By Lulu

If you come to Bike Week and don’t go to the races shame on you. After all, that is what Bike Week is about…motorcycling. We seem to have confused that with beer, booze and babes. Honestly, I have only gone out to the track twice to try my hand at shooting things flying past at 130 miles an hour. This year I asked Cameron Newpher to shoot down at the track and he did a great job! Flat Track Racing has been going on for over 90 years. It suffered a loss of popularity for a bit to Grand Prix and motocross racing but it is seeing a resurgence with the comeback of Indian Motorcycles. During the height of Flat Track Racing it was the battle of Indians against Harleys that fueled the sport. Racing on dirt, the speeds on the straights hit 130 miles an hour and the bikes slide into the turns at 90 miles an hour almost touching. A friend of mine Ace Myers raced when the track was still on the beach in Daytona and he speaks of how back then the crowd would reach out and touch you as you hurtled past. Put this on your list of events to check out. They have races scheduled all over the U.S. Check the schedule at AmericanFlatTrack.com

Photos by Cameron Newpher

By Lulu

Final day of Bike Week and most are already home licking their wounds, but we always have one more chance to howl at the Dog Pound Saloon in Bunnell. This year the BBQ and music was served on one of the prettiest days of Bike Week. The crowd seemed larger this year. The band Southern Chaos always provide a great afternoon of music. We love seeing all our old friends particularly Glenn and Martine. Miss living up in their neck of the woods. The Dog Pound is doing live music on Sundays with $2.50 Bloody Mary’s. Ride up and hang out on the porches…bring your pooches!

By Lulu

Avid antique motorcycle lovers and collectors are a breed of their own. Perfection is what they work toward on OLD scoots. Trying to replicate parts is not an option…they search and find mint condition originals to maintain or restore their prize possessions. And when I say possessions…I mean it is like an addiction most who love the old Shovelheads or Panheads, etc…seem to collect more than a bike or two. So, meets such as the Sunshine National Meet during Bike Week are essential. It is like going to the mall for a shoe shopper. Vendors and collectors display their wares so you can search for that part you need to complete your restoration. During this event, they combine an antique bike show with the swap meet, field games, AMCA judging and a low country seafood boil.

By Lulu

Sometimes it isn’t what you need but who you know! And sometimes “who you know” can provide exactly what you need. So is the case for Helen Tacoma who is fighting the big C. Friends and family came together to help with mounting medical expenses, but what poker runs provide even more than the financial boost…is the outpouring of love showered on those who need it most during a difficult time. Hundreds came out to raise the much-needed money…but the smile on Helen’s face for the day is more valuable than the money.

By Lulu

Space Coast Harley-Davidson works hard at being innovative in all things. And when we rode down to spend a bit of Bike Week with them we certainly saw things we haven’t seen before. Tobi and Mustang Sally were one of the many bands brought in…I have seen them and love their music. But what I haven’t ever seen was a small woman hold two motorcycles while they took off in separate directions. I don’t even know how she could breathe much less how she was able to hold them without moving! They also had crab races inside with prizes for the winners. I mean real live crabs with a crabby guy telling us not to point at them…as if the crabs would know we were pointing. Space Coast H-D has monthly events so check out their website for updates.

By Lulu

One of the best places to ride to during Bike Week, a favorite of all on two wheels, is First Turn Steakhouse on US 1 in Port Orange. Owners, Rick and Denise, have created the perfect perch for those who love to ride. Bikers love to be outside, love good food, and great music. And the First Turn combines all that on a 5000-square foot tiki bar with seafood, sandwiches and their famous Sizzlin’ Steaks. Denise takes great pride in the music she brings in and this year Hayfire, Tim Dugger, Megan Katarina Band, 4 Play, and Easystreet were just some of the groups brought in to entertain. This year Goat from Full Throttle was on the mic when I stopped in and the crowd loves him. Don’t forget that on Bike Nights, Tuesdays they do some free grub and $1.50 longnecks with live music!!

By Lulu

Usually our Biking Business article deals with motorcycle shops, builders or bars. This month we decided to step on the wild side and feature St. John’s River Tours in Astor. Bill Nordle and his wife, Tina, have run the Blackwater Inn and Williams Landing for years. They recently purchased the river boat tours that run out of the docks behind their restaurants…a favorite with bikers traveling 40. The boat ride on the MV Neptune Star is a two-hour informative tour of the pristine St. John’s River, Blue Creek and into Lake George. You are certain to see gators, exotic birds, turtles of all shapes and sizes and we even saw a raccoon, eagle and manatees. Captain Bob is an expert on wildlife and the history of Florida and its waterways…he also is pretty darn funny! The boat rides run Tuesday through Sunday twice a day. Leaving at 10:30 and 2:30. Registration is available online at www.St.JohnsRiverTours.com although they will take you if seating is available without a reservation. The cost is $25 per person, $15 for children under 10. Group rates are available for clubs by calling 866-349-0674. The boat seats 20 and even has a restroom. Smoking is not permitted. After cruising the river, you are certain to have an appetite for shrimp…so climb the stairs and sit in their treetop porch for a cold one and some delicious chow! So even though Bill and Tina aren’t in the motorcycle industry, they provide what motorcyclists love…good food, cold beer, stiff drinks and the place to kick back and enjoy nature. Don’t forget they are closed on Mondays!

By Danny Martin (American Cycle Auto & Truck)

Well it’s that time again we’re going to dig our hands into the cat box and see what we can come up with. This month I’m going to try to tell you how to change that broken clutch or brake lever on your handlebar controls. It’s going to be simple so when you’re ready you can do it. For this you might need one little specialty tool, but you can get it from your local Drag Specialties dealer while you’re there picking out the multiple different levers. Or you can just have them order you this and it’s a good tool to have in your collection if you don’t already have one. It is the Motion Pro #MP08-0186 Snapring pliers for about $15.00. It will come with some interchangeable extra tips for doing other jobs or to make some jobs like this one even easier. So, run down to your dealer get your tools and your parts and get ready to go.

Let’s start with the right-hand side it’s always the easiest, sometimes you may have to loosen the mirror so you take your Allen wrench (if it’s a stock Harley you’ll need a half inch wrench). Loosen the mirror so it will not be in the way of the pin that we need to remove, now with the mirror loose let’s take our snap ring pliers find the funny looking little thing underneath the bottom of the brake lever perch put the tips in the holes squeeze it open and slowly remove it. Be careful do not let this thing go flying or you’ll be looking all over for a little snap ring. Now that we have the clip removed simply push the pin up and slowly ease out your broken brake lever. On some of the older bikes like the one I’m working on, there’s a nipple barrel end fitting in there that you need to realign back up with your brake plunger. Put that all back in and put it back together in reverse order and you have a new brake lever.

For the left-side it gets a little more complicated. We have to loosen up the clutch cable a little bit so you can get the cable out of the clutch perch. Take your 7/16 or 1/2 inch wrench, locate the adjustment in the middle of your clutch cable and loosen the lock bolt, then put it all together by shortening the cable which will loosen your lever. Once it’s nice and loose you can take your C clip removal tool, your mirrors already loose, push the pin out and wiggle out your clutch lever. Remove and replace the lever with the spacers and things that hold in your clutch cable. Put it all back together and we will readjust the clutch. So, I would guess in this article we’re going to learn how to change levers AND adjust a clutch LOL. Now you will tighten your clutch cable up to a point where there is only about an eighth inch or less of play in your lever. They say to put a nickel between the perch and the lever and that’s about where you need to be adjusted. Tighten up the lock Bolt and you should be ready to go riding.

Now if I have forgotten something or if there is something you would like to give me a chance at showing you how to do. Please contact the magazine or me at AMCAT, I will do all I can to help you. Thank you once again from Thunder Roads Florida and AMCAT’s Cat Box.

By Lulu

Even those who have never made it to Bike Week, have heard of the world-famous Iron Horse Saloon…and almost everyone who comes to Daytona visits more than once while in town. Locals and those from miles and miles away, ride in for T-shirts, Craiger’s beef tips and the fine music that Iron Horse always provides! This year was no exception with crowd favorites such as Mustang Sally, Confederate Railroad, Outlaws, Kentucky Headhunters and Brian Howe. People who enjoy great FREE music love the Iron Horse! One other staple of the Iron Horse is the Wall of Death that stuns those who have never climbed to the top to watch the trick riders. Many ride in simply to see their favorite bartender year after year such as Sherry and Diana. Whatever your reason for riding in the owners, Melissa and Sally do appreciate your business and work hard to provide great food, music, t-shirts and just a cool place to cool your pipes!

By Lulu

Just south of Daytona in New Smyrna Beach on US 1 is a really cool bar, Bay 3 Bar. Owners Barry and Jan are well loved by all who ride down to spend some time drinking and hanging out. During Bike Week, they filled the place with bands such as Deadlanders and biker favorites Mistreater! They have GREAT beer prices all year long so ride down and visit soon!

By Lulu

Just before Bike Week Roadside Tavern opened their doors, bringing back music and food to one of the favorite biker establishments in the Daytona area. A large inside non-smoking bar has a great back porch with a stage and cornhole pits. The owners of Boot Hill Saloon have taken over the bar and with their knowledge of motorcyclists and bars we are certain they will fill the Port Orange area bar with lots of great music!

By Lulu

The Boat Bar in Port Orange may be one of your places you haven’t visited yet, but you should! First-off the owners are awesome folk. Tony and Dar have been in the area for years and years and everyone loves them. You also should know they have CHEAP ice cold beer! And during Bike Week and Biketoberfest they have a free BBQ that is awesome home cooking. All year long their beer is the same price $2 domestics and $3 imports…you can’t beat that! So, take a short hop on your scoot and visit The Boat Bar soon.

By Lulu

Well thankfully Mother Nature didn’t do as much damage to the beautiful old oaks on the Broken Spoke property as it seemed Biketoberfest. Cleaning up the property was an ordeal after Hurricane Matthew, but honestly the pretty grounds of the Spoke seemed no worse for wear! Bike and rat rod shows, beautiful bartenders and fantastic music is what the Broken Spoke is known for and this year they brought it all! I could sit under those trees and drink all week; my only regret is there are so many events to cover during Bike Week that I can’t spend enough time there and when Bike Week ends the gates close and don’t reopen until the next big event…

By Deborah Speicher

The 10th Annual Harley-Davidson MDA Women’s Ride is one of Daytona Bike Week’s best organized rides just for the ladies!  Attendance has ebbed and flowed over the years and I think some of the former participants forget what the ride is all about – raising much needed funds for MDA, taking children/young adults with muscular dystrophy on a motorcycle ride and the camaraderie of being with a large group of women riders.  For those of us who keep coming back each year, it’s a reality check.  We know that we are truly rich and not just because we can afford our own motorcycles.  We are rich in health, rich in friendships and enriched by being a part of this event.

This years’ ride started out just a tad chilly (36 degrees!) but the sun was out and warming up.  We staged and left from the Daytona Beach Speedway, and our police escort took us on a back roads ride to Destination Daytona.   Announcements, prizes and kudos went to all at that time.  This was followed by lunch at Saints & Sinners.

Participation was down a bit this year due to one factor which was the change in date.  Historically, this ride has always been the Tuesday during Daytona Bike Week but was changed to the Thursday to accommodate our Road Queen, Karen Davidson.  Karen has led this ride every year and it would not be the same without her.  Although donations were still being collected at the time of my writing this article, at last count it was approximately $17,000.  Way to go ladies.   I will be back for this event next year!

By Lulu

St. Patrick’s Day was during Bike Week, a bit cold that day, but we took the afternoon to ride out to Starke to see how they celebrate the Luck of the Irish. On our way, we stopped in McHenry’s Irish Pub in Keystone Heights. We were served a huge portion of corn beef and cabbage! A great way to start an Irish celebration. Then off to the park in Starke where there was plenty of ice cold Bud Light for drinking or snow cones for those who were under 21! Live music was the fare for the evening including the Ben Carter Band. Don’t forget that Starke has their Bikefest August 11-13 with vendors and live music Friday-Sunday!