Born to Ride Motorcycle Magazine Florida #165

Contents

February Issue 165

Features Thunder By The Bay 20th Anniversary 10 Finz Finds-Cruise For Cash 16 New Hope Ministries 39 Test Ride-2018 Yamaha Star Eluder 46

Columns

7

Woman’s World-Myra McElhaney 25 Craven Moorehead 69 Spyke & Mike 63 Christian Motorcycle Association 70

Departments Everywhere Eddy-Is Everywhere 43 BTR Events Update 66 Born To Ride Kids 70

Reports

26

Fran Haasch Press Release 7 Born To Ride-23 Year Anniversary 51 Daytona Bike Week-Susan Hurst 58 BTR Movie Review-Black Angels 60 Craig Can Fix It 65

On The Cover

Thunder By The Bay 20th Anniversary Feb 15-18 www.ThunderByTheBay.org

Start Born To Ride TV and Magazine in your city! Call 888-795-5779 The information contained herein is provided by Born To Ride Magazine or by its advertisers. BTR makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information in the issue. Born To Ride Magazine does not endorse, approve, or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or correct sequencing of such information throughout this magazine. Use of such information is voluntary on your part, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after your independent review. Reference herein to any specific manufacturer, company, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement of or recommendation of said by Born To Ride Magazine.” “Born To Ride Magazine (including its employees, contributors and agents) assumes no responsibility for consequences that may result from the use of the information herein, including the use of the information obtained at www.borntoride.com and it’s linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information, including (but not limited to) errors or omissions, the accuracy or reasonableness of factual or scientific assumptions, studies or conclusions, ownership of copyright or other intellectual property rights, and the violation of property, privacy, or personal rights of others. BTR Magazine is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. No guarantees or warranties, including (but not limited to) any express or implied warranties are made by BTR Magazine with respect to such information contained throughout the site.” No part may be copied without written permission of the publisher, Born To Ride, Inc. P.O. Box 3021, Brandon, FL 33509. 888-795-5779, Fax 813-689-2996. ­­

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Ad Index AAA 6 Affordable Motorsports 28 Al Estes Bail Bonds 58 Angel City 64 Allstate - Jeff Ard 62 Attorney Fran Haasch IFC, 7, BC Barneys of Brandon 48 Big Top Toy Show 31 BTR Cigar Club 26 BTR Lifestyle 26 BTR Patch 26, 55 BTR Radio 68 BTR TV-This TV Tampa Bay 65 BTR TV-Great 38 5, 66 BTR TV-ABC 20 71 BTR VIP Text 38 Cabbage Patch 56 Charlottes Webb 19 CigarzUp 27 CJ Seats 58 Copperhead Lodge 57 Cycle-Rama 62 FOE Party Under The Bridge 61 Fun Bar 9 H-D Crystal 72 H-D Florida 33 H-D Lakeland 4 H-D Barracuda 37 H-D Black Widow 36 H-D Manatee River 11 H-D Rossiters 11 H-D War Horse IBC L.A.M.A. Tampa 41 Leasure Automotive 55 Leesburg Bike Fest 52 Love Jugs 45 Media Design Shop 50, 52 Midwest Motorcycle 42 Nasty Savage 53 New Hope Ministries 41 Peggy’s Corral 44 Police Athletic League 24 Progressive Insurance 3 Old Town Bike Night 49 Rivers Edge Bar & Grill 20, 24 Sarasota Ford 13 Saddle Creek 28 Salty Shamrock 22 Screwie Louie’s-Scooter Haven 29 Shriners-Sam Swope 30 Silvestri Travel 34, 35 Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q 54 The Ride Factory 59 Thunder Beach 32 Thunder By The Bay 10, 14 Trikes By Design 59 Tropical Tattoo 50 Tropic Trailer 61 Visit Sarasota 18 Wanted Gi Joe 59 We’re Going Back To Sturgis 8 Wings-n-Weenies 18

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SCENIC RIDE CONSULTANT

Steve Finzelber-Finz Finds CONTRIBUTORS

Neale Bayly, Paul Garson, Craven Moorehead, Spyke & Mike, Susan Hurst, Eric Albright, Rob Brooks, Eric Vician, Myra McElhaney PHOTOGRAPHERS

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(888) 795-5779 BORN TO RIDE, INC. P.O. Box 3021 Brandon, FL 33509 info@borntoride.com BORNTORIDE.COM || BTR BTR 55 BORNTORIDE.COM

January 31, 2018, Press Release

Born To Ride Motorcycle Media – would like to announce a special award recognizing Attorney Fran Haasch as Philanthropist of The Year for 2018.

Ron Galletti, owner of Born To Ride quotes - “This is the first time in the history of Born To Ride, and as far as I’m aware, a first ever within the motorcycle industry as a whole, that an individual is recognized for making such generous donations to good causes in the motorcycle community. Fran is all about promoting the welfare of others and it amazes me how she manages her practice, is a wife and mother and continues to do such great things”. “Her annual food drive has grown exponentially over the years and the love she has for children, veterans and animals is amazing.” “We are extremely proud to present this award and recognition to Fran.”

Born To Ride will recognize Attorney Fran Haasch with a detailed story of the her accomplishments within the pages of Born To Ride Florida Magazine, a special series on Born To Ride Television and at events that she sponsors.

About Attorney Fran Haasch: Fran Haasch moved to Palm Harbor, Florida in 1991 after relocating from Long Island New York. She is a graduate of the University of

Motorcycle Media

Florida and Stetson University College of Law. She has had her own law firm practicing Personal Injury Law for over ten years. She is a lifetime member of The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Fran is a member of The ATLA (Association of Trial Lawyers of America), Florida Justice Association (formerly the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers), and the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association. Fran handles cases in the area of Auto Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Wrongful Death, Trucking Accidents, Bike and Pedestrian Accidents. Fran is fluent in German. Fran’s goal is to provide you with competent legal counsel with heavy experience in representing the injured motorcycle riders from all across the state of Florida. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident call 1-866-LAW-FRAN for a FREE case evaluation About Born To Ride: Born To Ride TV & Magazine is a biker owned and operated power media business. Owner Ron Galletti knew the biker community was more valuable and worthy of positive news coverage than the general media was offering. He founded BTR in 1995 and is still going strong today. Stay connected with Born To Ride and you will appreciate all the good things bikers do, say and ride! www.borntoride.com BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 7

Let Them Know Before You Go

It’s that time of year to make plans in attending Thunder By The Bay, located in beautiful Sarasota, Florida! This event never disappoints the thousands that attend this wonderful event!

Lucy Nicandri, executive director of Suncoast Charities for Children, has been the one pulling it all together for 20 years.

Starting out as a poker run, one-day event, Thunder By The Bay has eclipsed into a 4-day event, raising funds for the local nonprofit agency.

I was fortunate to spend some time with Lucy discussing this well-known and loved event. “This year, our slogan is: ‘The Festival Where Rock Meets Country.’ We are having the bands alternate between rock and country music. The thought behind this is that we want to attract the motorcycle community and also to the year-round and seasonal residents here that may not ride a motorcycle. We want to make this event appealing to everybody. The other fun, celebratory item we are adding is a spectacular Zambelli fireworks show on Saturday night at the fairgrounds. This is to celebrate our 20th year. Now, I just dated myself!” “We decided that the festival will be two days at the Sarasota County BTR 10 | BORNTORIDE.COM

Fairgrounds (Saturday and Sunday). We are also doing a secondary ride where one can participate in their car or on their motorcycle.

This ride is called, “Ride for Riches.” That will be Saturday morning. You can register at either Rossiter’s Harley-Davidson in Sarasota or Manatee River Harley-Davidson in Bradenton. The cost is $5. You stop at both dealerships, drawing to accumulate play money to win cash prizes. The last stop is at the Sarasota Fairgrounds!”

In addition to the events just mentioned, there will be the popular “Born To Be Wild” Kickoff Party Thursday night at Michael’s on East. A remarkable Rolling Stones tribute band will be playing at this event. The ticket prices are $150 and you can purchase these tickets online at ThunderByTheBay.org Friday night will be downtown for the revered Friday Main Street Block Party! “There will be a “Light Up The Night” Bike Show on Lemon Avenue (just off Main St.) showing off their lights and beauty for everyone to see. Twinkle and The Billy Rice Band will be performing live on stage and bikes will be parked all up and down Main St. That’s always a great time!”

Lucy was excited to share a new contest this year at Thunder! “This year we will

be introducing our first ever “Miss Thunder

By The Bay” contest organized and run by iHeart Media. That will be held on Sunday at the fairgrounds.” Preliminaries at 2:45 p.m. and final round at 5:15 p.m. The top five contestants receive cash prizes! The bulk of the activity will be held at the fairgrounds, just a mile and a half from downtown Sarasota on Fruitville Road. From great vendors to amazing food court vendors, there will be something for everyone at the fairgrounds! “We have over a dozen vendors that will be doing food. I want to give a special “shout out” to Sonny’s BBQ. They are a new sponsor and will be catering our VIP tent as well as bringing a food truck on site in the food court area. They will be having some wonderful specials throughout the weekend—also to Brick’s Smoked Meats another new sponsor this year.

This year, they will be having a “Thunder Tap Room” tent. “We will have our big tent like we usually do, but in addition, this tented area will feature craft beers, a plated food picnic area, corn hole, Jenga— it’s going to be a fun tent and I highly recommend attendees to check it out.”

There is never a dull or quiet moment at Thunder By The Bay. Lucy explained,

Support Suncoast Charities for Children For more information, go to: www.ThunderByTheBay.org

“Jason Rowe, of FlatOut Freestyle, will be performing in between the bands on Saturday and Sunday. He does some amazing tricks on his motorcycle, a great performer that always draws a crowd!”

Thunder By The Bay always has the best music that people travel hours in order to see and hear in person. The bands playing this year at Thunder are all outstanding and include some great tribute bands. “Our headliner on Saturday is Vegas McGraw, a Tim McGraw tribute. The Bobby Friss Band will be closing out Sunday’s activities at the fairgrounds.” In addition to these two performers, there will also be tribute bands for The Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Ozzy Osbourne as well as Tobacco Road, Soul Circus Cowboys and Boss Hawg performing live on stage. It’s always FREE to get in to Thunder By The Bay! Lucy said, “Some festivals have to charge a gate fee or donation to enter. We’ve never had a fee to attend Thunder By The Bay thanks to our generous sponsors. We are going to have donation bins around the fairgrounds this year where guests drop in money; all donations go directly to Suncoast Charities for Children! I call it, “Drop A Buck!” If everyone who came to Thunder put a dollar in these bins, can you imagine how much would be raised for the charity?” The VIP Tent is an added plus for those that want good seats, great food, and wonderful drinks. Tickets are $100 for Saturday and $100 for Sunday. You can buy your tickets online at ThunderByTheBay.org. “Our ticket sales are moving along at a steady pace.

The VIP tent guarantees you a perfect seat to see the stage, fabulous food, private restroom, and two complimentary drinks.

As in years past, the Finz Finds Sunday ride will have clients from the organizations BTR 12 | BORNTORIDE.COM

that Suncoast Charities supports at each stop! “Starting at Sarasota Ford, participants pay $20 for this ride. A free continental breakfast will be available when you register!

The first stop will be at The Haven, one of the agencies Suncoast Charities supports.

There will be clients there to greet all the riders and tours will be offered! They have a brand-new Adult Training Center serving as a ride stop. Ride participants will see this new construction and how it benefits the clients out there. The next stop will be the FCCI Insurance Group (Major Festival Sponsor), where clients from some of the other agencies Suncoast Charities for Children supports will be on hand greeting riders. It’s something everyone looks forward to year after year.”

“It’s important to recognize that since the first year of the Festival Rossiter’s Harley-Davidson and Manatee HarleyDavidson have been there supporting this event. Sarasota Ford came in a few years afterward. Most importantly, Born To Ride magazine has been behind us, supporting us and what we do in our community since the very beginning.” Many of you reading this may not realize how much Suncoast Charities for Children does for these five agencies: The Florida Center, Special Olympics, Children First, The Haven, and Loveland Center. “Over the past 19 years, Thunder By The Bay has raised over $1.7 Million dollars. Each year Suncoast Charities for Children provides a grant to the Suncoast Foundation, from net proceeds raised during Thunder By The Bay and the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. Recent projects include the construction of an entire outdoor deck at Children First, the purchase occupational therapy equipment at the Florida Center, and the purchase of a new

client transportation van for Sarasota Special Olympics. A number of air conditioning units were also replaced at various agency locations. It may not sound glamorous; however, if these units were not replaced the agencies would have had to take that expense from their program and service budget. In turn, this would have a direct effect on the programs and services that clients with special needs rely upon.

Winding down our conversation, Lucy and I talked about the big 20. “As we celebrate 20 years, we’ve seen the transition of that first one-day poker run. It’s now morphed into four full days. As the festival director, I’m very aware of the folks that have been with us over the years. Along the way, we have picked up other supporters, grown our volunteer base, and established a large number of vendor participants.

Downtown is now too small to have the festival. The fairgrounds can accommodate a festival of this size while enabling us to have it in a central location in Sarasota.”

Any last words, Lucy? “Well, it’s always great to talk with you, Susan! Born To Ride has been an important part of our success over the years, so a special thanks to Ron, Debbie, and their staff. This is a great Festival and one that has hit the 20-year mark! We look forward to seeing everyone this year!”

All of us at Born To Ride look forward to seeing YOU at Thunder By The Bay! See you in Sarasota!

Susan Hurst What: Thunder By The Bay When: February 15-18 Where: Sarasota County Fairgrounds Why: Suncoast Charities for Children

Support Suncoast Charities for Children For more information, go to: www.ThunderByTheBay.org

Finz Finds “Cruise For Cash” Motorcycle Charity Ride

The Finz Finds “Cruise for Cash” Charity Ride begins at Sarasota Ford. Registration is from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Entry is $20 per hand and includes a complimentary continental breakfast; 100% of the proceeds benefit Suncoast Charities for Children, who provide financial support to five local non-profit agencies. The agencies offer programs and services to over 8,000 children, teens, and adults with special needs. These agencies (located in Sarasota, Venice, and North Port) include Children First, The Haven, The Florida Center, Sarasota County Special Olympics, and Loveland Center.

I wanted to do something a little different this year, so you will not only draw cards at each stop, but you will roll dice at the final check-in and try your luck on two slot machines (no coins required).

This year’s “Cruise for Cash” offers $4,000 in cash prizes: (10) $100 Winners, (5) $200 Winners, (2) $500 Winners, (1) $1,000 Winner. Winners do not have to be present to win.

Sarasota Ford is a Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Festival so when registering, you can check out their showroom with a cafe, movie theater, and massage chair room. Always a great place to start the ride! Your ride will take you thru beautiful canopied back roads on your way to the first stop, The Haven, where you will be

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greeted by clients who are residents there. You will then head past the UTC mall and back onto Fruitville Rd., heading east into the Lakewood Ranch area. You will travel on the newly opened Lorraine Rd. extension to University Parkway. This is a beautiful new road with lots of scenery and landscaping. The next stop will be at FCCI Insurance Group headquarters off Lakewood Ranch Blvd. They are a Major Sponsor of Thunder By The Bay and have been for many years. The ride will then take you to Lakewood Ranch Blvd. and to Hidden River Trail, a road I feel was made for motorcycles and one of the best riding roads in Sarasota. Hidden River Trail is only two miles long, but it has a twisting road thru water vistas and beautiful landscaping. You will then head back to Lorraine Rd. to Fruitville Rd. and end up at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds where you will park in a preferred area reserved for “Cruise for Cash” participants.

Your final draw and check-in will be at the Finz Finds tent, at the Festival. The last bike in will be at 3:30 p.m. and winners will be announced on stage later that afternoon.

This year is the 20th anniversary of Thunder By The Bay, and it is going to be one of the best ones yet!

Steve Finz

Support this Great Annual Ride. www.FinzFinds.com or ThunderByTheBay.org

Total Distance 40.3 mi Total Time 1hr 21 min

From Sarasota Ford (707 S. Washington Blvd.)

North on Payne Pkwy. (387 ft) Left Oak St. (308 ft) Right (30aslightly right and becomes 42nd St. (0.5 mi) Left Hauri Rd. (0.2 mi) Right 47th St. (0.8 mi) Left Harold Ave. (0.5 mi) 1st Stop - Community Haven - 4405 Desoto Rd, Sarasota

Left Desoto Rd. (0.9) At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto N Cattlemen Rd. (3.5 mi) Left Fruitville Rd. (4.3 mi) Left Lorraine Rd. (3.6 mi) Left University Pkwy. (2.2 mi) Left on Lakewood Ranch Blvd N. (0.2 mi) Make first Right (482 ft) Make next Right to the main entrance of FCCI bldg. (0.1 mi) 2nd Stop - FCCI Insurance - 6300

University Pkwy, Sarasota Exit to the Left then first left (0.1 mi) First right onto Town Center Pkwy (0.1 mi) Right University Pkwy (0.3 mi) Left Lakewood Ranch Blvd (2.5) Right Hidden River Trail (2.0 mi) Right Lorraine Rd (5.5 mi) Right Fruitville Rd. (7.8 mi) Left into Sarasota Fairgrounds Final Stop & Check-in - Finz Finds Tent BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 17

Women’s World An Inspiration to Young Girls

Have you ever thought that taking a motorcycle safety class could change your life?

It did for Michelle Adams!

A couple years ago Michelle was an army veteran working as a therapist and going to graduate school for an advanced degree in social work. Her boyfriend had moved and in addition to having a long-distance relationship, working and going to school, Michelle’s two beloved dogs had both been diagnosed with terminal illness. It was a rough year, to say the least!

Michelle said she wanted to do something, “just for me.” She loved riding on the back of her boyfriend’s motorcycle but with him out of town she didn’t get a chance to ride anymore. Not only had she ridden on the back of her boyfriend’s bike for years but her best friend in childhood had a dirt bike so she’d ridden it, too. Michelle decided that her ‘just for me’ adventure would be to get her motorcycle license and buy a bike!

Her first step was to take a motorcycle safety class. Michelle immediately connected with her instructor because he was Air National Guard. Michelle loved all things military! Talking with him made her realize how much she missed serving her country.

Michelle had joined the Army in 1989 and

served active duty for eight years. She started having severe migraine headaches that resulted in her being discharged. Later when the cause of the headaches was discovered and resolved the Army wouldn’t accept a medical waiver and allow her to re-enlist.

After hearing her story, Michelle’s motorcycle instructor had her talk with a recruiter in the Air National Guard. They were glad to have her enlist. With her medical education, Michelle was able to train to serve as a medic.

Meanwhile, she bought a bright blue HarleyDavidson Softail Slim. She loved riding but never felt the bike was really a reflection of her personality.

Michelle was now in the Air National Guard and had a motorcycle! Life was looking good! Except that by this time she and her long-distance boyfriend had parted ways.

She joined the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. This is an association of combat veterans from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who ride motorcycles as a hobby. Their mission is to support and defend those who have defended our country.

The folks she met in CVMA encouraged her to apply for the VA’s scholarship program.

If you would like info on Born To Ride Womens Club, Email info@borntoride.com

She met all the requirements and now she was able to get back to work on her graduate degree with the VA’s help.

Could things get any better? Why, yes, as a matter of fact, they could!

Michelle fell in love.

She met her new boyfriend through CVMA. Then she fell in love with the new semimatte, olive (but not drab) Harley-Davidson Softail Slim. It has gold flecks under the surface and a huge star on the side of the tank.

Michelle says riding it makes her feel ‘bad assy!” One day while riding she passed a little girl who looked up at her in awe like she was watching a hero ride by. That’s an amazing feeling!

A new career, a new boyfriend, a new bike and an inspiration to young girls. Just think, it all started with taking a motorcycle riding class!

Myra McElhaney

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Some people just don’t get it. They come up to me and say, “Wow, it’s so cool that your church is auctioning off a motorcycle!”

I have to tell them, “Actually, we’re not auctioning off a motorcycle.” Others will say, “I’ve never seen a church raffle off a bike before.” And again, I have to correct them, “We’re not raffling off a bike.” Some people will comment, “This must be a great fundraiser for your church.” Actually, our church has never made money from this event in the five years we’ve done it. In fact, we’ve actually lost just a little bit of money each year, but raising funds is not what we are trying to accomplish. Others will ask, “What cause are you supporting?

What are you raising money for?” and I have to explain that we’re not raising money for anything.

The New Hope Motorcycle Rally, held annually every spring at New Hope Ministries in Naples, FL, is simply our church’s way of giving back to the motorcycle community of southwest Florida. It is an outreach to bikers of all types – Harley riders, sport bike riders, young riders, old riders, motorcycle clubs, men, women, you name it – all are welcome at the New Hope Motorcycle Rally.

The 5th annual New Hope Motorcycle Rally was held on March 25, 2017, and was our biggest rally yet. We had registration

A Different Kind of Rally beginning at 9 a.m., with free coffee and pastries provided. At 9:45 a.m. we had our pre-ride meeting, and at 10 a.m. we were kickstands up for a two-hour round trip to Everglades City and back. At the Island Café in Everglades City, we took a 20-minute pit stop to stretch our legs, use the bathroom, and have a bottle of cold water provided by our support vehicle.

A lot of rides don’t have a support vehicle, but we’ve had one every year – a truck following the ride, pulling a motorcycle trailer just in case someone broke down.

Of the five years, we’ve been doing this event, the trailer has been needed for three of those years. This year, it was needed twice, as one bike broke down on the way to Everglades City and one bike broke down on the way back. Of course, you hate it when people break down, but it is so nice to have a contingency plan in place and to see that plan executed in excellence. As the old saying goes, “Leave no one behind.”

We returned to the church at noon for lunch. Food was provided by New Hope Ministries’ executive chef Brian Elwell and was prepared for the New Hope Event Center, which has one of the largest commercial kitchens in Collier County.

There was also food donated by Chickfil-A on Airport Road, Little Caesar’s Pizza

This Children’s Ministry event reaches hundreds of kids each summer. • www.newhopeministries.org

on Rattlesnake-Hammock Road, Chili’s on Collier Boulevard, Carrabba’s on US 41 south, and Motor City Coney Island Grill on Immokalee Road.

The cost to attend the rally was $20, which included lunch after the ride, coffee and pastries before the ride, and your rally ticket also served as your entry for giveaways – and boy, were there a lot of giveaways! We had over 100 giveaways including motorcycle clothing, accessories, cleaning kits, helmets, oil changes, motorcycle home décor, gift certificates to several area restaurants and motorcycle shops, and of course the Grand Prize Package: a Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider and a Harley-Davidson Craftsman tool chest.

Thanks to Naples Harley-Davidson, we were able to buy our giveaways at a substantial discount. Everglades Motorcycle Service in Naples graciously sold us the Dyna Low Rider at a price thousands of dollars below book value. Naples area restaurants like Nana’s Diner, Gina’s Café in the Park, Cracklin’ Jacks, and Buffalo Wild Wings donated gift certificates for us to give away. If it weren’t for businesses like that, we wouldn’t have been able to put on an event of this magnitude.

The New Hope Motorcycle Rally has BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 39

grown substantially in its five years of existence. The first year saw 31 bikes go on the ride with us, and 78 people in attendance. We grew slowly but surely every year, with last year’s numbers showing 68 bikes on the ride and about 250 people in attendance. This year we blew those numbers out of the water, with a whopping 136 bikes on the ride (doubling our previous largest ride), over 150 bikes total on the property and over 300 people in attendance.

We’re certain that this is due in no small part to the exposure we received this year from advertising in Born To Ride magazine.

The staff pastors of New Hope Ministries conducted our bike judging in 4 categories: American, European, Asian, and Custom.

They also took that opportunity to pray over the bikes and their riders as they did the bike judging. We had Best in Show trophies and Runner-Up trophies in those four categories, as well as a trophy for the bike with the most mileage (the Old-Timer Award) and the bike with the least mileage (the Whipper-Snapper Award).

We were not able to give away a motorcycle our first year, but have given away a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for each BTR 40 | BORNTORIDE.COM

of the four years since. We’ve given away a Sportster 883, a Sportster 1200 Custom, a Dyna Wide Glide, and this year we gave away the Dyna Low Rider. The opportunity to win a motorcycle is obviously a huge draw for this event. With a little over 300 people in attendance, that meant that you had a 1/300 chance of winning a Harley.

Not many drawings out there with those odds.

The motorcycle community does so much for so many causes – conducting rides and rallies to raise money for things like cancer research, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, children’s hospitals, and so much more. How often do you see funeral processions with a couple dozen motorcycles in them? Over and over again, it’s the motorcycle community that steps up to the plate and says, “What can we do? How can we help? What can we give? How can we show our support?”

The motorcycle community is a unique demographic of compassionate and selfless people who, in my opinion, have not been shown enough welcome by many sectors of the modern-day church. That’s why we started this rally five years ago – to tell the

motorcycle community, “Thank you for all that you do. We see it and we are behind you. You are welcome here. Jesus loves you, and so do we.”

The rally closed with the Grand Prize Giveaway. After we drew tickets for the over 100 other giveaways we had, we put all the tickets back in the hopper and drew for the Dyna. A young lady named Jeanna Chavez won the bike. As her number was called, she stood up and I thought she might cry. A moment later, practically everyone was on their feet clapping their hands in a congratulatory gesture. Many people gathered around her, shaking her hand, patting her on the back, telling her how happy they were for her. That’s the motorcycle community for ya – they’re happy even when they lose! As the Bible says, they know how to “Rejoice with those who rejoice.”

One person commented that they didn’t understand how people could be so happy for someone when they themselves had a chance to win the same motorcycle, but they lost to Jeanna.

Like I said, some people just don’t get it.

Heath Jarvis

Rally on March 3, 2018, Tickets may also be purchased at the door on Sat • Facebook.com/NewHopeMotorcycle

2018 Yamaha

Yamaha Introduces All-New Star Eluder Bagger Motorcycle V-Twin Motorcycle Escapism Meets the Ultimate Combination of Emotional Character and Technology Drawing from the recently-introduced 2018 Star Venture, the Star Eluder is powered by an air-cooled 113 cubic inch (1854cc) V-twin fuel-injected engine, and features “Drive Mode” settings that adjust throttle response, traction control, a heated seat for the rider and passenger, a fully-featured infotainment system and more. Together with Yamaha’s renowned quality, performance and reliability, these features combine to make the Star Eluder the most technologically advanced V-twin bagger motorcycle with the perfect balance of modern features, design and emotional character.

TOP FEATURES 1. High Torque Engine with Cutting- Edge Rider Aids Featuring a torque-rich 1854cc air-cooled V-twin, Star Eluder® produces smooth, effortless passing power even when fully loaded.

And with ride-by-wire throttle control, traction control and selectable riding modes, the Eluder raises the bar for the classic

V-twin bagger class.

2. Integrated Infotainment System With paired fairing-mounted speakers and a large, high-mounted, touch- and voicecontrolled infotainment system, the Star Eluder puts the rider in command.

Music, navigation, communications and vehicle systems are integrated cleanly into a single system that sets new standards for two-wheeled technology.

3. CarefullyDeveloped Ergonomics Star Eluder is designed around rider and passenger needs

straight from the dealership floor, with a roomy rider positioning and adjustable controls.

Heated seats for both rider and passenger come standard, with a low seat height for

Professional driver on closed course. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owners manual and

BTR 46 | BORNTORIDE.COM

Celebrating 72 Years of Proudly Serving the Powersports Community • www.Barneys.net

Star Eluder

confidence at every stop.

4. Advanced Chassis Designed around a rigid chassis and advanced suspension systems, the Star Eluder is built to offer Yamaha’s renowned handling ability when the road turns twisty, with excellent comfort and straight-line confidence.

5. GT Option Package Riders that step up to the Star Eluder GT Option Package enjoy enhanced infotainment features including a CB radio, GPS navigation and SiriusXM®, as well as the confidence of an integrated security

alarm system.

SPECIFICATIONS: Engine Type: 113-cubic-inch (1854cc) aircooled OHV V-twin; 8 valves Bore x Stroke: 100.0mm x 118.0mm Compression Ratio: 9.5:1 • Fuel Delivery: Yamaha Fuel Injection with YCC-T and D-Mode Ignition TCI: Transistor Controlled Ignition Transmission: 6-speed; multiplate assist and slipper wet clutch Final Drive: Belt Suspension / Front: 46mm telescopic fork; 5.1in travel Suspension / Rear:

product warning labels before operation. Model shown with optional accessories. Vehicle specifications subject to change.

Single shock with remote preload adjustment; 4.3-in travel Brakes / Front: Dual hydraulic disc, 298mm; Unified Brake System and ABS Brakes / Rear: Hydraulic disc, 320mm; Unified Brake System and ABS Tires / Front: 130/70R18 Bridgestone® Exedra® Tires / Rear: 200/55R16 Bridgestone® Exedra® L x W x H: 98.0 in x 38.4 in x 50.2 in Seat Height: 27.6 in Wheelbase: 67.6 in Rake (Caster Angle): 31.0° Trail: 5.7 in Maximum Ground Clearance: 5.5 in Fuel Capacity: 6.6 gal Fuel Economy: 34.0 mpg Wet Weight: Star Eluder / Star Eluder GT 875 lb / 877 lb Warranty: 5 Year Warranty Coverage* (*1-year limited factory warranty + 4 years Yamaha Extended Service = 5 years coverage) Color: Impact Blue - GT Option Package; Impact Blue; Raven - GT Option Package; Raven; Liquid

Barney’s of St Pete 727-576-1148 Barney’s of Brandon 813-628-9418 Barney’s of Brooksville 352-796-6116

Barney’s Motorcycle and Marine knows what it takes to keep our customers satisfied. Since 1946

BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 47

23 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DELIVERING BIKER MULTI-MEDIA

Born To Ride Motorcycle Media is ready to contribute to your success!

For 23 years, we have been dedicated to the biker community. We can put your product and service into a direct market of consumers using our various media platforms. Our TV Show and Magazine in Florida has made us the number one go to Motorcycle Media Outlet in the State.

Our SouthEast Magazine Market in: Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee

has a great demographic reach as well. We specialize in Events, Promotions, Third Party Marketing, Media Consulting, Branding & Social Media Platforms. BornToRide.com is a powerhouse rated #1 by Google for Motorcycle Events, we also have a YouTube Channel and the Born To Ride Radio Show to reach even more consumers on the World Wide Web. There are over 500 Thousand Registered Motorcycle owners in the State of Florida alone. Tourism brings

even more riders to the state every year, riding the beautiful roads, while adding economic impact. Born To Ride reaches those riders and so will your message. We are confident we can create a dynamic media package that will fit your budget and contribute to your success. We want to be your media partner and help your business grow. Come by our booth, say Hello and we will have a great idea for you.

Let’s start the production of your promotion today!

Ron & Deb Galletti

Call Ron on his Cell to setup a media package for you to effect your bottom line. 813-785-3895

BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 51

6606 GaLl BlVd ZePhYrHiLlS, Fl 33542 (813)-782-4272

Daytona Bike Week Two Events You Don’t Want to Miss!

I’m sure many of you reading this article will be attending 2018 Daytona Bike Week in March. What you may not be aware of are two events that occur during this time of year; A Bike Blessing on Sunday, March 11, and an impressive Bike Rodeo on Thursday, March 15.

Leather & Lace MC, the largest women’s motorcycle club in the world, is celebrating their 35 years on the road this year! Every year during Bike Week, they open up their clubhouse doors to the public with these two wonderful events.

On Sunday, March 11, the Bike Week starts on an uplifting and positive note with a Bike Blessing. Starting at 10:00 a.m., this event is free and open to the public. A free pancake breakfast will

be available for all that attend. There will be a large Bike Blessing and if you wish, you may be blessed individually by members of the Leather & Lace MC Prayer Team.

On Thursday, March 15, is another incredible event you don’t want to miss: The popular Bike Rodeo! This event draws hundreds of spectators and contestants to the beautiful 10-acre compound housing the Leather & Lace MC clubhouse. From the slow ride, barrel spin, and other well-known biker games, this year will introduce a popular contest: The Sled Race! This event alone draws several enthusiasts to see the bike rider and sled-riding passenger break some fast race times on the course!

In addition to the many rodeo games and awards, there will be live entertainment with Donny’s Big Daddy Band at 6:00 p.m., vendors, an auction, superb homemade food, drinks, and so much more! $10/per person will get you into the event AND provide you with some great food! Gates open at 1:00 p.m.

Everyone in the Leather & Lace MC Sisterhood looks forward to seeing you at their Bike Blessing and Bike Rodeo. Stop by, say hello, and be a part of something unique and different during the 2018 Daytona Bike Week!

What: Bike Week Bike Blessing, Sunday, March 11, 10:00 am Bike Week Bike Rodeo, Thursday, March 15, 1:00 pm Where: Leather & Lace MC Clubhouse, 574 Ariel Road, Edgewater, FL 32141 Web: LeatherandLaceMC.com Susan Hurst

“Look, Charlie! We’ve had enough of your kind of help! Three hundred years of your bull_*_! From now on, we take care of our own!” hisses “Knifer,” black leader of The Choppers, a “diverse” biker gang squatting in Southern California. Knifer’s fed up with being stalked by Lieutenant Harper, a slender, black-clad law officer and member of the “white establishment.”

So sets the rebellious tone of the critically mixed 1970 biker romp The Black Angels, a lesser-known but relevant slice of the vintage “Bikersploition” era. What’s surprising about the film is despite the title’s nod to “Blaxploitation,” the drama/action primarily concerns a lily-white biker gang: the deliciously monikered Satan’s Serpents.

“Chainer” is the leader of Satan’s Serpents and dead-ringer for Peter Fonda. His fate is sealed when he lures Jimmy, a black rival member of The Choppers, into a perilous motorcycle jump that doesn’t end well. Chainer’s forced to confront The Choppers with Jimmy’s grim news that sets off a cleverly clandestine revenge spree.

The Black Angels become a slow-burning showdown between Satan’s Serpents and The Choppers with the coppers led by Harper (The Black Angel), monitoring every move. A mysterious stranger in a Hardee hat called Johnny Reb cycles into the Serpent’s compound: BTR 60 | BORNTORIDE.COM

an ancient western ghost town. Reb loads the gang up with LSD and quickly earns their trust – except for one skeptic – “Frenchy,” an upwardly mobile second-in-command figure with a great set of teeth (“choppers” – get it?). Frenchy, hot-tempered and no-nonsense has a line on Reb, but is he simply a free-wheelin’ Confederate with animosity toward colored folk, or does he have a more nefarious purpose?

Amusing subplots of The Black Angels involve the aforementioned Lt. Harper and Chainer’s queer relationship with a masochistic, blonde girlfriend who berates him in order to get slapped, giggling wildly as she’s “punished.” “Do I get a spanking and go to bed with no dinner?” she nudges as she drives her high-heel into Chainer’s foot. He slaps her repeatedly, and she bites him. He calls her a “slumming nympho.”

“Nympho maybe, slumming definitely! And I love every minute of it!

Just tell me when! When! WHEN!!!” she pants in sizzling sexual exasperation! He then makes love to her in a restaurant while a gogo dancer gyrates.

Flashbacks pepper the story along, garnishing a backstory that explains the origins of Jimmy’s black supremacist hatred toward whitey. Another far more explicit flashback cruelly examines the assault of a young white woman who’s a self-proclaimed racist at the hands of two black men. The blonde, well-endowed Sacramentan is chained up and raped at knifepoint, while spewing racial slurs and spitting at her heartless tormentors.

As a director, Laurence Merrick displays hits of true creativity and at times innovation. The chase scenes, though overlong, are wellexecuted and the roar of the bikes really becomes a character in itself. He incorporates fast-motion and a dizzying multitude of camera angles as the cycles speed by, one wonders how he was able to film this in only fourteen days! The acting is above-average for a B-picture, and it’s amazing how many actors he found who could ride really nice-looking choppers.

Horror fans will note co-star James Whitworth who was “Jupiter” in the late Wes Craven’s 1977 super-shocker The Hills Have Eyes.

Whitworth plays Satan’s Serpent “Big Jim,” who early in the picture gets urinated on by smart-aleck Frenchy. Gritty director Laurence Merrick was an acting teacher whose student was the tragic, iconic beauty, Sharon Tate.

The Black Angels is an exploitation film with bizarre relationships to the Charles Manson “Family” cult murders. While The Black Angels was in production in August of 1969, members of “The Family” begged for leftover catered food. There was an obvious fascination, so director Merrick visited the Spahn Ranch, where The Family squatted and shoot 16mm footage of their hedonistic, drug-tinged lifestyle, including interviews. This occurred both before and after the Tate/LaBianca murders. Merrick would later utilize the footage in his 1973 Academy Award-nominated documentary Manson.

Highly recommended for vintage biker movie fans. I encourage all bikers to discover or revisit these great older cult movies. I happened upon this movie on the online subscription service Night Flight Plus.

Old-timers may remember Night Flight as a hit counterculture show back in the 1980s and the early days of cable TV. Their online shelves are stocked with luscious drive-in and grindhouse favorites. The Black Angels is also available on DVD from Something Weird (Video).

Andy Lalino-Movie Review

Do you have a favorite Biker Movie we don’t have? Let us know: info@borntoride.com

Spyke & Mike

It won’t be long, my BTR friends. Mike is telling me that penguin weather and shorter days are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

He’s also been working with Craig the Painter on the progression of the Fat Bird 2 and tells me, “Spyke, you’re going to be amazed at what he is doing with our new ride. It’s gonna look like you, but better!”

‘I cackle, how can it look better than me? I’m already beautiful and’ … Mike cuts me off in mid-sentence babbling, “I don’t know how he does it but, the man is a genius. The only way to describe his work so far is spot on. Then, there’s all the special chrome doodads and awesome seat that have turned up from various contributors to the project that’s gonna make your ride look off the chain!”

I squawk, ‘Ooh boy! I can’t wait to see it. How much longer Mike?’ He replies, “Craig said about a month. I told him to just take his time and do it right. As long as we’ve got its wheels on the road for Daytona this year. He told me the warm weather needs to hang around. No painting can be done properly under 60 degrees.”

I coo, ‘Ahhh yes Daytona. Back to the scene of the crime. And back to visit my parrot friend Goldie and her owners Gail and Lou who don’t ride anything but golf carts anymore.’ Mike chuckles, “Yes Spyke, we’re going to see our homeless friends who helped get you back and thank them with the rest of the reward money. Then you get to go cruising with Goldie, Gail, and Lou on the golf cart as they

CAN’T WAIT FOR DAYTONA

enjoy riding on Main St. She’s just like you and loves to have her picture taken. For a couple of bird brains, you two are a bunch of hams.”

I cackle, ‘Well Mike, I guess that makes you a ham hauler and get-a-way driver. You better make sure my pretty feathers arrive safely back in St. Pete after Daytona or my friends will hang you.

Hell, they might even burn you at the stake!’

He replies, “You can count on it Spyke! Before then, we’ll be attending Craven’s Daytona 500 party at the trailer park. We haven’t been in a few years and the man requests your presence.”

‘I can’t believe your brother from another mother is allowed to do that again. The last time we were there the cops showed up after someone called saying there was nudity, animal abuse, and illegal burning going on.’

Mike blurts out, “Craven told me later that it was just the ole bitty of a neighbor is a b****. She’s not happy and wants everyone around her to be the same. So what if a few of his single mom friends from the gentleman’s club brought their young-ins and allowed them to run around diaperless while they mud wrestled a pig and waved their burning bras in the air. It was all fun and games, no one got hurt, and Hillsborough county’s finest stayed long enough to place bets, announce the winner, and collect. I’m sure this year Craven will tone it down a bit.”

I cackle, ‘Knowing Craven he’ll do just the opposite. And, I’ll look funny getting an Uber ride to the cop shop with a beak full of bills to post ya’lls bail. Not to mention what Ron and Debbie will do when you clowns show up late to work. You two are supposed to be representatives of the BTR media group. Not Barney Badass 1%ers without a care in the world.’

Mike replies, “Lookie here birdie bird, Craven and I didn’t get this far in our old age by being R.U.B.’s. It’s not a way of life but a lifestyle and you’ve been born and bred into it. Most people would consider you a 1%er also. So, don’t go biting off the hands that feed you. Ron has recently pulled your feathered ass aside and gave you the ‘one fer’ telling you to watch what you type, you’ve got a character standard to uphold.”

‘Sorry Mike, but it’s been awhile since I’ve have had my feathers in the wind and I’m starting to go stir crazy. You keep me locked up at the Sanctuary and chained to the keyboard writing stories. Now you tell me I’ve got to’ … Mike barges in saying, “It’s not me telling you, it’s the higher-ups. Speaking of which, today is Tuesday and the head honcho wants you to join Craven, Everywhere Eddy, and Lynne on the radio show tonight. You haven’t been on the air for a while and some of your fans are wanting to chirp with you.”

‘Hell yeah! Sounds like a great reason to close the cover on my laptop, chow down a few bird seeds, suck up some grape juice, and get ready to go. Since we’re going to have to take the truck, I’ll just close my eyes and think about you getting my wings in the wind, your knees in the breeze, and the Fat Bird’s imaginary wheels rolling down the road.’

SPYKE

Do you have a Favorite Pet like Spyke? Let Us Know and we’ll feature your story. 888-795-5779

BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 63

Fuel Tank Rusty?

Craig Can Fix It!

On a motorcycle, your fuel tank is the heart and soul your machine What do you do when it’s rusty, when it leaks?

Radiator shop over-the-counter stuff?

You know it doesn’t work, with you try anyways and guess what?

It doesn’t work.

I offer an alternative service for the inside of your tank, I remove all rust clean them out and coat them with epoxy tank liner that’s clear and works, I guarantee it with gasoline and even methanol. I even repair failed Kreme and Redkote liners.

I save vintage tanks that leak, rusty tanks that nobody would ever think of using again. I turn them around quickly within three days Many of the leading motorcycle dealers use me on a regular basis, (Tampabay Powersports, Tampa Triumph, and Eurocycles Tampa) when they’re tired of cleaning carburetors they call Craig.

Prices are 129 any tank any condition, three day turn around.

www.CraigPaintsBikes.com • 813-407-2226

www.B Events Friday, February 2 Nokomis, FL Thunder By The Bay Sporting Clay Tournament 11:30am Knight Trail Park. Starts at 1pm, $500 per team, $125 per person, includes post-event BBQ and beer. thunderByTheBay.org Saturday, February 3 Fort Meade, FL Fort Meade Bikefest 10am-5pm 215 S. Perry Ave. myFortMeadeFirst.org Fort Walton Beach, FL Emerald Coast H-D Tailgate Giveaway Party 10am-3pm. 321-479-7935 Ocala, FL War Horse H-D Chapter Trifecta Ride 9:30am. Entertainment

by WIND-FM. warHorseHarley.com Port Charlotte, FL (2/3-2/4) Bert’s Black Widow H-D Big Game Spirit Weekend. 941-883-8000 St. Petersburg, FL (2/3-2/4) Bert’s Barracuda H-D Big Game Spirit Weekend. 727-527-9672 Tampa, FL LAMA Tampa 13th Anniversary Party 12pm-5pm Teamsters Union Hall. Live music, vendors, great food, 50/50, games, bike contest and more; $15 donation includes dinner plate. 813-299-4482 West Palm Beach, FL 5th annual Run for Forgotten Soldiers Outreach 9:30am Elks Lodge 1352. forgottenSoldiers.org Sunday, February 4 Palmetto, FL Peggy’s Corral Sunday Fun day (every Sun) 12pm-4pm.

Live music, vendors, food & beverages and more. 941-729-5442 Thursday, February 8 Kissimmee, FL Old Town Bike Night 5pm-11pm (every Thu). Live music, and more. 407-396-4888 Friday, February 9 Bartow, FL Fun Bar Bike Night (2nd Fri) 7pm. Food & drink specials, live music, burnout pit, raffles, vendors, & BTR TV taping. 863-800-3400 Inglis, FL (2/9-2/11) Sweetheart Weekend at Scooter Haven. Special two-night stay, romantic dinner for two, gift basket, and entertainment

by Greg Ford. Text 727-565-8743 66 | BORNTORIDE.COM BTR 76

There Thereare aresome somegreat greatevents eventscoming comingup, up,sosoget getout outthere thereand andmeet meetup upwith withold oldfriends! friends!

BornToRide.com/events s, Rides & Destinations Saturday, February 10 Hudson, FL Valentine’s Day Poker Run 9:30am-5pm VFW Post 4412. Benefiting the Lopez Veterans Home. 727-243-2942 Ocala, FL (2/10-2/11) War Horse H-D Valentine’s Day Weekend. Entertainment by WIND-FM. warHorseHarley.com Orlando, FL 100 SStrong Charity Event and Bike Run 11am Cycle Gear. 100SStrong supports fallen bikers. check us out on Facebook

gift, and more. 941-745-2429 Homosassa, FL Crystal H-D Broken Hearts Ride 1pm2:30pm. Entertainment by Doc Finley crystalHarley.com

8:30am Orlando H-D South. blueKnightsFl29.com Naples, FL LAMA Naples 4th anniversary Party 12pm-6pm Naples H-D. lamaNaples.com

Port Charlotte, FL (2/17-2/18) Bert’s Black Widow H-D Red, White & Blue Tent Event. 941883-8000

Palmetto, FL Peggy’s Corral Mardi Gras Party with Smokey Daniels Band 12pm-4pm. 941729-5442

St. Petersburg, FL (2/17-2/18) Bert’s Barracuda H-D Red, White & Blue Tent Event. 727527-9672

St. Petersburg, FL Bert’s Barracuda H-D Dog Show. 727527-9672

live music, daily drink specials, camping and more. 386-4055525 Saturday, March 10 Palmetto, FL Pork Butt’s N Blues Veteran Fundraiser at Peggy’s Corral. 941-729-5442 Sunday, March 11 Apopka, FL Sam Swope 10th annual Memorial Ride 8:30am Bahia Shrine. Police escorted ride, $30 per person; ride ends at Seminole H-D. We Ride So Kids Can Walk! 888-267-8251

Sunday, February 25 Port Charlotte, FL Bert’s Black Edgewater, FL Leather & Lace Widow H-D Dog Show. 941-883- MC Bike Blessing 10am-11am 8000 Angels Landing. Start the 2018 Daytona Bike Week off on a Friday, March 2 positive, uplifting start. Join the St. Petersburg, FL (2/10-2/11) Brandon, FL (3/2-3/3) Barney’s ladies of Leather & Lace MC at Bert’s Barracuda H-D Mardi Gras Sunday, February 18 of Brandon Huge Truckload their annual Bike Blessing. Coffee Spectacular. 727-527-9672 Event 9am-5pm. Huge clearance and donuts for all! 941-224-5343 Fort Lauderdale, FL NAM Knights MC Ride to Relief 11am- selection, up to 90% off. 813Sunday, February 11 6pm VFW Post 1966. Benefiting 628-9418 Thursday, March 15 Citra, FL North Ocala Bike & veterans & first responders.

Edgewater, FL Leather & Lace Auto Swap Meet 7am-2pm.

Saturday, March 3 954-882-2413 MC Bike Rodeo at Angels Landing northOcalaSwapMeet.com Gibsonton, FL Rumble at the (L&L Clubhouse). Door prizes, River Pre-Bikeweek Biker Bash raffles, 50/50, auction, food, Ormond Beach, FL Midwest Homosassa, FL Crystal at Rivers Edge. Featuring the Motorcycle 23rd Anniversary & music, and cash prizes; $10/per H-D Biker Church 10am.

Antique and Custom Bike Show Greg Billings Band, meet Nation’s person includes food and fun! crystalHarley.com Fire Krista Grotte, enjoy Micro 9am-9pm. Food, music, swap 941-224-5343 meet, & vendors. 386-257-6265 Championship Wrestling & more.

Ocala, FL War Horse 813-671-9196 Ormond Beach, FL Chopper H-D Women’s Day Ride.

Monday, February 19 Time Old School Chopper Show Entertainment WIND-FM. Homosassa, FL Crystal Harley- 11am-4pm Willie’s Tropical Tattoo.

Ocala, FL War Horse H-D warHorseHarley.com Davidson Chili-cookoff 11am-3pm. Bands, cash, prizes, BBQ, special Presidents Day Chapter Ride crystalHarley.com 9:30am. warHorseHarley.com guest, 20-class bike show.

Palm Bay, FL Paws for Veterans Proceeds to go to Veterans Home Benefit Run 7am-7pm AMVETS Thursday, February 22 Naples, FL New Hope Ministries and ARNI Foundation. 386-672Post 34. 321-557-4437 6th Annual Motorcycle Rally 9am- 1888 Apollo Beach, FL Salty Shamrock Bike Night (last Thu) 2pm. Win a Kawasaki Vulcan Tampa, FL Big Top Toys & 900 Classic LT. Your $20 rally Friday, March 16 6pm-10pm. Live music, food Collectibles Expo 9am-4pm specials, vendors, bike show & ticket covers lunch & expenses, Inglis, FL (3/16-3/18) St. Patty’s Big Top Flea Market. Tampa’s also your entry for giveaways. more. 813-938-5282 Day Weekend at Scooter Haven. best lil’ show. Check us out on 239-348-0122 Corned beef cabbage, leprechaun Facebook Friday, February 23 contest, fireworks, music, Friday, March 9 Wauchula, FL (2/23-2/25) campsite contest, 50/50. 727Thursday, February 15 Daytona, FL (3/9-3/18) Charlotte’s Webb 10th annual 565-8743 Sarasota, FL (2/15-2/18) 77th Daytona Bike Week.

Mardi Party Against Cancer.

Thunder By The Bay. “The officialBikeWeek.com Music, food and fun. Free Saturday, March 17 Festival Where Rock Meets camping, free vending, Cajun Palmetto, FL Pirate Pub Crawl at Country” Born To Ride Kick-off Daytona, FL (3/9-3/18) Daytona Peggy’s Corral. food. Fri Nite Karaoke with 941-729-5442 Party, Block Party and more.

Beach 40th annual Bikeweek Denny; Sat 1-5pm Hard Candy thunderByTheBay.org Swap Meet at Daytona Farmers Saturday, March 24 8-12pm Over the Line; Sun 1-5pm Forbidden Fruit Farmers. Market. jam-OnProductions.com Apollo Beach, FL Salty Shamrock Saturday, February 17 8637358887 Springtime Biker Bash. Live Bradenton, FL Manatee River Samsula, FL (3/9-3/18) music, food specials, 10-class H-D Ride for Riches Party.

Cabbage Patch. Home of the Saturday, February 24 (Register at Rossiter’s H-D) Live Kissimmee, FL 6th World-famous Coleslaw Wrestling. bike show, BTR TV taping & music (Andy Pursell Band), free annual Osceola Law Ride Bike and bagger show, vendors, more. 813-938-5282

Port Charlotte, FL (2/10-2/11) Bert’s Black Widow H-D Mardi Gras Spectacular. 941-8838000

Sarasota, FL Rossiter’s H-D Ride for Riches Party (Register at Rossiter’s H-D). Live music (Ellie Lee Band), free gift, and more. 941-951-6103

To Send submitinand yourview events even to more info@BornToRide.com, events visit BornToRide.com help us helpEvents you.

BORNTORIDE.COM || BTR BTR 67 77 BORNTORIDE.COM

Craven Moorehead A smattering of misinformation. Maybe. (no fake news here)

The words erupt from the keyboard like lava flowing from a volcano, rushing down the side with the sole intent of reaching the eyes and minds of the reader. More and more the characters that form these very words continue to flow and eventually amass into a pool of content ready to be consumed by the reader. In science and nature, these eruptions are rarer than in the mind of the journalist, which must cause the event to occur at least once a month or more often if he or she is lucky enough to have more than one writing assignment. Writing tasks are few and far between and the ones that offer financial compensation are a rarity unlike any other. This statement is largely based on the fact that everyone has an opinion that they want to express, whether the writer possesses any talent for the position or not. I am in no way trying to suggest that I have the required talent to have this opportunity, but some people in professional positions have strongly indicated that I actually do.

Other professionals have stated that I have mental health issues, but I don’t see them writing in a paid capacity. I suppose the bottom line here is – if you want to be a creative and compensated journalist, you must be a little crazy. Enough silliness. I will allow you, the dedicated reader to form your own opinion.

So, here we are. It’s February already and despite a little rain and occasional cool weather, we are all enjoying the reason we moved to Florida in the first place. That’s right. I am talking about the return of NASCAR and the Daytona 500 on the 18th. I know, you were probably assuming that I was going to speak about our ability to be enjoying the beautiful riding weather and blasting down

the highway on our machines kickin’ butt and taking names. But I wasn’t. However, we are truly blessed here in Florida and I know that some of our brothers and sisters that live in the snow-bound north envy our freedom and enjoyment in our state. Even when it snows in Pensacola, it doesn’t last that long and it won’t affect the entire season. It’s really good living here and we all enjoy it so we can keep living it up like the rock stars that we are. Hey – don’t forget.

Next month is Bike Week once again and by then all the pesky snow should be gone. I can guarantee that this publication will bring you all the action from that event rain or shine! It’s a long-standing tradition at Born To Ride and we will keep on grinding it out. Magazine, TV, and radio plus all the social media and websites, there is no way that you won’t be informed about what’s happening, what has happened, and anything related to the biker lifestyle that we all enjoy.

Speaking of Born To Ride Radio (shameless plug follows). … We are continually striving to bring you new content, subjects and interesting and compelling entertainment. Make sure you tune in, call in and be part of the action!

If you live anywhere near the Tampa Bay area, you may or may not have attended our token event Gasparilla. This festival offers anything you could ask for. A flotilla, parades, lots of noise and debauchery, pirates, beads and a lot of drinking! If you live in Florida, you have probably been to this event.

It seems that people come from all over the country just to see this event and enjoy the mayhem. I hope everyone survived and had a fantastic time. It is truly a one-of-a-kind event and it’s a Tampa trademark. If you missed it this year, make sure you attend it next year or at least watch it on TV. Speaking of pirates. … Since I am a news junkie, it seems like every day there is a report of people stealing packages from area resident’s front porch. All over the area, these ‘Porch Pirates’ are being captured on surveillance video stealing valuable merchandise right in our area and around the state. I’m not sure what these ‘pirates’ are thinking but I suspect as bikers, we are one of the homes that are often avoided by these thieves. This occurs primarily during the Christmas season, but this particular brand of pirate certainly does not have the Gasparilla spirit at heart. What’s this world coming to? I’m not too sure but I am continuously monitoring the situation and trying to form my own opinion (as mentioned above) and will continue to keep you posted on good things, bad things, weird things and anything else that has something to do with the biker lifestyle. It’s a tough gig but someone has to do it!

So until next month, stay tuned, speed safely, keep reading and stay the hell off my porch!!!

Let us know what you think of Craven Moorehead, info@borntoride.com

CRAVEN

BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 69

Christian Motorcyclists Association I was going from a 370cc dirt bike to a 1,100cc street bike, from a stripped-down frame to a bike with chrome, bags and a windshield. There was a difference of several hundred pounds of metal! When I first straddled the street bike I felt a whole lot of nervousness flood over me, especially once I gave the throttle a good twist. My first thought was that it was going to be impossible to learn to handle such a big and heavy ride. I had some confidence, born of ignorance, and decided to buy the monster, and force myself to learn how to control it. I spent a lot of time in the neighborhood (I’m sure that was appreciated!) stopping and starting and turning corners to get the feel of the bike. Thankfully I did not allow any passengers on until I had tamed the beast!

I remembered the past lesson of my friend, that nothing is impossible.

Since those days of learning to ride, I learned a biblical reality that makes all the difference in my life. Luke 1:37 says, “Nothing is impossible with God.” Just like blasting through the woods with my friend, creating a pathway, some things seem impossible on our own. The cool thing is that when you invite God to take the handlebars of life, those things that once seemed impossible are indeed doable. Finding peace, joy, and comfort are well within the realm of what God can do in the lives of those who trust Him. When something seems impossible, ask God to take over and show you His power and grace. He will show you the possible!

In The Wind, Denny Dingler Check out BornToRide.com for more articles from Christian Motorcyclists Association

He Will Show You the Possible!

Recently I was reminiscing about past riding experiences and recalling some of the various memories that were created. Riding is not about a single activity; rather it is about a series of occurrences that happen over time as one takes joy in the process of riding and getting into the wind!

A lot of those old recollections center around when I rode a dirt bike on small, poorly marked, trails in the woods. I distinctly recall riding on the back of a 250cc dirt bike, while my best friend was at the handlebars, plowing our way through a seemingly unmarked pathway. As I could not see where he was going, I innocently asked where the trail was, he replied by telling me that when there is no trail, you make one!

Wow, what a concept, when it seems impossible to follow a path previously laid down, hang on tight and blaze your own way. I never forgot that philosophy of a dear friend, and have often used it in various aspects of my life. In all honesty, I must confess that while blazing your own way doesn’t always work; it is sweet when the effort pays off!

When I got a street bike after some 22 years of waiting, I was overwhelmed with the size, the weight, and the power.

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