By Amy Poole

Jingle Pipes…Jingle Pipes…Ohhh what fun it is to ride on the 8th Family Renew Run!! Helping homeless families with children to become independent isn’t an easy job but every year Santa’s Helper’s step up and take on the job. One of the ways is the Family Renew Ride, beginning at the Ormond Beach Elks Lodge, with about 180 riders and free breakfast. Other stops included Beaver Bar, Hideaway Tavern, Iron Horse, Circus ll, Main St Station and Dirty Harry’s for their free Bar-B-Q. AT&T Pioneer Team, volunteers, businesses and friends worked together and raised over $4000 for the 32 families. Another $500 donation was presented by Doan Management! Each child received a gift along with generous baskets filled with food. The Dirty White Boys, of Holly Hill, participated in a large way by delivering Thanksgiving dinners to the families in Holly Hill and Christmas dinners and gifts to ALL the families. Santa’s Helper’s were busy little elves this year but YOU all made a huge difference in these families lives making their spirits bright and full of glee!! Thanks to all for lending a hand!!

If you would like more info or to donate: www.familyrenew.org

By Phoenix and Metric

The Welcome Home ceremony for the 3rd Battalion, 116 Field Artillery Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard was a great success due to the hard work of the Family Readiness Group, the Headquarters of the 3rd Battalion located in Plant City, the surrounding communities and Veterans organizations. Soldiers from the Florida Army National Guard from units located in Plant City, Lake Wales, Arcadia and Avon Park were welcomed home at the Plant City Strawberry Fairground last weekend. The buses bringing home the troops were meet on I-4 by over one hundred motorcycles headed up by “Tank” (American Legion Riders District 8 Sgt-at-Arm out of Sebring) and “T-Man” assistant state coordinator for the Patriot Guard Riders within about forty-eight hours notice of the event. The turnout of motorcycles was greatly appreciated by the troops. Once the troop arrived at the fairgrounds they were warmly welcomed by friends, family and loved ones. The American Legion from Lake Wales provided the Color Guard. The troops spent the past year over in the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Govern Rick Scott and other dignitaries were on hand to welcome the troops. After a brief ceremony the soldiers were released to return home with their families. Phoenix and I would personally like to thank all veterans especially the soldiers from the Florida Army National Guard. Mission Complete JOB WELL DONE!!! GOD BLESS!!

Miserable George & Val Gal

As much as he tried, Ol’ Man Weather simply COULD NOT dampen the spirits of nearly 4000 riders who came out under cloudy, dingy, skies to take the ride for the kids…to supply Santa with toys for the under-privileged little ones…the Shriners, and other agencies in greater Brevard County. The group began massing at Merritt Square Mall, on SR 520, at around 8 AM, Sunday, Dec.1, and continued building until 12 Noon, when ABATE Pres. Mike Pope gave the “kickstands up” command, which started the mass exodus over to US 1, and south to its destination, Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne. The assembly and start of the run were captured fabulously from high in the air…in a police helicopter…by my daughter, ValGal! Thanks to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Dept. for that opportunity!!

Soggy grounds greeted the crowd at Wickham Park, but they slogged through it all to fill up several trucks with toys and games for the needy kids. Free hot dogs and drinks made the weather a little more bearable, as did the “Kissing Camel”, a chance to bash a car with a big sledge hammer, numerous vendors, a live band, Doc Holiday, a 50/50, and other activities as well. The Warlocks of Brevard also presented the Shriners with a check for over $13,000 from their Biker Bash in Nov.

By Phoenix and Metric

Each year great groups of patriots make the trip to national cemeteries across this great nation to lay a wreath on the grave sites of our Veterans. I have been blessed to be a small part of a great event for the past few years. This year we made the trip to the Sarasota National Cemetery where over seven thousand (7,000) Veterans are laid to rest. In past years not every Veteran was honored with a wreath, however this year every Veteran was honored to have a wreath thanks to hard work from all involved. The Wreaths across America program is on a mission to Remember, Honor and Teach the importance of remembering that our freedoms come at a cost by our Veterans and their families. We owe it to them to keep their memories alive and to teach it to future generations. So, mark your calendars for next year and honor out Veterans.

For more information on Wreaths across America visit www. Wreathsacrossamerica.org.

By Lulu

As all of you who read Thunder Roads Florida know we love our veterans! We were honored to be able to participate in many veteran events in November. A special evening was hosted by Rue, Ziffra and Caldwell which started with a ceremony at the Flagler Government Services building with presentation of the flag, speeches and the beginning of the motorcycle ride to the party destination at the Coca Cola Pavilion at Destination Daytona. Upon our arrival a wonderful meal was waiting by Moore’s Catering, cocktails, live music, silent and live auctions. The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall and several other displays were in the pavilion. One of the special events of the night was the empty chair ceremony. And a spontaneous singing performance by Rolling Thunder’s Rich Malifanto.

A special thank you to the following sponsors who made this wonderful night possible: Rue, Ziffra and Caldwell, Bright House Networks, WHOG Radio, 93.1 Coast, KIX Country 91.7, Sunny FM 105.9, Beach 92.7, West 2 News, Hometown News, Lamar Advertising, Flagler County, Rolling Thunder Chapter 8, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley Davidson, Daytona International Speedway, Peers Foundation, Southern Storm and Gary Yeoman’s.

Also a very BIG thank you to all who purchased tables, rode on the ride and to the volunteers that made this a night to show respect to our vets.

By Ron Cox

What do you get when you combine 1,850 bikers, a luxury ship and an inexhaustible supply of adult beverages? You’d get the 11th Annual High Seas Rally (formally HOG’s On the High Seas). The High Seas Rally’s (HSR) mission is to raise funds for Debbie’s Dialysis Fund, so named by HSR cofounder Dean Anderson in honor of his late wife Debbie, the other rally founder. The fund allows people, bikers and others, the opportunity to have a real vacation. Dialysis patients usually need a treatment every three days. The fund picks up ALL the costs related to attending the rally including travel expenses for the patient and a companion, rental of machines, hiring staff, cabin costs and $1,000 in pocket money. Rally goers are fond of saying they’re “Cruisin’ For a Cause.”

For the first time in its eleven year history, the itinerary included St. Thomas and St. Maarten in the Eastern Caribbean. The Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Of The Seas served as the base for the seven day pirate themed cruise from November 3-10th.

The fun began with a pool party on Saturday at the host hotel, the Cocoa Beach Radisson. Boarding the ship took most of Sunday, but Sunday night saw the first of the nightly giveaway shows. On board vendors are required to donate a minimum of $5,000 in product however most of them donate more. Throughout the week tickets are sold for the poker walk, cabin raffles, a silent auction, biker bingo and the Dialysis Fund 2013 Road King. The nightly 50/50 gave between $5-8,000 to the winners who frequently donated hundreds or thousands back to the Fund.

Ship board activities included a Belly Smacker contest, Topless Man contest, HSR photo bike contest, High Seas Rally Tattoo contest and almost everyone’s favorite The Treasured Chest contest. About 25 pirate costumed wenches circulated among the audience collecting donations for the Fund. Deanna Lambka from Lodi, California won collecting more than $700 while the Fund received more than $4,000 from all the contestants.

The Best Beard contest had 18 entrants standing poolside at Senor Frog’s in St. Maarten. The female judges got to run their fingers in and around the beards and if they smelled good, so much the better. Doug Flanders from Sugar Hill, Georgia took the First Place medal and the three finalists split $1,000 in vendor prizes.

The Grand Prize giveaway show took place on Saturday, the last night of the cruise. An auction was held for various donated items including an autographed guitar by the band Foreigner and all the signage hung at the tonsil wash emporiums on shore and aboard the ship. The biggest winner was Lawrence Wells from Sun City West, Arizona who won the 2013 Victory. Every HSR passenger received a free ticket for the Victory. Russell Werle from Painesville, Ohio won the Dialysis Fund raffle of a 2013 H-D Road King.

As of this writing there are less than 100 cabins left for the 2014 High Seas Rally cruise, which also sails to the Eastern Caribbean. To get in on the fun check out the web site www.highseasrally.com

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

Now that we’re tired of singing Auld Lang Syne, I want you to reflect back on 2013.
If you received your information from the mainstream media, you received your news from unnamed sources, who received it from non-corroborative hearsay or unverified rumors, who were given unsubstantiated facts with a liberal biased intention.
Personally, I prefer to get all my information from the Internet. You don’t need a brain or memory if you use Google. We all know that everything you read on the Internet or in your e-mail is the truth.
So reflecting back, I wanted you to know the things I’ve learned in 2013.
I solved the age-old question
“Which came first the chicken or the egg?”

• I ate the egg for breakfast and the chicken for dinner
• Everyone considers honesty a virtue, but nobody wants to hear the truth
• If people would stop having kids we wouldn’t need teachers
• I have HIV “Hair is Vanishing”
• I also suffer from CRS “Can’t Remember S#!t”
• Republicans can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory
• 50 years have passed and I still haven’t used the calculus or trigonometry I studied in high school
• I tried being an artist but I was only able to draw a blank
• I wanted to drink in moderation but I couldn’t find a bar named “Moderation”
• I didn’t want to be everybody’s cup of tea until I started drinking Twisted Tea
• If everybody wants everything to be faster why do we use slow cookers
• Liberals tell you they want to expand government to make it smaller
• When a politician tells you he wants to be part of the solution you know you have a problem
• If you can’t see the problem you can’t fix the problem
• My editor wants to replace me with a smart phone
• When I can’t laugh at myself I call someone and they laugh at me
• Don’t use a glue stick or hairspray for underarm deodorant
• When bobbing for apples it’s more interesting when you replace the water with vodka
• I should’ve been a football coach as an Offensive Coordinator. I can coordinate more offensive comments than anybody I know
• I wanted to be a PORN STAR but they only offered me a part in zombie movies cause they said everything I had was DEAD
• It’s not the early bird who gets the worm, but the last one who gets the worm at the bottom of the tequila bottle
• Birds and politicians have a lot in common they don’t care who they crap on
• You can still vote Democrat after you’re dead
• Politicians will never LIE to you. Just ask the President
• Coal should have been the President’s stocking stuffer but he had Bankrupted all the coal mines

See you on the shiny side up tomorrow…

By Raven Van Pelt

The 2nd Annual “BOOTS ON THE GROUND HEROES RUN – 2013” was held Saturday, October 19 at 8:00 a.m. at Fort Clinch State Park Fernandina Beach, FL.

A 5k/10k Run – 5k Walk – Half & 1 Mile Kid Fun Run with a fun run and 51 motorcycles with flags to honor our fallen were in attendance. “Trees for Troops” decorated Christmas trees and signed cards for shipment to deployed troops during the holidays,

Mothers of America’s Military Fallen ~ Spc Kelly J. Mixon Foundation is a charitable nonprofit organization of volunteers, mostly Gold Star Moms, who found solace through serving others in need.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND – AMERICA REMEMBERS
A Traveling Memorial of more than 7,000 Boots, Pictures, and Flags honoring Post 9/11 Fallen OIF/OEF/OND U.S. Service Members, MWD/CWD, and the brave Firefighters and Police Officers of 9/11. For more information contact:
Julie Mixon Bargeron Gsm or www.mothersofamf.com

By Lulu

Friday of Bike Week or Biketoberfest will always find me on the Boardwalk. The backdrop of the Atlantic and the rides just make taking photos of awesome bikes even better. This year’s show as sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, Full Throttle Magazine and the Daytona Beach Boardwalk Merchants. Trophies were sponsored by Fran Haasch Law Group. First place winners are listed below.

Best of Show:  Steve Galvin, St. Petersburg, FL; 2012 Wikked Steel “Pipe Bomb”

Judge’s Trophy: Will Robertson, Pinellas Park, FL;  2012 Wikked Steel “Bat Bike”

People’s Choice: First Place David Webster/Fred Treadway, Jxnvl, FL; “Route 66” Bike

Special Custom: First Place Steve Wisniewski, Eighty-Four, PA; ’08 H-D Streetglide

Evo/V-Twin: First Place Gary Armstrong, Orlando, FL; ’88 H-D Lowrider

Radical Evo: First Place Gary Elswick, Keen Mt., VA; 2007 H-D Softail

Radical Softail: First Place Mike Stout, Parts Unknown; ’07 Big Bear Sled

Shovelhead: First Place Rex Fox, Williamsburg, OH; ’72 H-D FLH

Panhead: First Place Ray Llanes, Miami, FL; 1959 H-D Bobber

Sportster: First Place Tim Firstenberger, Sarasota, FL; ’93 H-D Sportster

Radical Sportster: First Place Casey Carey, Orlando, FL; 2001 Buell Bastard

Dresser: First Place Jason (Lefty Bros. Cycles), Boston, MA; 2012 H-D Road King

Trike: First Place Rick Mutter, Boyertown, PA; ’59 H-D Servicar

Chopper: First Place Jimmy Dandridge, Weirsville, FL; ’05 Big Dog Ridgeback

Vintage: First Place B.K. Keenan, New Ellenton, SC; 1940 H-D EL

Sport Bike: First Place Dan Asher, Indianapolis, IN; 2000 Suzuki Hayabusa

Paint: First Place Keith Jones, Mechanicsville, PA;  2004 Boss Hoss Trike

Metric: First Place Scott Wheeler, Clermont, FL;  2002 Honda VTX

Radical Metric: First Place Lisa Ransier, Bonita Springs, FL; 1977 Yamaha XS 650

Rat Class: Alan Cox, Bonita Springs, FL; 2010 AHV Custom

By LuLu

Everyone who travels the greater Daytona area on two wheels has probably crossed paths with Marcus Orabone. Born 61 years ago in Troy, New York his family moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts where he and a rat pack of friends became hot rod fanatics or as Marcus refers to them “motorheads”. As a young man he joined the Navy and was stationed on the US Blue Ridge where he honed his skills as a engineman 3rd class. When he returned home his friends had moved from 4 wheels to two, and he quickly tired of following them around town in a cage. His first bike was a 1962 Sportster which rode him into a lifetime of biking. He has always tinkered on cars and bikes, and it would be hard to guess whether he has logged more hours on the road or wrenching with friends in a garage!

Eventually he came to Daytona for Bike Week and fell in love with Florida, within 2 years he was back to stay. He has worked in air conditioning, but presently works as the front man for Tropical Tattoo on US 1 in Ormond. That was the headquarters for his Florida posse that he rides with, a tight group of well inked free spirits that love bikes, cars and women. They encouraged him to open a garage to work on their bikes. He conceded that they had outgrown his single wide trailer where he would be working on friends’ rides or building new ones. So five friends (Willie, Jon, Joe, Louie and Shaun) rented a warehouse they named Trailer Trash Choppers and it is more like a “big boy” clubhouse. Marcus’ love of swap meets quickly filled the warehouse and every lift has a frame in various stages of repairs or builds. Presently Joe, Shaun and Marcus keep the “hobby shop” going.

Marcus currently has 4 bikes in his stable that are all unique and road worthy, and 3 that are in various stages of a build. His first total built followed an accident in which he totaled his bike and asked Tombstone Motorcycles to allow him to do the build giving them the insurance money, but only used their garage and knowledge to rebuild the bike. He seems to prefer Evo’s as 4 of his 4 current bikes are that genre. One of his bikes that I really love is called “Spare Change” a 1997 Evo which has real change used anywhere you might find a washer, painted by Pinstripe Joey an incredible orange. He definitely has a sense of artistry. Many of the bikes are more of a rat rod look complete with rust. The garage is packed with parts, bikes and friends. I was impressed at how organized the garage appeared.

Marcus is well loved by all who know him, and he always is happy to lend a hand with whatever project Willie from Tropical takes on, whether it is their bi-annual Ol’ School Chopper Show (one of the biggest, best and most bad assed bike shows anywhere), or their monthly event at the Iron Horse Saloon. Hell, Marcus has even dabbled in modeling and has been featured in the Iron Horse Saloon’s clothing catalog! Aw, such a pretty boy…Adam Levine (sexiest man of 2013) doesn’t have anything on Marcus!

Along with his love of riding he has a daughter Ashley and two grandsons, Jaedin and Kaspen, that he clearly loves. Anyone who can call Marcus his friend is a lucky man, not only for his knowledge of motorcycles; but his love of life and his need for time on two wheels.

By Billy “Kneecap” Braddock

On Saturday, October 12 the Tracy Dillon Mammogram Foundation held its third annual fundraiser at The Roadside Tavern in Port Orange. The fundraiser is named after breast cancer survivor Tracy Dillon. The funds that are collected will provide screening mammograms to qualified individuals who are uninsured in Flagler and Volusia counties. The weather was as great as the turn out. There were raffles, contests, games, cornhole, horseshoes, and plenty of food and drink. My favorite game was Bobbing for Boobies. However, I think it would have been more fun if they had filled the bucket with vodka instead of water. The great music was supplied by Stickshift Cadillac. Frank Scott of WHOG 95.7 radio was there to assist with the festivities.

By Miserable George

Unlike some weather in other parts of the U.S., it was nearly perfect for the 16th edition of the Brevard County Humane Society’s Critter Run. 140 riders signed in at the facility out on Cox Rd. in Cocoa, many bringing donations of food, blankets and money to help our little furry friends! After four stops along the way, the run ended at H&D Roadhouse, on SR 520 on Merritt Island, where Harry and Debbie were waiting with good food, drinks, live bands, door prizes and a 50/50 drawing, in which the winner donated back all the money. Cash prizes were paid for best hand, worst hand, and a mystery hand!

Sadly, while there, we received some tragic news of an accident on the run, in which a passenger on the run, a 13 year old girl lost her life. Two others were seriously injured also. We offer our condolences and prayers to all involved. Please friends…ride carefully and safely. GOD bless you all, and please support our troops…

By Lulu

Someone asked me while visiting my family (who I am certain feel I have lost my mind) “What is the allure of motorcycles that keeps you involved with a culture that you were not brought up in, were not a part of until fifty years old and that is, quite frankly, dangerous?” The question itself stopped me in my tracks for a bit, as I was at Churchill Downs in the “culture” I was brought up in, being the child of a thoroughbred horse trainer. And the person asking was completely right, I had only been on a motorcycle once at 14, when a “bad boy” from the local high school asked me if I wanted a ride, I jumped on the back and was terrified. I swore to myself I would never do that again and didn’t consider dating that cute boy from Ocala simply because he owned that motorcycle. I wonder where Phil Whitaker is now. But after my divorce, at 49, my friend Kim and I happened to be at Thunder Beach in Panama City and wandered into Coyote Ugly where two guys offered us a ride. We ended up spending the whole event on two wheels. The son of one of the men who started Thunder Beach gave me a personal tour into the world of motorcycling and I was hooked. Looking back it may have had more to do with living on the edge going into the second half of my life, although Kim jokes that it had more to do with riding a Harley on the fender, as there was no back seat on that bike! Whatever the reason once in the “culture” I fell “in love” with the people I met on every event I attended. The world of bikers opened my eyes to a wonderful subset of people that are unlike any others. Not only are they extremely generous, patriotic and fun loving, they are also free spirits that, in general, don’t judge others. Dan Hagerty a friend I met along this adventure in life, told me he loves that you can be sitting on your bike riding next to Malcolm Forbes or next to a guy born in prison…on two wheels their joy in life is the same…the ride! And he is right.

Yes the love of motorcycles took me out of my safe zone; actually put me in a danger zone, both financially and in terms of safety. As anyone in the magazine business, including Oprah, knows print media is a constant struggle. But both are in my blood and despite the danger, I find it hard to walk away from either the magazine or riding. From the smell of leather to the rumble of the pipes it is a world that I enjoy. The feeling of rain pelting your face makes you feel more alive than any other. This year I turn 60 and realized as I was explaining all this to the person who posed the question, I have spent 10 years now entrenched in this world and the time has passed quite quickly. I would not turn back a page of it, not one page…

In 2014 spend some miles exploring a new area of our wonderful state, strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know and as always don’t forget your sunscreen.

By Miserable George

Who would’ve thought that way back in 1986, a friendly backyard party would someday become one of the biggest and best biker gatherings in the state of Florida…hell, maybe the whole country! Yep, Roscoe and Li’l Hank started it all with a friendly chili cook-off and a few close friends in attendance. It has turned into over 5000 revelers, every first full week-end in November, with the “back yard” expanding to well over 20 acres of well maintained camping area. That weekend starts on Thursday, but we arrived on Tuesday to secure our regular spot. It didn’t take long for a host of vendors to get set up, as a steady stream of riders made their way to their favorite camp spot, to prepare for a weekend of fun and mayhem! Primo Emcee, Pogo, couldn’t make it this year, due to prior commitments, so, Roscoe and Soundman Steve filled in, doing an admirable job! Live bands formed the back drop for many of the events, including a tribute to our Armed Forces, horse shoe matches, a ride-in bike show, biker games, the famous Outhouse Nationals, mini bike races, and the chili cook-off itself on Saturday. It didn’t take long for the bikers to scarf up all that free chili, AND, wash it down with some free beer! New this year, was a pole dance contest, with $1000 to the winner…a comely little darling from Pole World, in California. Also, the body painters were very busy all week-end, which left a lot of the ladies wearing…well…paint!! YEAH!! Other impromptu pole action by a host of gorgeous babes, kept the on-lookers pretty excited! I had a ring-side seat to all this action, high up in a cherry-picker…thanks Steve!! Hey, the weather was perfect, the babes were hot, and the beer was cold…all contributing to a fantastic event. All winners of the various events received cash and/or trophies! I gotta thank Roscoe and the whole crew for their hospitality, and Mike…that firewood was a blessing! If the BIG MAN OK’s it, I’ll see you all there next year. Ride safe…

By Miserable George

Two years ago, Harry and Debbie Vigliano purchased a failing bar business on SR 520 in Merritt Island and turned it into a thriving, booming, biker bar, as Harry puts it: The only REAL biker bar in Brevard County!! The Second Year Celebration started on Friday, Oct. 25th and wound up on Sunday, Oct. 27th, and what a 3 day blast it was! As opposed to last year, this year’s weather was perfect! Along with bands, food, vendors, and drinks, etc., there was a Leather & Lace contest on Friday, a huge Halloween Costume competition on Sat., and a bike show on Sunday. OH, did I mention a Bikini Bike Wash for most of each day as well…? There was also one of those inflatable boxing rings in the back, which got a fair amount of use during the week-end. Scantily clad Jello-shot babes were a definite asset as well!! If you just wanted to relax a bit, the outdoor, shaded deck was for you! Hey, Harry and Debbie and the family, have worked hard to give Brevard bikers a good, relaxing, place they can call home…all bikers are welcome! So, if you’re cruising SR 520, just west of the Banana River, stop in for a cold one, AND, you can pick up the latest THUNDER ROADS FLORIDA magazine too! Be safe out there…ya hear??