By Lulu

We were blessed to have the opportunity to ride on Rusty’s Ride in Sturgis this year. Although we have been to Sturgis many times, I haven’t been able to attend this event in the past. Southern Country Customs, owned by Rusty and Steve Wallace, build amazing one-of-a-kind bikes and each year one of their builds is auctioned at this event. It is actually a two-day affair with dinner the night before and then the ride with the auction the following morning. It leaves out of downtown Deadwood’s Outlaw Square. The ribbon of motorcycles snakes through Spearfish Canyon and finishes with a great BBQ lunch and the auction of all kinds of items including artwork, helmets, a week stay at Rusty’s home in Cabo San Lucas and an all-expense trip to a Green Bay Packer game, private jet and luxury suite included. Painter David Uhl was on stage finishing up a painting during the auction and even allowed Rusty to paint a stroke or two…to make it very one of a kind. The final auction item is the Southern Country Customs bike, and it brought a whopping $140,000 that Meredith took home to Ponce Inlet, Florida. The total for the kitty was $507,850! This was the 7th ride and since the first ride they have raised $2.1 million through the help of sponsors, volunteers, and the riders! A special thank you to Rod “Woody” Woodruff, owner of Buffalo Chip, Harley-Davidson, El Bandido Yankee Tequila Company, and Silverado Franklin, Deadwood for their sponsorship. The ride benefits children through the NASCAR Foundation and Special Olympics South Dakota.

This has been a really traumatic month for me. The awful stabbing of the young innocent Ukrainian girl on the train in Charlotte, the horrible assassination of Charlie Kirk, the shooting of an Edgewater police officer while shopping at a Circle K and of course remembering 9/11. The 24th year we had to remember that horrific morning. I was thinking about how moments change the course of life. A young girl getting on a train, looks like she has headphones in probably listening to music or a podcast had no idea when she left work that her life would be ripped from her by a stranger in the seat behind! Charlie Kirk smiling, throwing hats to the crowd, some of which he knew disagreed with him, but those were his challenges…he had no idea when the question of transgender killers was asked that a lunatic from a roof would snuff his life and create a revival and an army of Charlies!

The police officer shopping for his daily coffee or coke didn’t have a clue that some maniac would be waiting for him behind the counter to empty 2 clips point blank into his body (I heard 22 bullets) …ending his watch. It all made me think how the woman started her day on 9/11…woke, had breakfast, went to work in the Twin Tower, said hello to colleagues and then had to choose between burning to death or jumping to her death because some evil mindset had caused hijackers to end thousands of lives for their way to heaven and their cache of virgins waiting for them there. LUNATICs, MANIACS!!! What the hell is wrong with the world? This is not a right vs left issue. This is not a free speech issue. This is not liberal vs conservative issue. This is not a Democrat vs Republican issue. IT IS An EVIL VS GOOD ISSUE. A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE! Please don’t write to tell me stick to motorcycle stuff.

We have real problems in this world, and we need to start being part of the solution. Don’t spend so much time scrolling through your frigging phones. MAKE your children limit their times on their phones. TEACH manners. TEACH respect for POLICE, FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR MILITARY. Take time to listen to others but STAND firm in your beliefs that are based on our Constitution and God. And if you believe in a higher power…PRAY for our country, the world, and the souls ripped from their daily living with no idea it would be their last day on Earth………….

I am no Charlie Kirk, but he has inspired me to think about life, God and being a better human. He has changed the world.

By Lulu

This has been a summer of mountains for Thunder Roads Florida: Appalachians, Smokies, Black Hills, Rockies, and the Ozarks. This article features our time in June riding for nine days and 2,600 miles through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North & South Carolina and finally home! We made a few stops for meals with friends, but MOSTLY we just RODE! First stop was in Blairsville, Georgia to check out Copperhead Lodge (a separate article features this cool motorcycle resort). Tellico Plains, Tennessee was the next stop to visit our old pal Mike Miller, who is building a home out of his workshop, right on the side of a mountain.

We left Mike to ride the Cherohala Skyway, 43 beautiful miles through Tennessee and North Carolina, and feeds you right into the Tail of the Dragon. The Dragon is newly paved from end to end making those 318 twisties much more fun and safer to navigate. A note to any who venture up for this ride…check the scheduled events in the area. Last year we encountered Miata Week, where hundreds of small cars were drifting on the 11-mile stretch. This trip happened to be Grom Week which wasn’t as annoying as Miata Week, although the crazy loud bumblebee sound of these motorbikes was close.

We needed to have our 2017 GPS updated as we were getting lost from time to time, so during a stop at Smoky Mountain H-D in Maryville, T.J. found Chris in the service dept, who was happy to take care of it while we ate a scrumptious meal at The Shed. The next day, an unexpectedly unique stop was having breakfast at Betty’s Stockyard Café in Kingsport, Tennessee, where Betty and her crew have been feeding the locals for 33 years. One of the best meals of the week. Our miles in the saddle took us through Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia where you must walk the steep wooden path to view the bridge from below! While riding in West Virginia’s mountains, torrential rain fell for most of the day, and we heard on the news the following morning that several people had drowned in flash flooding.

On the way back south, we stopped in Mooresville, North Carolina to visit Southern Country Customs to check out the custom build that Steve and Rusty Wallace were to auction for the NASCAR Foundation Ride in Sturgis. Finishing up the trip, we made a lunch visit with our friend Kristie (OB’s daughter) who now lives in Charleston, South Carolina and just had her second baby! Note to all who haven’t taken a week or two in the summer to get the hell out of Florida for some cooler days of riding…JUST DO IT! Book yourself a stay at Copperhead Lodge and explore the scenery the region has to offer!

By Lulu

Each June for 7 years OB and his amazing staff put on one of the busiest days of the year. This year the weather was perfect, the crowd large, the bikini contestants hot and FUN, and the bike show entries hard to pick from! The band Signal 20 was great and VERY accommodating, encouraging the bikini girls to dance on stage with them and even allowed one of the contestants to sing along! More photos of the bikes, bikini contest and the days photos are on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook under albums.
Winners
Sportster-Doug
Bagger/Dresser-Andy
Paint-Mike
Rat Bike-Tattoo Mike
EVO-Royce
Chopper-Dom
Pan-Al
Shovel-Scott
Metric-Jason
Antique-Dom
Tropical Tattoo Choice-Shaun
Caps Choice-Ron
Best in Show-Bobby Collella

By Lulu

This was the second Memorial Day Weekend that we joined hundreds of others to show support for our veterans, first responders and those who have given their lives for our country. We thoroughly enjoyed the escorted ride from Deltona City Hall after our complimentary Dunkin Donuts & coffee. Veterans Enforcer Motorcycle Association and the City of Deltona hosted this event. Our law firm, Rue & Ziffra, PA have been sponsors of this event along with Lowe’s, Family Health Source, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Deltona Firefighters Foundation, TD Pro Solution, Division Weapons, Seminole H-D, Cigar Hustler, and Daytona Dodge. A moving tribute included the Missing Man Table, presentation of colors and amazing singing by a young lady. There were food trucks, vendors, and LOTS of patriotism! Our Florida Senator, Tom Wright, was even among the speakers (we also happened to see him in Sturgis at Rusty Wallace’s NASCAR Foundation ride). Thank you to all who worked and sponsored this event!

While in Sturgis, we had to have a 5,000-mile service and our friend Heavy from Midwest Motorcycles worked us in even though he had a boat load of work to get through to be able to head back to Florida. Heavy has a project coming up after Biketoberfest that I am asking all who are able bodied to help him with. The cemetery across from Boot Hill Saloon and Main Street Station on Main Street in Daytona, has had some vandalism and is in disrepair. He has already started a movement to clean the historic cemetery up, but there are some projects that need some extra muscle! Many of the headstones have been knocked over intentionally, these are stones that date from the Civil War era. They now have the city helping to keep vagrants out and hopefully keep this from recurring. So, I know some of you muscle guys that ride need a reason to strut your stuff and this would be a great cause. Rumor is that when we have the workday or two that there will be rewards provided by the local bars after the work out session.

On a sad note, a friend and riding buddy who rode with us on many of the Mystery Rides out of The Boat Bar, died while riding on his trip in Sturgis. We heard the sad news about “Junkyard” Joseph Pandolfi from Gator Ken when we arrived in Sturgis and it certainly filled us with sorrow. I heard it occurred in Wyoming. His girlfriend, “Kat” Kathleen Marin was injured in the accident. We don’t have any more information than that as of today.

By Lulu

One of the highlights of our summer ride to the Smokies was a stop at Copperhead Lodge & The Flying Trout Restaurant in Blairsville, Georgia. What a gem this place turned out to be! Nestled on 40 rolling acres in the heart of the mountains, this motorcycle resort feels like a home away from home for riders.

The property offers cozy one- and two-bedroom cabins—complete with kitchens, AC, wi-fi, porches, hot tubs, and even garages for your bike. If you don’t need a full cabin, the Lodge has comfortable rooms with covered parking right underneath, making it easy to tuck your ride in for the night.

Of course, the food is just as impressive. The Flying Trout Restaurant, located on-site, served us a delicious lunch during our visit. They also have live music every Friday and Saturday night, which is truly enjoyable. The Lodge’s inviting wrap-around porch, with its mountain views and outdoor fireplace, is the perfect place to relax after a long ride. Inside, you’ll also find a warm fireplace for those cool autumn evenings—a true retreat once the fall riding season rolls in. And if you’re visiting in the summer, you can cool off with a refreshing dip in the sparkling pool after tackling nearby rides like the 29-mile trip to Raven Cliff Falls, the Suches Loop, the Cherohala Skyway, the Tail of the Dragon, or The Gauntlet.

We aren’t the only ones who fell in love with Copperhead Lodge. Friends of ours, Gordy & Debbie, chose it for their anniversary getaway and couldn’t stop raving about it. They were even greeted with flowers waiting in their cabin—such a thoughtful touch. Gordy shared photos of their cabin, and it was every bit as charming as he described.

Copperhead Lodge & The Flying Trout Restaurant is located at 171 Copperhead Parkway in Blairsville. You’ll find their full ad in this issue, complete with phone number and QR code for easy access. Whether you’re riding through for the day or looking for the perfect base camp to explore North Georgia’s breathtaking roadways, this spot truly has it all.

By Lulu

We rode down to Edgewater for the first antique bike show hosted by Jim Lynch at his new bike shop/bar, Godfather’s Custom Cycles & Good Fellas. Lots of regulars from the antique bike world were in attendance and of course taking home trophies. If you haven’t checked out his new space, the bar staff is friendly, beer is ice cold, and he does a Saturday bike night with bucket specials and live music from 7-11pm. They are starting a karaoke contest with cash prizes qualifying begins October 3rd, cash prizes total $2500!! Jim is also hosting a swap meet on October 4th. It starts at 9am. The address is 187 S. Ridgewood Ave., Edgewater. And getting ready for Biketoberfest Friday the 17th from 5-9p Blistur will take his stage, and on Saturday the 18th Vermillion from 5-9p. So, saddle on up and visit Jim and his crew!

By Lulu

Having lived most of my adult life in the Florida panhandle, one of my favorite rallies (and my first ever rally) has been Thunder Beach in Panama City Beach. This is a spring and fall rally with normally beautiful weather, beaches, bikes, and girls! A paradise for motorcyclists. The one downfall would be traffic, but you have plenty to look at while sitting on your bike on Front Beach Rd. The rally has gone back to its roots with the original management and ownership back at the helm! Good news to us at Thunder Roads Florida! Thunder Beach has multiple hot spots including the main vendor location at Frank Brown Park featuring live music. There is also Panama City H-D, the Indian dealership, Crossroads, featuring the Full Throttle Bike Show and a sound competition, Bike Rack with live music and a festival feel with corn hole, stunt shows and Sloan, Hammerhead Fred’s and various other bars including, The Salty Goat and Ms. Newby’s…and of course “the beautiful white, sugar sand beaches on the Gulf of America”! The Hideout is a nice 35-minute ride out to Ponce de Leon where they feature great food, BBQ, biker games and Hammerhead Fred’s has been the site of one of the hottest bikini contests anywhere AND the famous band Buck Wild. There are lots of great restaurants in town too, including Captain Anderson’s, Sharkey’s, and The Wicked Wheel. If you haven’t ventured up to Panama City Beach for a rally yet, the next one is October 22nd -26th, book your hotel or campground now, throw a bathing suit in your saddle bags and come up to the party!

By Lulu

The last Sunday of Bike Week the bad ass boys and girls of Flagler County bring their “bad ass” toys out to show the masses at Broken Spoke Saloon. The perfect spot for a car show! The large oaks give shade. The live music and bars make a perfect afternoon for car viewing. This group has quite a collection! Along with being a club of cool car and truck collectors, these guys raise funds each year for Camp Boggy Creek and do a Toys for Tots drive. Thank you to Broken Spoke for Saloon for providing the perfect venue and bringing something different to Bike Week and to Rue & Ziffra Law Group for their continued sponsorship of events in our community!

By Lulu

OCC Roadhouse and Museum along with Bert’s Barracuda Harley-Davidson put on one hell of a 3-day show. Friday night they kicked off with TL Jentgens, a solo drummer act that made the trip over to Clearwater well worth it! Saturday was the public ride-in bike show and the first day of the invitational builders’ awards. Soul Fish, Sammy & The Knights and Stormbringer entertained the builders and large crowds who came to enjoy the builds and music. Sunday started with the Sunshine Skyway Ride led by Paul Sr. Once they returned to the bike show, the 2nd day of builder awards continued. The music on Sunday included The Mordigans and Ten Ton Mojo out of New York. Dozens of top tier builders from across the US accepted the invitation to show off their talents! I am always amazed at the creativity of custom builders. Paul Sr. said, “This is more than a show-it’s a family reunion for the custom culture. The craftsmanship, the passion, and the community-it reminds you why we fell in love with bikes in the first place.” OCC Roadhouse and Bert’s Barracuda H-D put this on with sponsorship from Fran Haasch Law Group and Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. It is a great weekend so put this on your Not to Miss List for 2026! More photos of the day and winners are on our Thunder Roads Florida Facebook and the winners of the Builder Invitational are listed below.
SATURDAY
BAGGER:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-NICK MORALES
PAUL SR.’S PICK-NICK WEIR
BUILDERS’ PICK-NICK MORALES
CRUISER:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-MIKE DE SOMMA
PAUL SR.’S PICK-JEFF MORGAN
BUILDERS’ PICK-DELL BATTLE
SPORT’S BIKE:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-DELL BATTLES
PAUL SR.’S PICK-DOMINIQUE JONES
BUILDERS’ PICK-DELL BATTLE
CAFÉ RACER:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-OLIFF GORDON
PAUL SR.’S PICK-TIM SCATER
BUILDERS’ PICK-DOMINIQUE JONES
SUNDAY:
VINTAGE/RETRO/OLD SCHOOL:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-MATTHEW THOMPSON
PAUL SR.’S PICK-TIM SCATER
BUILDERS’ PICK-CHAD BOLENDER
RAT ROD/CRAZINESS:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE-JOSEPH GREULICH
PAUL SR.’S PICK-CLAY KRICK
BUILDERS’ PICK-DOMINIQUE JONES
BOBBER: PEOPLE’S CHOICE-MIKE DE SOMMA
BOBBER: PAUL SR.’S PICK-MATTHEW THOMPSON
BOBBER: BUILDERS’ PICK-CHRISTOPHER WILSON
CHOPPER: PEOPLE’S CHOICE- MATTHEW THOMPSON
CHOPPER: PAUL SR.’S PICK-DAVID HOPKINS
CHOPPER: BUILDERS’ PICK-DREW JONES
OVERALL BEST IN SHOW: DREW JONES
SPECIAL BUILDER LOYALTY AWARD: STINKEYE CUSTOM

By Lulu

Paul Millard opened his motorcycle business in Perry, Florida twelve years ago. Originally from Lake City, Paul moved to Perry in 1998. He grew up riding minibikes and dirt bikes since childhood, like most who end up riding as adults, but what was a fun thing as a child became a life passion for Paul. Paul went from selling used parts to bike repairs and builds. He currently has twenty bikes in his stable. His building got hit hard by Hurricane Helene, I even saw his shop’s damage featured on the news! They made a “porch” out of part of the damaged area, where friends and clients gather on a regular basis. His plans for the future of RP Specialties are to get a dealership and finance license, and to hold a Swap Meet in the spring each year. As any of us who are in business know, free time is rare, but he and his wife April have two children and one grandchild who they love to spend time with. Or, Paul says you may find him either riding his bike or hanging out in the pool! Shop hours are 10am-5pm Monday through Friday. RP Specialties is located at 2673 S. Byron Butler Parkway in Perry. His phone number is 850-843-0151. The bike Paul and his crew are posing with in the photo is his custom build, including the paint job…and it is for sale! He took home a trophy during Full Throttle’s Bike Show at Leesburg Bikefest. The craftsmanship and work coming out of this shop is top notch and done by a great guy and his talented crew!

You know I rave about the generosity of motorcyclists, about the extreme talent of bike builders and painters; but the reality of motorcycling is it is all about getting on your bike and putting miles on it. Our friend Doug submitted a photo of him and his bike that just hit 100,000 miles! Lots of us have that many miles on the saddle, but few on the same bike. And to brag on Doug a bit he shows up everywhere, particularly rides for veterans and firefighters, since I have known him, he hasn’t missed a 9/11 ride, not surprising as he is from New York. There are lots of 9/11 rides coming up in September. More than we usually hear about, the one we ride every year is in Bunnell. The Knights of Inferno and the Punisher MC out of Flagler host it. It is astounding that this will be 24 years since those planes changed so many lives. And I am impressed by those of us who will not let a year pass without giving tribute to those who lost their lives and the heroes of that day!

Find a 9/11 ride to show we won’t forget! Be a Doug: put some miles on your bike, travel a new highway, and don’t forget your sunscreen!