By Jacquelin Ketola

The Poker Run for Child Help of Volusia County was held Saturday, May 2.  The ride was a great success, considering this was the first year and there were two other rides the same day.  The Chrome Diva’s of Daytona Beach dealt all the hands at the designated stops on the route. Main Street Station hosted and co-sponsored the event with Iron Horse Saloon, Finn’s Beachside Pub, Lagerheads Bar and Grill, Frank’s Place, and BFFAR.  Food was donated and prepared by BACKYARD BOYS BARBECUE following the ride. The Poker Run was organized by long time child advocate and resident of Volusia County, Constance Jones. A special thank you to all riders that made this a success!!

By Deborah Speicher

For those of you living in the Tampa Bay area, mark your calendars for the third Thursday of each month so you don’t miss Bike Night at Scooter’s Saloon at Brandon Harley-Davidson. I attended the inaugural event on April 16 and, despite threatening rain, it was still packed.

Between the bike show, the Miss Daisy Duke contest, music by Soul Circus Cowboys, lots of good vendors and Scooter’s over-the-top food, you couldn’t go wrong. So come on over to Scooter’s Bike Night and find out what everyone’s talking about!

By Lulu

Each month unless bad weather raises its ugly head, bikes ride out of the Bruce Rossmeyer dealership in Ormond Beach to a different dining experience. Occasionally it is even an overnight trip, but in May it was to Beach Front Grille in Flagler Beach on A1A where I happen to tend bar on Monday days. With Mandy Rossmeyer leading her posse we had a QUICK trip through the loop to A1A just in time to enjoy the beautiful ride up the coast. This event is always the last Friday of the month and leaves at 6pm. They do like you to call the office to give them a head count so that the restaurant can be prepared. We had a lot of fun and I got to make new friends and spend some time with Mandy which is always fun! Thank you to Peter for letting me ride on his backseat!

By Lulu

The folks at JP Cycles and Rue & Ziffra, law firm hosted a workshop for lady riders. The recent increase in women on two wheels has certainly become obvious as you watch the stream of bikes pass during major rallies anywhere in the country. And many women even though they have completed the motorcycle endorsement class, often do not have the years of knowledge about bikes that most men grow up with. The workshop at JP Cycles was very informative covering things such as types of helmets, and how to get the proper fit. Also covered was windshield types and how to measure for correct shield, seats and suspension, accessories, oil change, cleaning your bike and then a fashion show. The day started with coffee and donuts and included lunch. The finale was attorney David Sweat from Rue & Ziffra discussing insurance and accident information. I was very impressed with the attendance and the interest of the women who participated particularly since it was held during Leesburg Bike Fest. A special thank you to the crew at JP Cycles, David from Rue & Ziffra, and Stephanie from WHOG radio not only for their time and effort on putting on this event but also for recognizing the need for education opportunities for lady riders.

By Eric Darrow

The Tommy Mac band has always been one of my favorites, regardless of the venue. They have always been a positive band. And it was by chance that we showed up to their every Thursday gig. Among the many places you can catch this classic act include, the First Turn, Main Street Station, the Boot Hill Saloon and bunches more.

Last night was the first time in a long time since we’ve seen them and to quote a friend, “WAPOW”! They were totally on top. No one was ignoring them, you couldn’t. We were dancing in our seats and rockin’ to the beats. People outside could hear us in the street. The Tommy Mac Band gets you movin’. Your feet won’t lay flat and non dancers and dancers alike seem to dance in every space, regardless of where the designated dance floors are. The play music from the 60’s and 70’s, like classics from the Stones, Zepplin and even newer stuff. They call it classic rock and blues and I agree. Oh yeah man, The Tommy Mac Band, I am a fan.

By Lulu

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The last day of Bike Week or Biketoberfest you won’t find me on Main Street or at any of the larger bars in town. I like to ride out to Bunnell on 100 to my friend’s bar the Dog Pound Saloon. It is a great local biker bar with a nice outside deck and backyard, a cool old building and a GREAT staff. The beer is always ice cold and the music awesome. This Bike Week the Chance Gardner band treated us to a full day of awesome music, including a horn player who could blow two at a time!!! See their ad for the daily happenings here and at Smiles in Palm Coast.

By Lulu

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A short bike ride south on US1 to First Turn Steakhouse has become the Destination Ride for many during Bike Week and Biketoberfest. Known for the sizzlin’ steaks and NASCAR celebrity sightings…their seafood including raw oysters is what we always ride down for. Rick and Denise that are avid motorcyclists always have a great line up of music…rain or shine. They bring down country recording artist Tim Dugger, and this year also entertained the crowd with artist Perego that does amazing things with a paint brush to rock and roll! The 5000 square foot deck is a great place to listen to music and don’t forget they have bike night on Tuesdays from 7-9pm with live music and $1.50 longnecks, $2 Twisted Tea and for those of you firewater drinkers…$2.50 Fireball shots!

By Lulu

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Last Biketoberfest a new tradition came to Daytona Beach Bike Week. Main Street Station now plays host to a hot bodied bikini contest and the lot was full of smokin’ hot girls (the contestants and the Jager girls) and people to cheer on the contestants! Judges choose the girl who will represent Jager and be named Miss Main Street Station…and she walks away with the largest prize money in town!!! Don’t miss this event during Biketoberfest…great photo ops!!

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

“You Have the Right to Remain Silent”. You also have the right to be insensitive, intolerant, offensive, and insulting. It’s called “Free Speech”. However, Americans have become the most complaining easily offended people. We get upset and offended over the most insignificant nonsense. Some have even made it a profession and have become millionaires (Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are examples). It seems like every month that we come up with a new outrage and start a boycott campaign that is supposed to raise awareness of some stupid offensive thing. We have tried again and again to get somebody fired for saying what we feel is something offensive. We come up with more fabricated offenses and controversies. Instead of drinking from the chalice of tolerance, we have been drinking from the bottle of self indignation. With the world in turmoil, we are more concerned about whether a Christian bakery should make a cake, a Christian florist should make a flower arrangement, or a Christian pizzeria should throw a pizza party for a gay wedding. Go to a Muslim bakery and ask them to make a cake for a gay wedding. DA!!! I went to a wedding reception once where all the married men were asked to “Stand next to the one person who has made your life worth living”. The bartender almost got crushed to death. 80% of Americans are Christians with only 1% being part of the LGBT community. There’s no more trust in our government or Justice Department to protect the rights of Christians or any individual to be forced to violate their religious convictions. Between the Democratic Party and the media there’s an organized ploy to do harm to conservatives, capitalism, and people with religious convictions. May God bless America and may America continue to thank God.

The Institute of Economics and Peace did a study of 162 countries and found that just 11 were not involved in conflict of one kind or another. There is a large increase in terrorist activity, civil unrest in the Ukraine, and continuing global unrest. We have a president who thinks the war on terrorism is a nuisance and inconvenience and ISIS is a JV team. I admit that not all Muslims are terrorists but 99.9% of radical Islamic militants are Muslims. Terrorism is not just a “man caused disaster”or “workplace violence”. The world is facing a global financial crisis. In our country alone we have the lowest labor force participation since 1978. 91.8 million are not working. We have 47 million Americans on food stamps, 18 trillion in national debt, but we are told we have recovered from the recession. I was told that common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it most, don’t use it. Let’s go green-recycle Congress.

Read more of my comments on my website nobodiesopinion.com

See you on the shiny side of tomorrow…

By Lulu

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You can’t possibly go to Bike Week in Daytona without a stop at the World Famous Iron Horse Saloon on US 1…what draws bikers by the tens of thousands isn’t the cool as hell back lot…it is the famous beef tips, awesome bike week T-shirts that you will see folks wearing when you travel to anywhere in the world, and the MUSIC!!! Locals may bitch that the beer prices are higher than other bars…but the other bars aren’t offering famous bands with their cheap beers!!! This year Mustang Sally rocked the house, and David Allan Coe still fills the place, handsome Jared Blake’s fingers strumming his guitar didn’t miss a beat Ladies!, Cold Hard Cash had everyone coming back each time they played and, of course, Brian Howe formerly of Bad Company is just awesome. And if cheap beer is what you are looking for during Bike Week…Buy an Iron Horse Mug and drink draft for free from 4-5pm!!! This year they also had some fabulous baggers to ogle during their bagger bike show!

By Lulu

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The world famous Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona certainly didn’t seem to experience the decreased numbers that others noticed during Bike Week. The parking lot was packed, peeps were shopping and the concert and bikini contest were filled to capacity. The Rossmeyer’s have really worked to add interesting experiences for all at Bike Week including the stable for the Clydesdales, great concerts and the Miss International Bikini Contest which they host. I am sure Bruce would be proud of his family’s efforts to make Bike Week what he helped to build!!!

By Kneecap

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Spending Bike Week at the Cabbage Patch Bar is better than going to Disney World or Universal Studios, and cheaper too. There is always something to entertain you. Body paint, Ms. Cabbage Patch, tattoo, longest beard, and strongman contests just to name a few. There’s live music on four different stages daily. There is over 5 acres of vendors, free bike parking and $10 camping. They had two great big bike shows. One is a traditional “Ride in Bike Show” and the other is the “Battle of the Baggers”. And let’s not forget The World-Famous Coleslaw Wrestling which is held twice during Bike Week. If you missed all the giveaways, promos, and entertainment you missed experiencing the real Bike Week, but don’t worry they’ll have it again in October with probably even more great contests and entertainment. If you can’t wait till October go visit Ronnie, Roger, and their great bartenders. The Cabbage Patch is open year-round with a full liquor bar and drink specials daily. Now how much fun is that?

By Lulu

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The new owners of the Broken Spoke on US 1 in Ormond Beach have to be pretty happy with their first Bike Week, even though the crowds for Bike Week were reported to be smaller by as much as 40% that definitely wasn’t the case at the Broken Spoke. Whether it was the sparkling white lights in the massive oaks making it look like Bike World Disney or the amazing live bands they scheduled, his place was the spot to be for Bike Week! Lots of new picnic tables, games including checkers and ax throwing, and pretty bartenders kept everyone there once they arrived. The band to see Biketoberfest because I can almost guarantee they will bring them back is Hairball, although, Warrant, Uncle Kracker and Jared Blake also packed the huge property. Can’t wait to see who they schedule for Biketoberfest, and rumor has it they will open up on weekends sometime this year.

By Lulu

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Anyone who knows me can tell you where I will be the Thursday of Bike Week or Biketoberfest…Chopper Time!!! There isn’t a better bike show anywhere as far as I am concerned than the one at Tropical Tattoo! What sets this one apart is the ingenuity of the bike builders making old parts, old bikes and old school bikers seem cutting edge!!! There is always great music out back and this year Jared Blake rocked the place. Twisted Tea was doling out samples, Roadside Marty barking out orders and there was a live remote by the new Rock of Daytona 104.7 FM. People lined up to get some new ink and then the bike awards were presented by hot little babes.

Winners:

Best Twin Cam-Alley Cat (99 EVO)
Best Metric-Matt Paris (XS 650 Chopper)
Best Knuckle-Scott Brantley (46 Knuckle)
Best Shovel-Scott Key
Best EVO- Jay Wright
Best Custom Creation-Clinton Wallace (57 FLH Pan)
Best British-Jimmy Gross (69 BSA)
Best Trailer Trash-Rod “Grimey” Davis (37 Big Twin Flathead)
Best Rat-Endless Phil (47 Knuckle)
Best Sportie-Bernie Tatro (74 Sportster)
Best Pan-Raz (53 Pan)
Best Flathead-Robert Benson (45 Harley WL 45)
Best Paint-Jesse Srpam (14 Knuckle)
Horse’s Choice-Jack Donkey (84 Ironhorse)
Cycle Source Choice-Nate Jacobs (Shovel)
Darren’s Choice-Bo Hartzoue (72 Shovel)
Kari’s Choice-Ryan Martin (47 Knuckle)
Roadside’s Choice-Geo (79 Shovel)
Roadside’s Choice-Bobby Middleton (48 Pan)
Willie’s Choice- Alan Patterson (75 Ironhead)
Willie’s Choice-Ray Llanas (59 FL)
BD’s Choice- Lucky (82 CB650)
Reverend Al’s Choice-Brian Monahan (Ironhead)
Girl’s Choice-Chris Seim (71 Harley FX)
Bling’s Choice-Bryan Lane (56 XR Pan)
Dave Perewitz’s Choice- Nick Beauliu (Shovel)

By Lulu

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As far as a beautiful spot for a bike show, Riverfront Park off Beach Street and Main has a spectacular place to display bikes for photography. This year the event hosted by Chopped Baggers lined the inter coastal waterway. Each bike had its unique artistry and flair. This event is Bike Week and Biketoberfest and if you want to enter goes to facebook.com/riverfrontparkrocks.