By Lulu

So, Paul and Lisa Wane know how to throw one hell of a party. A biker destination was the party spot, Boogerville Hideout in Green Cove Springs. Ray came along for the ride just to get a Boogerville shirt! The event is geared towards children with face painting, Santa Claus, elves and Grinch and games. The first 150 kids get a gift bag with an event T-shirt, dinner voucher, toys and more. All proceeds benefit the community. Live music was by Rising Star and the young musicians and singers did a really good job. Guitars for Kids gave away a guitar to a teen boy who was speechless on stage. The vision for Rising Stars Guitars for Kids: “We envision communities united by the magic of music, where individuals are provided platforms that showcase their talents and bring their dreams to reality.” Well Paul and Lisa pulled it off on that day. Our posse on two wheels drove through torrential rain to get there, and as God would see fit within a half mile of the place the rain stopped and the field was dry. A great gift from heaven for Rockin for Stockins that day!

By Lulu

Each October Cotee River Bike Fest has one heck of a 3-day party. 3 stages rock with lots of great music. Vendors line Sims Park, Grand & Bank St. Downtown is closed for bikes only! I can’t say enough about how nice the police are at the event, keeping the peace and keeping us safe. This is a family friendly event and Tina Farrell makes this a charity rally. Bands like Hair of the Dog, Carpool (Car’s Tribute), and Welcome to Destruction (Guns N Roses tribute) entertained the crowds. Children enjoyed the park, face painting and snake handling! Minh from Venom Cycles puts on a bike show on Saturday with trophies by Fran Haasch. A bikini contest, Little Miss Biker Contest, Daisy Duke contest were held and to get the men involved a wet t-shirt contest…but this time the men got wet!

The Fire & Iron Chapter held their yearly poker run out of New Port Richey Harley-Davidson with stops at Starkey Market, The Drunken Mullet, and Get Hooked Grill. The winner donated the money back I believe! The proceeds went to Children’s Burn Foundation and Pasco Safety Town. A special thank you to the sponsors Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey, Team Farrell, Downtown New Port Richey, Doran, Beam & Farrell Pasco Law Team, Brown & Brown, Fran Haasch, Roman Plumbing, and Experience Florida’s Sports Coast for making this event possible. Next year’s event is scheduled for October 11th-13th!!! More photos of the event can be viewed on Thunder Roads Florida Facebook under album Cotee River Bike Fest 2023!

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By Lulu

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My second trip to Maggie Valley and the famous Wheels Through Time did not disappoint. Dale, the creator of this museum with decades of history has passed on and is riding the heavens now, but his son and a wonderful tour guide were on hand to make this an informative and great day. If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, you could spend all day here! They charge a fee of $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $7 for children, and each year they raffle off a beautiful bike which helps maintain the building and the display bikes! Not only will you see one-of-a-kind motorcycles, like the Traub, which was encased behind a wall in Chicago dated back to 1916 and discovered during a demo of the building in 1967. The history behind that one is a story you must have Andy Norris share when you take the tour. This museum, that Dale Walksler started in 1969 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, moved to Mt. Vernon, Illinois in 1977 and in 2002 made its way to Maggie Valley, NC. The 38,000 square food building is PACKED full of 300 + rare bikes and memorabilia all artfully displayed. I feel certain this isn’t my last trip to Wheels Through Time. If you aren’t headed to the mountains, visit their website where many interesting articles on their collection can be found.

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By Lulu

One of our favorite fall events is at Howlin Wolf in Melrose on State Rte 100. This bar knows how to do Ol’ School bike parties. The day is complete with a good band, bikini bike wash girls, Sexy Biker Chick contest, bike show, bike games, and burn out contest! Add in a lot of alcohol and you have a great day in the country! Mark and James are veterans, and this place definitely has grown in popularity under their control of the bar’s “Throttle”. They bought the bar in 2020 and have managed to grow this event to a packed crowd twice a year. A great destination ride from Jacksonville, Gainesville, Daytona or Ocala on any weekend, but if you get a chance put Throttles & Bottles on your list for 2024!

By Lulu

We had a huge opportunity fall in our lap this summer. Gator Ken and Jeani rented a farmhouse in Clyde, North Carolina and invited us to ride the mountains with them for a few days. I have ridden the Smokies several time years ago but had never “Slayed the Dragon” on even the back of a bike! So, it was on my bucket list! 11 miles with 318 curves and we did it in about 22 minutes! The Tail of the Dragon in Deal’s Gap was amazing, and I only had to flip off one idiot on a jap bike that passed us on a hairpin turn! Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday it isn’t as busy as the weekend. AND don’t look at the Wall of Shame before you go…you will be too nervous! The weather was amazing. The farmhouse came complete with cows and ground hogs!! We were able to spend every day riding to new and interesting bars, restaurants, the Casino in Cherokee and Gatlinburg/ Pigeon Forge Tn. Every day was an adventure! The place not to miss for future trips was Bobarosa Saloon in Del Rio, Tennessee. This cool dive bar is owned by a Floridian who packed up and opened this watering hole. It is situated right on the French Broad River and people create rock towers while drinking or staying there. The Iron Horse Station, a restaurant in Hot Springs, N.C had amazing food!

The Twisted Spoke in Maggie Valley, is also owned by a Floridian. And Legends Bar & Grill, also in Maggie Valley, was very cool with the beer iced down in a canoe! I wouldn’t waste a trip to the casino again. The minimum bets have gotten ridiculous. And to me even though it was cool to drive by Ole Red (Blake Shelton’s Bar) and Jason Aldean’s bar in Gatlinburg, the place has turned into a complete tourist trap. It is nothing like the quaint town it was 30 years ago. The traffic even in August was too much, it made that part of the trip not worth the trouble. Truthfully, you are in the mountains for the riding, the view, and the weather!! My favorite rides were Thunder Ride in Maggie Valley which is along the water and the Rattler which has a lot of curves, but not of the nail-biting hairpin type. We also toured Wheels Through Time again, which I consider a MUST DO! Thank you, Ken and Jeani, for an amazing few days…and the home cooked ribeye dinner. Felt a little guilty eating it after getting to know the cows at the Farmhouse!

By T. J.

Dick’s Wings in Orange Park is back! Jeanina, the new owner, and general manager Beth, decided to bring back the bike night that the previous ownership had let fade away. We attended a recent one and had a great time. The band Rocking Machine rocked the house. The local Fire and Iron chapter was on hand and are big supporters, as evidenced by the display of some of their firefighting gear on the walls. The wings were hot, the beer was cold, and the service was awesome! The turnout was good even with the threat of rain which tells me that people are ready for a good bike night in Jax. It happens every first and third Wednesday at 6055 Youngerman Cir. so come on out and tell Beth and crew that Thunder Roads Florida sent you. See you there. Here is a testimonial that we received from Fire and Iron MC Station 21. I think it says it all!!!

Fire and Iron MC Station 21 was started back in 2002 in Jacksonville, Florida. Our Station is made up of Firefighters and other people associated with the Fire Service who love to ride and have a good time. Each member is either an Active Full-Time/Career, or Retired Member from the Fire Service Community. Over the past 20 years we have built a strong relationship with Dick’s Wings, originally this location was called Buffalo’s Southwest Café. We have always been a big supporter of Dick’s Wings and they have always been accommodating to us when we have Regional and National Officers in town visiting. It is our go to place for fundraisers for community outreach/support, Bike Night or just an evening out for dinner with our Station of Brothers and Sisters. The Dick’s Wings Team has always been instrumental in ensuring our legacy and relationship with the Dick’s Wings Franchise always remains intact. They are always supportive of our charity events to raise funds for fallen/injured firefighters and their family members during their time of need and to raise money for our annual donation to the Children’s Burn Camp Foundation.

By Lulu

The first Saturday of every month from April through November O’Calahan’s in Silver Springs on Fl-40 is host to a central Florida Bike Night. Live music, great food, stiff drinks, and vendors make an event worth adding to your calendar. The final one for 2023 in November had Epidemic on the stage covering bands like Metallica. Our dinner of corned beef sandwich was scrumptious! Vendors were on hand and the tent with PB Dezigns had some creative gifts to purchase. O’Calahan’s is a great spot for watching games too!

Put this on your list of destination rides for 2024! The first Saturday of April is the 6th, the fun starts at 6!

By Lulu

I don’t smoke cigars! But TJ does. So, when we met Tim, Tom, Heather and the crew at Little Corona a few years ago during Cotee River Bike Fest it instantly became our place to sit, chat, drink and get to know some of the best people on Earth. Tim Fussell is a retired fire chief so lots of firemen come by to visit. Tim rides so lots of peeps on 2 and 3 wheels feel at home here even if they don’t smoke cigars. There is an outside patio, a full walk-in humidor, ice cold beer & Twisted Tea and plenty of wine for non-beer peeps like me! If you are looking for nice Christmas gifts for a cigar smoking fellow or lassie, Tim’s humidor will be a good place to help fill a stocking or two. Next year’s dates for Cotee River Bike Fest are October 11th-13th but don’t wait until then to meet the crew at Little Corona and let them know Thunder Roads Florida said hello!!

By Lulu

For 17 years, Joe Vece and his organizations have put on a memorial service to honor those who lost their lives and continue to have health issues from the deadly terror attack on our country on 9/11/2001. I am concerned each year as we head to Flagler County for the ride that no one will show up…so many years have passed. But this year, as with every previous year, I was amazed at the community of bikers, residents and dignitaries that attended. The Red Knights first started this memorial ride 17 years ago, now Joe’s club, Knights of Inferno, along with the Punishers MC, Flagler County, Monster Motorcycles, Politis & Matovina, PA and Tropical Enterprises make this yearly memorial happen. Hundreds of riders watched the service and quietly prayed for our country, then got on their bikes and took the ride through Flagler and Volusia County to end with a great lunch provided by 1405 Saloon in Bunnell. I was pleased so many young riders were with us, many who didn’t look old enough to have been born when this tragic event occurred.

On 9/11 2001, 2996 individuals’ lives stopped! 1000s more were injured. And everyone in our country was horrified and in mourning. Only 20 survived the World Trade Center collapse. On Flight 11 ninety-two perished which crashed into the North Tower, Flight 175, fifty-one perished when it hit the South Tower and on the World Trade Center Property 2600 perished, some jumping to their deaths. On Flight 77 and in the Pentagon 189 perished. In a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, heroes on Flight 93 kept the terrorists from crashing into another site and all 44 perished. The youngest victims were two 3 years old on Flight 175. 10 were pregnant women and their unborn. 343 were New York City Fire Fighters and 71 were law enforcement officers. Since 2001 10,000 cancers in first responders have been attributed to the 9/11 event. 2,000 more have died from the exposure.

If you haven’t ridden out to Bunnell for one of the 9/11 Memorial Rides you really should make a point to, it makes you feel good about America. NEVER FORGET!!

By Jeani G.

On Sunday October 8th, Gator Ken and I joined over 550 participants for the exciting 29th annual Bruce Rossmeyer Ride for Children. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office did an amazing job escorting the ride from Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson to Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis, stopping traffic all along the way and keeping the riders safe. Seeing the happy, smiling faces of campers, volunteers, and staff as we arrived was touching and very inspiring.

The successful event raised over $300,000 for Camp Boggy Creek, a non-profit medically equipped camp nestled on 232 acres that enables children with serious illnesses to enjoy an unforgettable camp experience where they can simply be kids … make new friends, engage in fun activities like archery, horseback riding, swimming, boating, music, woodshop, creative arts … and so much more.

Bruce Rossmeyer started this event a year before the camp opened and over the past 29 years, the ride has raised over $7 million dollars in support of this amazing facility. It was great seeing Bruce’s wife Sandy, and children Mandy, Shelly, Wendy, Will and many other family members enjoying the day’s festivities!

John Hamlin and Hamlin & Associates were the presenting sponsor, with a huge lineup of major sponsors: the Rossmeyer family, Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson, Jeanmarie & Collin York, Miller Lite, WHOG radio and the Rock of Daytona to name a few. Grand Marshals included Camp Boggy Creek Ambassador and actress Grace Van Patten, Katey Sagal, Kurt Sutter, Jackson White, Rusty Wallace, Doug “Danger” Senecal and Frank Scott.

Outback Steakhouse served a delicious lunch and Are Friends Electric kept the enthusiastic crowd entertained all afternoon with their unique take on rock ‘n roll. There were lots of fabulous silent auction items to bid on and the live auction was exciting and fun … especially the playful “bidding wars” that ensued between John Hamlin and Teddy Morse.

Every year, this fundraising event is a much-loved favorite of so many riders and organizations, and this year was no exception! If you couldn’t make it this time, we hope you can join us next year for the spectacular 30th anniversary gala and ride! In the memorable words of Bruce himself, “It’s all about the kids!”

By Lulu

One of the first people I met 17 years ago upon arriving in Flagler Beach was Glenn Iannillo, owner of Smile’s in Palm Coast. I have traveled from the Keys to Sturgis with Glenn and his girlfriend Sharon, and even the Playboy Mansion, so to say he is my friend is more than true. At the time he also owned Mother’s on A1A and then purchased The Dog Pound in Bunnell which he sold to the new owners that now call it 1405 Saloon. He has been in the bar business his entire life. Smiles on Palm Harbor Village Way in Palm Coast just celebrated 20 years! The place was rocking with music by DJ RU TEK and a delicious food spread was served to celebrate. Smiles is a full liquor bar with karaoke on Tuesdays and a DJ Thursdays and Saturdays. So, find yourself a bar stool and order a cold one when you are up in Palm Coast and Smile and tell Glenn Thunder Roads Florida sent ya!!

By Lulu

Tom and Lisa, owners of 1405 Saloon in Bunnell have certainly breathed new life into the old Dog Pound on Moody Blvd. They not only have made huge improvements to the saloon and property; they also have added energy to the nightlife in Bunnell with live music and events. I saw them in action on the free lunch for the 9/11 Memorial Ride in September with hundreds of bikes on the property getting quick service, a tasty BBQ lunch provided by 1405 and cooked by Angie’s House of Flavor and a great band Southern Chaos. They are also involved in Angel Flight annually and are always looking to be a stop for poker runs and other charity events! Lisa and Tom are hard-working community minded business owners who treat customers like family!

Coming up on November 18th is their 1-year anniversary bash and Tom’s 50th Birthday! Live music and food will add to the day’s event! Also, a couple of don’t miss events coming in December are the Micro Wrestling Federation on Friday the 1st and Completely Unchained on Friday the 29th. Check the ad inside for ticket info for those two shows.

October is always slammed full of traveling to events. We had Cotee River Bike Festival which we always enjoy, hanging out with the crew at Little Corona Cigar Lounge and listening to the great music on 3 stages. We jump on the bike Sunday morning to head to Melrose for Howlin Wolf’s Throttles & Bottles with a great day of bikes, booze, bike games, and burnouts. While there, suddenly I was in excruciating pain on the right side of my stomach! TJ had to finish the photography of the burnouts and bike awards. The pain had me in tears but didn’t want to leave until the event was done. Now, we still had almost a 2-hour bike ride to get home!

I was scared having no idea if it was my appendix, ovary or gallbladder and Biketoberfest 3 days away! I just wanted to get home. I was holding my side, crunched over behind him, riding with my eyes closed when suddenly we were on a bumpy dirt road with signs that read ROAD CLOSED AHEAD with barricades out in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to kill him!! As he maneuvered through and around the barricades, I saw the ER sign just ahead. Without my knowledge, he decided I needed to go to Putnam Hospital. That was a BLESSING.

Sometime heroes are boyfriends on Harleys. There was no one at the ER so within 15 minutes of arriving I was in CT and relieved to find out it was kidney stones, not any of the dire things I had imagined. Kidney stones are no joke, but no surgery required. A pain shot, nausea meds, and IV fluids, made everything fine. I was able to get on the bike an hour later and ride home.

That night, watching the news, I felt so much sorrow for people living life in Israel, the Gaza Strip, West End, & Ukraine, because for reasons beyond the citizens control, their lives are in peril. What if you lived in a war-torn country and got sick with anything…normal life is going on: people get sick, hear horrible health news like cancer, drop dead of heart attacks, infant sudden death and yet the war is ravaging their country, their homes, their loved ones.

My biggest worry of the day was having to ride on the motorcycle for 2 hours in pain, not that a bomb might take out the hospital, no power, no water, etc. That is really f’cked up!! St. Jude’s has rescued all kids with cancer from Ukraine because there was no electricity to keep chemo at the right temperature or to power the hospitals. Listen, whether you are on the red side or blue side of politics we better start really paying attention to politics and love this country that we live in. We are more secure and safe than the rest of the world, and right now our President seems hell bent on changing that!!!

Pray for those in harm’s way, drink lots of water to keep kidney stones away & don’t forget your sunscreen!

By Lulu

Every Wednesday OB’s throws a bike night with great live music 6 -10pm. The night we were there, Groove Infusion was killing it. Food specials by Tina & Rob for $5-6 bucks are served at the outside kitchen. If the special isn’t what you are hungry for, their burgers and onion rings inside are excellent!! A large crowd of OB’s regulars are always there for the party, and it is a bike night worth the ride for mid-week partying. The OB staff and Ashley are always ready to serve you and this month they will be busy doing just that. Along with Wednesday bike nights, they feature live music on Friday & Saturday nights, pool tournaments and great food, all this keeps OB’s a busy place. But in November, one of the largest bike shows in Florida happens on the 19th! Russ and Bob’s Panhead/Shovelhead Show starts at noon. This year they are adding a Vintage Bikini Contest for the older set! You must be 50 to enter! And the prize is $1000 cash!! Saddle up and ride in for a wonderful day on the 19th of November!

By Lulu

A favorite watering hole in the greater Daytona area for those of us on 2-3 wheels has been Saints & Sinners at Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson property. For 18 years this has been a mainstay of the Harley crowd, but last year Patti Miracle took the reins and ramped up the throttle with lots of live music, events, and fun. With tasty food, great music, friendly staff, and Patti, who needs anything more than that? We showed up for Big Engine as a weekend of music was scheduled to celebrate the anniversary. In November they have Rock It Fly November 11th 3-7pm and Green Tree Brothers doing a Pink Floyd Tribute on November 18th at 8:30. Follow them on Facebook for current events and other live music dates.