Issue #131

Midwest’s 30th Bike Show @ The Beaver Bar 2/18

Issue #131 Feb. 2024

FREE Magazine

Anniversary Party Sorry Charlies 2/3 2PM

“the way it was & still should be”

NEW

Cochise CHOPS Magazine

This magazine is NOT politically correct!!! We deal with mainly old bikes, old cars, old people and young folks who have their heads on straight, who are tired of status quo, and walking on egg shells so as to keep the peace. Socialism & Liberalism SUCKS!!! We bleed Red, White & Blue!!! cochisechops@yahoo.com or (386) 690-6270

Our New Salesman, Shiny (386) 278-3370 “Where Old School “NEVER” Went Out Of Style!!!”

Justin & Katye On The Cover

Photo By Natanic AKA Nate Ullrich 2nd Anniversary Party w/ Whey Jennings @ Sorry Charlies Starting at 2pm Feb 3: Feb 3 Ride-In Women’s Bike Show - Registration begins at 10, Awards at 2pm. Classes and Prizes.

Complete details at DaytonaHarley.com Feb 11: Swap Meet @ Teddy Morse’s HD Feb 17: Mystery Ride @ The Boat Bar 10a $5 (includes meal) Feb 18: Midwest Motorcycles 30th Annual Bike Show Feb Feb 22-24 Civilian Rodeo at Destination Daytona. Details and register at RidemastersUSA.com Feb 25: Freedom Ride Feb

3:

Services:

Watering Holes:

*Volusia Powder Coating, NSB *Street Thunder, HD, Mims, FL *Annie Oakley’s Ormond Beach *Doom Town Choppers, NSB, FL *Motorcycle Detailing, Daytona Beach

*The Boot Hill Saloon On Main *The Boot Hill Outpost, Ormond *Pirate’s Pub, Paisley, FL *Walden’s Bar, Daytona Beach *The Boat Bar, Port Orange, FL

*V Twin Spealities (386) 310*8333

*The Most Read Magazine

Other Services:

*Foxhead Lounge In Osteen, FL *OB’s Deland, FL *Sorry Charlies, Samsula, FL *The Last Resort Bar, Port Orange

*Wind Walker’s Leather *Teddy Morse’s Harley Davidson

*Super Wash Bike Wash, OB, FL *RCBC Biker Church, Holly Hill *A Ok Guns, New Smyrna Beach *Once Upon A Wall Murals & Paintings *Tropical Tattoo (386) 672*1888 *Don Kiki Cigar Super Store

Feb. 14th It’s Valentine’s Day Chops 4

Take A Ride South On Route 1 To Mims, FL For Whatever You Need These Men Are Good People ~ Cochise

30th Anniversary Bike Show

Midwest Motorcycles @ The Beaver Bar Chops 5

“TRIGGER” - the world’s most famous and could be most expensive guitar, is owned and used by Willie Nelson.

It is a Martin N-20 nylon-string classical acoustic guitar and as the story goes...

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in 1969, after a concert at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas, a drunk man stepped on Nelson’s Baldwin, breaking it beyond playability. David Zettner and Jimmy Day, members of Nelson’s band The Record Men, took the guitar to Shot Jackson, a luthier in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jackson, who considered the damage irreparable, offered Nelson a Martin N-20 nylon-stringed classical guitar made out of Brazilian rosewood with a Sitka spruce top (serial number 242830).

Nelson instructed Jackson, during a phone conversation, to move the pickup from the Baldwin to the Martin. The pickup allowed him to amplify his classical acoustic sound to perform in large dance halls, contributing to his signature style.

Nelson bought the modified Martin N-20 unseen, for $750 (equivalent to $6,000 in 2022). Two decades later, he named it after Roy Rogers’ horse “Trigger.” When asked about the name, Nelson often replies: “Roy Rogers had a horse named Trigger. I figured, this is my horse!”

The rest, as you can say, is Country Music History.

I can’t imagine the Nelson family ever offering Trigger for sale but if they ever did it could easily fetch $1-1.5 million or more.

cochisechops@yahoo.com or (386) 690-6270

Be sure you check out & attend all the “get togethers” this month! Also, write it down that Bike Week appears to begin a tad earlier this year, Mar 1-10.

Instead of writing a lot this month, I’ve decided to post up something sent to me by Donnie Farlin on “The Laws Of Motorcycling”, it’s kind of “tongue in cheek”, BUT also, very true!!! It starts on page 10!

As I write this, it’s in the high 30’s here, whew, and I don’t like it, sooooooo stay warm & be blessed!!! ~ Cochise

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God’s Corner

Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus Larry Norman

Sipping whiskey from a paper cup You drown your sorrows till you can’t stand up Take a look at what you’ve done to yourself Why don’t you put the bottle back on the shelf Yellow fingers from your cigarettes Your hands are shaking while your body sweats Why don’t you look into Jesus, He’s got the answer.

Gonorrhea on Valentines Day And you’re still looking for the perfect lay You think rock and roll will set you free You’ll be deaf before your thirty three Shooting junk till your half insane Broken needle in your purple vein Why don’t you look into Jesus, He’s got the answer.

You work all night, sleep all day You take your money, throw it all away You say you’re going to be a superstar But you’ve never hung around enough to find out who you really are.

Why don’t you look into Jesus, He’s got the answer.

Think back to when you were a child Your soul was free, your heart ran wild Each day was different, and life was a thrill You knew tomorrow would be better still Things have changed you’re much older now If you’re unhappy and you don’t know how Why don’t you look into Jesus, He’s got the answer. *********************************************************** Christian Rock Music Was A Tad Different & STRAIGHT FORWARD Back In The Early 70’s!

This Song Will Have You Thinking, I’m Assuming It’s About Larry’s Friend Janis Joplin, And Go Listen To It & You Will Be Bumping On It!!!

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“WHERE THE LOCALS” “HANG OUT” About 1 Mile South Of I-95, On Hwy 1 FULL LIQUOR BAR ICE COLD BEER BLOODY MARY SUNDAYS POOL LARGE OUTDOOR PATIO “Owned By The Best”

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The Laws Of Motorcycling Counter Steering: If you push the left bar, the bike goes left. If you push the right bar, the bike goes right. That is, unless you keep pushing the right bar all the way, then you will probably go left while the bike swaps ends.

Crashing: Remember riding isn’t inherently dangerous...crashing is.

Fuel: The ONLY time you have too much fuel is when you’re on fire.

The Rear Wheel: The rear wheel is just a big fan used to keep the rider cool and his butt relaxed. If in doubt...watch. When it locks up or slides out you can actually see the rider start sweating and pucker marks appear on the seat.

Rides: A ‘good’ ride is one you can walk away from.

A ‘great’ ride is one you can walk away from and use the bike again.

Getting Hit: They can’t hit you if you’re not there.

Mistakes: Learn from the mistakes of others. You won’t live long enough to make all of them yourself.

Traction: When traction is sparse, the probability of survival is inversely proportional to the angle of lean. Large angle of lean, small probability of survival and vice versa.

Your Brain: Never let a motorcycle take you somewhere your brain didn’t go five seconds earlier.

Fog: Chops 10

Stay out of fog. The single red taillight you think is another rider ahead that you can catch, might be the red starboard light of a docked boat.

Parking: Always try to keep the number of times you park the bike equal to the number of times you’ve ridden it.

Luck & Experience: You start with a bag full of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before you empty the bag of luck Mirrors: If all you can see in your mirrors is the direction you were previously traveling intermingled with sparks, things are not at all as they should be. See also: Going forward.

Other Objects: In the ongoing battle between objects made of metal, rubber and plastic going dozens of miles per hour, and the ground going zero miles per hour, the ground has yet to lose. Same holds for cars, trucks, walls and most animals.

Judgment: Good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, experience usually comes from bad judgment.

Going Forward: It’s always a good idea to keep the headlight end going forward as much as possible.

Looking: Keep looking around. There’s always something you’ve missed.

Laws: Remember, gravity and centrifugal force are not just good ideas.

They’re laws not subject to.....

From Donnie Farlin Via John Smith

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Two 1950s views of Florida Welcome Stations. The state still operates 3 welcome centers near the state line at I-10, I-75 and I-95, plus one in Tallahassee. And yes, they still have free orange juice, a tradition that dates back to the 1950s.

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A OK Guns

Michael Jones Jr. Proprietor

New Smyrna Beach FL (386) 410-6480

www.aokguns.com

648 N Dixie Freeway

I BUY GUNS

Specializing In Collectable Firearms Top Cash Paid For Collectable Firearms, Memorabilla, Single Pieces & Estates

The BEST Around

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We Do Full Services *Welding *Building *Parts *Fabrication 625 N Dixie Fwy, New Smyrna Beach This Is My Wife’s Thing. Bianca Is So Talented & Can Really Liven Up Any Area With A Mural

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745 S Beach St Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Home Of Cold Beer * Good Tunes * Friendly People

Cornhole Tournament Every Sunday at 1PM 9-Ball On Mondays at 7:30PM 8-ball On Wednesday at 7:30PM

Walden’s is celebrating their75th Anniversary all year, so stop by and wish Kaylynn & Crew the BEST!!! ~ Cochise Thanks Everyone For Making Our Biketoberfest Great

THE BEST

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Photo Of Rebecca Taken By Shaun Ponte Chops 21

I Want To Humbly Apologize For Leaving The Fox Head Lounge Off The Calendar

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This Is The Locals “Go To Place”, Cochise We Are A FULL Liquor Bar & Package Store Home Of Ice Cold Beer & Super HOT Barmaids

“The Best Bar In The County” 280 N. SR 415 Osteen, FL

Keep Up With Us On Facebook “Foxhead Lounge”

(407) 878-0099 “Customer Appreciation” Free Bar BQ Every 1st Sunday Of The Month Breakfast Every Saturday/Sunday 8am-Noon Chops 25

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The BEST Around

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“Few people know that Popeye’s character (Arm Wrestle) really existed.

His real name was Frank “Rocky” Fiegel, born in Poland in 1868. He emigrated with his family to America where in 1887 he joined the Navy. When he was with children he held the pipe with the corner of his mouth and told them the antics of his youth, often boasting of his physical strength and loudly claiming that spinach is the food that makes him invincible.

Popeye’s character creator Elzie Crisler Segar was born in Chester and was one of the children who had the privilege of hearing “live” the stories of the former sailor.”

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510 Ballough Road

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Florida Pineapple Days It’s hard to imagine today but Florida was filled with pineapple plantations in the late 1800’s. Long before citrus, pineapples were being cultivated. Crates of the fruit were shipped by boats from the Florida Keys and Merritt Island on the east coast of Florida to cities in the northeast.

They were nicknamed “pines,” because they resembled a pine cone.

Florida Keys pineapples - In the rocky Florida Keys pineapple cultivation started in the 1860s.

Benjamin Baker, known as “King of Wreckers” for his engagement in the business of salvaging ships, grew pineapples on Plantation Key, typically shipping them by schooner to New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia

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Still The Best Bar On Main St We Are Always Here For You - Always

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This is a 1970 photo of Roy Rogers and Don Adams versus Bob Newhart and George Foreman on an episode of Celebrity Bowling.

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Being a Man!!!

Nate Saunders gave me a book a few years back by John Eldridge, “Wild At Heart”, Discovering The Secret Of A Man’s Soul.

I have read it and re-read it. I have quoted it so many times, why? Because IT is the truth about men and it fits my way of thinking of what today’s man should be.

I’m asked often, “Why are you so hard on some guys? Why are you always saying things like, get your testicles out of your wife’s purse?”

Why? Because I want to see a revival of real man in America. It’s there, but many times it stays hidden, because.........

Because they don’t want to be a chauvinist? Call it what you want, but men made up Braveheart, Gladiator, The Magnificent Seven.........IT’S men that are to be on the Front Line, not women. Can women fight, of course, but history tells that it is man’s job to get out there and lead in the war, with his woman as his ally.

Why is it hidden? Because a husband wants to show their women that she is equal to him? Which can never happen, per design. As females were born in the beauty of Eden, and men were birthed from the dirt.............big difference!!! I am not saying that the ladies can’t be equal in many things, but they will never be a man by creative design.

As the Nam Vets and early baby boomers are dying off, you don’t see as many men today as in the past. I guess there really is such a thing as Old School, and it’s rapidly passing away.

I was blessed enough to be raised in a time when men were men, like those who served in WWII or who fought in Korea (the forgotten war).

I was raised like this book reads. Here are some of the quotes from John’s book, enjoy.

“Deep in his heart, every man longs for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.”

“A man needs a much bigger orbit than a woman. He needs a mission, a life purpose, and he needs to know his name. Only then is he fit for a woman, for only then does he have something to invite her into.”

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“In the case of our fair maiden, we have overlooked two very crucial aspects to that myth. On the one hand, none of us ever really believed the sorcerer was real. We thought we could have the maiden without a fight. Honestly, most of us guys thought our biggest battle was asking her out. And second, we have not understood the tower and its relationship to her wound; the damsel is in distress. If masculinity has come under assault, femininity has been brutalized. Eve is the crown of creation, remember? She embodies the exquisite beauty and the exotic mystery of God in a way that nothing else in all creation even comes close to. And so she is the special target of the Evil One; he turns his most vicious malice against her. If he can destroy her or keep her captive, he can ruin the story.”

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, because what the world needs are men who have come alive.”

“Eve is a life giver; she is Adam’s ally. It is to both of them that the charter for adventure is given. It will take both of them to sustain life.

And they will both need to fight together.”

“The most dangerous man on earth is the man who has reckoned with his own death. All men die; few men ever really live.”

“There is something else I am after, out here in the wild. I am searching for an even more elusive prey . . . something that can only be found through the help of wilderness. I am looking for my heart.”

“Truth be told, most of us are faking our way through life. We pick only those battles we are sure to win, only those adventures we are sure to handle, only those beauties we are sure to rescue.”

“He created Adam for adventure, battle and beauty; he created us for a unique place in his story and he is committed to bringing us back to the original design.”

Are You A Stud? That Creates Life? Or A Gelding?

“If you’ve spent any time around horses, you know a stallion can be a major problem. They’re strong, very strong, and they’ve got a mind of Chops 37

Drop By Anytime And Have A Cold Drink & Listen To Al’s Great Stories “HOME OF”

Thank You For Coming Out And Saying Hello During Bike Week their own. Stallions typically don’t like to be bridled, and they can get downright aggressive—especially if there are mares around. A stallion is hard to tame.

If you want a safer, quieter animal, there’s an easy solution: castrate him. A gelding is much more compliant. You can lead him around by the nose; he’ll do what he’s told without putting up a fuss. There’s only one problem: Geldings don’t give life. They can’t come through for you the way a stallion can. A stallion is dangerous all right, but if you want the life he offers, you have to have the danger too. They go together.” ― John Eldredge

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New You Well, it’s new year. History is a year older, (and if your birthday is on New Year’s Day, so are you)! But how did the concept of a new year begin? And when? And by whom? Great questions, all!

The Ancient Babylonians are said to be the first people to make New Year’s Resolutions some four thousand years ago, (according to Google). Those early Resolutions weren’t made in November, December, nor even January as they are today. They were made in Mid-March, when their crops were planted, they crowned a new King, or offered their loyalty to the reigning King. They would also make promises to God to pay back debts, return borrowed items and the like. These became their New Year’s Resolutions.

Fast forward a couple centuries into Ancient Rome. After the Emperor Julius Ceasar tinkered with the calendar, and established January first as the beginning of the New Year circa forty six B.C. Named for the God “Janus” the two faced God. The Romans believed that “Janus” symbolically looked backward into the previous year and could simultaneously look forward into the future. Hence the two faces and the name of the first month of the year, January.

For early Christians, the first day of the New Year became the traditional occasion for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving them and doing better in the future. But despite the traditional religious beginnings of a New Year and it’s Resolutions, today’s Resolutions aren’t made to God, but largely to ourselves. And rarely shared.

I wonder, of the forty five percent of Americans who routinely make New Year’s Resolutions, why are only eight percent of them successful at keeping them and becoming their New You? (This also according to Google). Could it be because the Resolutions are made to ourselves, for ourselves, making only ourselves accountable....to ourselves? What if we made our Resolutions to someone else? Would that strengthen our resolve? What if we made our Resolutions to God? Would that strengthen our resolve? And, why wait a whole year?

And who better then God to help you welcome a New Year as well as a ......New You! Gregg Riggle

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Ok! Go grab your riding gear and jump onto your way back time machine! (And by that I simply mean just stir up the gray matter in your memory banks and crawl all the way back to the year two thousand seven). It was late February of that year when the movie “Wild Hogs” was released starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, and the late Ray Liotta. The movie was simply based on the first four characters as friends and rode motorcycles together occasionally. They even had a name for their small, tight group. “Wild Hogs”. They decided one day to escape the rat race and planned a riding adventure across the country to the left coast.

This adventure would lead them to cross paths with the latter character who lead a motorcycle club called “Del Fuegos”. Now I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone, so if you haven’t seen the movie, it’s worth a peak. If you have seen it, don’t tell anyone. It’s better experienced from the big screen. Or your tv, whichever you prefer.

I started riding motorcycles in the Summer of nineteen seventy three.

I’ve ridden with family, friends, acquaintances, and even some strangers and have seen many motorcycle clubs along the way, and still do.

These clubs vary in size and scope as you may imagine. Some are of the “Wild Hogs” variety, just friends riding together. Others are much more structured, organized, and disciplined, with different chapters and expectations from their members. I’ve never belonged to a motorcycle club so I can’t speak to their organizations any further then that.

But what I can speak to with some reasonable intelligence is simply riding. I’ve ridden alone, (which I don’t prefer), with my cuter half, Donna,(We’ve been riding together since around bike week nineteen ninety nine), with a few, in a large group, and have ridden somewhere not to return until the next day. We also know, and have ridden with some die hard riders who will ride almost anywhere in almost any weather. Nothing wrong with any of that as long as you enjoy the ride and arrive safely. That’s Always the goal!

But the common denominator here is riding. We, like probably ever other person who has straddled a bike, have been wet, cold, windblown, hot, and in the dark at one point or another. Sometimes all five would happen on the same ride! Especially if you ride in Florida! Point is, as long as you’re doing something you love to do that involves the outdoors, weather will a factor, eventually. Whether you’re boating, Chops 40

fishing, hiking, camping, or whatever. If the weather turns on you, take cover or ride on.

Recently we joined what we assumed would be a handful of people on a group ride. There were friends, acquaintances, and yup, some we didn’t know. (Now, of coarse their acquaintances).

This was just after the holidays had left us in their wake. What we thought was going to be a handful of people quickly turned into a few dozen, maybe more! So after some free coffee for some, a free danish or two for others, a mimosa for me and a bloody for Donna, we all lined up ready for take off. After we snaked our way through some less traveled roads in Daytona, we aimed the train of scooters north on Highway One. Traffic is really light. Not too many people rolling around so close to the end of the holidays. Great time to ride!

North to Bunnell, picked up Highway One Hundred west towards San Mateo. What a spectacular view! Nothing but farmland as far as the eye can see. After thirty or thirty five miles of cow pastures, we bumped into Highway Seventeen just a hint South of San Mateo. Left onto Seventeen and glided south to Highway Three 0 Eight.

And then, like twinkling lights on an airport runway, right blinkers all in line to head down Highway Three 0 Nine to Renegades.

Small crowd here, too. A drink or two and back in the saddle again.

Followed the pack to the Hideaway bar. (Not sure what road we’re on or even how to get out of here). Meandered our way back to Highway Seventeen, made a short hop to Main St. Crescent City, left to Three Bananas. Another sip or two with a bite, some mingling, then some slow good byes. This is where we wrapped up the ride and everyone headed their own directions, homeward. I mentioned the weather earlier. This ride had incredible weather!

Sunshine with a little nip in the air, but Great riding weather!

So, do you ride occasionally? Weekends only? Daily? To and from work And on weekends? Doesn’t matter! If you love to ride, Ride!

Even if you’re just one of us..... “Mild Hogs” Gregg Riggle

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What Changes A Man? What Brings Wisdom?

Age!!! I have heard many a quote over my 60+ years here on this earth, but the one that has engulfed my thoughts for the last ten years is this one, “Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes”. I can attest to this, as being fact, not fiction.

But that’s not all bad, for wisdom seems to mount upon a man who has had the privilege of a lengthy life.

What is wisdom and where does it come from? I’ve thought about this question over the years and have concluded, that knowledge comes from other men, (like in school), but wisdom comes from two places; from above and from aged warriors. As many of you know, I am a Christian, yet I will not get “preachy” on you. I know wisdom does come from the Man above, I have experienced it. For example; when I was a teenager, I would do something stupid, illegal or just wrong, and then lay awake at night wondering when the police would come and get me. Or when I had to actually stand in front of some authority to face the music, and while I am standing there, so nervous that I am nauseated, I ask the question to myself, “What would Daddy have done?”, to which I always felt as Someone was speaking directly to my heart, saying, “You’re daddy would have never done what you did.

He knows better, because he is wise”.

This made me realize I needed to talk to my father more, as for his wise words to grace me as a young man seeking adventure, but doing it maturely and legally!!! Well, my daddy dies at the age of 39, from a logging accident, and at which time I was only 17 years old, leaving me without his wisdom on how to get through the next few years (especially) and into true adulthood.

After his death, I rebelled hard against everything , especially authority. I hated anyone telling me what to do or how to do it, but even through drunken, rebellious stupors, it seemed (again) the Man upstairs would always place an older wiser person in my life to properly guide me. Sometimes I listened, but not always. I got married a year and a day after my father’s death. Yes I was young, but into my life comes my new bride’s daddy, who at first, watches me from a distance and was what I thought kind of rude. I soon realized he was Chops 42

just very shy, like my wife, so after about a year, I took up with him.

We worked together at a local plumbing shop during the week, then on weekends we gathered his produce in from a 5 acre garden he grew, so as to sell at a log cabin he had erected near his home. It was during these times of just “he & me”, I would watch how he handled himself, when tempted to do wrong or encouraged to do right. Mr. Sawyer always leaned to the right, and that was wisdom in action and schooling, for me.

Over the years, as I look back, I had pretty much always educated myself by not asking a lot of questions, instead I learned by just simply watching others. That was how I learned to drive. I just watched Daddy, and one day I asked him to let me take the wheel, and he did, (I was 14). Though nervous, he sit in the passenger seat and was giving me instructions on how to take off in this 1960 Chevy, straight shift (I think today they call it “3 on the tree”), when I just took off and drove.

He said, “How did you learn to do this?” and I said, “By watching you”. I had never driven a car on the highway before in my life.

So now I have a new “man” to watch and to learn from, my father in law.

Great wisdom comes from men who have lived a full productive, successful life, and this is something that young folks need to realize and latch on too. What am I saying? Even a 69 year old, like me, can still learn from their elders, if they choose to do so, (and I do), AND, a young man who truly wants to excel in an art that is decades old, like chopping, biking, wrenching or anything that contributes to our chosen lifestyle, as leather work, pin stripping or metal engraving, must grab on too, if they want to master what they pursue. Wisdom is like a precious stone that is laying on top of the ground, a gem that doesn’t need to be mined, It’s there to be picked up and used. The day a person doesn’t want guidance, dripping with wisdom, he is either fooling himself thinking he has all the answers or just plain stubborn (and maybe stupid). I have been there, as I despise change even if it will improve my life, yet, and you can write this down and store it away as TRUTH, “Growth Only Comes Through Change”, the right kind that is. Mastering a profession WILL dictate change in our lives, and change comes from watching, learning and implementing those good attributes we see others applying, into what we do.

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Today, if you want to find wisdom , all you have to do is search the many social media outlets to do so. Men of great wisdom in the biker world are sit before us on our computer screens or smart phones. Guys like Pat Leahy, who is a crazy friend that loves stirring the pot, but his wisdom on building a Harley motor to run crazy fast is available, just by asking.

The amazing thing about Pat is, he hangs with the younger crowd, (like the Sinners), perhaps so because of the fringe benefits of seeing and being around older bikes or the hot chicks that accompany them. LOL!!!

Or his son in law, Tony Mohr, who is still wrenching and machining one off parts. These men come across as hard asses, but their wisdom, like cream in a milk can, floats to the top. Watch them and learn.

There is Finch, Mondo, Sugar Bear, Irish Rich and many more who are over flowing with wisdom galore, yet age is creeping upon them (us), and this abundance needs to be tapped into and definitely recorded (thank God for so many ways of doing this today) before life runs out and before it’s time for some of these to step off into those chilly waters of death to cross to the other side, as happened to Indian Larry.

Not that I am pushing anyone there or assuming they’re ready, but it is somewhere in all of our future. (I probably shouldn’t have started naming names as I will, unintentially, leave a name out that deserved to be in the mix, if so I apologize here.)

But here is the kicker, most of these men who are in their 60’s and 70’s do not realize they have this wealth of wisdom. One day I had a young blood say to me that he loved my stories and wise words. I looked at him like, “What? Those stories I have been telling, well, I have been telling for years, yet you like them?” Then one day it hit me, the people I first starting sharing my experiences with are no longer around or we don’t see each other anymore and the people in my life now, haven’t heard them. They are old to me, but new to them. What I, and I am sure other men hitting “post” puberty, hasn’t or doesn’t understand, is people do want to hear about what we refer to as, the good ole days, and what we “only” remember, as a way of life.

So what do I believe that changes a man? It’s age. For the elders, it’s the age of moving from giving out knowledge, whether good or bad, Chops 44

Terry Bradshaw signing an Autograph for Jim Kelly!

Daytona Beach 1970ish

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to emitting wisdom and truth. It’s age for the youngster also. It is when younger men hit a certain time, of wanting wise people in their lives. When does it happen? Well, we can’t put an exact age on when, but how about saying, when a man hits a certain stage in life. I’ve heard of stages in life before, like when does a child start realizing or knowing right from wrong ? Or when does the “yeah that makes sense” light come on in a person’s thinking. It’s when “common sense kicks in” on what they are about to attempt is going to either propel them into future happiness or sling them into the abyss of “man why did I do that”? Guessing the time of when a man steps across the threshold, out of knowing about something into (perhaps) mastering a “thing” and wanting wise advise, would be like trying to put an exact age on puberty, which is impossible.

In a time when it looks like many young people have mental problems, I have noticed the younguns that are into motorcycles appear to have no such troubles. Motorcycles will do that to you! The lifestyle does that to you!!! It can’t be explained, only experienced. Perhaps all the High Schools need to follow Mr. Kevin Baas’ lead and start building choppers at their school. That would be wisdom! Heck in HS, all I did in shop was make a plastic towel bar, a little wooden book end and did the work and lace on a leather wallet, but working on a scooter would have been tits, yet today, I do not think they offer any kind of shop class for students, which is sad!

My point of all this is, “Young folks pay attention to those “old dudes” and learn”. They have already gone through that “trial and error” stage in the bike/chopper building world.

Now the funny part, teenagers think 30 is old!!! So you 30, 40 and 50 year olds out there, who are mastering the art of motorcycling, be aware, they are watching you. Be that mentor that teaches them correctly and know you still have some “gray beards” (in the biker world or your daddy) to fall back on, for good godly advise. I mean aren’t you glad Sugar Bear is still around? Perowitz? Ness? CJ Allan? And many, many more? I am! But I am also delighted we have all these “middle aged” builders that even us old dudes can watch, get ideas from and support, like Billy, Paul, Eric, Bling and so on. Plus it’s also good to have a magazine like the one you are holding that keeps “it” Chops 46

real.

An Old Dude, That Is Still Learning, Cochise “the way it was and still should be” I wrote this about 7 or 8 years ago, so a few of the men I listed here and next month have already passed on. RIP!!! ********************************************************* Some people make their own storms and then get upset when it rains!

And instead of letting them get wet, we face the rain and give them our umbrella! It’s a nice gesture but if you never let them feel the rain they’ll never stop creating storms, and you’ll continue to be wet!!! *********************************************************

Never let a motorcycle take you somewhere your brain didn’t go five seconds earlier!!!

********************************************************* The Top “American” Rock & Roll Bands Of The 1970’s According To Classic Rock Culture, I Don’t Agree With All Of These, Do You? #1 The Eagles! #2 Lynyrd Skynyrd! #3 The Allman Brothers Band! #4 Steely Dan (To High)! #5 Aerosmith! #6 Ramones #7 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers! #8 Parliament-Funkadelic (?)! #9 Talking Heads! #10 Sly & the Family Stone! #11 Blondie! #12 Creedence Clearwater Revival! #13 Kiss! #14 Van Halen! #15 ZZ Top #16 Santana! #17 The Grateful Dead! #18 Little Feat! #19 The Stooges! #20 The Doors! #21 Journey! #22 The Cars! #23 Cheap Trick! #24 The Doobie Brothers! #25 Chicago! #26 Simon & Garfunkel! #27 The Velvet Underground! #28 Heart! #29 The Beach Boys! #30 Blue Oyster Cult!

The bands’ lineups must consist exclusively of Americans, so legendary acts like Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner and Crosby, Stills & Nash (with or without Neil Young) are excluded from consideration.

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Mystery Ride Feb 17, 2023 Meet Here @ 10am KSU 11am $5 Includes Meal & 50/50

Where The Locals & Bikers Hang Out

Open Daily 7am - 2am “Get Rid Of Your Hangover Here”

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Will I Ever Learn?

The sun is shining and it’s in the mid 70’s, so I track off to town for a cold beer or two on my 1st Harley, a 73 Sportster. Man feel that freedom. Hair flowing, sun on my bare arms, the straight drags are sounding delicious for an April day.

The bar is packed, a few scoots outside, the jute box is blaring David Alan Coe and the “aura” is just right, so I have a couple more and get lost in time.

It’s now 10pm and I got an 18 mile ride home, on the old 2 lane black top through some righteous countryside. As I mount the XL, I noticed I hadn’t thrown the old weathered leather saddle bags back over the rear fender after I had given the bike a bath earlier, so no jacket or even a long sleeve and the 70’s was now in the low 60’s and dropping fast.

DANG!!!

On the way home, I was freezing! So I’d speed up to maybe 80 mph, but then I remembered I was buzzed” and it was foggy so I’d slow down. “But I’ll never get home running 45 and I am COLD. So sped back up, and got colder, so I slowed down again.

I would speed up, then slow down and all the time cussing myself for not being prepared for the temperature drop. Go slow and take forever to get to that warm house of mine or go fast and tempt my buzzed riding and freezing? Over and over I debated my dilemma, while thinking, “I’ll never do that again!” *************************** The Next Week I had just washed the Sporty, it was in the mid 70’s and I thought I’d ride to town about 18 miles away for a beer, man this is freedom.......

Hair flowing, sun on my bare arms, the straight drags are sounding delicious for an April day.

Will I Ever Learn!!!

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Destination Daytona Bike Week & Other Events Event info: https://www.daytonaharleydavidson.com Feb 3 Ride-In Women’s Bike Show - Registration begins at 10, Awards at 2pm. Classes and Prizes. Complete details at DaytonaHarley.com Feb 22-24 Civilian Rodeo at Destination Daytona. Details and register at RidemastersUSA.com March 1 Budweiser Clydesdales – 3pm full 8 horse hitch March 5 Budweiser Clydesdales – 3pm March 1 – 9 Urias Globe of Death and Handbalance Show ongoing daily in the Pavilion March 2 – Full Throttle Bike show –10am – 5pm Destination Daytona Pavilion March 3 Hardcore Cycles Performance Show –10am – 5pm Destination Daytona Pavilion March 4 – Flying Pistons Benefit & Builders Breakfast – Pavilion at Destination Daytona March 4 – Trike Show – Pavilion at Destination Daytona 12noon – 5pm March 5 – Harley-Davidson & Renegade Babes Women’s Ride-In Bike Show 10am – 4pm March 6 – Harley-Davidson Women’s Ride from Speedway to Destination Daytona March 7 Bike Show Mafia Bike Show 10am-4pm March 7 – Godfather of Bass 5pm-9pm March 8 Rockit Fly Concert at the Pavilion 7pm March 8 ROLLING DAYTONA Road Glide Giveaway with Jesse James Dupree 8pm March 8 Jesse James Dupree Concert 8:15 pm March 9 Kory Souza Originals 10am-5pm March 9 Miss Teddy Morse’s Daytona Harley-Davidson Bikini Contest 5pm Chops 51

Dec Freedom Ride

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Dec Freedom Ride

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Dec Freedom Ride

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Trailer Trash Choppers

Transforming Stock Softtails Into Beautiful Ridable Choppers “PLEASE CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM” “One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure”

Call (904) 315-1434 Or (386) 481-8898

“I Love Daytona Beach. It’s The Mecca Of Harley Davidsons! The Home Of Beautiful Bikes And Fast Woman”! ~ Shaun Ponte “I Love Doing These Kushtails!” ~ Marcus

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The One & Only Clay From Tropical Tattoo.

He’s Been Tattooing There Since Day One, About 33 Years Ago. Many Get Us Confused, But He Is The Good Looking One!!!

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Creative Customs Call Pee Wee Or Ray

386 235-9601 Or 352 222-7217 Bro. Peewee Painter Ray

Their Custom Paint Jobs Are Far Exceeding Expectations

“We Understand The Working Man’s Wallet!!!”

* Upholstery (New, Repair or Replace) * Paint (From Mild to Wild) * Audio (We Install Radios, Etc) * Collision Repair (We Can Fix It)

“We Can Paint Your Vehicle Back To Stock Or Give You A Custom Paint Job”

Creative Designs Is Knocking It Out Of The Park On Some Great Paint, Laid Down By Ray & The Upholstery & Repair Work By Peewee Is Tops!!! ~ Cochise

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Pics By Shaun

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Local Bike Nights: Every Wednesday: Boot Hill Saloon On Main St! Live Music & Specials OB’s Lounge In Deltona! Food Specials & A Band!

Every Thursday: Sorry Charlies Corner, Samsula! 6pm Draft Beer Specials Every Saturday: Pirate’s Pub, Paisley! Bucket Specials!