By Lulu

Anchors are meant to keep things in place! And by the thousands of bikers crammed on the property of Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona dealership, it looks like Biketoberfest isn’t going anywhere!!! I could barely get through the crowd trying to move from the back-parking lot where I was conveniently delivered by a shuttle toward the vendors out front! This year they featured Nirvana as their headliner and I was told they put on a hell of a show! The demo trucks were busy and each morning the dealership served FREE kegs and eggs…gotta love that for the breakfast of champions!!

What I was really impressed by was the remodel of their showroom…complete with a full-service barber shop! The place was swarming with customers! Whether you are looking for that 2019 model to take home or are in the market for something new to wear during the approaching winter months…ride in to the Rossmeyer’s showrooms at I-95 and US 1 in Ormond Beach, Main Street in Daytona, or New Smyrna Beach on SR 44. Check out their website for the entertainment and monthly ride schedule at BruceRossmeyer.com!!

by Phoenix and Metric-HD

As the holiday season rapidly approaches most families have visions of carving that delicious turkey or unwrapping the newest hi-tech device, however there is an organization that has a different vision of the holiday season and that organization is WREATHS across AMERICA!!! What started out as a project by a wreath manufacturing company in 1992 to put wreathes in Arlington Cemetery has snowballed into a major production with over 1,100 participating locations in all 50 states, and 24 national veteran cemeteries around the world. Today their mission is to REMEMBER those who have served our country, HONOR those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, TEACH the youth that freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Their mission continues to expand immensely each year. The Highlanders Chapter of United States Military Motorcycle Club help cut the cost of the mission by hosting a fantastic poker run. The day was filled with great weather for riding, fantastic food and ending with wonderful music provided by HARD CANDY. Again, thanks to our fellow Veterans from the Highlanders Chapter of the US Military Veterans MC for all they do for this program and their fellow Veterans. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

If you haven’t participated in a Wreaths across America event at a National Cemetery it is an experience that you will never forget. This year the National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Dec. 15, 2018. If you would like to donate or want more information on how to get involved go to: http://WreathsAcrossAmerica.org

By Tony and T-Rex

It’s October, it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and it’s time for the 6th Annual Boob Run at the Lake Poinsett Lodge. We fire “Goldie” up and off we go. We check in and T-Rex is already buying t-shirts. Then the bikes start to trickle in, 2 at a time…4 at a time…13 at a time, by the time they’re done checking in its looking like 118 bodies in the parking lot. I see Mark, owner of the Alibi pulling in, then Brian from Jenna’s Breezeway pulls in for the second stop on the run. As the pack starts to roll out, our first stop is the local favorite H-D Roadhouse which is always ready for a bike run and can handle a large crowd.

Finish the morning there and we’re heading beach side to Jenna’s Breezeway, where even the owner Jenna is slinging drinks. When we finish up there we are running A1A to the B-Line, some get off at route 3 for the scenic ride, others shot down to Route 1. No matter which way ya go we all end up at Pinto’s Lounge. Cathy, the owner is slinging a few drinks for the crew. From there it’s off to Cocoa Joe’s which is under new management and still a good last stop before our run home.

Heading back to the lodge, as usual we’re the last ones, but I can hear “Wild Cards” jamming out tunes, people are eating pulled pork sandwiches and drinking cold beverages. The weather was perfect at the canal and it was the opening of the new tiki hut they just built. Stop by sometime and check it out. Keltec donated a PMR-30 to be raffled off and there were 20 or so baskets for raffle, a 50/50 drawing and a cooler of cheer. All in all, a little something for everyone. Michelle, the owner of Lake Poinsett donates the proceeds to Driven by Heart Foundation and this year she was able to donate over 2,000 dollars.

To Michelle, her staff and everybody that donated their time to make this happen, thank you for a great job!!!! We from Thunder Roads Florida Magazine had a blast and look forward to seeing everybody again next year. And if everybody brings a friend maybe we can donate a little more. Save The TA-TA’S and Ride Safe—TNT

By Lulu

Rick and Denise Hilliard in Port Orange have the whole thing of having a great place for food and fun figured out. Bike night on Tuesdays includes great live music sitting under the stars and a different free food each week with $1.50 longnecks!! Every week there is something special going on inside or outside on the 5000 square foot tiki deck! I don’t believe there is any bar in town that has more events for local charities and veterans. AND the menu has something for every appetite from seafood to their famous “sizzlin’ steaks”! Always a favorite stop for visiting bikers during Bike Week and Biketoberfest they had two special nights with Tim Dugger from Nashville to entertain us all.

By Terri Zainc

Treasure Coast Harley Owners Group raises funds for American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. The event was kicked off by Congressman Brian Mast to shed awareness on this difficult and prevalent issue. The town wide bike run was police escorted and finished at the Treasure Coast Harley dealership for a party with music, entertainment food and drink! The Chapter had a very successful ride and raised approximately $2800 of well needed funds. TC HOGs knows how to put on an event! It was a great time!!!

By TJ

At Space Coast Harley Davidson in Palm Bay, Bishop is constantly striving to bring entertainment to Harley owners by filling the property with fun events. In October, he went “the extra mile” with one of the largest prizes for a bikini contest to date. The girls were gorgeous! Music by a multitude of bands rocked all month. The Ives Brothers Wall of Death was on property. Free beer, vendors, bikini bike washes, bike rodeos, stunt shows, and the list goes on!! Visit their website for the scheduled events and while traveling the east Coast of Florida on I 95 stop in and visit their packed showroom!

By Lulu

Motorcyclists from all walks of life love our vets. And that was obvious on the ride out of Stormy Hill Harley-Davidson in Clermont. The ribbon of bikes that rode from Stormy Hill H-D down beautiful hilly roads and ending at Texas Roadhouse in Clermont helped pay for a nail or two in a brand-new home for a severely wounded veteran. The group Homes for Our Troops based out of Taunton, Massachusetts were happy to pose for a photo when we flew up to Boston to check their organization out. This is a charity to get behind!!! It began in 2004 and nearly 90 cents of every dollar go DIRECTLY toward supporting the vets. They have a comprehensive selection process and build a house that accommodates their needs and put it where the veteran chooses to live. They provide each vet with a pro-bono financial planner for 3 years, a peer mentoring program and stay in touch with the new homeowners to insure they are successful in rebuilding their lives. As of August 2018, they have built and donated 260 custom homes nationwide. And when they talk of rebuilding lives by taking away the financial struggle of financing a home, particularly a home that addresses their special needs…I was impressed by this statistic…only 12% of the vets and 8% of their spouses had a degree or trade certificate before the home, but after their home was donated to them, 69% of vets and 90% of their spouses had obtained a degree or trade certification! And over 150 babies have been born to Homes for Our Troops recipients since 2010!! We met Army Sgt. Patrick Wickens and his family whose new home is in Orlando. They are thrilled with the home and with this organization’s continued concern for him and his family. Texas Roadhouses across the United States have become involved with this great cause. So, support Texas Roadhouse in Clermont! The food they served on the ride was AWESOME. They also are hosting a bike night on the third Wednesdays with Stormy Hill from 6p-til with DJ Rashad! And when you see a ride for Homes for Our Troops make plans to ride on them, it is the least we can do to repay the debt we owe these heroes…and with 90 cents of every dollar going directly to the vets this is one GREAT organization! If you’re interested in helping with their mission of “Building Homes, Rebuilding Lives”, check out their website www.hfotusa.org.

By Lulu

After missing a year, the Peterson family are back with the annual Key’s poker run which their father Phil started in 1972 for a total of 45. As many events experience growth and change, sometimes it is time to get back to basics and so was this year’s poker run. Rather than jump through major economic hoops imposed by Key West, which ate up a great deal of the profits for the charities, it was decided to run this like a true run…not a rally. I heard some complaints ranging from “Where is the Duval activities?” to people being irate that Key West eliminated all parking with barricades on Duval Street which discouraged the bikers who did stay in Key West for the weekend from partying in Irish Kevin’s, Dirty Harry’s and Sloppy Joe’s. There really wasn’t a crowd anywhere.

Personally, I enjoyed this run more than others. It was less hectic trying to run to bike shows, tattoo contests, bikini contest and the final event which is the ending poker hand. I enjoyed just having the stops to make, my cards to pull, drinks to drink, food to eat, pools to swim in and bands to listen to!!! And in the end…all we really care about as bikers is the ride! The stops after sign-up at Peterson’s were Gilbert’s Resort, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill, Marker 88, Island Fish Co. and Boondocks with the final Texas Hold em hand back at Gilbert’s on Sunday afternoon. As a past Rotary president I also care about the charity! And I hope those of you who have ridden on this event for years will realize that is what it is all about. Next year if they do this again I will probably stay somewhere besides Key West and book my final nights at Gilbert’s Resort which has beautifully remodeled rooms and a great sunset.

Amy Mechlowitz was the lucky winner of the Texas Hold Em final hand and walked away with $5,000!! The 50/50 let Steve Bukovack from Palm Coast win $600. 957 poker hands were sold, and I hope you will put this on your calendar for next year! The charities really appreciate your support!!!

By Lulu

Heather and John at Dirty Harry’s on Main Street in Daytona put another one in the “pilot’s log” with a perfect take-off and landing for this benefit run. For those of you not familiar with Angel Flight’s mission, it is to raise funds to assist pilots using their personal planes to fly those without funds to life saving medical care, supply delivery for disaster relief and reuniting families in desperate times. Those who took the ride out of Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach and reached in their pockets for the hands and auction items…a special thank you to all of you! There were hundreds on this run. It was a great day of old and new friends. The stops included Cheyenne Saloon in Palatka with owner Joe manning the poker draw, Renegade’s on the River in Crescent City, OB’s in Deland where Adam James was rocking the stage and ending at Dirty Harry’s for their free BBQ and great music by Redline. A few more people who need to be thanked for the huge success of this event is Rue & Ziffra, P. A. who have sponsored this for years. Rock of Daytona also have been huge supporters of Angel Flight. Daytona Estate Jewelry, FTI Performance.com, ECP Services Group, Oztopia, Worldwide Safety Consulting and Debbie Clark. One last thank you to Horny Dave for his cash contribution…he wasn’t on the ride but when he spotted us at Renegades he handed me a hundred bucks to add to the kitty!

By Lulu

One of my favorite musicians and just a great guy is Bobby Friss. In December there is a charity event he puts on at Quaker Steak & Lube on December 5th. Below is an interview with Bobby about the event!

TRM…Tell us about this Children’s Home Benefit you are organizing.

BOBBY…It takes place on Wednesday, December 5th at Quaker Steak and Lube in Pinellas Park, Fl. From 6-10 pm. Tampa area musicians will all donate their performances and we will have auction items throughout the evening. 100% of every dollar will be given to the kids the next day so they can have an amazing Christmas.

TRM…How did you get involved in this charity?
BOBBY…I hosted the first benefit in 1986 in Clearwater, Fl. Shortly after that WYNF FM in Tampa got involved co-sponsoring the concerts and over the years we made over $100,000.00 for the home. Gene Simmons, Lou Gramm, Billy Squire, and hundreds of Tampa area musicians have all played to raise funds for the kids at the Children’s Home Network in Tampa, Fl. I also donated the royalties from my song ‘Suzie Darlin’ off the Cut Loose album, and I have visited the kids many times over my 30 year involvement.

TRM…Who will be playing this year?

BOBBY…Robby Steinhardt formerly of Kansas, Stormbringer, the Torpedos, Ronnie Dee, Janelle Sadler, Ray Blade, members of Greg Billings Band and Highway to Hell, and of course my band. There will be some amazing jam sessions and special guests throughout the night. My good friend radio legend Russ Albums will help with the auction in between bands, so this will be an incredible night not to be missed.

TRM…Where can people donate if they can’t make the benefit?

BOBBY…We set up a GOFUNDME PAGE…BOBBY FRISS CHILDREN’S HOME BENEFIT.

TRM…Anything else you would like people to know?

BOBBY…Just a big thank you to you Beth and Thunder Roads Florida Magazine for helping promote this worthwhile charity that is near and dear to my heart!

And THANK YOU Bobby for bringing joy to children at Christmas and to all who love your music all year long!

By Lulu

Tony, owner of The Boat Bar in Port Orange came up with a new idea. One day each month, the gang will gather to ride to an unknown destination to be determined right now by luck of the draw. We attended the inaugural “Mystery Ride” in September which ended going to OB’s in Deland. We meandered through the back roads with some new friends and some familiar ones. Once we arrived at OB’s we had a few cocktails and visited with our great friend Ken that helps OB’s with their events, particularly the Wednesday night Bike Nights and their big panhead/shovelhead event in November! Once we downed a cocktail or two we saddled up for the return trip back to the Boat for a great lunch. Tony outdid himself cooking a whole pig for us. I must admit it was beautiful and delicious. His next mystery ride is Sat Nov 17th for a 9:00 A.M check in. Once again, we will throw some bar names in a hat and pick the days destination. Everyone is welcome, so come on out and ride with us. It promises to be a great day of friends and riding.

By Ron Cox

The LOH contingent of Naples HOG hosted its eleventh annual Fly Your Bra Ride on Saturday, October 6th. Premise of the ride was to encourage women and men to wear decorative bras in support of those who are fighting this terrible disease.

More than 150 motorcycles and easily more than 200 riders/passengers registered at Naples Harley-Davidson for the ride that took the procession through the heart of downtown Naples before ending at Six Bends Harley-Davidson in Ft. Myers. The ride was fully escorted by patrol cars and motors from Collier and Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Naples PD.

In year’s past the funds raised were given to the American Cancer Society for cancer research. The current policy is to directly support women who are battling cancer. Susan McDonald, a cancer survivor herself, is the Chairperson for the ride and indicated that Janet Clifford and Melissa Lopez will each receive half of the proceeds of the day or $4,000.

Upon arrival at Six Bends everyone was treated to a light lunch with soft drinks, entertainment by Teakwood Drive and an inhouse poker run.

We regret to report that as of October 5th Naples Harley-Davidson will be closed. The move is to consolidate business at Six Bends.

By Lulu

We were at the Cotee River Bike Fest and stopped in at Whiskey River on the Water for a drink and to fill our bellies. The bar changed owners and management this summer. If you haven’t been in this is a GREAT spot for those who love to ride. The food was delicious we tried the burger and Whiskey River Bourbon Shrimp! They also have an in-house smoker and produce their own Whiskey River BBQ and sauce. Chef Eric has a full menu of delectable entrees and appetizers including bacon wrapped scallops, Whiskey River Bourbon Pasta laced with shrimp and scallop in a bourbon butter cream sauce, wings and salads. Something for every taste bud!

What sets this bar apart is when they say “on the water” it is! They have inside AC seating, large outdoor under roof seating and then open on the dock seating with a beautiful view of the Cotee River. Add to that music daily and 14 TVs with the NFL Ticket. Our bartender Natalie was adorable and hard working. She let us know they have bucket specials during college and pro football game with Bud, Bud Lite and Ultra on Saturdays for $10.99 or Bud Lite, Shock Top or Mic Ultra draft pitchers for $7.99! On Sundays it switches to Yuengling, Miller and Coors buckets for $10.99 or pitchers for $7.99! They also have Happy Hour Monday through Friday 2-6pm.

If you are looking for a spot to host a holiday event they are booking now. They will be open on Thanksgiving evening but closed Monday and Tuesday for Christmas. Call now 727-849-2180.

Located at 5245 Limestone Dr. in Port Richey they are tucked under the bridge over the river on US 19. It is a perfect spot for you to cool your pipes and pick up Thunder Roads Florida Magazine!

By Lulu

So as anniversary bashes go…the Log Cabin definitely, had a little devil in the house. Tonya who pays attention to the smallest details had lit devil horns ordered for the AC/DC Tribute night and the entire place was a sea of glowing red horns. The band Thunder Jack had a standing room only crowd that spilled outside to the tables and tent they had erected for the night. The band rocked the place and I must say was one of the best tribute bands I have seen doing AC/DC. There are a lot of pictures from that night on our Facebook page at Thunder Roads Florida so check them out. And if you are looking for a nice place to ride to and throw a beer or cocktail down, check out Long’s. Waylon is a veteran who rides, and he is also a school teacher. So, support this families dream of owning a great bar…we love them and all the folks we have met at their establishment!

By Lulu

Being on the cutting edge is what the world-famous Bruce Rossmeyer dealership is known for. So, when I heard they were going to do the FIRST Trikefest I wasn’t surprised, if I was surprised by anything it was that no one has taken this on before as trike sales are a huge market now. Mid-September was their first event and I have heard that it will be happening again bigger and better in 2019. This one included a meet and greet on Friday, a ride on Saturday, live music, bike show and vendors. The Florida Trikers Association were in attendance and if you haven’t joined this group you might want to check them out, seem like a great group of people to socialize and ride with! So, ALL 3 wheelers get ready for September 20-22nd!

Photos by Kenneth Tornabene