Alan Dockery, Lincoln Infield, Brad Patton, Kathy Lynn Parnell, Rob Harper, Tim Priest, Jerry Andrews, Jake “Rooster” Smith, Stephanie Hans, Pearl Harbor, Beth Thacher
WildThing, Alan Dockery, Lincoln Infield, Kathy Lynn Parnell, Floyd Baker, Mz. Cat, Jake “Rooster” Smith, Amy Harper, Tim Priest, Stephanie Hans, Beth Thacher
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS
uly is the month we celebrate our american independence. a month dedicated to looking back at the herculean task that was defeating the greatest army in the world to secure Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It was an ideal that the people of that time dedicated their fortunes and their lives so we could create “A Republic, If you can keep it” (Benjamin Franklin 1787). The thought of the foundation that this great country was built on brings a tear to the eye and makes me stand up straight. Let us not waste this independence! Get on your motorcycle and ride! Blow some shit up! Hang out with your friends and by all means, buy American!
Westside Twins Motorcycle Company is featured on the front cover of the July magazine, issue #324 and rightly so with their red, white and blue logo! They are situated in Statesville, NC and all things motorcycle can be found there! Whether you are looking for a new to you motorcycle, service, apparel or accessories, stop in and check out Westside campus! You won’t be disappointed.
We’ve got a couple Full Throttle events coming at you this summer that you just might want to check out. We will be continuing our Full Throttle Magazine Bike Show Tour in July at Dog House Harley-Davidson in Rock Hill, SC on July 19. This is a FREE registration bike show and we will be hosting the baddest bikes in SC. This bike show tour has exploded and the turn out has been HOT! No doubt this event will be the same as we keep our eyes on the prize…the Full Throttle Custom Bike Show January 31, 2026 inside the Greensboro Coliseum. Best in Show winners on the bike show tour are automatically invited to Greensboro to compete for $12,000 in cash prizes. August 23rd we will be celebrating our 27th Anniversary of The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine with a party the likes of you’ve never seen. Springers Greensboro will be hosting this year with Live Music, Free Food, FTM Merch and definitely good times. Be There!
McDowall
ALL THINGS MOTORCYCLE CAN BE FOUNDAT
ou really can get all things motorcycle related at Westside Twins in Statesville, NC. Start with a previously loved motorcycle and accessorize it just how you want it. Benefit from their decades of experience to make your motorcycling days fun and memorable.
Janette Thornley and Buddy Foss own and run Westside Twins Motorcycle Company. In their second Summer, they have turned a great location and opportunity into a shop that can help customers with all things they need for enjoying motorcycles. Just off I-40 at Exit 148, is an independent dealership that can put you on a nice bike, upgrade the one you love now and set you up with all the gear.
I met Janette and Buddy at the drag strip years ago. She was racing a Pro Fuel Harley and winning. I remember seeing y’all cheering her down the strip. Janette had a big fan base. During ten years competing in Pro Fuel, she won four championships in the National Hot Rod Association, American Motorcycle Racing Association and the American Drag Racing League. Her quickest Elapsed Time is 7.20 and fastest miles per hour is 185. I think the 185 still stands as an NHRA record.
Over the years I learned that she worked for The HarleyDavidson Motor Company in a few different roles. That gave Janette valuable experience and contacts in the motorcycle world. Her riding and business experience is now being shared with her customers.
Western North Carolina had lots of folks who can work on motorcycles, but was lacking for big independent shops. So Janette and Buddy went looking for a 3,000 square foot building. What they created is impressive. Westside Twins has easy interstate access. The property is five acres with a grassy field, storage units, warehouse space and a big showroom and shop building. There’s even a food truck on site.
Westside Twins offers pre-owned motorcycles of all makes
Story and PhotoS by alan dockery
in their huge show room. From big engine Harley Baggers to Sportsters and some cool little Benelli import commuter bikes. Adventure Bikes are popular in the mountains and some real nice ones are in stock, ready to sling gravel up Globe Road.
The show room also features parts, accessories and apparel. They have some pre-owned clothing and gear. Sure you can buy everything imaginable online and deal with those frustrations. But for quality clothing and gear it’s still the best to see and feel what you are buying. Get great gear at the best price. Get Janette’s advice on what works best for you.
Westside Twins has a full service department. Janette has known one of their technicians since her service days working at Harley-Davidson. Scott has 30 years of experience and training with Harley and Suzuki.
“Every motorcycle we put on our showroom floor has been through a multi-point inspection and serviced. For the safety and confidence of our customers we go through the bikes,” Janette said.
The sales staff at Westside Twins can get you on a bike and riding the mountains with a few different finance plans. They also have Extended Service plans to protect your two or three wheel investment. The shop is certified to perform warranty work for independent service plans.
I saw displays for Klock Werks, Fat Baggers, Legend Suspension, Rockford Fosgate, Custom Dynamics and more. If you want the latest, coolest parts for your machine, they can get and install them.
Janette and Buddy have created more than just a dealership
— they have created a destination. In the past year, I’ve been there for big events and local poker runs. Westside Twins has lots of room for parking and vendors. Recently they had the American Motor Drome Company Wall of Death putting on thrilling shows.
Harley Drag Racing fans still hang out at the shop. Westside Twins is a sponsor of the AMRA on Motor Mania TV. That’s the service streaming AMRA races live. So if you can’t make it to Bowling Green, make it to the coach at Westside and watch with friends.
“Our five-acre property, conveniently located at the crossroads of Interstate 40 and Interstate 77 in Statesville, North Carolina, is the perfect stop for riders heading in any direction — east to west or north to south. Whether you’re passing through or planning a ride, we want Westside Twins to be a place where you feel welcome to stop, rest and recharge,” Janette said.
They are developing the grounds into a true rider’s haven — complete with areas to relax, regroup and connect with other enthusiasts. For those hauling bikes or traveling in groups, they have ample secured parking and a safe spot to drop a trailer.
“Whether you stay a few hours or a few days, we want to be your home base for exploring the scenic routes of the Carolinas and beyond. We’re passionate about building community, hosting events and being a trusted part of every journey. Westside Twins is more than just a motorcycle shop — it’s a stop worth making,” Janette said.
The name Westside Twins is about more than just the motorcycles we love. It’s about Janette’s and Buddy’s family and the twin grandkids who you might see at the dealership. The dealership is a family friendly place. Janette is a member of the Motor Maids, a Jeep fan and hot rodder so expect to see more than just motorcycles there.
“Since opening our doors in March of 2024, it’s been an incredible journey – one fueled by passion, community and a deep love for two wheels. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support and trust from our riding community, and we truly couldn’t do this without them. But this is just the beginning. We have so much more in store, and we invite riders from near and far to follow our journey, connect with us, and be part of what’s next,” Janette said.
Go to Westsidetwins.com to check out the inventory of bikes for sale and more. That all black Harley Trike is just what one of you Old Guys needs to stay in the wind. They have some kid size bikes to get them started on two wheels. Westside Twins is just off I-40 Exit 148 on Front Street. I’ll see y’all there at the next event.
Cruisin’ Calendar
JUL 4 RIDING HIGH HARLEY-DAVIDSON FAMILY COOKOUT 3036 NC Hwy 68, High Point, NC. 11am-3pm, free food, beer,* drinks, prizes & giveaways, rsvp for a free gift. www. ridinghighharleydavidson.com, 336-273-1101
JUL 4 RED, WHITE & RUMBLE Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson, 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. 10am-4pm, free hotdog bar & sweet treats, patriotic giveaways, live music. www.fortbraggharley.com, 910-864-1200
JUL 5 SMOKIN’ HARLEY-DAVIDSON 4TH OF JULY PARTY 3441 Myer Lee Dr., WinstonSalem, NC. Stunt show, www.smokinharley. com, 336-722-3106
JUL 5 RIDE FOR WYLIE 2168 Gastonia Hwy, Lincolnton, NC. Meet 12pm, KSU 1pm, $10/person, $5/passenger. Raffle after ride, proceeds go to The Wylie Family.
JUL 5 RIDE THE RED, WHITE & BLUE Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, 1126 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC. Live music, in house tattoos, bikini bike wash, food, *beer garden, vendors. www.tobaccoroadhd.com, 919-832-2261
JUL 5 JAMES DELLINGER’S CANCER BENEFIT RIDE America Legion Post 155, 613 E. Gold St., Kings Mountain, NC. Reg 10”30am, KSU 12pm, $20/single, $25/double. 50/50, auction, raffles, food & drinks avail.
JUL 5 RED, WHITE & BIKES INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC 15-501, West End, NC. 12-3pm, free food & *beer, reg to win $100 gift card. www.doubleeaglehearly. com, 910-420-1564
JUL 5 FORT BRAGG HARLEY-DAVIDSON PARTY ON THE LOT 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. East Freedom MC on the grill, giveaways, inflatable cash machine. www.fortbraggharley.com, 910-864-1200
JUL 5-6 FREEDOM BLOWOUT BASH Dog House Harley-Davidson, 1178 Galleria Blvd., Rock Hill, SC. 11am-4pm, H-D Demo Truck, free *beer w/ the Dog House Divas, food trucks, live music. www.doghousehd.com, 803-327-1183
JUL 6 LET’S RIDE FOR BILL SHARP AKA
WILD BILL Springers, 405 Rocky Knoll, Greensboro, NC. Reg 11am, KSU 1pm, $20/ ride, $10/passenger. 50/50 Raffle, BBQ, live music, auction. Proceeds go to Bill while he recovers from an accident at home.
JUL 10 BLUE COLLAR CYCLE CO BIKE NIGHT 1814 US Hwy 70 SW, Hickory, NC. 6-9pm, live music, food & drinks avail., vendors. www.bluecollarcycle.com, 828-228-0189
JUL 10 BULLDOG HARLEY-DAVIDSON
BIKE NIGHT 1043 Outlet Center Dr., Smithfield, NC 5-8pm, food truck, vendors, free beer* with BullDog Babes. 919-938-1592, www.bulldogharleydavidson.com
JUL 10 DOG HOUSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON
BIKE NIGHT 1178 Galleria Blvd, Rock Hill, SC. 5-8pm, live music, food truck, free beer* with The Dog House Divas, $500 gift card giveaway entry. 803-327-1183, www.doghousehd.com
JUL 11 SMOKIN’ HARLEY-DAVIDSON BIKE NIGHT 3441 Myer Lee Dr., Winston-Salem, NC. 6-9pm, live music, vendors, food trucks. www.smokinharley.com, 336-722-3106
JUL 11 FORT BRAGG HARLEY-DAVIDSON
BIKE NIGHT Dad Bod Dive Bar, 444 W. Russell St., Fayetteville, NC. 6-8pm, bikes, *beers, dad bods & music. www.fortbraggharley.com, 910-864-1200
JUL 12 GODSPEED BIKE BLESSING American Legion Post 345, 3102 Baucom Rd., Charlotte, NC. 2pm, special guest speaker. Hosted by Derita Church.
JUL 12 1ST ANNUAL BUTTERFLY BABIES MEMORIAL RIDE Independence Harley-Davidson, 9205 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC. Breakfast 9am, Reg 9am, KSU 11am. Food, raffles, vendors. Supporting the Almon Family & the CMC NICU. 704-847-4647
JUL 12 GRMC MCDOWELL NC 12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY 597 Cherokee Way, Marion, NC. Bike games, cornhole, food, shirts, live music, ladies arm wrestling, pole dancing contest with cash prize.
JUL 12 FIREFIGHTER POKER RUN FOR JASON PASSMORE The Sanke Ranch, 4357 NC-89, Walnut Cove, NC. Reg 9am, $25/bike, meal after ride, silent auction. Benefits Jason, who is a single father & battling health issues.
JUL 12 DEATHWISH FOREVER MEMORIAL EVENT The Pit Stop Sports Bar, 105 E. Main St., Sanford, NC. 11am-4pm, live music, food trucks, vendors, burn out contest, raffle. Proceeds benefit Jeremy’s daughter, Ava’s College fund. FMI, Aje, at deathwishcultureco@yahoo.com
JUL 12 LOOKS & VISIBILITY DO MATTER Boone MotorCo, 3021 US-1 Hwy, Franklinton, NC. 12-4pm, Let us show you how to stand out in a crowd & be seen on the road. www. boonemotorco.com, 919-925-8009
JUL 12 PANCAKE BREAKFAST Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, 1126 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC. 9am, while supplies last. www. tobaccoroadhd.com, 919-832-2261
JUL 12 KING OF THE BAGGERS WATCH PARTY Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, 1126 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC. Free food & beer*. www.tobaccoroadhd.com, 919-8322261
JUL 12 FORT BRAGG HARLEY-DAVIDSON 11 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. Food, family friendly, cupcakes, balloons, DJ, raffle giveaways. www.fortbraggharley.com, 910864-1200
JUL 12 CHRISTMAS IN JULY Dog House Harley-Davidson, 1178 Galleria Blvd., Rock Hill, SC. 11am-3pm, Free *beer & hotdogs, hourly shopping spree giveaways. www.doghousehd.com, 803-327-1183
JUL 17 BLUE COLLAR CYCLE CO BIKE NIGHT 1017 Old W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC. 6-9pm, live music, food & drinks avail., vendors, best bike comp. www.bluecollarcycle. com, 980-621-7399
JUL 17 TRIKE NIGHT Dirty Myrtle Wing Company, 2297 S. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC. Free admission, live music, food & drink specials, door prizes, 50/50. 843-282-9294
JUL 18 BRASS POLE CONTEST The Masters Gentlemen’s Club, 1901 Mr Joe Smith Ave, Myrtle Beach, SC. A must see high energy competition. 843-916-0972
JUL 19 THROTTLE FOR DREAMS Riding High Harley-Davidson, 3036 NC-68, High Point, NC. Reg 9:30am, KSU 11am. Presented by Riding High H-D & A Bend And A Book. www.abedandabook.com, www.ridinghighharleydavidson.com, 336-273-1101
JUL 19 KRIS ATKINS MEMORIAL RIDE Pine Tree Tavern, 3880 Bethania Station Rd., Winston-Salem, NC. Reg 11:30am, $15/ rider, $20/couples. Raffle & auction after ride. Proceeds go to the family.
JUL 19 BTN TOY RUN & LUAU 207 N. Green St., Winston-Salem, NC. Reg 12pm, KSU 1pm, bring a new unwrapped toy or $20/ single, $25/double. Luau & live music. Benefits The Salvation Army Angel Tree program.
JUL 19 AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS POST 76 1ST ANNUAL POKER RUN & CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT Friendly Chevrolet, 2307 US-52, Albemarle, NC. Reg 9:45am, KSU10:30am, $25/person, $10/rider. Live music, food trucks & beverages. Rodney, 980234-6014
JUL 19 WINDJAMMERS CHRISTMAS IN JULY POKER RUN WJMC Clubhouse, 735 Nalley Dr., Shelby, NC. First bike out 6:30pm, best &worst hands win, live music, food. Benefits Cleveland Co. Children’s Home Christmas. Greasy, 704-300-7064 or Moonpie, 704-477-1254
JUL 19 HAWAIIAN LUAU Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC 15-501, West End, NC. 12-3pm, bikini bike wash, BBQ food truck, free *beer, best Hawaiian shirt contest. www. doubleeagleharley.com, 910-420-1564
JUL 19 DJ & VENDOR PARTY Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson, 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. DJ, vendors, fames, food, swag giveaways. www.fortbraggharley.com, 910-864-1200
JUL 19 BIKES FOR BOBBY Hickory Grove Fire Dept., 132 NC Hwy 210, Garland, NC. Reg 8am, KSU 10am, $25/single, $35/double incl meal after ride. Live music, 50/50, food avail, vendors, drive in car show. FMI, Everette Green, everettegreen2008@gmail.com, or Cornelia Hester, 910-874-7110
JUL 19 CAROLINAS FULL THROTTLE MAGAZINE DOG HOUSE H-D BIKE SHOW 1178 Galleria Blvd., Rock Hill, SC. Reg 10am2pm, event 11am-3pm, awards 3pm, FREE entry. Live music, food trucks, free *beer, vendors, door prizes, trophies, pinstriping, patch sewing, bikini bike wash w/ the Dog House Divas. www.doghousehd.com, 803-327-1183
JUL 19 BENEFIT FOR KANE The Beaver Bar, 3534 US-17 Bus., Murrells Inlet, SC. 1-5pm, $15/donation, $20/couple. Door prizes, live music, proceeds go to help Kane & his family as he prepares for open heart surgery.
JUL 19 CHRISTMAS IN JULY CrossRoads
Harley-Davidson, 1921 US Hwy 421, Wilkesboro, NC. Live music, food truck, Prohibition ticket giveaway. www.crossroads-hd.com, 336-667-1003
JUL 26 RIDE IN BIKE SHOW Smokin HarleyDavidson, 3441 Myer Lee Dr., Winston-Salem, NC. DJ, vendors. www.smokinharley.com, 336-790-6094
JUL 26 3RD ANNUAL KALON GENTRY MEMORIAL RIDE Brailie’s 2, 4707 Hillsborough Rd., Durham, NC. Reg 10am, KSU 12pm, $20/bike, $10/add rider incl BBQ lunch. Hosted by Triangle CBA
JUL 26 CVMA NC 15 NO VET LEFT BEHIND RIDE Brady’s Pub & Sports Bar, 27 Annette Dr., Benson, NC. Reg 9:30am, briefing 10:45am, 1st bike out 11am. $20/rider, $10/ passenger. Proceeds go to Military Missions In Action. www.militarymissionsinaction.org
JUL 26 SOLDIERS UNITED ON THE GRILL Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson, 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. DJ, food trucks, vendors. www.fortbraggharley.com, 910-8641200
JUL 26 MEMORIAL RIDE FOR EDDIE HILL (OPOSSUM) 17 Customs, 724 Hwy 17, Little River, SC. Sign up 9am, KSU 11am, $15/ person, $20/couple. Food & raffles after ride. Benefits The Hutton House & Kind Keepers No Kill Animal Shelter. 843-281-0525
JUL 27 BIKE DAYS Tilley Harley-Davidson, 1226 Morland Dr., Statesville, NC. 1-4pm, live music, bike games, BBQ, giveaways, food, prizes. www.tilleyhd.com, 704-872-3883
JUL 27 CHROME & CONES Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC 15-501, West End, NC. 12-3pm, celebrate National Ice Cream Day with free ice cream. www. doubleeagleharley.com, 910-420-1564
JUL 27 TOO BROKE FOR STURGIS WORSHIP RALLY Freedom Biker Church, 669 Tarheel Rd., Benson, NC. Hangout 10am, rally 11am, come break bread & worship with us. Christy @freedombikerchurch.com, call/text 919-550-3733 or 919-868-3697
JUL 31 OTR THROTTLE THURSDAYS Main St, Mooresville, NC. 5-9pm, live music, food trucks, vendors, bike games. www.tilleyhd. com, 704-872-3883
JUL 31 COX’S DOUBLE EAGLE HARLEYDAVIDSON BIKE NIGHT Hatchet Brewing, 490 SW Broad St., Southern Pines, NC. 6pm? Giveaways & prizes, live music, food trucks. www.doubleeagleharley.com, 910-420-1564
AUG 1 UPTOWN LEXINGTON BIKE NIGHT Bull City Ciderworks, 599 S Railroad St., Lexington, NC. 5:30-9pm, music, food trucks, vendors, best bike on the lot, best burnout, cash prizes. Jack Waters, jackw@bullcityciderworks.com, 336-425-5959
AUG 1-2 THE ALL HARLEY WORLD SHOOTOUT Wilkesboro Raceway, 744 Dragway Rd., Wilkesboro, NC. FMI, Paulshdfatboy@netscape.net
AUG 1-3 RALLY IN THE VALLEY Downtown Elkin, free event. Live music, organized rides, vendors, food trucks, biker games, biker church, pancake breakfast. www.exploreelkin. com/rally-in-the-valley
AUG 2 BENEFIT RIDE FOR THE ATKINS FAMILY 1765 NC Hwy 66 S, Kernersville, NC. Hot rod & bike benefit, $5/bike, $10/vehicle. Kris passed away unexpectedly. Proceeds go to The Atkins Family. To reg, applefamilyfarm@yahoo.com or Destiney, 336-529-0117
AUG 2 NW PIEDMONT PURPLE HEART FOUNDATION POKER RUN VFW Post #9010, 4675 Hampton Rd., Clemmons, NC. Reg 9am, KSU 10:30am, $20/bike, $5/rider. Breakfast avail., free food after ride, 50/50, door prizes, best & worst hand prizes, youngest & oldest biker prizes. Spons by: Triad Enforcers MC. Pete Knight, 336-428-1294, Jimmy White Jr, 336-749-5176
AUG 2 THE GREAT BUG RUN American Legion Post 290, 436 S. Main St., King, NC. Starts 10am, $10/DOT, rain date: 08/09. Help bring the Moving Wall to King, NC. Bob Penn, 336-813-2106
AUG 2 HICKORY MUSEUM OF ART & TWISTED COVENANT MSC’S 3RD ANNUAL POKER RUN History Museum of Art, 243 3rd Ave, NE, Hickory, NC. Reg 10am, first bike out 11am, $20/per hand. Bike show, food truck, exhibits, 50/50, prizes for best & worst hand. Bulldog, 828-850-3275
AUG 2 AUTUMN’S RIDE The Snake Ranch, 4357 NC-89, Walnut Cove, NC. Reg 9am, KSU 11am incl meal after ride. $20/bike. Benefits Autumn, who is 16 and battling Stage 4 Hodkins Lymphoma.
AUG 2 MAD MONKEY SIGNING DAY Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, 1126 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC. Meet & Greet with Max Flinders, race bike showcase, autographs, free food. www.tobaccoroadhd.com, 919-832-2261
AUG 2 TOO BROKE FOR STURGIS Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC 15-501, West End, NC. 12-3pm, live music, free food & *beer, hourly giveaways. www. doubleeagleharley.com, 910-420-1564
AUG 2 CHRISTMAS IN JULY TOY RUN Fort Bragg Harley-Davidson, 3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd., Fayetteville, NC. Reg 9:30am w/ coffee/
Cruisin’ Calendar
donuts, KSU 11am, escorted ride, food avail. $10 & a new unwrapped toy for all riders. Benefits The Salvation Army of Fayetteville Angel Tree Program & Fayetteville Urban Ministries. Sonsofthesavior.fayetteville.nc@gmail.com
AUG 3 SPIRIT RIDERS 12TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL RIDE C&P Mini Mart, 700 Union Chapel Rd., Pembroke, NC. Reg 1pm, KSU 2:30pm, $10/single, $15/couples, rain or shine. Auction, door prizes, 50/50. Benefits the children of Piney Grove Elementary. Robbie Locklear, 910-303-6724, Phyllis Smith, 910740-4228
AUG 7 BLUE COLLAR CYCLE CO BIKE NIGHT 1814 US Hwy 70 SW, Hickory, NC. 6-9pm, live music, food & drinks avail., vendors. www.bluecollarcycle.com, 828-228-0189
AUG 7 BULLDOG HARLEY-DAVIDSON
BIKE NIGHT 1043 Outlet Center Dr., Smithfield, NC 5-8pm, food truck, vendors, free beer* with BullDog Babes. 919-938-1592, www.bulldogharleydavidson.com
AUG 8 SMOKIN’ HARLEY-DAVIDSON BIKE NIGHT 3441 Myer Lee Dr., Winston-Salem, NC. 6-9pm, www.smokinharley.com, 336-7223106
AUG 9 5TH ANNUAL POKER RUN IN MEMORY OF ERNIE CARRAWAY Iron Horse Motorcycles, 1600 W. Roosevelt Blvd, Monroe, NC. 10am, $25/hand incl shirt. Benefits Hometown Heroes. Joey Forbes, 704-575-8917 or Jeff Cook, 704-221-8766
AUG 9 CVMA NC 15-12 TRIAD CH ACES
HIGH RIDE Down Home Harley-Davidson, 2215 Hanford Rd., Burlington, NC. Reg 9am, auction 10:30am, KSU 12pm, $20/bike, $10/ passenger. Escorted ride, 50/50, auction, food trucks, vendors, raffle prizes. 336-227-1261
AUG 9 BROTHERS OF THE HORIZON MC 45TH ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY 132 Atlantic Rd., Robbins, NC. Gates open 1pm, $10/admission. Food & drinks avail., bike games, burn out pit, bike & car show, non-bike games. Hambone, 336-465-1718 or Sunset, 704-517-0970
AUG 9 SEVEN SABRES BROTHERHOOD KICK CANCER & EVERYTHING ELSE CHARITY RIDE 55 N. Broad St., W. Angier, NC. $15/donation. Arlene Mabry, 919-4227234
AUG 9 BACK TO SCHOOL BASH Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC 15501, West End, NC. 12-3pm, bounce house, stuff the bus with school supplies. The CARE Group, Inc. www.thecaregroupinc.org
AUG 9 AMERICAN LEGION POST 265 5TH ANNUAL POKER RUN 146 Broadhurst Rd., Jacksonville, NC. Reg 10am, $15/hand, $20/3 hands same rider & shirt while supplies last. Best & worst hand cash prizes, raffles, 50/50, auction, music, free food for each rider. Benefits Veteran Programs. Alrncchapter265@ gmail.com
AUG 9 TOO BROKE FOR STURGIS Thunder Road Harley-Davidson, 4870 Riverside Dr., Danville, VA. Beer garden, live music, vendors. www.thunderrodahd.com, 434-822-2453
AUG 14 BLUE COLLAR CYCLE CO BIKE NIGHT 1017 Old W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC. 6-9pm, live music, food & drinks avail., vendors, best bike comp. www.bluecollarcycle. com, 980-621-7399
AUG 14 DOG HOUSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON BIKE NIGHT 1178 Galleria Blvd, Rock Hill, SC. 5-8pm, live music, food truck, free beer* with The Dog House Divas, $500 gift card giveaway entry. 803-327-1183, www.doghousehd.com
AUG 16 AMVETS RIDE FOR VETS Cox’s Harley-Davidson of Asheboro, 2795 NC Hwy 134, Asheboro, NC. Ride 10am, food trucks. www.coxsharley-davidson.com, FMI, Matt 336-804-4624
AUG 16 KING OF THE BAGGERS WATCH PARTY Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson, 1126 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC. Free food & beer*. www.tobaccoroadhd.com, 919-8322261
AUG 16 2ND ANNUAL LAKEN RILEY MEMORIAL RIDE Du Run Run Biker Shop, 403 Hwy 28 Byp, Holly Place Ste 1, Anderson, SC. Meet 9am, KSU 10am, donation ride. Raffle items, 50/50, shirts avail., program & food. Ride to meet with Laken’s family. 864-6170713
AUG 20 BOONE MOTORCO BIKE NIGHT 3021 US-1 Hwy, Franklinton, NC. 5-8pm, music, food, games, shop talk. www.boonemotorco.com, 919-925-8009
AUG 21 TRIKE NIGHT Dirty Myrtle Wing Company, 2297 S. Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC. Free admission, live music, food & drink specials, door prizes, 50/50. 843-282-9294
AUG 23 CAROLINAS’ FULL THROTTLE MAGAZINE 27TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Springers 405 Rocky Knoll Rd. Greensboro, NC. 12-5pm Live music, free food, FTM merch & good times! Come help us celebrate 27 years in print. 336-885-5400
AUG 23 15TH ANNUAL SHRINERS CHILDREN BENEFIT Double D Burnout Saloon, 1408 E. Mountain St., Kernersville, NC. 2-6pm, live music, food plates, raffles, auction. FMI, Karen Hatchett, 336-962-1445
AUG 23 POKER RUN HOSTED BY NC ROADDOCS 25405 NC-27, Albemarle, NC. Reg 8:30am, first bike out 10am, Proceeds go towards medical expenses to treat cancer for a First Responders family. Brad Kinard, 704-891-0700
AUG 24 BIKE DAYS Tilley Harley-Davidson, 1226 Morland Dr., Statesville, NC. 1-4pm, live music, bike games, BBQ, giveaways, food, prizes. www.tilleyhd.com, 704-872-3883
AUG 24 SUNDAY FUNDAY WORSHIP
RALLY Freedom Biker Church, 669 Tarheel Rd., Benson, NC. Hangout 10am, rally 11am, come break bread & worship with us. Christy @freedombikerchurch.com, call/text 919-5503733 or 919-868-3697
AUG 28 OTR THROTTLE THURSDAYS Main St, Mooresville, NC. 5-9pm, live music, food trucks, vendors, bike games. www.tilleyhd. com, 704-872-3883
AUG 28 COX’S DOUBLE EAGLE HARLEYDAVIDSON BIKE NIGHT Hatchet Brewing, 490 SW Broad St., Southern Pines, NC. 6pm? Giveaways & prizes, live music, food trucks. www.doubleeagleharley.com, 910-420-1564
AUG 30 BURGERS & BREWS Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC 15-501, West End, NC. 12-3pm. www.doubleeagleharley.com, 910-420-1564
AUG 30 MOTORCYCLE RIDE TO CONQUER KIDS CANCER 285 Camellia St., Kinston, NC. Reg 9:30am, KSU 11am, $20/ bike. Benefits St Baldrick’s Foundation.
AUG 30 RON RELAY & CHAPTER NC-5 FALLEN MEMBERS MEMORIAL RIDE New River H-D, 2394 Wilmington Hwy, Jacksonville, NC. Reg 9am, KSU 11am, $20/bike, $10/ passenger. Door prizes, 50/50, proceeds go to Wreaths Across America. Hosted by: Rolling Thunder, Inc., CH NC-5. Bryan Dent, 910-5264309 or Gilberto Otero, 910-650-2200
SEP 4-7 SMOKE OUT 25 Rowan Co. Fairgrounds, 1560 Julian Rd., Salisbury, NC. Live music, wet t-shirt contest, bike shows, mini bike racing, world’s strongest biker, burnout contest, vendors, food, camping. www.smokeoutrally.com
SEP 5 UPTOWN LEXINGTON BIKE NIGHT Bull City Ciderworks, 599 S Railroad St., Lexington, NC. 5:30-9pm, music, food trucks, vendors, best bike on the lot, best burnout, cash prizes. Jack Waters, jackw@bullcityciderworks.com, 336-425-5959
SEP 5-6 THE ALL HARLEY WORLD SHOOTOUT Darlington Dragway, 2056 E Bobo Newsom Hwy, Hartsville, SC. FMI, Paulshdfatboy@netscape.net
SEP 6 10TH ANNUAL 9/11 RIDE Cleveland Community Vol. Fire Dept., 205 School St., Cleveland, NC. Reg 8:30am, $25/single, $10/ passenger, presentation 11am, KSU after, escorted ride. Benefits NCFFF & other charity orgs. Presented by: RKMC NC 13. Jason Mullins, 704-902-7239
SEP 10-14 OC ROCK & RIDE 802 S. Atlantic Ave., Ocean City, MD. Open each day at 1pm. 4 days of live music, vendors, stunt shows, and more TBA. FMI, www.ocrockandride.com
SEP 11 BLUE COLLAR CYCLE CO BIKE NIGHT 1814 US Hwy 70 SW, Hickory, NC. 6-9pm, live music, food & drinks avail., vendors. www.bluecollarcycle.com, 828-228-0189
SEP 11 BULLDOG HARLEY-DAVIDSON
BIKE NIGHT 1043 Outlet Center Dr., Smithfield, NC 5-8pm, food truck, vendors, free beer* with BullDog Babes. 919-938-1592, www.bulldogharleydavidson.com
SEP 11 DOG HOUSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON
BIKE NIGHT 1178 Galleria Blvd, Rock Hill, SC. 5-8pm, live music, food truck, free beer* with The Dog House Divas, $500 gift card giveaway entry. 803-327-1183, www.doghousehd.com
SEP 12 SMOKIN’ HARLEY-DAVIDSON BIKE NIGHT 3441 Myer Lee Dr., Winston-Salem, NC. 6-9pm, www.smokinharley.com, 336-7223106
SEP 13 9TH ANNUAL HYDRO WARRIOR BENEFIT & CHARITY RIDE Down Home Harley-Davidson, 2215 Hanford Rd., Burlington, NC. Reg 10am, KSU 12pm, $10/person, music, food raffles. A portion of the proceeds go to Hydrocephalus Assoc. www.downhomeharley.com, 336-227-1261
SEP 13 STEEL RAIN MC MORROW MOUNTAIN ROAD TRIP & LUNCH RIDE QuikTrip, 1862 Warren C Coleman Blvd., Concord, NC. KSU 10am, $20 donation, includes shirt while supplies last. Rain date: 09/20/25. Benefits SRMC Veteran’s Christmas Fund. 704-7857605, info@steelrainmc.com
SEP 13 RALLY IN THE PINES Cox’s Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, 7540 NC Hwy 15-501 S, West End, NC. Harley drift racing, cash prizes. FMI, marketing@doubleeagleharley. com 910-420-1564
SEP 13 5TH ANNUAL LOW COUNTRY 9/11 MEMORIAL MOTORCYCLE RIDE Low Country H-D, 4707 Dorchester Rd., North Charleston, SC. Staging 9am, KSU 22am, free police escorted ride. Attach an American flag to your ride. Music, speakers, vendors, free breakfast & lunch, commemorative merch available. FMI, text 843-252-0255.
SEP 18 BLUE COLLAR CYCLE CO BIKE NIGHT 1017 Old W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC. 6-9pm, live music, food & drinks avail., vendors, best bike comp. www.bluecollarcycle. com, 980-621-7399
All Things Possible Poker Run Spring 2025
by: Jake “rooSter” Smith
had been told by our goc chapter president about a medical fundraising organization that was holding a poker run in Fort Mill, SC. I read about ‘All Things Possible’ and I didn’t want to miss their poker run because I believe in what they do for the community. They raise money in order to buy used wheelchair vans and then give those vans to people who need a wheelchair accessible vehicle. According to their founder Lisa Sexton, they are the only non-profit organization in the US that raises money for these wheelchair vans.
It had been raining that morning. I waited until the last minute before I threw a leg over my bike in hopes of the rain clearing out of town. I’d been watching the radar on my weather app all morning and I saw the break coming. It was about 9:15 am when I left the house and I ran to the ATM in Belmont to get some cash out as a donation to the poker run. Fort Mill wasn’t too far away but I was going to get there right at 10 am. I hopped on I-85 and then to 485 to carry me to a destination called, “The Barn” in Fort Mill.
I was riding solo to this poker run because most of our Guardians of the Children Gastonia Chapter were attending the local “Creekside Rally” in Dallas, NC. We had our tent setup there with T-shirts, hats and literature to raise awareness and educate in the fight against child abuse. The ride there was full of traffic but soon I dipped off the interstate and into country roads I’d never ridden. This is what I like about poker runs that aren’t local, I learn new roads and meet new people.
When I said earlier, I was cutting it close on time, well let’s just say I arrived in timely fashion at 9:57 am. I might have made up a few minutes thanks to that Milwaukee 8. Everyone was lining up their bikes and getting ready to ride. I quickly found a parking spot and went to the check-in table. I was greeted by a kind lady named Barbara Adkins and a young man in a power chair named Tanner. Tanner was very excited to see all the bikes that were there for the event.
After sign-in and my donation I filed in line with the rest of the riders, and we headed to the first QT gas station to draw
our card like any poker run. I met Mike Sexton there who is husband to Lisa, the founder of All Things Possible. He was happy with the turnout, and we spoke a little more about their organization. The next QT gas station stop was further away this time but was also on the way to Doghouse HarleyDavidson which was another place I wanted to go that day. I made sure to take pictures like I always do. When we got to Doghouse, Tanner was there with Barbara, and he was who we drew our cards from.
Tanner, despite his disability, loved to text and play on his phone. Barbara told me his story and how Tanner wants to also give back to the community. Being that he was a recipient of one of their wheelchair vans, he wants others with disabilities to be able to do what he is now able to do. Tanner now gets to go out on vacations to see the mountains, which is his favorite place to go. He loves going to the grocery store, going to see Christmas lights, and is an avid church member on Sundays.
Doghouse’s event coordinator Marley was hosting an event that day which including a dice roll game. The objective was to roll the dice on a board and spell HARLEY. If you spelled Harley, you’d win $5000 dollars to spend at the dealership. I had high hopes, but ended up only getting the letter A. I finished my day early there at Doghouse Harley. I got a few contact numbers so our Chapter can come back to their event again. We often take our bodies for granted. We don’t realize how difficult things would be if we had no mobility, reduced strength or coordination. I’m glad All Things Possible exists, www.allthingspossible.org.
Riki’s Heavy Mental Ride
The 15,000 Mile Adventure Begins
very epic ride begins with the first mile and big smiles. I was at Tilley Harley-Davidson, Statesville, NC, with a bunch of folks to send Riki and Lea on their cross-country adventure.
Riki Rachtman was the long-haired MTV Video Jockey who had us cranking Heavy Metal during The Headbangers Ball shows. He is married to Lea Vendetta who was on Season One of the television show, “Inkmaster.” Right now, they are on Riki’s Road 25 “The Lost Ramblers” a charity ride across the western part of the country and up into Alaska. For ten years he has been doing charity rides without a publicist, just getting on a bike and riding.
For the 2025 ride Riki started his own charity called Heavy Mental. I dig that. All the money goes to Vibrant Health which runs the 988 Suicide Prevention Hot Line.
You can still donate to Riki’s Heavy Mental Ride 2025. Go to Lostramblers.com. Along the way Riki will do celebrity auctions and appearances and such to raise money and awareness of the ride and suicide prevention. Look for videos from those events on his You Tube channel. You can find the links on Lostramblers.com.
Folks will be able to track Riki online and see when he is going to be stopping at Harley-Davidson dealerships or various points of interest. “My sponsor Rambler Water sparkling water has been great to work with because they want me to stop at some unique places,” Riki said.
Riki claims to have logged more miles than anyone in Rock N Roll except for Neil Peart, drummer for the band Rush. But says he knows less about bikes than anyone.
“That’s why I’m glad to be riding the new Harley-Davidson Pan America CVO. All I will have to do is ride it and not worry,” he said. That machine is already tricked out from the Motor Company, so Riki didn’t have to figure out accessories. “I came to Tilley’s and wow; that’s like the coolest bike I’ve ever seen.”
That first June Saturday morning was beautiful to send Riki and Lea off for the Summer. About 50 bikes lined up to ride out with them to an afternoon kickoff party.
I look forward to tracking their adventure on Riki’s Road 25 “The Lost Ramblers”.
Story and PhotoS by alan dockery
Bikes, BBQ, & Backroads
by: StePhanie hanS
creditS: Pearl harbor@ltgramS & StePhanie hanS
he 8th backroad bbQ run took over 30 acres along the Trent River on Memorial Day weekend for one hell of a party.
The good times kicked off Friday at the Trent River Campground. As choppers thundered into the campground, engines roaring and tires kicking up dust — the party was officially underway. With a few hundred cases of PBR waiting, starting early was less a choice and more a friendly suggestion. Luke and Ronni know how to throw a kickass time. And hell, what better way to keep the fire burning than with free beer? Food and drinks were on hand all weekend, along with hot showers to wash off the dirt and dust.
That evening, the crowd packed into the field for the dirt drags — and yeah, it got downright dusty. After the rider claimed the title and the cash, the real fun kicked in, with riders lining up tire-to-tire, battling it out for nothing but bragging rights and a cloud of grit. As the sun dipped, laughter and wild shenanigans echoed through the campground long into the night. It was a late night and early morning of partying and camaraderie — no apologies, just good times.
Kickstands went up at 10:30 Saturday morning as the pack rolled out for the group ride to Combat Cycles in Jacksonville, NC. After a solid ride in, we were met with grins, good vibes — and, you guessed it, more beer waiting on ice. This joint’s a straight-up relic of bikes past and present — an independent shop that knows how to get you back on two wheels, no bullshit. Frames, tanks, helmets, gear, and a full-service shop that’s ready to handle whatever your ride throws at it. If you’re near, swing by and see for yourself.
That afternoon, the Chopper King Games kicked off. These games prove that even grown-ups never outgrow settling scores like kids on the playground. The guy who took the crown? Rolled up on a fully loaded Road Glide — yeah, a bagger. Didn’t matter. That man ran circles around everyone, owning the foot race, bike games, and arm wrestling like a damn legend. His name was Ben, I believe, and he took home the gold.
Saturday night wrapped up with a raffle loaded with killer prizes — handlebars from Blind Rooster Metal Works, a hel-
Photo
met from Custom Destruction, swag from Flying Iron HD, and a hell of a lot more. And to top it off, one lucky winner rode away with an ATV!
As the weekend wrapped up, I think I speak for everyone when I say plenty of new friends were made—and even more memories burned in. The weather held up beautifully, giving us the green light to camp rough and ride hard. Really, you just can’t ask for anything better than that.
Dyno Days & Rick Doss Bike Show
At Thunder Road Harley-Davidson
ust over the virginia border, in danville, is thunder Road Harley-Davidson a real hidden gem of the South East Dealerships. Southern hospitality, motorcycle knowledge and big time horsepower is what keeps this shop going every day. Oh, hey and they throw together some pretty epic events too. Last year GM, John “JR” Rezlaff invited us up to their Dyno Day and Rick Doss bike show and there was a crowd even with it being during a national rally weekend. The 2025 dates were adjusted and JR rolled with the huge amount of momentum that was created from the previous year’s event. The new date was set for June 7, and we definitely wanted a bigger Full Throttle Magazine presence at this show. As luck had it, June 7th was slap dab in the middle of one of the recent weeklong monsoon forecasts that have characterized 2025 so far. JR and his team were not going to be put off by the weather guessers and pushed ahead with their event.
Riding motorcycles especially performance motorcycles isn’t for the faint of heart and neither was this event. By the 9 am load in time Thunder Road Harley-Davidson had an impressive who’s who vendor area. With the likes of Left Lane Syndicate, Wretched Clothing, Drag Specialties, Sawiki Speed Shop, Sent Moto Co, RC Components, Stock Bikes Suck, Suspension Technology, and a couple local radio stations set up on the lot there was plenty of cool shit to look over and people to hang out with. Even with a light drizzle, bikes were rolling in for the Rick Doss Bike Show. That’s right, the Michealangelo of Motorcycles is back and was on site for this year’s show. It was really cool to meet one of the old school custom bike builders who inspired generations to chop, customize and shake the factory off their motorcycle.
By noon the sun had broken through, and the only thunder was coming from the Dyno trailer that was parked out front
of the dealership. The Dyno competitors were broken up into four classes: Evo, Twin Cam, M8 and Dyno King. Thunder Road has a formula (HP + Torque / 2) to determine the points for the Dyno shootout and the numbers are recorded on a white board on the dyno trailer door. There were a bunch of beefy bikes showing off their HP numbers and a few that were just getting baseline runs for further upgrades. Either way the Dyno was busy all afternoon and I was surprised that thing wasn’t smoking by the end of the day. The show bikes had filled out the rest of the parking in front of the dealership and I certainly wasn’t envious of Rick Doss and his crew. I don’t know if they had a formula to figure the winners, but they had a tough job picking out the top ten out of the stellar lineup of show bikes!
As the afternoon wore on the threat of wet weather got stronger and the decision was made to move the award ceremony up to 3pm and move it inside! It was a good choice cause about halfway through the bike show awards the bottom let out and it was dumping rain outside! The Top 10 bikes, in no particular order went to:
Lee – CVO Tri-Glide
Bill – Softail
Jimmy – Softail
Chris – Springer (Ocean Bike)
Zane – Road Glide
Billy – Copper Chopper
Mark – Sportster
John – Softail
Frankie – Servi-Car
Tony – Softail
They all got cool trophies to commemorate the occasion. The crown jewel of the bike show was a handmade trophy by
Doss that
People’s Choice bike. Bill’s Softail took home that honor along with his top ten award.
The Dyno Shootout results went like this.
EVO
1st- Gunner Rogers
2nd- Michael Samuels
3rd- Seven Stuart
M8
Twin Cam
1st - Brantley Riddle
2nd - Alan Thompson
3rd- John Wood
1st- Michael Baldwin
2nd- K.D. Pool
3rd- Mike Cardoso
This year there were two Dyno King’s, Zane Angle And Michael Baldwin. Zane took home the Dyno King Turbo Title with his 131 Turbo built by Thunder Road Harley-Davidson. Michael Baldwin brought out his garage built M8 and put up the best numbers for a naturally aspirating bike. Both were seriously impressive bikes. I hate to see what they come up with next year!
Yall need to put Thunder Road Harley-Davidson in Danville, VA on your map. It’s a great dealership, run by fine folks. Completely worth the trip and makes for a great day ride. Not to mention they are right down the road from the casino! They have more events coming up this summer, including a Too Broke For Sturgis event on August 9th. You should be there.
Rick
went to the
Independence
ur nation is 249 years old this month. the declaration of Independence proclaims we are endowed by our creator with unalienable rights, including life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We are a Christian nation founded on Christian principles.
We see the phrase, Separation of Church and State often used to place restrictions on the church and religion. To the great surprise of many this phrase is not in the constitution or the Bill of Rights. It comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson on January 1, 1802, to the Danbury Baptists in Connecticut.
His letter explains prohibiting the government from establishing a state religion or interfering in the practice of religion through worship. The second half of this sentence states “thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. We are provided freedom of religion while prohibiting government restrictions in the practice of religion.
There are many quotes you have never heard from other founding fathers proclaiming the importance of religion in our nation. Benjamin Rush. “Without religion there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments. Thomas Paine, “We cannot read into the Bill of Rights such a philosophy of hostility to religion.”
Just a couple examples of the preamble in state constitutions. Connecticut 1818, “The people of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy a free government.” New York 1846, “We the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure his blessings…..”. There are many more, but you get the idea.
A couple of rulings from the US Supreme Court concerning religion in America; Earl Burger, chief justice in 1982 regarding chaplains opening legislative sessions with prayer. “It can hardly be thought that in the same week the members of the first Congress voted to appoint and pay a chaplain for each house and also voted to approve the draft of the First Amendment….they intended to forbid what they had just declared acceptable.” 1844 Justice Joseph Story upheld using the bible for teaching in a city run school. “Why may not the Bible, and especially the NT, without note or comment be read and taught as divine revelation?”
As we celebrate our national independence this month, it is my prayer you are also able to celebrate freedom from sin with a personal relationship with Jesus. John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 14:6 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The truth is, we are only free from the consequences of our sin by repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus as savior.
Prayers for your freedom and independence through Jesus, now and forever!
Blessings, Floyd
JOHN 14:6
VFW Post 5305 Newton/Conover
5th
Annual Military Honor Ride
Story and Photo by alan dockery
hat a pretty day to get leid and ride motorcycles. About 200 folks showed up at the Newton/Conover VFW Post 5305 to participate in the annual dice roll. An absolutely beautiful day with mild temperatures set the tone for this year’s honor ride. The theme was Hawaiian shirts, and they were comfortable for the muggy afternoon.
The ride made a nice loop around the area. Folks stopped at the VFW post in Hickory, Lincolnton and Statesville, then back to Newton for food, music and prizes. Richard and Laticia had the high roll and Jared consistently rolled low all day.
“Well, we had about 80 bikes on the ride. We raised $13,700 for the VFW Relief Fund. This money will be used to help local veterans who need home repairs, help veterans with lawn care if they can’t do or afford it and other needs that come up,” said Post Commander Kevin Killian. “This event was the biggest we have had to date. It would not have been possible without the support of our local businesses and people. Thank you.”
VFW Post 5305 has a biker friendly bar and welcomes folks to stop by while out riding. The Post is at 2613 East NC Hwy 10 South of Newton. Look for the Huey helicopter and flags out front.
Myrtle Beach Bike Rally Bike Show
t was another hot week at myrtle beach bike Rally and Saturday was the hottest day of the week. No complaints here, ‘cause that beats the shit out of rain and It’s always air conditioned in the bar! Bubba’s Bar and Grill in Myrtle Beach is the home of our Full Throttle Myrtle Beach Bike Rally Bike Show and this is the 4th time they have hosted us for our Spring bike show. Liz and her crew go out of their way to make sure that the patrons are taken care of and give us the run of the parking lot.
The Carolinas’ Full Throttle SC Crew was in full effect this year with Pam, Ray, Brittni, Josh, Chuck & Willis keeping the event running smoothly. While our partners at Carolinas’ Biker Lawyers had all the fun shaking hands, kissing babes and handing out cool CBL swag. Always good to Bob Karney and Sean Clayton on site and they brought some of their Calendar girls with ‘em!
The Lot at Bubba’s was bustling all day and Fishtails Biker Resale, next door to Bubba’s was slinging all kinds of deals on quality bike parts, accessories and clothes. It’s a match made in biker heaven. Snag a beer from Bubba’s and go shoppin’ at Fishtails! If you spend too long inside, you’ll be blown away when you come back outside into the beach heat and see the parking lot PACKED with bikes and bikers. Bubba’s crowd shows up strong and along with them the bike show absolutely fills the parking lot up. There is music playing, bullshit stories being told and cold drinks going down, just like it ought to be. The Full Throttle Staff has the hard job of judging all these killer bikes and there is no shortage of big name bike shops rolling through. This year’s class winners took home a crispy $50 and a plaque while the Best In Show snagged $200 and a
PhotoS by: Jerry andrewS
plaque. Not bad for a free registration show! This year’s winners list looks like this
Best In Show: Jason Weston – 2016 H-D Fat Boy
Vintage Class: Sue Hatch – 1976 H-D FLH
Touring Class: Christopher Couch -2023 H-D CVO Road Glide
Radical Bagger Class: Mike Meaut – 2018 H-D Road Glide
Cruiser Class – Rodney Smith: 2003 H-D Custom Trike
Chopper Class – Tim Morton: 1981 Shovelhead Chopper
Cholo Class – Daniel Barbour: 2012 H-D Softail
Again, huge thanks to the crew at Bubba’s Bar And Grill, Fishtails Biker Resale, Carolinas’ Biker Lawyers and the SC Full Throttle Magazine Crew. We will be back at Bubba’s for our Fall Bike Rally Show on October 4th. Another FREE registration show, with cash prizes at one of the coolest bars at the beach!
Beach BBQ Run
by: amy harPer
This latest trip ticked off all the boxes.
-spend time with old and NEW friends check!
-eat some really good BBQ, check!
-have fun, check!
This was our second, now dubbed “annual” Beach BBQ ride. ur small group came from all over nc and beyond: Mark and Tommie from Mocksville, Bret from Raleigh, Mark from near Carthage, Rob and Amy from Rolesville, and Kev and Marilyn from Ohio. It’s a long story, but most of the group met via Harley forum discussions and posts of folks who combine a love of BBQ with the love of riding open roads.
After meeting up at Durham, we got down to business and our first stop was just down the road at Byrd’s BBQ in Durham. I’m telling ya, if you haven’t been here, you need to put it on your bucket list. From the BBQ to ribs, from mac n’ cheese to collards, it’s all delicious and I’d bet their brisket rivals any you’ve tasted up to now. It’s a definite go to!
As you might have guessed by “beach BBQ run,” we headed east in no hurry, on a relaxing ride through Wake Forest and Zebulon eventually getting on 58S where we rode through Snow Hill, Kinston, Trenton and Maysville on our way to Emerald Isle. Driving 58S is a relaxing and beautiful ride through our great state’s coastal plain where at this time of year, many farmers are preparing fields for this year’s plantings. Crossing the bridge in Cape Carteret onto Bogue Banks just has a way of bringing down anyone’s blood pressure and because even the most avid BBQ fan can appreciate locale, we sprinkled in some great seafood as well. Fish Hut in Emerald Isle is a must! After dinner we settled down to watch arguably the best biker movie: Wild Hogs. (The argument is ongoing)
We started our second day by heading towards Havelock. The goal was to catch the Cherry Branch ferry and cross the Neuse River, three miles wide at that point. The ferry is part of our highway system and is free to ride. Ferries run every half hour and seas were mostly calm which made for an easy crossing. Upon disembarking in Minnesott Beach we continued seven miles to Oriental. There we ate at Ricks BBQ where the BBQ plate comes with the best fried chicken around and has as Mark announced, “the BEST ribs I’ve ever eaten!,” and folks, that’s saying a lot! From there we continued on Route 55 to New Bern for some sightseeing at the docks and local shops. We completed the circuit back to Emerald Isle picking up seafood along the way making stops in Beaufort, Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. If you like to cook at home, be sure check out Blue Moon Seafood in Morehead City, Captain Willis in Emerald Isle and Roysters NC in Beaufort for the most tender, sweet oysters you could ever imagine.
Our next day was relaxing all around with a quick ride to Caino’s Red Barn where sweet little Shelby was the best server around with great recommendations for sides. Caino’s
is located in Hubert, NC near the Intracoastal Waterway. Returning to Emerald Isle again we stopped in the lovely town of Swansboro and the guys had a beer while the ladies checked out some of the local shops, a win-win for everyone. As you can see, “ride some and eat some more makes” for a great combo in our book.
We had an amazing time on and off the road with our friends. We shared good food, good fellowship, many laughs and quotes from Wild Hogs. We love riding in Eastern NC and it’s good to have people from all around see and enjoy some of what our state has to offer. We’re considering changing our biker motto to “Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride.”
Tucked Deep In The Uwharrie Mountains, We’re A BIKER-LOVED ROADHOUSE!
Serving Up Handmade Pizzas, Fresh-Off-The-Grill Burgers, And LIVE MUSIC STRAIGHT FROM THE PONTOON STAGE
KICKSTANDS DOWN AT BIGFOOT’S BAR AND GRILL Where The BEER’S COLD, The FOOD’S LEGENDARY, & THE RIDE IS ALWAYS WORTH IT. 3079 NC 109
TROY, NC
LIVE MUSIC
JULY 6 – LOVE BUG JUNKIE | 1PM-4PM
JULY 13 – COREY LEUTJEN & THE TRAVELING BLUES BAND | 1PM-4PM JULY 20 – SECOND WIND | 1PM-4PM
had the privilege of spending some time with ben Edwards on a rainy morning in June at his shop Ben’s V-Twins in Indian Trail, NC. I was there to speak with Ben about an old drag racing frame that I spotted in his shop buried underneath a bunch of parts and motorcycle memorabilia. I had a few questions for Ben in hopes he could satisfy my curiosity. He shared some amazing memories that I want to share with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Me: Ben when did you and this frame first become a dynamic duo?
It started in the mid 80s. We had already raced some street legal type bikes before then, but we stepped up and moved into the Pro Gas Class in the mid 80s.
Me: Even though the frame is motorless today what motors have you run in it over the years?
Shovelheads! I think we started off with a 98 inch motor and went to a 103” and finished it off at 114”. We run the heck outta them motors at the local tracks, places like Shuffletown and Mooresville and did a lot of the National events too, we followed the HDRA Circuit for several years which became the AHDRA.
Me: I know this frame is a Bonnie Truett. Do you remember how you came into it?
Yes! We bought it brand new. We ordered it direct from Bonnie. My partner, Johnny Ray Putnam, and me went in together and got the frame, and chased down the “Baby Ceriani” front end, which was the really the trick front end for the time, and people still using them today. Sandy Kosman wheels and Good Year slicks got us moving in the right direction down track!
Continues On Page 40
Me: Give me one of the fondest memories that you have about this bike without overthinking it.
A lot of late-night fun working on it, that’s for sure. I’d work on motorcycles all day for a living and then work on them all night so we could go racing and have some fun on the weekends. I guess one of the most fun things was in 1989, we finished 2nd place in National Points to another team we couldn’t seem to get around, it didn’t help us that they had more money and sponsorship than us! We won several events that year, won Myrtle Beach and won a race in Clarksville, Tennessee. Pretty good year overall, a lot of top five finishes.
Me: Who was your Number 1 supporter during your racing tenure?
One thing I will say that help me throughout my racing career was the support of my wife Robin. She was my crew member, and I had her full backing, and I could not have done it without her.
Me: Yeah, man it almost always comes down to the people. Because without them, this wouldn’t have been as touching to you or as memorable, even if you’d tripled the amount of money and trophies!
That’s right!
Me: These frames are in high demand lately – anyone tried to buy it from you?
I have had multiple offers, but I am not interested in selling it! I’m sure somebody will wind up buying this thing from my wife or kids once I pass on.
Me: You remember the scariest moment you had on it? I’m sure there was more than one, but is there anything that comes to mind?
There’s two, really. We were at Darlington one time, and I had just upgraded my brakes and put this PM brake on here. I had always had the single piston brake on there, and I’d go through the finish line and jump that front brake just as hard as I could, just to slow it down. After I put the new PM brake on it, went through the traps the first time in a quarter mile, grabbed a big handful of brake, and his front wheel locked up on it at about 140 MPH so that was a wakeup call!
Then at Farmington one year, we were about 3/4 the way down the track, and a rod broke and locked the motor up, probably 100 MPH+ thankfully I was able to use the manual clutch to free wheel the bike safely to a stop.
Me: If you got an itch to put this thing back together today, I know you just do some things different, but... do you have any idea what you’ do? Have you ever thought about?
Yeah, I’ve thought about it, and to be honest with you, if I was to put it back together, I think I would put it back together pretty much the way it was. I may do a few internal tricks for the engine with the better technology we have today. But as far as looks and what type of engine or what type of transmission, I’d still put it a shovelhead with a 4 speed in it!
Me: Anything you’d say to this frame if you knew today was the last day you’d have a chance to say it?
Man, I had a blast! Never before and not since have I had the sensations that this machine gave me! I’d love to blast it down the track one more time – that would be fun! I’ve taken a hobby and passion and turned it into making a living and I can’t complain about that.
As I talked to Ben, I could see the passion and share the emotions he still has for this machine! Big thanks to Ben for taking the time to share some amazing memories about his V-Twin drag bike with me! And I wanted to also let Ben know if you ever decide to make it happen again, I know a guy that builds a mean Shovelhead buddy, and you look at him every morning in the mirror when you’re brushing your teeth. `
Cox’s Harley-Davidson 64th Annual Open House
by: lincoln infield
ox’s Harley DaviDson DiD it again anD by again, i mean for the 64th time. Which, as if I have to tell you, is pretty impressive. Cox’s HarleyDavidson being one of the only remaining family owned dealerships in the Carolinas, is on its third generation and although things change and evolve over the six decades, the comfortable, family tradition style atmosphere remains.
The Annual Open House is held on the Memorial Day Weekend and Harley-Davidson aficionados across the Carolinas make their way to Asheboro to help celebrate. This year’s event kicked off at the crack of 9am. The dealership was full staffed, parking lot lined with vendors and food trucks and the bikes were rolling in and by noon the huge Riding Academy course was parked full, and the party was on!
Killing Fiction was on stage killing it. They have been described as one of the loudest bands in the Triad area and I’d say they are well oiled machine and have an extensive set list that will rock any audience. The stage is backed up to the “pre-loved” motorcycle garage that was full of tire kickers checking out the great inventory. The crowd filled the midway in front of the dealership, bouncing from vendor to vendor, grazing at the food trucks and hanging out at the Rock 92 booth, with Chris Kelly and the prize wheel.
The bike games are a staple at Cox’s Harley-Davidson Open House. I remember getting edged out in the slow ride at Cox’s at what has to have been Cox’s 40th Anniversary open house. Luckily Stephen Cox still invites us to be a part of the games, now as a presenter instead of a participant! The crowd parted and the games began with the slow race. The field of 11 bikes slowly dwindled to two lone competitors, Batman and Trucker Johnny. Batman was cool, calm and much slower than TJ and took home a prize pack of cool H-D swag and a $100 gift card to Cox’s Harley-Davidson. Road Kill was up next, the first of the couple’s competition. Back seat riders were scooping away at the stuffed roadkill, but it’s not as easy as it looks and Marshall and Gayle got a prize pack for scoopin’ up three out
One Stop Shop
of five. Last up was the weenie bit, probably the most time honored bike game of them all. Stephen Cox and the Cox’s Crew are so damn classy, that they even cooked the weenies for the contest. Once they were doused in mustard, them back seaters were going after those weenies like it was their first meal of the day. Again, it’s harder than it looks and most those gals missed the bite and got smeared with mustard. Gayle got a nibble, but Michelle pulled the whole weenie off the line and was rewarded with an awesome prize pack.
Once the competition settled out, the crowd reassembled in the midway and Killing Fiction took back the stage for their final set. It was another great day at Cox’s Harley-Davidson. Big congrats to Stephen and the rest of Cox’s Harley-Davidson for continuing the tradition and delivering another great party.
School’s Out After Rally Ride
by: beth thacher
n June 7, 2025, motorcycle enthusiasts woke up, wiped down their bikes (some of us more than others) and geared up to make a difference while getting in some wind therapy. Registration was held from 10am to 11:30am at the Harley Shop at the Beach in North Myrtle Beach, SC. While the temps were climbing to the lower 90s, riders could join in on the 50/50 raffle or multiple $1.00 raffle options including the $1.00 minibike raffle tickets. Once 11:30am rolled around it was time for KSU. The sound of rolling thunder could be heard as they began their ride.
Riders took a very hot ride out into Aynor and back to the Rivertown Riders air-conditioned clubhouse. There waiting on them were hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and desserts. After everyone was able to cool down and eat, the raffles were drawn. The winner of the 50/50 donated their winnings back to the foundation and many people went home with door prizes and raffle baskets. One lucky person was called for the winning ticket of the 95cc minibike that was raffled off over the last couple of months.
Even though it was hot and Rivertown Riders had so much going against them on a busy weekend with graduations and the Carolina Country Music Festival, they were still able to raise a little over $2500. A huge THANK YOU goes out to all of those who bought raffle tickets and who came to ride. Every dollar raised helps to make a difference in someone’s life.
The next ride, Crescom Memorial Ride, is scheduled for September 13, 2025. More details will come here and also on the riding club’s facebook page.
Rivertown Riders would like to say Thank You to Full Throttle Magazine for always helping to get the good deeds of the biker community out.
#NOBODYRIDESALONE
The Gage Brown Ride
by: Jake “rooSter” Smith
link your eyes. tHat’s How fast life can c Hange. In late April of this year, 18 year old Gage was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him in critical condition. The news spread locally and soon a Facebook group was made to keep up with his progress. I myself and many others have tracked his story online. He has battled against the odds, odds that were fairly grim. Those first few days and weeks were crucial. The doctors, prayers and support worked. Gage still has a long road ahead of him. A few days ago, he took his first steps since the accident. With that progress and his recent outings to Mellow Mushroom for pizza, it has shed light on the path ahead to his recovery.
I believe during the first week of May I was contacted about putting on a ride for Gage. It was to be about an hour ride, I was to lead the ride, it was to be assisted by GOC Gastonia and end up in the town of Dallas for a fundraising event just for Gage. I was off the next day and decided to ride and record the route I planned on the Harley-Davidson app. I wrote the route on a piece of paper and taped it to my tank. I had recently adopted this method from Thomas, a good friend of mine. We have technology these days that can guide us turn by turn. But nothing replaces learning the roads by a using a handwritten route that you could easily miss a turn. And believe you me, in our biker family, missing your turn and making a U-turn gets you some flak.
So, with the route set to an almost perfect hour and sticking primarily to country roads, we made the flyer and posted it online. The exposure this ride and event received, skyrocketed within days of the posting. This is when we realized that this is going to be big. Some keys players in the organization of this event were Anne, Chris, Billy, and Keith. The time and effort these folks invested into the planning of this event should not go unnoticed.
As word spread, I knew we’d need more than just our GOC road guards to escort this ride. I was estimating we’d have over 200 bikes, plus Keith and his crew of Jeeps following the ride as well. With that amount, I quickly made some phone calls to ask for a full police escort. A few days later after some more calls and emails, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department was on board!
Remember at the start of this I said blink and your life can change. On May 16th, I was riding home at night on my motorcycle when a deer ran out in front of me leaving me nowhere to go or time react. I survived with a lot road rash, a broken shoulder, bruised up ribs and a small puncture in my lung. The bike was totaled. Since I was now without a bike and out of commission, I had to ask my Dad “Cuzz” lead the ride in my place.
June 1st. The day of the ride. I couldn’t wait to get there. My girlfriend had to give me a ride because I couldn’t drive. As we pulled up, I saw what seemed like an endless number of bikes and jeeps. They flooded the Winners Circle parking lot. I was overwhelmed at the amount of people there. I ran into Gage’s sister and got to speak to Gage via FaceTime. Although it was brief, it was a highlight of my day. After the safety meeting was held everyone saddled up and waited for the signal to go. As everyone left the lot led by the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department, I recorded an almost 7-minute video of bikes and jeeps.
The ride left from Gastonia and meandered through Bessemer city, up towards Crouse, then High Shoals and back down into the town of Dallas where the event was staged. As the parade of bikes and jeeps approached town, Gage’s Mom and Dad sat on the tailgate of a truck awaiting the arrival of the ride. You could hear the roar of the bikes all over town as they came down Oakland street. I’d counted 218 bikes and 41 jeeps leaving the beginning. But soon after I heard over 300 bikes had arrived to join at the end. The event was packed. Dallas was thriving with vendors, food, a car show, and live music.
The ride and event were a huge success. Gage still needs continued support and prayers. I hope that Gage gets to do the things he used to enjoy. He loved to ride motorcycles, hunt, eat great food, and hang out with his buddies. If you haven’t already done so follow his progress on the Facebook group, “Prayers for Gage.” If you want to donate you can do so by sending donations to Jeff Brown @jbrown0617 via Venmo.
Huge thanks to everyone involved. Thanks to Anne, Chris, Billy, Keith and the Jeeps, to GOC Gastonia and the biker community, the Gaston County Sheriff’s Department, the first responders that were at the scene, and to the continued support for Gage.
From The Bitch Pad
The Carolina Strawberry Festival - Wallace, NC
by kathy lynn Parnell
(come Say “hello” on inStagram #fromthebitchPad)
nce again, my honeybun said, “pack your bags!” Translation: We’re going for a scoot; pack our bags and be ready for anything. I knew something was up cuz it was May and that’s my birthday month, so anything was possible.
It was a bit nippy to start, so we donned some layers and headed East! Yippppeeeeeee! The beach is that way! Perfect! (I know, too many exclamation marks but I felt every single one of them.) My Man usually “pulls out all the stops” on every one of our journeys, which is crazy, and one of the many reasons he’s My Man. The month of May is also a time when HoneyBun downsizes his beard from a rugged and unruly Santa to a crisp, clean goat, to my chagrin. Luckily, he puts the shaver back in its box in September (which seems to arrive in a blink), to build his Winter Face.
It was Friday afternoon (My Man had to put in a day’s work before heading out) so we took the straight shot via I-40, FULL THROTTLE! As we got closer to the coast, the terrain flattened out with more and more swampy areas, probably close to sea-level, I’m guessing. We zipped by an abundance of wild Spring flowers, acres of land being prepped for soybeans and tobacco, and poultry barns around every corner. And, wouldn’t you know it, fields of strawberries. Was that a hint? The sun was getting low, and we were not at the beach. Hmmm. We rolled into a hotel parking lot; I hopped off the bike and grabbed the bags. Quick change into some fresh clothes and back out the door. I had yet to discover the true destination of this journey. Just down the road, we came across a small town called Wallace, with a huge banner exclaiming Carolina Strawberry Festival. Sweeeeeeet! My HoneyBun knew I would be pleased. We parked and went for a walk, grabbed a bevy with a festival koozie, had a game of cornhole while enjoying live music from a nearby grandstand. This was an event that had no admission charge, which was a pleasant surprise. There was so much more to explore but we left all that for tomorrow. We hopped back on the bike and returned to the hotel. Turns out there was a lively little pub right handy, walking distance (of course, My Man knew this). The Mad Boar offered delicious pub fare and a band to boot, can’t ask for more. No, we didn’t stagger back to the hotel (obviously a blatant lie), then slept like babies.
Wallace, North Carolina (Wiki) was incorporated in 1873, with an elevation of 52 feet above sea level, close to I-40, and home to hundreds of veterans. The town is not far from all eight North Carolina military bases. Interestingly, the Wallace Union Pacific Train Depot was built in 1909 and is now a Railroad Museum, complete with a model train display.
The next morning, after a quick hotel breakfast (didn’t pack bags, so staying more than one night), I got my wish. Hon-
eyBun pointed the bike East once again; more gulls flying above, and the smell of salt air led us to Surf City. Nice! We drove down every street, slowing down at For Sale signs and dreaming BIG dreams. Again, My Man had a hidden agenda (of course he did): Buddy’s Crab House and Oyster Bar, which was situated right on the beach, with a million-dollar view of the ocean. Thank you, HoneyBun. We continued to explore the sandbar for a while before heading back to Wallace.
Topsail Island (Wiki): is a 26-mile-long barrier island. It includes the communities of North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach. Along with its thick maritime forests, Topsail Island is also a sanctuary for sea turtles and is known for its beautiful beaches. Its name is claimed to have derived from its historical use by pirates (a topsail is a sail on a ship’s topmast).
Grab your metal detectors and hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure!
Back to Wallace and The Strawberry Festival to take in the classic cars and trucks that lined the town’s main drag, grabbed another bevy and wandered amongst all the vendors, strawberry everything everywhere. There were several stages scattered in the downtown area, kiddie rides, and a busy cornhole zone, and the best homemade strawberry pies and jams, hands down. There was a Miss Strawberry Pageant that included all ages; it was the cutest thing to see all the girls in the crowd with “strawberry” designed outfits! We had a long, lovely day.
Up early Sunday morning to take the scenic route home, to meander at puttputt speed through the countryside. Folks who have never ridden a motorcycle will never understand what it’s truly like, the freedom, the wind on your face, the rumble of the engine (the bugs in your teeth!); the experience is like no other, magical actually, so get out there and ride.
We Won
by: mz. cat
f you’ve been following tHe ePa’s war on tHe internal combustion engine then you’ll be happy to hear this news…. WE WON! That’s right, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation’s efforts paid off in getting H.J. Res. 88 passed! With the President’s signature, this resolution overrules the Environmental Protection Agency’s previous ruling, which allowed California to effectively mandate the sale of electric vehicles over the next 10 years!
While we won this battle, the war will never be over! It is imperative that we support the MRF in their efforts to protect our ability to ride, to repair our rides, and our children & grandchildren’s ability to ride! They are doing it for us and can’t do it without us!
Each and every one of you matter! Yes, you, on the other end of this device, matters to us, to me. Which is why I am sending you this message. These membership fees are the funds that pay for our Lobbyist to go to D.C. to get these laws passed! Without them, we don’t have a lobbyist and we won’t be able to fight the big agencies like the EPA.
Never underestimate your value in this world! And never underestimate your value to us, at the Motorcycle Riders Foundation. You are reason that MRF volunteers travel across the country, on their own dimes, to meet with riders, legislators, organizations and agencies, to plan offensive and defensive strategic procedures, to get ahead of what is coming, to fight the good fight.
The MRF has been working on other legislative actions, like the Right to Repair bills, introduced BOTH in the House and the Senate! H.R.1566 “Repair” and S.1379 “Right to Repair” bills, show for the first time, concurrent interest in the same goal, helping save American businesses by giving them the rights, the information and tools they need to fix the motorcycles American Citizens buy! And our motorcycle legislative agenda also includes fighting for access to safe renewable fuels and making sure that testing for autonomous vehicles includes motorcycles!
But again, we cannot do any of this, without YOU!
We can help you renew your membership. If you’d like to renew online, go to www.mrf.org. Or call the MRF at (202) 546-0983.
If I can be of any help to you, please call or text me. Director of Safety, Education & Awareness Catherine Terwilliger (205) 386-5665 (LOOK) DIRECT DIAL (704) 794-7278
LookTwiceNC@gmail.com
ano SimmonS haS been turning wrencheS Since the early 80’s and riding motorcycles long before that. He picked this 1983 Harley-Davidson Wide Glide, from Don Tilley off the showroom floor of Tilley Harley-Davidson. Dano was looking for one of the new Softails that the MotorCo was debuting, but the only one on the showroom floor was already sold.
The Wide Glide was originally black, but Don had a spare set of Candy Apple Red tins on hand and that sealed the deal and Dano has owned the bike ever since. “I got rained on, on the way home. For about the first two years every time I would clean it up, I’d get rained on. So, I told everyone the farmers were paying me to wash my bike so it would rain for
their crops”. In 1986 after 3 years and 116k miles Dano tore it down and redid the top end at his shop Cyclone Cycles. That’s an average of over 38k miles per year if you are trying to do the math. “I rode every day, every weekend and I still ride every weekend”. Dano originally rebuilt it stock but was talked into building it up and ended up rebuilding it to a 120 cu in monster. “They kept saying, ‘Man, you should have the biggest motor around’, so I built it into a 120. It was hard to start, it ran great, but it was tough on pistons. I was up in the mountains and the only gas I could get was 87 octane and that killed it.” So, it was back to the lift for another rebuild, this time Dano ran it up to 127 cu in and that’s what the engine remains
at today. “It was fun to ride on the street, but it was a bitch to start”.
Dano and the Bounty Hunter were making a name for themselves on the street and helping the Honda shop sell extra parts. “One of the guys that ran a Honda shop over in Kannapolis came up to me one time and said, ‘How big is that motor?’, I told him it was 127 and he said, ‘you’ve sold a lot of tune ups for me’.” Apparently, riders were going into the Honda shop saying an “Old fat guy on a Harley outran me through Concord and across the bridge” then they would stop in and buy upgrades for their bike. The legend of the Bounty Hunter was alive and well!
In 1993 the Bounty Hunter put some time in as a two wheel tractor pull competition bike at the Easyriders Rodeo. Dano won his way through the amateur class into the pro class and ran the Bounty Hunter in the pro class for a while before piloting pulling Trikes in the competitions. In 2000 the 127cu in engine was taken out of the Bounty Hunter and putting it into a pulling trike set up to compete in the sled pulling competitions and the famous Wide Glide sat until 2024 when Dano and his wife Gina, decided to restore it.
The Bounty Hunter resto was buttoned up in 2025 by Dano at his shop, South Main Customs in Kannapolis, NC. The goal was to put it back the way it was, with a few upgrades for comfort. The headlight (featuring an old school visor), taillight and turn signals have been updated with Custom Dynamics lighting. All the chrome and aluminum has been polished to shine and are enhanced by diamond cut fins on the replacement 1980 80” Shovelhead engine. Don’t worry the Bounty
Hunter’s 127cu in original engine is hanging out in the shop at South Main. The S&S tear drop air cleaner looks right at home and the Shark Teeth Exhaust flanges on the Paughco Goose Style pipes bring back the Shovelhead era customization. The handlebars, grips, mirrors and even the foot boards mimic Dano’s daily rider bagger set up so that he feels right at home when ripping it up old school style. The rear wheel is a RC Components Smoothie that features a pulley and rotor that matches the RC Component Nitro front wheel. Everything else about this stone cold killer is just old school awesome. One of the changes made in the frame up restoration was the horseshoe oil bag in the place of the original battery box. That’s because Dano forgot to weld the tab back to the frame that holds the battery box before powder coating the frame. So now the four speed Shovelhead Wide Glide rocks a little bit of a Softail look.
“Its always been a fun bike. I have never ever regretted owning this motorcycle even though it sat for a lot of years”. The Bounty Hunter has gone through its share of changes, but has always adorned the Bounty Hunter paint job, a Molly Hatchet album cover Death Dealer- esque depiction on the Candy Apple Red tank and at one time on the fenders as well. Sparky Yost laid the original artwork on the Candy Apple Red tanks and Bill Traughtwig added in his artwork on the original fenders. The original art has been lost over the time, but Charlie Mabe recreated the artwork in 1997, and it was restored by Bennis Westfall this past winter. But let’s not forget Dano’s wife Gina, who was key in this restoration getting done!
The history with this bike is book worthy with this just being an excerpt of its glory. The real story is told best by Dano himself and comes with hours’ worth of side stories and other biker tales that bring back a time when it was done right. Stop in at South Main Customs in Kannapolis and pull up a bar stool, it’s worth your time!
The Carolinas’ Full Throttle Magazine staff screens hundreds of jokes each month. We make no claim to being politically correct. Most PC jokes just aren’t funny. If you are offended by any of the jokes on this page, take heart in the fact that we go to great lengths to offend everyone equally. This is not a hate crime! At our house we call it “pickin” and it is symbolic of your acceptance in the group. We live in the United States Of The Offended, so get over it!!
Battery and Firework were arrested, and one was charged while the other was lit off.
When we had a school trip to an aviary on Independence Day, we noticed that the ducks were given a certain inalienable right. Turns out, they had a duckleration of independence.
Since 1776, America has been sipping on liber-tea.
An Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a Welshman, a Latvian, a Turk, a German, an Indian, several Americans (including a southerner, a New Englander, and a Californian) an Argentinean, a Dane, an Australian, a Slovakian, an Egyptian, a Japanese, a Moroccan, a Frenchman, a New Zealander, a Spaniard, a Russian, a Guatemalan, a Colombian, a Pakistani, a Malaysian, a Croatian, a Uzbek, a Cypriot, a Pole, a Lithuanian, a Chinese, a Sri Lankan, a Lebanese, a Cayman Islander, a Ugandan, a Vietnamese, a Korean, a Uruguayan, a Czech, an Icelander, a Mexican, a Finn, a Honduran, a Panamanian, an Andorran, an Israeli, a Venezuelan, a Fijian, a Peruvian, an Estonian, a Brazilian, a Portuguese, a Liechtensteiner, a Mongolian, a Hungarian, a Canadian, a Moldovan, a Haitian, a Norfolk Islander, a Macedonian, a Bolivian, a Cook Islander, a Tajikistani, a Samoan, an Armenian, an Aruban, an Albanian, a Greenlander, a Micronesian, a Virgin Islander, a Georgian, a Bahaman, a Belarusian, a Cuban, a Tongan, a Cambodian, a Qatari, an Azerbaijani, a Romanian, a Chilean, a Kyrgyzstani, a Jamaican, a Filipino, a Ukrainian, a Dutchman, a Ecuadorian, a Costa Rican, a Swede, a Bulgarian, a
Serb, a Swiss, a Greek, a Belgian, a Singaporean, an Italian, a Norwegian and 47 Africans walk up to a nightclub.
The doorman scrutinizes the group one by one and stops their entrance saying, “Sorry, you can’t come in here without a Thai. “
What do the moon and the Founding Fathers have in common?
Both have been through revolution.
What ghost haunted King George III?
The Spirit of ’76.
Ricardo the local gigolo was scanning the pool of his hotel and sees this drop dead gorgeous blond. After a while he goes over to her and invites her back to his room. They make passionate love and at the end he asks in broken Italian, “are you finish?”
She replies “noooo”. So, they make love again, this time even more passionate at the end he asks, “are you finish?” “Nooo,” she replies. Knowing when he’s on to a good thing he makes love to her again summoning up all his strength. They climax and he says, “are you finish?” “nooo,” she replies. “I’m Norwegian.”
What did Luke Skywalker say on the 4th of July?
“May the 4th be with you!”
Two drunken Irishmen in a graveyard. Paddy starts reading the gravestones. “Mick” he says; Would you look at this, a feller here who was 90 when he died!” “Who’s that?” says Mick. “Somebody called O’Toole from Kerry,” he replies. Mick says, “Never mind him, there’s a feller here called Murphy, was 99 when he died! From Castletown of all places! “Well, that’s nothing!” says Paddy. “What about what written on this feller’s stone, here right beside the gate!” “The stone says 147!” “147? That’s amazing!” says Mick. “Who was he?” “Well according to the stone, its somebody called Miles from Dublin!”
How come there aren’t any knock-knock jokes about America? Because freedom rings.
During these serious times, people of all faiths should remember these four basic religious truths: 1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God’s chosen people. 2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world. 4. Southern Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters.
A woman brought her very limp pet duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest. After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, “I’m sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away.” The distressed woman wailed, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead,” replied the vet. “How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.” The vet rolled his eyes, turned around, and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head. The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck.” The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman. The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$150!” she cried, “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!” The vet shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.”
