By Deborah Speicher

Saturday, March 8 proved to be a busy day for local riders especially veterans and supporters. I started out the day by riding to Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park in Tampa. Although the park pays homage to all war heroes, the Committed Forces Memorial honors those who served in various U.S. military conflicts around the world. The dedication ceremony turned out to be a wonderful lesson in history as service men that were part of these incidents gave us their first-hand accounts of what really happened.

Special mention goes to Rolling Thunder Chapter 11 Florida for the presentation of the MIA/POW table, Marine Corps League 1226 for the rifle salute and TAPS, the CENTCOM Color Guard, Linda Pugsley for her invocation and benediction, and VFW Post 8108 who served up free lunch.

Afterwards, I rode out with Rolling Thunder Chapter 11 to the American Legion Alafia Post 148 for the Haley House Poker Run. Earlier, riders could pick a starting point either in Zephyrhills, Tampa, Mulberry, Gulfport or Palmetto, and ultimately end up at Post 148. The proceeds from the poker run and auction held that day benefits the Haley House Fund. Tampa is home to the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. However, families of injured active duty and veterans cannot always afford housing to stay in the area. That is where the Haley House Fund steps in to assist with local living arrangements so families can stay close by. “No one left behind – including families” is their motto.

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

Last month I wrote about how I got here. “Oh my God I made it”, was pertaining to my physical presence. This month I would like to explain how I was able to achieve such a great attitude. I’ve been described as being arrogant, pretentious, condescending, and sometimes contentious. Actually, it comes from my humble disposition. It’s not easy being the anchovy on the pizza. My childhood may have influenced my thoughtful, reflective thinking.

When I was a kid I saw “Tarzan and Jane” almost naked with a monkey for a kid. An obnoxious wooden puppet called “Pinocchio” that had clothes made of flower paper, a hat made of bread and told lies. “Snow White” lived with seven dwarf men before running away with a Prince. “Popeye” was an uneducated, tattooed, pipe smoking sailor involved in a love triangle with Olive Oyl and Brutus. “Cinderella” who believed in fairies, rode around in a pumpkin pulled by mice, driven by a rat, while wearing glass shoes and staying out past midnight. Not to be outdone, there was a “Princess” running around kissing frogs while looking for a Prince. “Superman” was an illegal alien who took his clothes off in a phone booth. “Batman” whose real name is Bruce and his male partner Robin (who he would be able to marry now) drove 200+ miles an hour on city streets. “Mr. Magoo” drove a car even though he was so nearsighted that he was close to being blind. “Pac-Man” who looked like a pizza with a slice missing, ran around a maze chasing deterministic enemy monsters (Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde) listening to digitized music and taking performance-enhancing pills. The pot smoking mystery solving hippies, “Shaggy and Scooby”, who ate cheese pizzas with pickles because they always had the munchies. We sat in bean filled chairs watching TV that was filled with gun toting cowboys wearing white hats shooting the bad guys wearing black hats except for “Have Gun Will Travel”, when the black hat would shoot anybody. There was “Maynard G. Krebs”, the beatnik who had an extreme aversion to “work”, “marriage”, and “police”; but “does his own thing” by collecting tinfoil and petrified frogs while watching “The Monster That Devoured Cleveland” or “The Son of the Monster That Devoured Cleveland”. Maynard’s middle name was Walter. He would say that he was named for his aunt, and explains the “G” is silent.

These were just some of the things that were able to mold my warped mind into its present condition.

When people ask me what clubs I belong to I say “FU” (Fatties United).

1. There are drunk riders, there are old riders. There are no old drunk riders.

2. Dammit I’m Mad” spelled backwards is “Dammit I’m Mad”

Read more on my website nobodiesopinion.com

See you on the shiny side of tomorrow.

By Raven Van Pelt

Well folks, it was that time of year again where Mind Ride Cycles of Jacksonville held their 6th Pre-Bike Week Customer Appreciation Party. This year they had live music by the Second Shot Band, as well as, the incredible almost famous Yankee Tim’s BBQ.

This event is all about the loyal friends and customers that have made this possible. The first 100 people received free food and beer, and every one had a great time. The weather was great. This was a free event with several vendors and Road Block was on hand to sign his second book, New Orleans Revenge. As usual Roy, his family and the crew of Mind Ride Cycles always throw a great bash, and I can’t wait for the 7th Pre-Bike Week Party next year!

By Lulu

Few businesses can manage to keep their doors open even a full year…even fewer can boast of 30 years!!!

But my friends Rick and Denise Hilliard at First Turn are celebrating just that. The first Saturday of each month they are throwing a party to let all their family of customers know just how much they appreciate their loyal support. The party includes a corn hole tournament, live music, free food and a beautifully revamped outside deck with a brand new stage.

For some great fun, food and friends come out and enjoy the monthly celebration the first Saturday of each month!!!

By Lulu

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One of my favorite events each year is Mardi Gras, whether it is my good Catholic upbringing or my love of New Orleans, I am always ready for a Mardi Gras parade.

Leesburg throws a good street party with vendors, music, stilt walkers, amusement rides and floats. Every child goes home with beads and a few adults head home with a hangover.

This year Sherry and I put on tutus, beads and masks and headed over to frolic as only we know how to. Put this on your list of fun things to do!

By Lulu

Another Bike Week has ridden in and out in Daytona Beach. Reports are mixed, some vendors and bars claiming to be down as much as 30%, while others fared much better and some even hit all time record sales. The weather was pretty darn perfect and plenty of snowbirds had a chance to experience some beautiful Florida riding. There was just enough cold weather do make us dust off our leathers and just enough sunshine to keep a pink glow on our faces. It seemed to me the police weren’t as aggravating as they can sometimes be to bikers, and I personally saw them giving far more tickets to cage riders than bike riders for a change.

My Bike Week was eventful in that I helped Iron Horse Saloon with handling their 10pm bands and it required staying out much later than I am accustomed to. I may think I can party like a rock star, but after 4 nights of hanging with the guys and gals from Boston, Mustang Sally and Bad Company I knew better; and I still had a long week to finish out my obligations. It was fun and the bands couldn’t have been any nicer. The job included having their meals catered in, providing the essentials per their contract and just making sure that if they needed Sharpies, batteries or drinks that they had them. Most people would think it sounds like an easy gig…I certainly thought so, and I know it sounds silly, but it was hard work! I think I should have started a month earlier training to stay out late, if I get asked back next year to do it…I think I will start training 6 weeks before Bike Week!

And now that Bike Week is behind us we have Leesburg Bike Fest to look forward and a multitude of events in every county all over the state. Remember you can post your events on our web calendar by going to ThunderRoadsFlorida.com. And that calendar includes events that are added after we print.

Ride on roads you haven’t traveled, meet someone from North Carolina you will be glad you did and don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Amy Poole

Spring was in the air, and definitely on its way, at Dirty Harry’s 1st Sunday of the month BBQ affair. The newly modernized courtyard was filled with a view of fresh faces and familiar ones we have not seen in awhile…which was quite nice. Crush rocked their tunes in The Bank, even a little one was playing air drums with his own sticks! What an awesome band they are!!! Remember to say THANKS to Dirty Harry’s for all they do for our community!

Tony’s poker run also ended at Dirty Harry’s making the festivity an even bigger one!
Hope you get well soon Tony!

By Lulu

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One of the best biker bars on the east coast of Florida is in Merritt Island. H& D Roadhouse owned by Harry and Debbie is biker owned and operated. One of their charitable causes happens to also be one of my personal favorites, collecting food for the hungry. So we rode down to H&D to throw a Twisted Tea/Thunder Roads party and raised lots of cash and a huge box of food to donate to the local veteran’s organization.

The free buffet that H&D put out for the packed house was excellent as always. The band rocked the house and I have to say a special thank you to all our friends from Daytona that made the ride down for our event. Willie from Tropical Tattoo and Don Wood from the TV show Moonshiners made it an extra special afternoon! I want to thank all of you that gave your hard earned cash to help the hungry vets that served our country…you guys and gals are the best! Also thanks to Twisted Tea for their continued support of the biking community allowing us to put these bike events on around the state.

If you are riding down A1A, US 1 or 95 and need to cool your pipes, ride into H&D for an ice cold beverage, friendly staff and you will be stopping in at one of my personal favorite biker friendly establishments!

By Lulu

Every day bikes pull into the World Famous Iron Horse Saloon, but the second Sunday of each month the Horse throws a bike show with live music and great fun.

Occasionally the lot fills up with Rat Rods or antique cars and trucks that are fun to photograph. Whether it is girls in bikinis or girls dressed like pin up calendar girls the men love to see pretty girls competing for cash prizes.

At this month’s bike show Full Circle rocked the place, and during the Detroit Iron Car Show Gator Nate and the Gladezmen put on one heck of a show.

The monthly bike show resumes in April so ride on over to Ormond Beach for a great day of fun on two wheels!

By Valgal

What an awesome day to ride! What an awesome reason! Our furry friends! Met some great people at the Molly Mutt Run…I love making new friends and it seems I make a few new ones everywhere I go…Our biggest thank you goes out to the people who adopt the pets others abandoned…Thank you!

Theresa and Sally…You organize one HELL of a party…the food was incredible…fresh roasted/smoked pork WOW…music by Berna and the Bern-Outs kept people up and dancing for hours…thank you also to Doc’s Bait-house for a beautiful place to gather…cold beer, great food, wonderful people to party with…who could ask for more?

Remember…if you want to get a pet, PLEASE ADOPT!!!

By Lulu

This year we traveled over to Clearwater to check out the Motorcycle Expo at Quaker Steak and Lube. Senior of the Tuttle family was on hand and on Friday night I was thrilled to watch one of my favorite bands…Greg Billings. The lot was packed with vendors, the bike show had some cutting edge rides and the best part…my godfather and his wife from Cincinnati came to spend the evening with us and treated Sherry and I to a great meal at Quaker Steak! We had to hit the road Saturday morning to head to Dania Beach so we missed the huge crowd on Saturday but I heard from friends it was just awesome.

By Deborah Speicher

What a great way to kick off 2014 with the downtown Sarasota party known as Thunder by the Bay. Lots of vendors, entertainment, good food, motorcycles and people. The streets were jam packed as always!

This event started on the evening of Thursday, January 9 and ended Sunday January 12. Thursday evening’s “Kick Start” party was at The Francis Ballroom (Louie’s Modern) and featured whiskey, wine and cigars. Friday night was the “Born to be Wild” kickoff party at the Hyatt Regency with live entertainment, silent auctions, casino style gaming, Harley-Davidson fashion show and much more.

By Saturday, they were dancing in the streets (literally!). There was great music all day long with special guest band “Fog Hat.” While the music played on into the night, there was a “Light Up The Night” LED bike show. Attendees also got a chance to meet Paul Teutul, Sr. (“Senior”) of Orange County Choppers and get his autograph. Senior also was part of the Honor Guard for the Legacy of Valor Motorcycle Ride on the following day.

Sunday started with a blessing of the bikes and the “Cruise for Cash” which benefitted Suncoast Charities for Children. There was also nonstop entertainment and a 14 class bike show. The finale for the day was the concert by The Outlaws.

Mark your calendars for January 2015. Sarasota has a lot to offer in the way of food, lodging and amenities, and when coupled with the streets blocked off for motorcycles only, plus a large parking garage with FREE motorcycle parking, it is truly a biker-friendly event!

By Miserable George

It seems that Jan. 18, 2014, was the coldest day of the season…so far…AND, the day of the Third Annual Wolf Pack MC State Party. I tell ya, this club just cannot catch a break on the weather! The first two State Parties fared pretty much the same way as this one did…COLD!!! Anyway, a nice crowd DID show up, and, most of them DID ride!! The first order of the day was to get the 2 fire pits going to provide at least a little bit of warmth…space around these pits was soon at a premium!! The chief cook…OD…had the best job of all: right next to the big cooker, all day long! Nice!! He did his job well too, as the food was plentiful, as well as, very tasty!! The band, “Red Tide” did their best to keep the crowd rockin’…ergo…warm them up a bit!!! All the pretty girls there certainly helped to warm THIS old boy up…ehhh…pretty much, I’d say!! Let’s hope that in the future, WPMC can cop a WARM day for their party! I wanna thank the club for their on-going generosity! Hey, ride safe…ya hear??

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

Here I am getting excited about the upcoming Daytona Bike Week. Who wouldn’t be excited with approximately 500,000 bikers coming to their neighborhood for a rally that includes motorcycle racing, concerts, parties, and street festivals? The rally started back in 1937 but took a break between 1942 to 1947 because of World War II. I must admit I haven’t been to all of them but I did make many.

I started thinking, “Oh My God”, I made it, and according to today’s standards I shouldn’t have. Things have changed dramatically since I was a kid. I realize life has an expiration date, but I guess mine is longer than the one on my milk carton.

When I was growing up we didn’t have child car seats or airbags. The thing that protected you from going through the windshield was your mother’s outstretched arm across your chest. When one of your classmates died, you dealt with it. The school didn’t send in “grief counselors”. ADHD wasn’t heard of and kids were not given Mind Altering Drugs. Nobody cared about your “self-esteem”. If you failed you learned to deal with the consequences. Not everybody made the team. This had a way of making you stronger. I ate eggs fried in bacon grease. The biscuits, pie crusts, and fried foods were made using lard. Spam came out of a can, not in your e-mail. Come to think of it, we didn’t have the Internet, computers, cell phones, Xboxs, play stations, tablets or television with limitless channels. We had real friends and real books not a thing called Facebook. We even got into fights with other kids, even our friends. We’d end up with bruises, scrapes, cuts, and sometimes even broken bones. I rode horses, went hunting when I was 10 with a real gun, and drove a pickup long before I was old enough to get a license. I was spanked by my parents and the teachers at school when I needed it. Of course, I would never tell my folks that I got my butt spanked at school because I knew they’d whip my ass again. That did teach me something. It was called “respect”. I carried rifles and shotguns in my pickup and I never remember hearing about killings in our schools. The “Pledge of Allegiance” started my school day. I didn’t even lock the doors of my house or my pickup. I do believe it was a safer time and never worried about going out after dark. There were bad things and good things but we didn’t need the government to tell us what was right or wrong. The 10 Commandments told me. I was not Politically Correct, because I wasn’t afraid to say what I felt and thought. On second thought, maybe it was all the lead-based paint that I chewed off the windowsills that led me to be able to write this column.

When we have a meeting of the minds, mine has a tendency not to show up.
Read more from my website nobodiesopinion.com

See you on the shiny side up tomorrow…

By Amy Poole

Well, kids, there’s a new bar in town…and the name is…Bad Boys Saloon. Louie, owner of Bad Boys Saloon, has opened his new venue on Main Street. The “soft” grand opening was cold and rainy although it was toasty inside. Throughout the night hot homemade pizza and wings were served on the house while all were getting to know Louie. When our weather becomes pleasant you will want to check out the outside bar and upstairs. Ride in and try an item off the menu…it is delicious!! Welcome Louie to the area and tell him you saw his ad in Thunder Roads Florida!! Bring your friends in for a great time and make new ones!!