“the way it was & still should be”
At Church
With Willie Behind His Tattoo Shop, Tropical @ 825 Yonge St EVER
4th Sunday 10am Church 11am We RideLocal Bars Or A Long Ride of 100+ Miles
Feb. 23
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
CHOP’s Salesman, Shiny (386) 278-3370
“Where Old School “NEVER” Went Out Of Style!!!”
On The Cover, Beautiful Elle Marie & Me
Most Photos Taken Of Me By Many or Mailed To Me
Feb. 2: Daytona Abate Monthly Meeting
Feb. 2: Swap Meet Webster
Feb. 9: Swap Meet @ Morse’s
Feb. 16: Mystery Ride The Boat Bar 10AM $5 (includes meal)
Feb. 14: Kiss Your Valentine!!!
Feb. 23: FREEDOM RIDE, Nice -100 Mile Ride!!!
Feb. 15 Space Coast CHOPPER/ANTIQUE Show in Malabar
Feb. 23 Midwest Motorcycle Show at The Beaver Bar Read CHOPS Online/Order Shirts NOW At:
Services:
*Volusia Powder Coating, NSB
*Street Thunder, HD, Mims, FL
*Wind Walker’s Leather
The Most Read Magazine
In The Daytona Area
*V Twin Spealities (386) 310*8333
Other Services:
*Wind Walker’s Leather
*Sorry Charlies, Samsula, FL
*The Last Resort Bar, Port Orange
*A Ok Guns, New Smyrna Beach
*Once Upon A Wall Murals & Paintings
*Tropical Tattoo (386) 672*1888
*Tobacco Exoctical Cigar Super Store
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Watering Holes:
*The Boot Hill Saloon On Main
*The Boot Hill Outpost, Ormond
*Pirate’s Pub, Paisley, FL
*The Boat Bar, Port Orange, FL
*The Most Read Magazine
*Foxhead Lounge In Osteen, FL
*Annie Oakley’s Ormond Beach
Take A Ride South On Route 1 To Mims, FL For Whatever You Need These Men Are Good People ~ Cochise
Chops 5 Have You Stopped In To See Big Paul, Lately? You Won’t Be Sorry!!!
Chops 6
Bro. Wendall Turnet
Who Owe Me
The Lawyer From Brevard County, An Oral Contract With A Witness,
Formerly Pat’s Place on NY Ave in Deland, $400
So I’ve been accused of treating certain bikers & hot rod owners different from some others. That’s true! I’m old school and old dudes will always get president over new age guys, except for the several ones that’s “still raisin Cain” on sketchy (ok some are very nice, but I wouldn’t want to hurt no one feelings, LOL), choppers. We have a bunch right here in Daytona, and the majority ride their stuff and I honor them, if they don’t.............well, there’s difference between owning a chopper and riding a chopper. Can you dig it?
So who do I treat better, other than the aforementioned? It’s people like BOGUS JACK, PIG, (they may not ride long distances, but they ride everyday, why, cause that Ironhead is all Pig has & Bogus has a truck, but today it was cold and whose bike was sitting in front of the Boot, Ole Bogus & Pig.
I treat DAYTONA RED and the Panhead guys a little better than most, because they ride the shit out of those 60 plus year old scooters all over the Southeast America, many of them being in their 70’s
I use to constantly preach on taking the Gospel outside the church house, if you want to reach people for Christ, BUT after hearing some of your doctrine, just stay where you are. Contain your mixed up thinking inside the doors!!!
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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”
, with a couple 80 yo or bumping it. They make me feel like a kid, when I’m around them, cause I am in their eyes.
Yes I do treat many differently, mainly because they have been riding over 60 years (I’ve been riding for 56 years) and still doing it. Can’t forget a shout out to TURQUOISE TIMMY, CLAY BASKET, FUSCO, AL & many more. I knew I should not have started naming names. Of course some I know well, but not their names, sorry!
Even my good friend and true Road Dawg, that rides a couple of thousand miles a year together. Now we might not be on “real” old iron, but we ride hard and fast, that’s TROPICAL WILLIE. MARCUS has slowed down some but will still lay down some good road miles with you, as will TITO & SHAUN PONTE!
Hot Rod guys, you know when they built them or bought their Rod. I’ll honor the garage builder that does it all and creates something reliable and sexy. That’s my crowd. The BIG GREEK has been building some righteous old Hot Rods. KOOL!!!
Don’t forget Midwest Motorcycles 31st Annual Bike Show At The Beaver Bar On Feb, 23, 2025!!! Come Show Off Your Bike, 25 Different Classes! Call Heavy or Christine for more info on vendor spots at (386) 257- 6265 or contact us at www.midwestmotorcycle. com. One of the largest shows outside Bike Week or Biketoberfst!!! See Ya There!!!
Feb. 15 Space Coast CHOPPER/ANTIQUE Show in Malabar. See Ad On Page 63. Always A GREAT Show!!!
JOIN US ON THE 23rd FOR THE “FREEDOM RIDE” Leaving Tropical at 12pm, going to the Boot Hill Main St, then Boot Hill OutPost & then ???
Chops 10
A OK Guns
648 N Dixie Freeway
New Smyrna Beach FL (386) 410-6480
Michael Jones Jr. Proprietor
Specializing In Collectable Firearms
Top Cash Paid For Collectable Firearms, Memorabilla, Single Pieces & Estates
This Is My Wife’s Thing. Bianca Is So Talented & Can Really Liven Up Any Area With A Mural
EASTER WINDOWS DONE
On June 4, 1950, Vittie Cothron etched his name into stock car racing lore with an incredible display of ingenuity and determination. Driving his 1936 Ford Coupe in a competitive race, Vittie encountered a serious problem on the final lap: the accelerator linkage fell off, leaving his car unable to maintain speed. For most drivers, this would have ended their race. But not for Vittie.
Quick on his feet and even quicker in his thinking, Vittie came up with a daring solution. He reached through the windshield with his right hand to manually hold the carburetor open, using his left hand to steer the car. With remarkable skill and composure, he navigated the track, maintaining enough speed to secure a third-place finish. It wasn’t just a mechanical improvisation; it was a testament to his resilience and refusal to give up, even under the most challenging circumstances.
Vittie’s resourcefulness turned what could have been a disheartening setback into a story of grit and creativity. His unconventional approach became a vivid example of the problem-solving spirit that defines racing and the people who love it. It wasn’t just about the finish line—it was about finding a way to keep going, no matter what
obstacles stood in the way.
This unforgettable moment reminds us that success often comes down to our ability to adapt when things don’t go as planned. “When the tools you rely on fail, let determination and ingenuity be the fuel that carries you forward.”
Two boys show each other different skills, Kenya, 1962.
9-year-old Kevin from New York had come to Kenya to join his stepfather as guest of a Maasai tribe, where he and the chief’s son Dionni became close companions.
Kevin wrote in his diary:
“The Maasai taught me lots of things. They are very nice people and we had no problems understanding each other. They taught me to shoot the heaviest bow I have ever seen and I taught Dionni how to play baseball and write his name. He doesn’t speak any English and I learned 11 words in Swahili.”
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Spring garden planting time is near & scare crows are hard to come by so someone sent in this picture to me, to suffice for such.
Plant your beans, corn & such & know if you put this pic in the garden, varments will leave them alone! LOL!!!
Honda Rebel staring at a Big Twin HD!!! Sophia Loren dining with Jayne Mansfield in the 1960s.
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Full
“A Cool Biker Bar In The County”
“A Great Great Ride To & Thru The County”
Allegedly one of only two certified photographs of Billy the Kid (top hat). Playing cards with his accomplices. 1877. Accoring to a report, it has been verified by the George Eastman Museum in Texas which is the world’s oldest museum dedicated to photography and named after the founder of Kodak.
Mark Osterman, a process historian at the museum, said the image is consistent with it being a wet collodion tintype photograph that were made between 1870 and 1890.
From Last Month’s Puzzle
Honda : Red wing, car and bikes
Husqvarna : Chainsaws and motorcycles
Kawazaki : Heavy machinery and motorcycles.
Harley Davidson : USA outlaw bike of choice
Ktm : Orange, red bull and toby price
Indian : Feather headdress motorcycle
Royal Enfield : Indian made and British design
Ducati : Italian, l twin and sporty
Suzuki : Yellow dirt bikes and blue and white road bike manufacturer
Yamaha : Blue and white, motorcycles and musical instruments
In 1939, in the rural heart of Wilkes County, North Carolina, lived Miss May Brown, a 30-year-old woman whose life was intertwined with the tradition of tobacco bag stringing. She resided with her aging parents, her father, a 60-year-old recipient of a modest old-age pension of $7.00 per month. The family’s homestead was a rented one-acre plot that yielded corn, potatoes, and other crops, tended by Miss Brown herself. In lieu of rent, they gave one-third of their harvest to the landowner, using the rest to sustain themselves, though it was hardly enough.
Miss Brown’s mother lay bedridden, her health failing for the past five months, in need of medical care they could not afford since the cessation of tobacco bag stringing. This work had provided them an additional income of about $2.00 a month—a small sum, but significant for the Browns.
Their home was a single, cramped, and untidy room where both her parents were confined, unable to work, lacking even the most basic amenities like indoor plumbing, running water, or electricity. The family made their own clothes and relied on the kindness of their storekeeper for flour and other essentials to survive.
For fifteen years, Miss Brown had strung tobacco bags, a task she found enjoyable and fulfilling. Yet, with the discontinuation of this work, the family faced a bleak future. Unable to leave her parents for outside employment, the removal of tobacco bag stringing threatened their very existence.
That pile of tobacco sacks lying at her feet, that were sown together, by hand and strung, brought her about $1
1910 woman in her cannabis garden with her cat.
Drop By Anytime And Have A Cold
Drink & Listen To Al’s Great Stories “HOME OF”
Check Out Our Chopper Show During Bike Week In March
Gemstone: Star Blue Quartz
Insect: Monarch Butterfly
Tree Fruit: Peach
Bird: Yellowhammer
Coat of Arms: displays Alabama's motto and two bald eagles
Soil: Bama
Freshwater Fish: Largemouth Bass
Rock: Marble
Nut: Pecan
Great Seal: showcases border states and major rivers
Saltwater Fish: Atlantic Tarpon
Crustacean: Brown Shrimp
Mineral: Hematite
Game Bird: Wild Turkey
Vegetable: Sweet Potato
Agricultural Insect: Honeybee
Flower: Camellia
Flag: Crimson Cross of St. Andrew on a Field of White
KENTUCKY
I’m going down to ol’ Kentucky the place where all my family’s from
The birthplace of my papaw and his daughters and his sons— with Wow Scenery.
A little spot northeast of Pineville a holler down in Stoney Fork
All the family sticks together the coal mine’s where the men folk work
The very best southern fried chicken biscuits and gravy every day
In the evening sip some “lightning” to help your worries go away
Sit back on the front porch an old guitar and a dobro
The women teach the young girls how to quilt and how to sew
Drinking a mug of fresh made homebrew as the train keeps rolling by I try to soak it all in before that way of life has died
They trace our family back to Ireland a bible holding the old names
Not to mention photo albums telling who each one is by name
Most everyone that I once knew has died some time ago
But I still have the cherished memories the memories that I love and know
Original poem by Tim Stultz
Cambridge Maryland poems and short stories
G-D Hopey & Poppa Doing The Hippie Thing
FLASHBACK 96 Years Ago Today!!! The TAMIAMI Trail (U.S. Highway 41) Officially OPENED on April 26, 1928!!! The Tamiami Trail was considered an amazing feat of engineering at the time, it took 13 years to build, cost $8 million (equivalent to $112 million in 2023), and used 2.6 million sticks of dynamite in its construction!!! Who Else Has Been on the Tamiami Trail and Made Memories Driving, Fishing, Mudding, Hunting And??? Did You Know... “Tamiami” is a “Portmanteau” or Combination of “Tampa to Miami”!?!
The Tamiami Trail is the southernmost 284 miles of U.S. Highway 41 from State Road 60 in Tampa to US 1 in Miami. A portion of the road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90. The 163-mile north–south section extends to Naples, whereupon it becomes an east–west road crossing the Everglades.
We all had to start somewhere, for me it was a Honda Super 90, my 1st real motorcycle instead of a mini bike. I’ll never forget the first times I clutched it & changed gears. I already knew how to use a clutch from the 1960 Chevy my Daddy let me drive. Next was a Suzuki 125 & then this bad boy, a 1973 Honda 450, that I tried to chop, but being in the Army made it hard to do so, but I road it all the time, everywhere. Mike (Frew rode a 350 from NY to Bike Week once, that story was printed here a few years ago, amazing.)
I passed a group of Outlaw 1%ers on the parkway once, this was 1974 and raised a clinched fist as a sign of brotherhood to them, but non responded, just looked at me like I was stupid, and maybe I was. But this was the beginning of the answer to the Chopper/ motorcycle biting me. NEXT, a 1973 HD Sportster, not as dependable as the Honda, but..... my cool factor jumped up real high, especially with the ladies. I didn’t do anything about it but, I had arrived!!!
Mystery Ride Jan. 18, 2024
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”
When Bing Crosby’s nephew asked him casually, late in Bing’s life, about the most difficult moment of his career, he expected some juicy gossip about a difficult Hollywood director or the story of a struggle with a studio. But Bing instead told him it was on a USO tour in December of 1944 in an open-air field in France. He’d just made 15,000 French and American troops laugh and holler with Dinah Shore and The Andrews Sisters and now had to close the show with a quieter number: “White Christmas.” He described having to maintain his composure and vocal control in front of 15,000 crying GIs as the toughest moment of his career.
He never wore his toupee on USO tours - a small thing, but he thought these occasions were above Hollywood artifice - and more
importantly insisted that no officers or other top brass got front row seats. Front row seats belonged to enlisted men who were headed for the frontlines.
A few days after this performance of White Christmas his audience was sent to The Battle of the Bulge, one of the deadliest battles in the history of humanity.
Grabbed from the FB pages of @Will Stenberg
Hello my friend, here is a picture of my mother and 2nd father ( my dad, Bluebird, passed away in 1974. Anyway, this picture was taken in 1982 and was the Xmas day headline of the Sanford Herald’s front page. I have to correct what was written on the article about my Mom and Pop. They also went to the hospital, and at people’s homes that were terminal. They did this every Xmas Eve, Easter and certain occasions. Pop would be a bunny on Easter but mom would
remain a clown. Back then we didn’t have a V.A. Hospital close. My dad passed away at the Gainesville VA hospital. I thought about how you do so many things and such for all. You see in fairness, your spirit is good. So, I have never posted on FB this picture and I would like to give you the honor of posting this on Xmas day! Your old school and so is this! I wish the best Christmas and new year for your beautiful wife and family . We are so blessed to have a loving family and friends..Take care and I send this with love.
Awesome. I’ve never posted but nowadays with all the toys for tots, I got to thinking the new school should learn from the old school that all it takes is 1 or 2 to start a good thing!
Very few know I lost my fiance in ‘68 while he was in Vietnam serving the country he loved so much (and the weed) hehe. I always get anger when I hear anyone disrespect anything that has to do with the country Spider died for. It’s personal regardless of who is right or wrong, for in my head it doesn’t matter. I’ll stop my chatting.
This is the main reason I’m not attending anything I’m invited to. I can count on one hand how many know about Spider or very much about me. Merry Christmas and my apologies for missing your deadlines...luv yall. Joycey May
I’ll be out soon. I miss seeing everyone but during election times I couldn’t take the hate and anger from both sides. Everywhere I went it seem as if someone was disagreeing lol!!!
Chops 52
Ken Bradway
So it was years ago. Christmas 1952. My Dad had a bad accident at work, which crushed his foot, he was out of work, my parents had just bought a new house, and times were tough.
But Christmas was coming, anyway. My brother & I were just turned 3, and of course knew Daddy was now out of the hospital, all casted up, and trying to keep his foot. So money being scarce, Dad went into the basement workshop and built our Christmas gifts from scrap lumber. He built 2 Hobby Horses, and two rifles. But time, and energy were short, and he didn’t quite finish the paint work, and art work on the Horses.
So there they were under the tree on Christmas morning, unfinished, but complete, and playable.
I remember my Dad telling us Santa’s elves got sick, and couldn’t finish their work in time for Christmas,. Because they didn’t eat all their suppers, so Santa asked my Dad to finish them. Which he did after Christmas.
The house was warm, and my mother cooked up something good, and that dinner time we ate all our supper.
Trailer Trash Choppers
Harley Stone
I met Harley several times at the different events we both attended. He was one of the young bloods that made us old farts proud of how he carried himself, and how much he personally reminded me of me, when I was much younger.
Cochise!!!
Don Knott’s mother
Elise Knotts, 1916
Elise Knott, mother of the beloved actor Don Knotts, played a significant role in shaping her son’s early life and career. Born in 1882, Elise raised Don in Morgantown, West Virginia, during challenging times. By 1924, she was already a mother to her four children, including Don, who would go on to become a comedic legend.
Elise’s resilience and strong work ethic deeply influenced Don. After losing her husband early in Don’s life, she managed to raise her children as a single parent, fostering an environment that nurtured creativity and determination. Don often credited his upbringing, including his mother’s unwavering support, as key to his success in show business.
Through her strength, Elise provided a foundation for Don to pursue his dreams, eventually becoming one of the most iconic faces in television history, known for his role as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. “Behind every star is someone who believed in their light long before the rest of the world saw it.”
Chops 56
The Melungeons are one of the most fascinating and mysterious groups in Appalachian history, a people whose origins have long been the subject of speculation and folklore. Centered primarily in the Appalachian regions of eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and southeastern Kentucky, the Melungeons have been a part of the cultural landscape since at least the early 1800s, though their history likely stretches back much further.
For centuries, the Melungeons were viewed as an enigma. They were a tri-racial, multi-ethnic group whose ancestry included European, African, and Native American bloodlines. Many Melungeons had dark skin, straight black hair, and distinctive features that set them apart from the white settlers in the area. They lived in remote, isolated communities, often in the mountains, where they developed their own customs and traditions, blending elements of their diverse heritage.
Theories about the origins of the Melungeons have ranged from the plausible to the fantastic. Some claimed they were descendants of Portuguese or Spanish explorers, while others believed they had connections to Turkish, Jewish, or Moorish sailors who had been shipwrecked on the American coast centuries earlier. Still others thought they might be the descendants of the mysterious Lost Colony of Roanoke or that they were remnants of an ancient group of people who lived in North America long before European settlers arrived. Despite these speculations, the true origins of the Melungeons re-
mained unclear for generations. Because of their mixed-race heritage, they often faced discrimination and were marginalized by both white and Black communities. Many Melungeons were labeled “free people of color” on census records, which limited their rights and social status in the pre-Civil War South. Some were even forced to deny their heritage, claiming to be of solely European descent in order to avoid persecution.
In recent years, DNA testing and genealogical research have shed more light on the Melungeons’ origins, confirming their tri-racial ancestry. Studies have shown that their roots likely trace back to early European settlers, enslaved Africans, and Native American tribes who intermarried and formed isolated communities in the Appalachian Mountains. While the exact details of their origins are still debated, the Melungeons’ story is now understood as part of the broader narrative of racial and ethnic blending that has shaped the American South.
Today, the Melungeon heritage is a source of pride for many descendants. Cultural festivals, genealogical societies, and academic studies have helped to preserve and celebrate their unique history. The Melungeons are a testament to the complexity of Appalachian history and the diverse mix of peoples who have called these mountains home for centuries.
Their story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of those who live on the margins of society and the rich, layered history that exists in the mountains of Appalachia. Whether through folklore, genealogy, or modern-day cultural revival, the Melungeons remain a vital part of the region’s identity, offering a window into the often-overlooked stories of those who shaped Appalachia’s past.
Ron Gray, Artist
Tropical Tattoo, Same Location For 33 Years
Chops 60
