harley-Davidson and all the sponsors who make this event possible and create this atmosphere of love for kids in need!

By Lulu

If you ride and live in the greater Daytona area you are certain to spend New Year’s Eve on Main Street. The street was closed to traffic and the ball dropped at midnight and fireworks spray to announce the ending of a year and the birth of a new one. The Boot Hill Saloon made the evening extra special with Miss Intent rocking the stage. The crowd was huge and Karin had a spread of food at midnight for those who could eat after downing beers and cocktails all night long! The Rock of Daytona throws their anniversary or “birthday” party at the Boot on New Year’s and so Frank, Patty and Rhonda were throwing out freebies and slicing cake. Don’t forget that all year long The Boot Hill has Wednesday night bike nights and live music 6 days a week, it isn’t just a spot to party during Bike Week, Biketoberfest or New Year’s Eve. They love their bikers everyday!

by Kim Chalmers

The thunder or rumbling of motorcycles overpowered the sound of crashing waves as Pensacola Beach opened its arms to the Thunder Beach Bike Rally for one exciting day. As a Pensacola, Florida native, I’ve seen the devastation of storms from Frederick to Ivan; however, our coastal towns had never seen the catastrophic devastation of a storm like Hurricane Michael, destroying everything in its 350-mile wide path, including Panama City and Mexico Beach.

A determined Event Director and a sympathetic community rallied together to move the event to Pensacola. They made sure it had all the things that make Thunder Beach such a great Rally, including a great bike show, clothing booths, food, multiple custom motorcycle vendors, lots of entertainment and a scenic ride from Pensacola Beach to Perdido Key to the Famous, Flora Bama for even more music and fun.

The outpouring of support heated up an otherwise chilly day and everyone seemed to have the same purpose, to keep the traditions of Thunder Beach Bike Rally while showing their support for those whose lives have been forever altered by the recent storm. This was a very special Thunder Beach Bike Rally, not only because donations from vendors and tickets sales went to help storm victims and restoration efforts, but as the bikes rumbled into to Casino Beach under the widely recognized beach ball water tower, I was reminded that the fortitude of bikers was stronger than any storm.

by Jeani G.

OB’s Restaurant and Lounge in DeLand hosted Russ & Bob’s 17th annual Panhead/Shovelhead/Antique Party on November 18th … and to say this year’s event was a success, would be an understatement! Hundreds of old-school motorcycle enthusiasts rode in under beautiful sunny skies to enjoy a day full of food, fun, awesome bikes and great music!

With so many beautiful vintage Harleys, our esteemed panel of judges: Marshall, Marvin, Walter, Cap, and featuring Willie from Tropical Tattoo, definitely had their work cut out for them in selecting the winners from a total of 61 entries:

• Stock Panhead – Mark Hampton – 1958 FLH
• Custom Panhead – Robert Green – 1949
• Stock Shovelhead – Billy Oremovich – 1984 FLHX
• Custom Shovelhead – James Roth – 1974
• Antique – John Bartman – 1923 Model J (Cannonball Run participant)
• Best in Show – Gary Margoni – 1948 Flathead
• People’s Choice – presented by Lulu and TJ of Thunder Roads Florida to Lisa Musolino for her 1979 custom Shovelhead

Live music by Beautiful Bastards and Hot Streak kept the crowd rocking all day long. Pinup Parlor Boutique hosted a pinup girl contest, and 95.7 HOG radio did a live feed sponsored by Rue & Ziffra. You could play Giant Jenga with Bill Grotto of Twisted Tea, test your throwing arm at the “Dunk the Hottie” tank, take part in a 50/50 raffle or enjoy a delicious Pulled Pork Sundae served by Rob, TK, Al and George with proceeds going to Toys 4 Tots.

Dave served up platters of smoked chicken and ribs, while Mama T’s Sweet Treats offered goodies like funnel cake, deep fried oreos and hot boiled peanuts. Other vendors included Sherzer Insurance, jewelry and T-shirts tents, and Yuengling girls passing out fun promo items. Mark Hall Riding & Flying filmed the day’s activities – his video can be found on YouTube. Hundreds of amazing photos were taken by Lulu, TJ, Sherry and Ava and can be viewed and shared on Facebook under OBsBarDeLand and ThunderRoadsFlorida.

Kristie and Ken did an awesome job organizing the event, and OB’s staff (Kristie, Linda, Dani, Keelie, Bobbi Jo and Eric, as well as Jason, Ellen, Stephen and Tony) did an amazing job serving the vast crowd. Our parking volunteers CJ, Steve and Zack kept traffic moving, while Nancy and Jan jumped in to help Jeani at the registration desk and hand out the People’s Choice voting stones. A special “Thank you” goes out to all of our sponsors, vendors, staff and volunteers who made the day a huge success!

No doubt, there’s always a good time to be had at OB’s in DeLand. OB (Ron), Tina and Kristie serve up heaping helpings of hospitality and host various events every single week, raising money for charities and helping those in need throughout the community. Be sure to come out to OB’s for their Wednesday Bike Nites – starting at 6 pm, featuring live music and food and drink specials … great service, great people and lots of fun! Hope to see you there!

By Lulu

Troy’s Pub in Ormond Beach on Nova Road celebrated their second anniversary on New Year’s Eve with one of the best spreads of free food I have enjoyed in quite a while. Troy and his mom Dee run the bar with a homelike hospitality. Everyone in the bar seems to know each other. We were also proud to be part of a huge Christmas bicycle collection the bar was a sponsor of.

The bikes were collected and dispersed to Family Renew and other needy organizations, but one of my favorite parts of this event was that some of the bikes were given to the local police departments to give to needy families in their districts. That creates a double whammy. First, a child in need gets a nice Christmas. And second, the police get a chance to have a friendly interaction within their beats. That can go a long way to putting forth an image of the police as not being something to fear. I have known

Troy and his mom for a little over a year now and along with serving ICE COLD beer in a super friendly atmosphere they just seem to be in business to help others!!! Whether you are looking for a place to karaoke, listen to Ashley Young sing a set or two, needing a stop for your poker run or wanting to play a game of pool, hop on your bike and ride to Troy’s Pub. Let’s make their third year the best yet!!!

By Lulu

I have known Elaina owner of On the Fringe Leather for over twelve years. She is creative and a perfectionist which makes her excellent at the business she loves.

Elaina Pring is a passionate leather work, clothing designer and accomplished business person who runs her own shop, On the Fringe Leather. She has been in business for over 25 years creating one of a kind halter tops, chaps, vest and accessories. On the Fringe Leather was located at Destination Daytona Harley Davidson for 12 years and has recently moved to its new location. The shop is open for business and is located at the Ormond Centre at 1095 N US 1 Unit 4 (right next to the Beaver Bar).

The new location will allow Elaina to move forward with more work space to create a new line for wholesale. She also wanted to be in the hub of the biker action, next to the Beaver Bar and Boot Hill Saloon, as well as, across the street from the World-Famous Iron Horse.

On the Fringe is a full-service shop sewing patches, repairs, embroidery, custom made patches, and all kinds of custom leather work. Products are made right on the premises and they take pride in the fact their line is “Made in the USA”. Custom embroidered club patches are their specialty and can be created in-house from a picture with fast turn-around time.

The women’s leathers tops and bags are sought after for their one of a kind soft deerskin and edgy biker chic designs! The shop has a full line of men’s and ladies’ vests, chaps and jackets, top hats, belts, conceal carry ladies’ handbags and more.

Upon entering the showroom, you will notice two things, the unique products that Elaina has either created or purchased and the smell of high-quality leather. Drop by and visit and support your local Leather shop!

By Lulu

I happened to be at an event at Troy’s Pub where the directors of Family Renew were receiving bicycles collected for them and had a chance to hear a bit about what they do for families in crisis. Family Renew is not an emergency shelter. It is a housing program for homeless families to reside for as long as six months while making lasting solutions to end their homelessness. I was shocked to hear that over 1600 school age children in Volusia County are homeless!

The poker run sponsored by ATT started at Beaver Bar and made scheduled stops at Circus Bar II, BFFAR, Hidden Treasure in Port Orange, Main Street Station and ended for free BBQ and live music at Dirty Harry’s. Lots of auction items helped feed the kitty! This run was a bit different in that there were several wild-card stops and we hit a few making it to Chris’ Lounge, Rudy’s Bar & Grill and Troy’s Pub…then we simply ran out of time!

A special thank you to the people at ATT & Jeff Berry for making this a yearly project, and to every person who spent their day riding for this great cause.

By Lulu

Anyone who knows Kim and Irv Elmore love them. In 2018 she made a dream of hers a reality by opening a bar in Bunnell, naming it Ike’s Saloon. “I” for Irv and “K” for Kim and “E” for Elmore! Kim has been an excellent bartender at many local watering holes for years. But now their saloon is all theirs! Located in Flagler County at 801 State St in Bunnell, it is a perfect stop to cool your pipes in the summer and warm your buns in the winter. They are as motorcycle friendly as a bar can be. Irv and Kim’s first date was a poker run which ended in an eventual marriage! On that note, she welcomes all poker runs, so put Ike’s on your list for a run stop. And if you are looking to buy a new or used motorcycle, Irv is a sales associate at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson, so you know he loves motorcycle riders…and would love to sell you a bike to ride to Ike’s (bet he would buy you a beer or two). Ike’s has happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-7pm, Wednesday Blind Draw Darts and follow them on Facebook for their live band schedule. What they are most proud of at Ike’s is their ice-cold beer and they love their regulars. So, hop on your bike and spend some time on a barstool at Ike’s Saloon in Bunnell.

By Lulu

Although the weather Gods didn’t smile on their event, sending rain to dampen the day, there were smiles on the faces of the riders, the HOG members and the children, as Santa and Mrs. Claus rolled into Ocala’s War Horse Harley-Davidson on a bright and shiny Harley. The huge tent was full of toys and gifts for some less fortunate children of Marion County. Lunch was served and was delicious. The band played as if the skies were sunny. Santa and Mrs. Claus even had a photo session with the fabulous police officers which I think made the children in attendance see the police in a much friendlier light. A special thank you to the Marion County Sheriff Department, Ocala Police, Marion County Fire Department, Ocala Fire & Rescue, Christian Motorcycle Association for their assistance, and Forest High School Jr. ROTC for presenting the flag. And a great big THANK YOU to the sponsors.. War Horse H-D, Crystal Automotive Group, Fran Haasch Law Group, Born to Ride Magazine and WIND-FM Classic Rock…and to every volunteer and rider who made Santa’s joy reach children that may not have had Christmas without you!!

By Horny Dave

What’s better than riding under a full moon? Doing it with Jimmy Smith on his 9th annual Full Moon Ride! It started at the Cheyenne Saloon around five and we headed to the Cow Catcher for the next card. After a drink, we made our way to Parker House as the full moon began to rise over Crescent Lake. A backwoods ride under a full moon took us to Porky’s on Lake George for food and a round. We rode along the moonlit St John’s River to Long’s Log Cabin where a live band was rocking out. We finished up back at the Cheyenne for winning hands and Jimmy’s famous Goulash Dinner. Keep your eyes open for his 10th anniversary ride next year between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

By Lulu

Janice knows how to throw a Christmas party. Ugly sweaters everywhere, some with sayings such as “Well Hung” and “Feel the Joy” made us feel the season! DJ was rocking the room…and the food was scrumptious! Janice is the proud owner of Crossroads Tavern in Bunnell, right at the crossroad of US 1 and 100. She is a full liquor bar with a room that can be rented for private parties upstairs. They have live entertainment at times, pool and darts. She is even bringing things to the area such as the Comedy Night on March 2nd featuring Skippy from Family Ties at $15 per ticket (advance) or $20 at the door. She would love to be a poker run stop and everyone who knows her loves Janice so ride in and have check her new digs out!