By Lulu

So as far as being packed in like sardines goes…Chris’ Lounge couldn’t have made room for one more the night of their Summer Sizzler hosted by Rock of Daytona. Rhonda and Frank were at the mic playing games, The Wing House girls brought in food and the crowd was overflowing. Gina, Debbie and the rest of the crew kept the STIFF cocktails and ice-cold beer in our hands…all we had to do was lift and sip! One of the oldest family owned bars in Daytona is still the local’s hands down favorite!! Check them out while you are in town for Biketoberfest!

by Phoenix and Metric-HD

The Shadow Hunterz MC hosted their 2nd Annual Party in downtown historic Sebring. In a community of dirty old bikers, the Shadow Hunterz are probably the youngest and most active group of bikers around. It doesn’t matter if it is a bike night, a fundraiser for a needy family or even just a day ride with their Brothers you can count on the Shadow Hunterz to show up in force. They get it. They understand the meaning of the BIKER CODE.

Despite the weather, it did not stop them from hosting one hell of a party. They had a great time into the wee hours of the morning. There was free food, music, cold beer and drinks. The weather did put a damper on the outdoor activities, but everyone had a great time. They raffled off a neat hand gun and had a 50/50 drawing. Everyone that came out had a great time thanks to the Shadow Hunterz. We are looking forward to next year’s party to be even bigger and better, hopefully there will be better weather.

Finally, a big thank you to Sheila’s Corner Pub for allowing the Shadow Hunterz’ to host their party at her place. Sheila’s Corner Pub is a biker friendly bar in historic downtown Sebring with the coldest beer in town. Stop in and tell me Metric from Thunder Roads Florida sent you. They will take good care of you.

By Ron Cox

When tragedy strikes a community it often rises to the occasion. So, it was in late July when Ft. Myers Police Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller was shot in the head. For five days Officer Jobbers-Miller clung to life before succumbing to his injury. Fellow police officers from all over the country came to Ft. Myers to show their support.

Donations for the family came from everywhere. Bars, restaurants, health clubs and numerous other outlets held fundraisers to help deal with the struggles his passing
has created. At one point the sum raised was more than $50,000.

The motorcycling community is no exception so on August 12th a Memorial Motorcycle Ride was organized and hosted by Stu’s Motorcycles and the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group of SW Florida. Other fundraising rides are scheduled by two local Harley-Davidson dealerships.

Twelve hundred riders assembled at the only Indian dealership in SW Florida to register before setting out on the 50-mile route, ending at Ft. Myers Police Headquarters. The ride was escorted by multiple area law enforcement agencies. Members of Officer Jobbers-Miller family were on hand and accepted a check for $24,049 from representatives from Stu’s Motorcycles.

The alleged perpetrator was captured after exchanging gunfire with other officers and has been charged with 1st degree murder and could face the death penalty.

By Lulu

Bay 3 Bar in New Smyrna Beach is a favorite spot for locals, and one of the reasons other than ice cold beer and rock bottom prices, is the owners love their customers and community. Jan and Barry are always quick to help a good cause. They heard about a mother of 4 who had a house fire and needed some help and became the starting and ending stop for the generous bikers that gave their Saturday to ride.

The stops included Tailgatorz, Foxheads, Cabbage Patch Bar and The Dog House. An amazing lunch of chicken and pork tenderloin with all the fixings was served. The silent and live auction, 50/50 and raffle tickets helped raise the needed funds to make repairs to Monica’s home. The good news was no one was hurt in the housefire and the poker run was a huge success to help make the devastation of a fire just an inconvenience not a tragedy. Thanks Jan, Barry and all the volunteers!! And a special thanks to each of those who rode!!!

Phoenix and Metric-HD

The Patriotic Guard Riders of Florida have teamed up with the Gary Sinise Foundation to bring the SNOWBALL EXPRESS to Florida. The Snowball Express is a charity for the children of our fallen military heroes giving hope and new memories. This year the Snowball Express is coming to Disney in December bringing nearly 800 Gold Star children and their families. As you can see this project is going to take a lot of time, effort and money. To get this train rolling Space Coast Harley-Davidson along with the United States Motorcycle Corps Charities and the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) hosted a Snowball Express Loop Run and After Party. We had a great day and raised a little money for the Snowball Express. This is just one of many fundraisers that they need to offset the cost of this GREAT endeavor. Keep an eye out for more upcoming events.

They need approximately 1500 volunteers to help with this great project. They need medical teams, volunteer teams, corporate teams, high achool teams/clubs, JROTC, Scouts, churches, community groups, you name it. If you would like to volunteer or someone you know is interested in volunteering please register at: signup.snowballexpress.org. To register as a group please have representative contact the Snowball Express Volunteer coordinator, Michelle Carline at 940-783-2191 or m.carline@snowballexpress.org. Please share with everyone you know. Hope to see you at Snowball Express in December.

If you belong to any Veterans organization such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS or any other organization this is a project that needs your attention. To quote the Vietnam Veterans of America motto: “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another” GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

By Lulu

Friends come and go in life. Some you lose due to distance, some from difference of opinions and sometimes it is from a tragedy. Tall Pete was well loved by his friends and family. Those who know him well say he was the first to help anyone in need, often even though he was in chronic pain. We happened upon a run in his memory and got caught in the web of love they were weaving in his memory!

The ride started at First Turn, headed to The Boat Bar which is where we met them, then off to Winner’s Bar, followed by Bay 3 Bar with the final stop at American Legion. What really was impressive was how much this man is missed by those riding for him today, you could feel their sadness and the happiness of being together for Pete!

By Deborah Speicher

Every Memorial Day, Florida National Cemetery (Bushnell) holds a ceremony to honor those buried there and their families. The Florida motorcycle communities were out in full force to support this event and several military riding organizations participated.

The numbers of motorcycles were down this year due to Tropical Storm Alberto. However, with approximately 120+ bikes, the largest group riding into the cemetery was the Defenders MC (Tampa Bay Chapter). The Defenders MC is a group comprised of active and retired military, law enforcement, emergency services and public safety professionals.

The Defenders’ ride was coordinated by Colonel Ron “Paladin” Rook, USMC (Ret.), who has done so for the past several years. Local HOG and other riding groups were invited to join the Defenders for this ride. Thanks to a police escort and the excellent road captains from the Defenders MC, this 30+ mile ride went off without a hitch.

The ceremony had many poignant speakers, patriotic music and a “missing man” flyover by Ye Mystic Air Krewe. While the actual meaning and traditions of Memorial Day may have been forgotten by some people, those attending the ceremony came out to remember, honor and salute those who had defended our country. Once again, the group “Flags for Fallen Veterans” and a couple of thousand volunteers made sure that several thousand flags were placed on the grave sites.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the Master of Ceremonies, Steve Jerve. Steve has been MC’ing for several years running. Kudos to Steve, the Florida National Cemetery Joint Veterans Committee and all those who made this inspirational event happen!

By Lulu

Tucked out in Welaka is a very cool spot with fun people on both sides of the bar! When Waylon and Tonya decided to start a monthly bike night they invited us out and we were pleasantly surprised by how many peeps we knew from Palm Coast and even Daytona that rode out for the evening! This is a bar owned by a couple who really love to get on the bike and ride!

We have seen Waylon walk away with first place at a Yuengling sponsored tattoo contest at the Boot Hill Saloon during Bike Week, run into them in Palatka at 3-D Saloon where Amy and Donnie packed the place with the band Framing the Red and spotted them at OB’s for a Wednesday night bike night. Usually it is hard to get bar owners to step away from their own establishment for an evening!

Well Long’s hosted a bike night with live music that included a chick playing drums which were a variety of buckets, put on a delicious spread of appetizers and featured $1.50 domestics! We coerced the crowd into a group shot and they could not have been nicer as it was a bit hot on the July evening…leaving the AC for the parking lot was asking a lot!

The trip out to Welaka is a beautiful country ride whether you are riding in from Ocala, Deland, Daytona or St. Augustine. Their bike night will be on the 2nd Thursdays beginning at 6pm. Take your bike out of the garage, dust off the cobwebs and ride out to Welaka for an enjoyable evening. Their ad is on the page next to this article featuring different nights when they have live music!

Thanks for a great evening guys and for joining the Thunder Roads Florida family!

By Lulu

Rain or shine the first Saturday evenings through November Tilted Kilt in Ocala with sponsors Ocala Car Audio, RideNow Powersports and War Horse Harley-Davidson host bikers from all over central Florida and beyond. The Saturday in July we were treated to great music by Raging Woody, refreshing cocktails served by tartan plaid mini-skirted beauties and great food! In August you are in for a special treat as two bands will take the stage, 4 Play and Blues Brothers. Get there early the place fills up quick!

By Lulu

Everyone from the greater Daytona area knows Main Street Station for great music and huge bike nights. But something I wish everyone knew about Phaedra Lee and the crew at Main Street Station is they do so much for the community all year. Whether she is working for revitalization of Main Street, collecting bikes for needy kids at

Christmas or any number of other charities all year long Main Street GIVES back to the community in a huge way. We attended a ride for veterans during the 5th Annual Rock Freedom Fest which, due to bad weather, was delayed. Anytime an event gets cancelled you can count on a disappointing turnout…but the event was well attended, and everyone had a great day of riding, friendship and prizes.

Seems like everyone went home with something they didn’t come with, in my case it was a hangover!!! The stops included Cabbage Patch, Winner’s Bar, Dog House and Rudy’s. The organization putting this ride together was Messengers for Homeless Vets…what a nice group of riders working for a great cause!

By Lulu

The owners and staff of Grandview Live in Daytona Beach certainly know how to throw a party! And remember that if you are looking for a party spot for your bachelor and birthday parties! But in July, the party they were having was their own birthday bash. Free alcohol was flowing. Plenty of scantily clothed girls were entertaining the crowd and running their buns off waiting on the huge crowd. I ran into all kinds of old friends and bar owners from all over Volusia and Flagler Counties. If you have a chance to visit Grandview Live off Seabreeze you will discover an impressive night club that you would expect to find in a big city with its beautiful décor and atmosphere. Congratulations Grandview on three GRAND years and wishing you many more!

By Lulu

You know I always rave about the kindness and generosity of motorcyclists. Today we went on a run to help kids. 70+ bikers left out of Beaver Bar in Ormond, took a short ride to Troy’s Pub, next to The Dog House in Port Orange, then Boot Hill Saloon and final stop was Iron Horse Saloon. It was well over 90 degrees and some great riders put their butts on their saddles and bar hopped on a rainy smoldering hot afternoon just to help Elaine Holt help kids. A special thanks to the bars who participated, the band Diesel, all the volunteers who gathered prizes, sold raffles, manned card stops and to those who generously rode, bought the tickets and auction items…and basically gave up their day! And a special thank you to Troy from Troy’s Pub for his extra generosity at the event and to our own TJ for walking away with the live auction NASCAR stuff! You can see the photos from the day on Facebook Thunder Roads Florida!

Another group of awesome individuals who as a group probably do more to help children than ANYBODY. I know these peeps have a reputation to be able to out party most bikers…many of them are bikers…but the Shriners were in Daytona Beach full force in July. While the ride we were on for Elaine was stopped at the Boot Hill Saloon. A party of about six Shriners from Arizona overheard Val Gal from Old School Biker Magazine talking about the charity. And the guys who weren’t even from around here handed over about $45 bucks! Really a great group of people I guess you must be to ever make it into the Shriners!!!

So, went our Sunday. As hot and muggy as we were, we spent the day helping Elaine help children. Spent time with old friends. Rubbed elbows with some Shriners and spent some time on the Harley can’t imagine a better afternoon really!

Go on a poker run for a good cause, thank a Shriner for all their good work and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

Cabbage Patch Bar is a part of Bike Week History! I am sure it was with a heavy heart that Ronnie’s sons, Ronnie and Roger, had to decide whether to continue the history after their father’s unexpected death last year shortly after Biketoberfest 2016. They put their big boy pants on and have slipped right into their father’s “shoes”! I say that half laughing as I often had long conversations with their dad sometimes without shoes on at all!!

Time marches on and the Rock of Daytona, Daytona Estate Jewelry’s Derek Ames, Giuseppe’s Pizza, Tom and Cindy Wright, Social Misfit Customs, Barker Construction, Little C’s Custom and the Cabbage Patch marked the memory of Ronnie with the first memorial ride and formed a scholarship in Ronnie Senior’s name. Some of you bar people may not know that Ronnie was a teacher and loved knowledge… so I am certain he would be smiling down on those on two wheels who were contributing to this scholarship! The bar stops included Dirty Harry’s, Walden’s, Rudy’s and the Dog House in Port Orange.

We returned to great music by Anthony Wild and a terrific meal put on by Giuseppe’s! Put this on your radar for events to ride on next year, and don’t forget that they are open year-round with a free BBQ featuring live music on the 3rd Sunday of the month with a car/truck show and vendors.

By Lulu

Each spring at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, motorcycle history buffs love to stroll around the lake to gawk at one of the grandest displays of motorcycle history. This year they celebrated competition motorcycles of all makes and models! With the sponsors including Adamec Harley-Davidson, BMW Jacksonville, BMW Motorcycle Club of NW FL, C Hill Concepts, DCP, Folio Media House, Hagerty, LPI Designs, Mercedes-Benz, Moto Euro Garage, Sargent Cycle Products, Sunshine Chapter AMCA, Terk Oncology, VyStar and Wheels through Time, not only does Riding into History put on a great event they also contribute to K9’s for Warriors! A special thank you to those who give their support and hard work BMW of NE FL, VJMC, HMS, JB Chrome Divas, Moto Euro Garage and CMA. We always look forward to this event and love running into old friends who love old bikes!