By Ron Cox

Ft. Myers Harley-Davidson, long a fixture on Colonial Blvd., in central Ft. Myers in Lee County has relocated to a brand new 54,000 square foot building on a 16.5 acre property in South Ft. Myers and renamed it Six Bends Harley-Davidson. The term “six bends” refers to the six-bend handlebars that were made popular in the 1970’s.

The new dealership is located on the southeast corner of Daniels Parkway just off I-75. In addition to the dealership there is an on-site two-acre Riding Academy and test ride track and its own entertainment venue called Top Rocker Field, which will be able to hold up to 5,000 people. Furthermore, there’s a 20,000 square foot gathering space called The Plaza and a separate fire pit area known as The Pit, where people can relax or meet friends.

On the horizon in Phase two, is 35,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space in two additional on site buildings, scheduled to open in
the summer of 2015.

Six Bends has been deeply involved in community affairs and is a major sponsor in the annual Bikers For Babies event benefitting the March of Dimes. Kicking off the event on November 14th was recording star Bret Michaels who “christened” Top Rocker Field.

So, if you’re in the area and need to service your bike in one of the 17 service bays or just want to add a new T-shirt to the collection, swing into Six Bends Harley-Davidson.

By Lulu

The last event I have on my must do list for Biketoberfest is always the Survivor Party at the Dog Pound Saloon on 100 in Bunnell. The food, friends, music and just relaxed atmosphere on the front and back porches make this a great place to chill! See their ad in Thunder Roads each month to check out their daily happenings and special events!

By Rich Malfitano

Giving is something you do without the expectation of receiving something in return. It seems the more you do for others the more you want to do. We know that when you give; those you touch are very appreciative and that seems to be a good enough reason to continue giving and helping others. Sometimes kindness and generosity goes way beyond the practice of good citizenship. I want to share with you two stories of Giving. On November 6th 2014, Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 8, certifying officials for the Presidents Volunteer Service Award under the authority of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, presented awards to: Jessica Eckelbarger and the law firm of Rue, Ziffra and Caldwell.

Jessica, a 2005 graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University, earned her degree in Business Marketing. She enjoys serving our community and is truly dedicated to helping others. Jessica served in the Junior League of Daytona Beach from 2012-2014 and served as the chairperson for the board with the Children’s Home Society. She volunteers her personal time supporting and organizing many local charity events including those events sponsored by Rue, Ziffra and Caldwell. Jessica was awarded the Presidents Volunteer Service Award (Silver Level) for Service to Community and Nation.

Mr. John Rue has built a highly respected law firm here in Volusia County. In his more than three decades in practice, he always made sure to give back to the community. Now Rue, Ziffra & Caldwell – John Rue, Alan Ziffra and Thomas Caldwell continue to extend that generosity and spirit of giving. Whether it’s the Veterans Farm, Mardi Gras – Fat Tuesday, Relay for Life, Port Orange Family Days, Kids in the Kitchen, Puttin on the Ritz, Gratitude America, Golf for the Kids, Jazz festivals, Red Hat Luncheons, Rides for the kids, fishing tournaments, supporting the veterans Stand-Downs, and the Veterans Assistance Collation, RT Fl-8 and the list goes on and on. They have sponsored over 50 fundraising events between 2013 and 2014. R, Z & C and their team (staff) are always there, wherever and whenever the need. For their 30 years plus of giving, to Community and nation, Rue, Ziffra & Caldwell was awarded the Presidents Volunteer “Group” Service Award (Lifetime Achievement level).

It is with the deepest respect that we congratulate Jessica and Rue, Ziffra and Caldwell and their staff for all they do for others within and beyond our community.

By Lulu

Gator Harley-Davidson throws a Christmas Fashion Show each year and I love to go to this event. Along with beer, wine and fabulous food, they pack this event with FUN!

We were treated to a comedienne, Lou Angelwolf, a DJ spinning tunes for the models to strut too, door prizes and a man in a skimpy patriotic pair of panties!!! Of course they also play Santa by marking down all sorts of stuff for your Christmas list!

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By Lulu

Everyone who knows me has to listen to me say my favorite event each Biketoberfest and Bike Week is Chopper Time on US 1 at Tropical Tattoo. What started as a bunch of guys with really cool bikes heading out of Willie’s for a day of riding has evolved into one the coolest bike events in any state. Always a great place for photos with tatted men and women…and awesome unique bikes created by artists with a passion for metal and motors!!! Never know what famous or infamous characters you may happen upon at this event. This year I saw famous photographer Michael Lichter doing what he does best! Make sure if you haven’t attended this event in the past that you put it on your list for Bike Week 2015 it is always the last Thursday afternoon! And a special thanks to Twisted Tea for being a sponsor of such a great event!!!

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By Lulu

The White Eagle Lounge in Korona always has a flock of hot Eaglets fly into their nest for their bikini contest. During Biketoberfest Kim asked me to try my hand at emceeing once again and we had 6 beautiful girls on stage! Twisted Tea was in the house and a special thank you has to go out to La Mesa RV in Sanford for providing an amazing RV for the girls to change in! Make sure you put their bikini contest on your list of things not to miss during Bike Week 2015!!

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

Warning! You are entering a Red Neck column. You may encounter American flags, preference to the Second Amendment, the Lord’s Prayer and a country attitude. Read at your own risk December is a great month. Although, I’m not real fond of the cold, it’s nice to have a change of seasons. Normally, I usually like to write something humorous because it’s such a happy month. However, lately all I hear about is a “War on Christmas”. Why would anybody want to declare war on one of the happiest holidays of the year? Don’t we have enough wars? A “War on Women”, “War on Poverty” and “War on Drugs” and none of them seem to be very successful. It’s not necessary to believe in it to celebrate the birth of Christ. According to historian, Ronald Hutton, the current state of observance of Christmas is largely the result of a mid-Victorian revival of the holiday, spearheaded by Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol”. Dickens sought to construct Christmas as a family centered festival of generosity in contrast to the community-based and church centered observations, the observance of which had dwindled during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Modern celebrations of Christmas include more commercial activity compared to the more religious celebrations of the past. Historian, Stephen Nissenbaum, contends that the modern celebration in the United States was developed in New York State from the defunct and imagined Dutch and English traditions in order to refocus the holiday from one where groups of young men went from house to house demanding alcohol and food, into one centered on the happiness of children. He noticed that there was deliberate effort to prevent the children from becoming greedy in response. Christmas was not proclaimed a holiday by United States Congress until 1870.

Once again this holiday season and the right to celebrate Christmas are under attack. Even some Christian faiths reject the holiday for theological reasons. I’m always amazed by the amount of money atheists spend on signs and ads to ensure us that the holiday season is not about the birth of Christ. They tell us that it’s all about the winter solstice. Which is fine. We still have gift giving parties and show our generosity and our faith not only in God but in each other. Still, no matter how you look at it the Christian message remains, but I still don’t understand why these people would spend all this money to dissuade me from enjoying my faith. Christmas Day December 25th whether or not it is the real birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated by 95% of Americans. 65% consider it a very religious time. And 33% of the world also celebrates this day. I’m not real good at political correctness but I still walk around saying “Merry Christmas” not happy holidays and I don’t have a holiday tree I have a “Christmas tree”. I’m not much into organized religion, but I still believe that Christmas is about God, family and friends.

Christmas is a time of year, to where you should realize that you don’t need God as much as he needs you.

I used to refer to the days gone past as the good old days. What if someday we look back and consider these the good old days? And you say we don’t need God’s blessing

I always have more to say in my blog on my website nobodiesopinion.com.

See you on the shiny side of tomorrow…

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By Lulu

A new event during Biketoberfest was on Sunday afternoon sponsored by Twisted Tea at Main Street Station. Main Street Station is known for their Wednesday night bike nights in Daytona complete with great music and cheap beer! But on Sunday it was hot bodies not beer that the folks were interested in. I believe this is going to be a regular event during Bike Week and Biketoberfest so keep your eyes peeled for their upcoming dates.

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By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

You couldn’t have been to a better place at this year’s Biketoberfest than the Cabbage Patch. The weather was perfect and entertainment was superb. Friday had a great bike show sponsored by Budweiser and Saturday had a great coleslaw wrestling contest. World-famous Coleslaw Wrestling has been seen on the National Geographic Channel, the Discovery Channel, and the Travel Channel. Ronnie and Roger go out of their way to provide a full menu of entertainment. There was live music day and night, tons of vendors, hot buns and wet T shirt contests with plenty of camping and free Wi-Fi. You can spend the whole Biketoberfest there and go home and feel like you have never missed anything. The great part about it is the Cabbage Patch is open year-round with full liquor and beer and always some form of entertainment. You don’t even need a band, Ronnie and his bartenders will entertain you. Don’t wait for Bike Week to go and visit the Cabbage Patch Bar.

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By Lulu

Iron Horse has certainly made a name for the best music in the greater Daytona area for Bike Week and Biketoberfest, featuring one of the crowd’s favorites Mustang Sally. The Horse also brought in the Razorbacks for 3 shows. The Jimmie Van Zant Band absolutely rocked the Horse’s “house”.

By Lulu

Reflecting back on the past eight years we have been printing Thunder Roads Florida I am saddened by how many friends that are no longer here to ride the highways with us. This year we lost an amazing woman and the holiday season just will not be the same without her generous loving spirit lighting our lives. Sam Leonard was an avid HOG member, loving mother, fabulous wife (and ex-wife) and great friend to many including myself.

At Christmas Sam and her best friend…and husband…Leo would dress up in holiday garb riding around town bestowing holiday cheer and generosity, whether it was for food drives or toy runs.

To Leo and the family, I want to say we loved her too and miss her smile and the world was just a better place for knowing her. For those of us who knew Sam, please keep her generous spirit going by giving to the food banks, toy runs or Children Home Society just a little more in her memory!!! That is what the holidays are about friends and family…even those who are watching us from above…

Kiss those who are with you for the holidays, call those who are not and take a moment to remember those who are gone…

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By Lulu

As far as awesome baggers you just had to ride to Riverfront Park on the corner of Main and Beach in Daytona. This free event was hosted by Chopped Baggers. Beautifully designed baggers with some of the crispest paint jobs were perfect for absolute great photography with the river as a backdrop. The park also has a tent with live music, vendors and a great place to people watch. Check them out during Bike Week!!!

By Phoenix and Metric

I have lived in Florida for most of my life and I finally got the chance to make it to the Keys for the Peterson Run this year. For the past few years either my mother or Phoenix had some issues and kept me from making the trip to the Keys. So this year, I stuck my mother in a nursing home and told Phoenix I was going with or without her!!! Just kidding folks, don’t anyone call protective services on me!!! LOL!! It just happens to work out this year. Phoenix and I had a great time thanks to my brothers from the American Legion Riders Post 28 in the Keys. Yeah, Phoenix went with me!! However, I still haven’t ridden my motorcycle to the Keys, yet. As most of you know by now, I ride with the greatest group of Veterans with the American Legion Riders. This year I had the pleasure of driving a beautiful Jeep Wrangler compliments of the American Legion to promote our newest program to help Veterans called “PROJECT:VET RELIEF”. The “Project: Vet Relief” program assists active duty personnel to transition from military life to civilian life and beyond, as well as, helping our Veterans. Please remember our active duty personnel and “ALL” of our Veterans that have given us the freedoms we enjoy today. Let us “NEVER FORGET”.

By Phoenix and Metric

Recently, I had the opportunity to be a very small part of one the greatest rides that covers three countries, the east coast and thousands of riders. The Dream Ride was conceived by a couple great people from up north over fourteen years ago. They wanted to make a difference in the lives of members of the Special Olympics and the Torch Run for law enforcement. This year The Dream Ride originated in West Palm Beach and made its way to Connecticut by way of Highlands County. On Saturday, nearly one hundred riders left sunny West Palm Beach followed by a motorcade of vehicles on an adventure to bring awareness and funds to their mission. Accompanying the founders of the DREAM RIDE were many great supporters of the mission and members of the Enforcers MC. There was even a special appearance by the honorable Alan West who is an avid rider and great supporter of the motorcycle community.

As we all know, every ride in Florida runs the risk of running into an afternoon shower and the Dream Ride fell victim to those showers as they made their way through Highlands County. Even though they arrived soaked to the bone, they were met by a very enthusiastic group of riders eager to join the journey. The Dream Ride made a pit stop at the VFW in Avon Park for a wonderful Italian lunch provided by the Highlands County Chapter of the Enforcers MC. During my interview with Mike one of the founders of the Dream Ride; I shared a story of a local young lady struggling with her own journey called “Jade’s Journey”. Mike immediately handed over a gracious donation for Jade’s Journey and said “see that she gets this”. Mike said that this is the mission of the Dream Ride to help those in need along the way. The donation from the “Dream Ride” to “Jade’s Journey” shows the true spirit of the American biker. I had not heard of the “Dream Ride” until this year, but thanks to the Enforcers I will keep them on my radar and look forward to next year’s ride.