By Lulu

So, for one year now Wednesday nights in Deland have been spent eating, drinking and listening to great bands at OB’s. The parking lot over the year has had to have pavement added for all the bikes, tables added for sitting and I am sure SR Perrott has had to increase the Twisted Tea and beer deliveries. Wednesday nights rain or shine have been rocking! Bands like Crashrocket and Penta have graced the stage and kept the crowd lively. Their year anniversary was the biggest night ever. So, if you feel like a ride to Deland, join in for the food which is a $3 to $4 special each Wednesday night, ice cold beer buckets and great music! A special thank you to David Sweat from Rue & Ziffra law firm for coming out for the celebration, WHOG Radio for the live remote, Bill Grotto from Twisted Tea for their giveaways…all made it one hell of a party!

By Lulu

A state-of-the art brand spanking new Harley-Davidson showroom is coming in 2019 to St. Augustine. The beautiful building will be located right off the east side of I 95 on the outlet mall property across from Field’s Cadillac. A ground breaking with breakfast was well attended, and St. Augustine is excited to have Harley-Davidson as part of the cities business family. The plan in adding this 5th Adamec store is to keep the merchandise location in the historic downtown shopping district and the addition of the new location will bring a full-service dealership back to St. Augustine. The three Jacksonville locations are on Baymeadows, in Orange Park on Wells Rd. and the Regency store on Atlantic. Adding one more location will keep Missy and Sarah working their buns off with events and promotions!! See the press release regarding this big announcement.
ADAMEC HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO OPEN FULL-SERVICE DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA (September 26, 2018) – Adamec Cycle Sales Co. Inc. announced today that it will expand its operations in St Augustine, Florida and the surrounding St. Johns County area with the addition of a new 35,000 square foot full service dealership. The new store located on 4.5 acres on Outlet Mall Blvd (at I-95 & 16) across from Fields Cadillac will be named Adamec Harley-Davidson of St. Augustine. This state-of-the-art facility will employ 25 people and is projected to open by 3rd quarter of 2019. Having Sales, Parts, Service, Rentals, Rider Training Class and an on site riding course will allow this to be a one-stop shop. Project cost is unavailable at this time.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to serve the Harley-Davidson customers & community of St. Augustine,” said Mark Adamec. “Our three dealerships have earned the Bar & Shield Award, Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s highest honors, eight years in a row for excellence in customer satisfaction and dealership operations. Our goal is to deliver an outstanding experience to all of our customers and offer them a full line dealership close to home.”
“As a third generation Harley-Davidson Dealer, we realize the importance of the relationship between the Harley-Davidson customer and their dealership,” Adamec continued. “We’re family!” Our grandfather believed it 87 years ago when he founded Adamec Harley-Davidson and the tradition continues three generations later. My brother Chris and I are extremely grateful to have this opportunity to bring one of the oldest continuous family owned Harley-Davidson Dealers to serve the Oldest City in the United States of America!”

Chris Adamec adds, “We feel this market is underserved and giving the great people of St. Augustine a dealership to call their own is a natural fit for Adamec Harley; and we are very happy to say Welcome to the Family!”

Adamec Harley Davidson is a Family owned business since 1931 that operates one of the nation’s largest Harley-Davidson Dealership Groups with four locations currently. Adamec Harley-Davidson of Jacksonville at Baymeadows, Adamec Harley-Davidson of Orange Park and Adamec Harley-Davidson at Regency on Atlantic Blvd. along with a Retail Outlet on St. George Street in the heart of historic downtown St Augustine.

By Lulu

If you ride on two or three wheels to major rallies anywhere in America, you have almost certainly met some of the faces behind major corporate businesses that appreciate motorcyclists. Their support of the motorcycle rallies can mean huge financial contributions to cities or venues in forms of sponsorships, large budgets for product giveaways and employees to meet and greet you, and an investment in time and travel!!! As I have traveled from Sturgis to Key West, Laconia to Galveston and too many places in between I have been amazed at the generosity of a few of these big businesses and their loyalty to motorcycle enthusiasts. I took the time to track down a few and asked what makes them go to the time, effort and investment to be noticed by us on our bikes and trikes. I was pleasantly surprised by their candid answers and reasons for being involved in our world.

Bayer Corporation’s original involvement with motorcycling was at Bike Week with Bruce Rossmeyer at Destination Daytona over eleven years ago. Larry Bond stated that what started as a sponsorship at the Florida rally has evolved into a “rally tour” over the last ten years and quite a financial commitment. Bayer has spent over $1.5 million dollars building product loyalty at the grassroots. Having friendly faces dishing out free samples of cures for aches and pains, sunburns, allergies and even footcare makes a personal connection with potential consumers. Their demographic is the average rider. Motorcycles are not cheap to own, traveling motorcyclists need protection from the sun, walk for hours from vendor’s row to concerts and generally eat and drink too much, requiring a “quick cure all”! The rallies also bring non-riders to listen to music, eat, drink and party so their product exposure isn’t only the riders. The Aleve, Claritin, Alka-Seltzer, Coppertone and Dr. Scholl’s products are much needed samples, which is obvious if you watch the line and the smiling faces walking away with their goody bags like kids at Trick-or-Treat. Larry stated, “We don’t have to do it, but with retail changing and E-commerce growing we set ourselves apart by building product loyalty with face to face goodwill!” I ask that as bikers we appreciate that and when you walk in your local retailer that you remember Bayer, Aleve, Claritin, Alka-Seltzer, Dr. Scholl’s and Coppertone. Something else Mr. Bond said that struck a chord was that just their involvement with Rolling Thunder’s Run to the Wall on Memorial Day weekend makes the investment in the motorcycling community well worth the time, money and energy devoted from their budget. Being involved in such a great cause and being there for our veterans, gives the company an opportunity to show a deep sense of appreciation for their cost of protecting our freedom. Having volunteered at their booth in DC I know for certain that the sense of appreciation goes both ways. Weary bikers who travel cross country for that event are always thrilled to receive the care packages. It is amazing that Bayer sees that personal connections can be more effective than a TV spot to build loyalty and goodwill for their product. Look for their tent at Iron Horse Saloon during Biketoberfest!

Another booth you will see all over the country at venues from bike racing to concerts is Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys. I spoke with Wendy who has been their marketing director for seven years. The main office is based out of Studio City, California where Russ’ practice began in 1975. Russ was the original “motorcycle attorney” and lifetime rider, only retiring from riding in his eighties. He is very proud of the legacy he built. As a rider first and a lawyer second, he saw a need to specialize in motorcycle law as he observed insurance companies taking advantage of motorcyclists. What began as advocating for fellow riders evolved into a personal relationship with all major rallies and the entire motorcycling community. Russ Brown was inducted into the Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame in Sturgis for his lifetime commitment to motorcyclists. He also developed through face to face marketing two million volunteers nationwide for BAM (Breakdown Assistance for Motorcyclists) which through face to face marketing has grown to two million volunteers nationwide. This is a free program that only requires your volunteering to help other riders in need. The number you call is 1-800-4-BIKERS. As a participant you get roadside assistance, an Emergency ID card, free legal advice and a connection to vetted local lawyers handpicked for their skill and experience in motorcycle law. They are NOT a pay-to-join referral group and you cannot but the right to be a Russ Brown attorney. Managing partners Chuck Koro & Jim Romag in the California firm are also life-long riders, and even Wendy’s grandfather was an Indian rider. Russ Brown’s sponsorship nationwide includes Sturgis Rally, Daytona Bike Week, Buffalo Chip, and American Flat Track Racing to name just a very few. They give back an enormous amount of money and time to the riding community. Look for their friendly staff at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson complex during Biketoberfest!

A newcomer to the world of motorcycle rallies is Sunstar Americas, Inc. Tracy Nunziata, Chief Marketing Officer, said they started consumer sampling at rallies in January 2018, after research found motorcycle enthusiasts to be heavy users of Soft-Picks® from the GUM® branded product line. Sunstar found that those traveling on two and three wheels had oral care needs that their products could address. Tracy noted that product sampling has been a great way to interact with consumers. At rallies, people are traveling light, eating and drinking on the run and it is as if they are a captive audience when the Sunstar tent is set up near food tents. The rally circuit has been a great investment and a natural fit for their oral care products. Other than professional sampling in dental offices, this is their first step into sampling at major events. Not only is it a way to interact with customers, it is a chance to educate the public on dental care products, which may be especially important to those who have not visited a dental office recently. Tracy loves riding on the back of a bike and says the rally exposure has been a fun experience. Sunstar will be set up at Iron Horse Saloon at Biketoberfest. Be sure to check out Soft-Picks!!

A big thank you to these companies that realize the effectiveness of grassroots participation in our world of motorcycling. Let them know you appreciate their efforts by being loyal consumers!!

By Lulu

First, I must apologize to anyone looking for coverage of events they attended that were scheduled for the October issue. We received many larger than usual ads and new ads because of Biketoberfest so they ate up our space. The good news is thanks to our advertisers we will stay in business for another year! People not in the magazine business don’t realize that you must go up in 8-page increments, so we can’t just add in an extra ad or two without pulling planned content to get new or larger ads in. The missing articles will be in November and the photos are on our Facebook page at Thunder Roads Florida.

On a political rant, I was in DC for a wedding and once again visited our monuments and the war memorials. Went by the Pentagon and it was a solemn memory of the 9/11 tragedy. When everyday morons disrespect our flag, anthem and those of us who take what they mean seriously, I want to knock them out. My sister-in-law was standing in front of the White House and protestors were yelling about Trump…luckily, I didn’t see them. I understand their right to yell…I don’t understand their need to. I didn’t yell at the White House gate when Obama was sitting there doing nothing for 8 years! I watched the reruns of 9/11 on the news, saw some footage I have never seen before. For ANYONE, including Muslims and children not born then, to not understand the rage felt by all of us on that day, angers me. The loss of ordinary people traveling on planes to weddings or funerals, going to work, checking their kids into day care, or heroes in uniform running into save people they didn’t know…how can anyone, anywhere not get that it wasn’t “an incident” as Nancy Pelosi described it…it was calculated premeditated murder of the worst kind…making it terrorism. Heroes crashed the plane they were on into a field to save others. That is who Nike should have given a “Gold Star” to. People chose to jump from Trade Center windows to die flying rather than burning. Where was Nike for them? Our world changed that day, and as a voter I am not going to allow a bunch of uneducated brats think that they can change the tapestry of our country by changing our constitution. For God’s sake get out and vote for our country this November. And vote Republican.

The other thing that I am pissed about is when you see on Facebook all this terrible dumping into the ocean from Lake Okeechobee. Well I was just down there and took a photo of TJ on the side of the lake. Beautiful clear water in the lake and everywhere. The ecology of the southern part of Florida looked healthy to me. Red tide or algae blooms have been documented for centuries and are a naturally occurring event. This year it was a longer bloom season, but we also had a major hurricane which caused dumping of waste into the oceans and waterways down there and lots and lots of rain! Blaming our republican governor or Trump for something that has been going on for centuries is plain stupid. They are having round table discussions on the cause and effect…they are not ignoring it or planting it the way some on Facebook spew. Stop the nonsense!!

Make sure you vote, check your facts before you hit the share button and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

So, as we all know people on two and three wheels love a good bar with ice cold beer, great food and an outside area to visit with friends. Throw in some good music and a view even better! Well the owners and management of The Dog House in Port Orange and the newly opened Big Tuna’s Beach Front Bar & Grill are on to us!!!
The Dog House (the old Roadside Tavern) in Port Orange on 3400 S. Nova Road is bustling with events and is a favorite for poker run stops. They have ice cold beer, a full liquor bar, a huge outside deck with live music either on the big stage or on the back deck. Inside they have a stage and do fun things like Bonker’s Comedy Night on Thursday and Fridays and karaoke Tuesday and Wednesdays!! The food is awesome…gotta try their burgers!! Check their ad out in this issue for their nightly food specials. For Biketoberfest they have booked Big Engine on October 18th, Hillbilly Vegas on October 19th and Randy Woody on the 20th. You must check this bar out while you are in town!

Their newly opened Big Tuna’s Beach Bar & Grill is at 831 E. International Speedway Blvd. right before the beach with a view of the waves! Mimosas and Bloody Marys is a great way to start your morning or end your day! Ice cold beer or nice wine glass of wine is just a perfect thing to sip or gulp on a day of riding! Big Tunas also have live music on the outside patio with that ocean view!

When asked about future plans manager Stephen told us that they are looking to purchase more bars/restaurants throughout Florida, so if you know of anybody selling, or are looking to sell your own business, please call the Dog House and ask for Stephen at 386-872-7291.

by Phoenix and Metric-HD

Every day is a good day to ride, but Sunday is a “GREAT” day to ride. Sunday is Funday!!! All roads lead to Bo David’s Restaurant and Bar in Lake Placid. Whether you are riding with the “SON” and looking for a place to ride after church or you are chasing the tail of the dog after a rough Saturday night, Bo David is the place to go! The scenic ride to Bo David’s will allow you to enjoy the wonders of the “All Mighty” and it can also clear that fog from a long Saturday night of partying. Either way hit the ride and make a pit stop at Bo David’s Restaurant and Bar. When you get there tell them Metric from Thunder Roads Florida sent you. If you come out on the 1st Sunday of each month they have “Twisted Tea” specials, great food, cold drinks, music, games and a bikini bike wash. The party starts around 4pm. Phoenix and I are usually there that Sunday, so stop out and enjoy the day with us. We get out there after church and a short “scenic” ride around GOD’S great county. See you there be, safe riding and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

By Lulu

The customers and friends of Gator Harley-Davidson in Leesburg were on hand to listen to the tunes of Bobby Blackmon and Hypersona celebrating the beginning of another year. Vendors were on hand to sell their wares and fill your belly. A portable pool was near the stage to take a dip in and I must admit even I had to take the plunge. Speaking of plunging, if you are interested in one of the 2019 models coming out, stop in and visit the staff at Gator Harley you won’t meet a better bunch!! They have a bike night on the first Friday of the month complete with live music, food trucks and games. Leesburg is a nice ride from any direction so dust off your bike and ride over, no sense in waiting for Leesburg Bike Fest for a nice time in Lake County.

By Lulu

Riding weather is here!!! And time to dust off the scoot! First place to put some miles on your tires should be a ride out to Renegade’s on the River in Crescent City. Tucked on a beautiful piece of property on the St. John’s River this is an awesome spot to put your kickstand down. The ride out is on beautiful country roads from all directions. No traffic!

Then once you pull in you will have to be impressed! They have a beautifully maintained RV campground, cottages, a full restaurant, AND a huge tiki bar. The tiki bar always has something going on. On Sundays they do $1.75 drafts, $2.75 domestics and $2.25 wells. Karaoke for those who like to sing a note or two is from 1-5p. If you arrive with your stomach growling…the food is great. Right at the tiki bar they have fresh Tuscan style pizza! See their ad in our magazine for more information on their restaurant specials and other entertainment schedule.

By Lulu

I used to live in Flagler Beach and I always loved a spot on the water below the bridge on 100 that brings you into Flagler Beach. The owners of Hidden Treasure in Port Orange and Ponce Inlet purchased the location in Flagler and have done great things with the place. All summer they ran a Summer Concert Series which included bands like Big Engine, Hayfire, and Peach Life to name a few. The atmosphere is awesome, the locals are great people, and I had great food every time I have been there. The music is from 6-10pm and they have extended it through September. So, get on your bike and ride to Hidden Treasure at 820 Moody Lane for a beautiful way to spend a Saturday evening!

By Lulu

Really thankful to be leaving the HOT, WET month of August behind. We have tons of traveling to do in September and hoping that the weather God will be a little kinder to all of us on two and three wheels. We rode on a ride out of Bay 3 Bar and it was sweltering. The cause for the run was to help a mother of four who had a house fire. And that is what I want to say today. As frigging hot as it was, with almost certain downpours expected, 60+ great people put 100+ miles on their bikes, dug cash out of their pockets and made it a GREAT day.

I know that happens every weekend all over the state and that is exactly what I love about you guys that love motorcycles. I doubt most of them knew this young mom. Didn’t matter one bit to them. There was a need, a reason to ride and a free lunch involved! It would have been easy to sit in a recliner with the AC cranking cool breeze, nice and dry, with an ice-cold beer from the fridge and watching some mindless sport on TV. But no out they all came to be a ribbon of riders supporting another cause.

On that subject there are some major events in September that we will be participating in. Would love to see you at them! On September 2nd the Angel Flight Ride starts at Beaver Bar in Ormond Beach. The 9/11 ride is on 9/9, put on by the Knights of Inferno in Bunnell, it is a free memorial ride and still as important as the first one. We must never forget the lives lost and the cost the terrorists caused this great country. There is the Phil Peterson Key’s run which raises money for charity it is September 14-16th. In October, the Boggy Creek Ride is scheduled for October 7th. And there is a Rotary Freedom Flight Ride out of Avon Park on October 13th. All of these are great causes.

We all know the fall rallies are right around the corner Biketoberfest, Cotee River Bike Fest and Thunder Beach. A new one is a Trike Fest in Ormond Beach spearheaded by Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona H-D.

We also are riding on a “Ride to Nowhere” out of The Boat Bar in Port Orange on September 29th come ride with us for a fun afternoon.

Ride on a charity ride, buy a stranger a beer and don’t forget your sunscreen!

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!!!