OCT 2022 #221 BORNTORIDE.COM read it/watch it/ride it
The information contained herein is provided by Born To Ride Magazine or by its advertisers. BTR makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information in the issue. Born To Ride Magazine does not endorse, approve, or certify such information, nor does it guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, timeliness or correct sequencing of such information throughout this magazine. Use of such information is voluntary on your part, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after your independent review. Reference herein to any specific manufacturer, company, commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, service mark, or otherwise does not constitute or imply endorsement of or recommendation of said by Born To Ride Magazine.” “Born To Ride Magazine (including its employees, contributors and agents) assumes no responsibility for consequences that may result from the use of the information herein, including the use of the information obtained at www.borntoride.com and it’s linked sites, or in any respect for the content of such information, including (but not limited to) errors or omissions, the accuracy or reasonableness of factual or scientific assumptions, studies or conclusions, ownership of copyright or other intellectual property rights, and the violation of property, privacy, or personal rights of others. BTR Magazine is not responsible for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. No guarantees or warranties, including (but not limited to) any express or implied warranties are made by BTR Magazine with respect to such information contained throughout the site.” No part may be copied without written permission of the publisher, Born To Ride, Inc. P.O. Box 3021, Brandon, FL 33509. 888-795-5779, Fax 813-689-2996. FEATURES _________ Accidents, Are You Covered? Social Media Practices 1 High Seas Rally Is Coming 6 Adrenaline Harley-Davidson Welcome to Sarasota 13 Born To Ride Great American Biker Bash 17 Charlotte’s Webb Halloween Party 22 Sons of Speed Coming to Biketoberfest 30 COLUMNS _________ James Irwin-A Biker Helping Bikers 10 Nefarious James 45 Spyke & Mike 52 CMA 54 DEPARTMENTS _____ Contents Page 2 Letter From The Editor Dave Nichols 4 BTR Kids 54 REPORTS ___________ The Fran Haasch Food Drive 16 Dukes Brewhouse Anniversary Party 36 Leather Lids Industry Report 44 Southern Fried Moto Show 51 Berts OCC Great American Bike Night 55 ON THE COVER ____ Billy Lane Sons Of Speed Coming to Biktoberfest Don’t Miss It! Tickets@BillyLane.net Photo: Erick Runyon Contents OCTOBER ISSUE 221 36 Start Born To Ride TV and Magazine in your city! Call 888-795-5779 17
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Letter from the Editor DAVE NICHOLS
FROM THE HELM
Dave Nichols editor@borntoride.com
ART
Peter Soutullo art@borntoride.com
Erick Runyon
ART
Juan Guzman, Jared Hartman, Erick Runyon , Peter Soutullo, Craig Miller, Beatnik Steve Werner art@borntoride.com
Juan Guzman
Nancy Ray nray@borntoride.com
HOWDY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, wenches and scallywags, bikers andol’ ladies, the lot o’ ye! We are here to honor what, in my humble opinion, is the best damned time to ride a motorcycle,namely, the autumn months! There’s nothing like those cooler temperatures and crisp mornings to swing your leg over some Milwaukee iron and hit the road to adventure. And in this awesome October issue of Born To Ride, you’ll be getting a passel of perfect puttin’ in the form of wild runs, rallies, races, events and parties.
some of the most incredible bikes you will ever see, and races like there’s no tomorrow. Read the incredible tale of how Sons of Speed came to be in this issue. October is also the month that the High Seas Rally takes to the Caribbean for thewildest biker cruise ever! It’s the world’s only motorcycle rally on a cruise ship. Party with thousands of your best friends including world famous bike builders such as Dave Perewitz, Paul Yaffe, Xavier Muriel, Jason Hallman, and biker art legend Motor Marc Lacourciere. There’s still time to sign up for the cruise of a lifetime, and did we mention all the booze is FREE? Head over to page 6 for more info. We’ll see you aboard the wildest ship to ever set sail this October 29th to November 5th.
Hartman,
Miller Jasper Harris
First, let me remind you that the intrepid magazine you hold in your grubby paws or glare at on the screen of your computer or smartphone, is the one-and-only, Born To Ride magazine. It’s the rag that has brought you the absolute best of the bikerworld for nearly 30 years! That’s three mind-melting decades, boys and girls!
We continue to bring you the finest biker media in all forms, from our Boss Hogradio show each Thursday night (checkout the QR code on page 35), to our killer Facebook Group where you can share riding stories with likeminded scootertramps from all over the world! Visit our YouTube Channel at Born To Ride Motorcycle Media where you can check out the most amazing motorized memories from our 1,340 episodes of Born To Ride TV.
But wait, there’s more! For those of you in the Sarasota area, Rossiter’s HarleyDavidson is now Adrenaline HarleyDavidson of Sarasota. Read up on how this epic dealership has been refreshed and reborn with all your motorcycle needs. Plus, you know how bikers always are onhand to help a fellow biker? Well, James Irwin will tell you how you can get a FREE copy of his Mission One Million book on creating financial independence. His bookis free to Born To Ride readers!
— 888-795-5779
Our boots on the ground biker battalion have proudly raised our two-wheeled colors throughout the southeast including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. We are here for ya, brothers and sisters. If it is of interest to bikers, you can bet that Born To Ride will put itin print!
Speaking of this outstanding October issue, gracing our cover is none other than Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed Vintage Races. Be sure to head on out to the New Smyrna Speedway’s half mile track this October 15th as part of Biketoberfest. It’s more than a race or an event, it is the living, beating heart of the lifestyle you love. Come out and meet Billy and the crew. He’s an iconic rock star biker legend made famous on The Discovery Channel’s “Great Biker Build-off” TV series. He’s also a down to earth family man who takes care of business, builds
Born To Ride is proud to announce that our Great American Biker Bash at OCC Road House was a kickass success on one of the hottest scorching days ofsummer! Choppertown Live Summer Daze was outstanding.The best custom builders in the south showed up with a fine array of Flatheads, Knuckleheads, Panheads, Shovelheads and more. See all the action right here. It’s just a page turn away. Last, but not least, the cat’s out of the bag on the coolest custom bike show ofthe new year! Born To Ride is thrilled to tell ya that the BTR Southern Fried Moto Show is burnin’ rubber your way this January at none other than Gibtown Bikefest. Watch for details right here in the world’s most righteous biker lifestylemagazine, Born To Ride, baby!
Now, can we please get out there andcatch some wind?
Dave Nichols
editor@borntoride.com
PUBLISHER Ron Galletti 813-785-3895 888-795-5779 rg@borntoride.com CO PUBLISHER Deb Galletti dgalletti@borntoride.com EDITOR
DIRECTOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT
WEB DESIGN/ELECTRONIC MEDIA
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
MULTI-MEDIA SPECIALIST Jared
Craig
SALES & MARKETING
ROAD CREW Vick Velosity, Mark Crowder, Doug Bright, Birdman Mike, SCENIC RIDE CONSULTANT Steve Finzelber-Finz Finds ON THE ROAD TEAM The John & Heather Show CONTRIBUTORS JP Brady, Neale Bayly, Susan Hurst, Spyke & Mike, Eric Albright, Eric Vician, Myra McElhaney, Paul Murray, James Gladstone Greg Blackwell, Felicia Morgan, John Sullivan PHOTOGRAPHERS Ron & Selena Hawks, Chris Miller, Scott Odel, Eric Albright, Chopper Dave, JP Brady, Erick Runyon, Craig Miller, Vic Lawall LAW FIRM FRAN HAASCH LAW GROUP www.LawFran.com 866 LAW Fran BORN TO RIDE OFFICE 888-795-5779 BORN TO RIDE Magazine PO BOX 3021 Brandon, FL 33509 SONS OF SPEED AT BIKETOBERFEST! BTR 4 | BORNTORIDE.COM
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MIDNIGHT
The stories you are gonna read today and in future issues are true, only the names were changed to protect the innocent, just like that TV show Dragnet from the 1960’s.
One weekend before he was married to Tracy, Chris was enticed to go riding with an old buddy Ron before he married JD. They climbed on their motorcycles and headed into the mountains. After riding for a few hours, they got caught in a terrible rainstorm as they approached the foothills.
They pulled into a nearby farm. An attractive retired woman answered the door, and Chris and Ron asked if they could spend the night. “I know that it’s terrible weather out there and I have this huge house all to myself, but I’m recently widowed,” she explained. “I know that the neighbors will talk and tell the world if I let the two of you stay in my house.”
“Don’t worry,” Chris replied. “The two of us will be happy to sleep in the barn. Once the weather breaks, we will be out of here immediately, headed for the mountains.” The woman agreed, and Chris and Ron settled in for the night.
Early morning arrived and the weather had cleared. Chris and Ron left without saying goodbye. They made it safely to the mountains and enjoyed a great weekend of riding.
Nine months later, Chris got an unexpected letter from an attorney. It took him a few minutes to figure it out, but he finally determined that it was from the attorney of that attractive widow that Ron and he had met on bike trip through the mountains. He dropped in on Ron at
the coffee bar and asked, “Ron, do you remember that good-looking widow at the farm where we stayed at on our camping bike holiday up North about nine months ago?”
“Of course I do,” replied Ron
“I am just curious,” stated Chris. “Did you happen to get up in the middle of the night, while I was fast asleep, and go up to the house and pay her a visit?”
“Yeah, I confess.” Ron sheepishly replied, a little embarrassed about being found out. “I admit that I did.”
“And did you happen to use my name,” continued Joe with his questioning, “instead of telling her your real name?”
Ron’s face turned red and he said, “Yeah, look, I’m sorry, old buddy. I’m afraid I did. By the way, what brought this up? Why do you ask?”
“She just died,” declared Joe, “and left me everything in her will.”
Believe it or not, this kind of stuff happens and when it does, it’s important to call a trusted advisor like myself to get a clear picture about your options.
Now before this column ends I gotta tell you all what happened last Sunday in Clearwater. While enjoying a weekend watching offshore boat racing, Spyke the parrot of (Mike and Spike column fame) landed on my shoulder. She said, “You want me to open your beer?” I said yes, and she did with her beak (no kidding). Unfortunately, later, I spilled my beer and dropped my phone. I started swatting the flies and told my wife I killed three males and two females. She asked how I knew the gender? “Easy,” answered. ‘Three
were on the beer and two were on the phone.”
As you know, bikers ARE a very charitable people, giving back to the community in many meaningful ways. I’m of a fellow biker and that is why, with the help of many generous people, we are offering The Mission ONE Million book absolutely free to Born To Ride readers. Sadly, I’ve watched too many people’s lives crash because they were not financially prepared. Go to my website now www.healthinsurance65.com or call 833-467-2865 and get your mission one million book. The book is for anyone wanting to get out of debt, build wealth, and create financial independence.
The book retails for $24.95 but I bought your copy for you. That’s right, the book is FREE to Born To Ride readers. Bikers helping bikers, that’s what it’s all about!
-James Irwin
JAMES IRWIN
A Biker Helping
RAID Call 833.467.2865 Bi-monthly Money School 20 min. Webinars at Healthinsurance65.com
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Big news for Sarasota, Florida! The former Rossiter’s HarleyDavidson dealer is now under new ownership and management. You’ll find over 200 motorcycles in stock and for sale and kickass events every weekend. It’s all happening at 330 Cattlemen Road in Sarasota.
Rossiter’s Harley-Davidson in Sarasota was owned by Rick and Wendy Rossiter since 1990. Now the dealership has been acquired and the name has been changed to Adrenaline Harley-Davidson. Josh Russom and Andrew Campbell of Momentum Holdings recently took over ownership of the new Adrenaline Harley-Davidson as Rick
Rossiter heads off into retirement. Come on out and check out the fresh remodel of this amazing dealership.
“We’re excited to add Adrenaline Harley-Davidson to the family, expanding our culture of world class customer service,” Managing Partner Andrew Campbell tells Born To Ride. “We are honored to help Rick Rossiter retire. We re-branded the store to bring new energy while maintaining the family culture.”
Momentum Holdings is proud to announce that with their acquisition of Adrenaline H-D, they currently have seven motorcycle dealerships in their growing stable in the central and southeastern United States including North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and now the Gulf Coast of Florida.
“We are very excited to now have a presence in Florida,” says Andrew Campbell. “Through years of building some of the top performing dealerships in the country, we have found success through ethically driven business principles that riders can trust and appreciate. We plan on following through with that philosophy here in Florida as well.”
Andrew sees great opportunities to cultivate a premium customer experience at the dealerships and in the motorcycle community in the Sarasota area. With the goal of making Adrenaline HarleyDavidson the epicenter of the riding community and a destination dealership for motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere, patrons of Adrenaline Harley-Davidson can look forward to an increased
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selection of Harley motorcycles, the latest parts and accessories, cool riding gear and an enhanced customer experience. Adrenaline Harley-Davidson is now in the company of top performing dealerships in central and southeastern United States, including Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson in Hickory, North Carolina; HarleyDavidson of Montgomery in Montgomery, Alabama; Hooligan Harley-Davidson in Oxford, Alabama; Mississippi Gulf Coast Harley-Davidson in Biloxi, Mississippi; Redstone Harley-Davidson in Madison, Alabama and Wrecking Crew Harley-Davidson in Johnson City, Tennessee.
“Adding a seventh dealership in the last seven years has been a blessing and wouldn’t be possible without the performance of our team members,” Andrew confides. “The company is excited to continually grow, and we are looking forward to expanding even further in the coming years.”
The people, the riding culture, and passion for the brand as a lifestyle in Florida made Adrenaline Harley-Davidson the perfect addition to Momentum Holdings. From sales to parts and Motorclothes, the dedicated staff are looking forward to welcoming you to the all-new Harley store and putting a little adrenaline in your life!
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 941-951-6103
OR VISIT ADRENALINEHD.COM.
ADRENALINE HARLEY-DAVIDSON
330 CATTLEMEN ROAD SARASOTA, FL 34232 941-951-6103
ADRENALINEHD.COM
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“WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO NOW HAVE A PRESENCE IN FLORIDA,” SAYS ANDREW CAMPBELL. “THROUGH YEARS OF BUILDING SOME OF THE TOP PERFORMING DEALERSHIPS IN THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE FOUND SUCCESS THROUGH ETHICALLY DRIVEN BUSINESS PRINCIPLES THAT RIDERS CAN TRUST AND APPRECIATE.” BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 15
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Sons of Speed is a motorcycle race inspired by early 20th-century board-track racing, featuring stripped-down bikes with pre-1925 American V-twin engines tearing around a steeply banked, paved racetrack. The races began a few years ago in 2017 and make a home at the New Smyrna Speedway’s half mile track. The Sons of Speed races during Daytona Bike Week and Biketoberfest offer thrilling, wide-open, full-throttle motorcycle racing at its best. We’re talkin’ about race bikes with no brakes, no clutches, and a deadman’s switch. The crowd to see these races has grown to epic proportions.
Founded by master bike builder Billy Lane of Discovery Channel’s Biker Build-Off and Monster Garage, the Sons of Speed races feature some of the sport’s most accomplished riders, builders, and motorcycle enthusiasts. Last year’s races included over 60 riders and three classes: Classic 61, Hot 61, and 45 Class, all racing on motors that are nearly 100 years old.
Born out of Billy’s love of vintage motorcycle culture, the races have grown to become one of the major events in the racing world. Some
of the biggest names in the motorcycle industry race on the steeply banked track with speeds up to 80 miles per hour. What started with a dozen racers back in 2017 has grown to almost 50 regulars in the series. You’ll recognize such notable names as Ebay Jake, Michael Lange, Shelly Rossmeyer, Fast Freddy Bollwage and Jody Perewitz. How Sons of Speed started.
Billy created a shop in Daytona Beach where he planned on building race bikes using antique engines inspired by the board trackers from 100 years ago. He had built several racers for himself and for customers and dtecided they should go racing.
The first Sons of Speed vintage motorcycle races took place during the 76th Daytona Bike Week out at the New Smyrna Speedway, which is the perfect venue for antique bike racing. There was a definite buzz going on as people waited to get in to witness the racing action on March 18th, 2017.
The vintage bikes have no clutch or gearbox, they just line up at the top of the banked track and are push-started by eager teammates.
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Once the engines roar to life, the riders shoot off down the paved track, leaning into the curves at full throttle with no brakes and the devil at their backs.
The races were extremely popular with the public right from the start and then when Billy added the 45-inch class a few years ago, the crowd’s energy soared to even greater heights. Word of mouth spread the fame of Sons of Speed and more racers showed up to compete every year since those inaugural races.
As you might imagine, keeping 100-year-old motors in racing form is no easy feat. The races always take place on Saturday after a day of practice on Friday. That means that Billy’s Choppers Inc. shop in Daytona is always jammed on Friday night with expert wrenches such as Berry Wardlaw lending an expert hand in repairing bikes and tinkering with ancient motors all through the night. Berry will happily tell you that when it comes to Sons of Speed, passion never sleeps.
On that first Saturday race day, a dozen vintage motorcycle racers mustered their courage and skill to take on the daunting half mile
banked asphalt track. In the final heat Brittney Olsen of 20th Century Racing took the checkered flag, with Matt Harris of 40 Cal Customs taking second place and Shelly Rossmeyer-Pepe of Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson rounding out the third spot.
“The reality is that everyone who raced a bike on that track did something that had not been done in almost a century, we made history.” said Billy in an interview. “Every racer and spectator know in their heart that Sons of Speed was more than an event, it was a camaraderie and kinship that was shared by all.”
Sons of Speed has become more than just a bunch of bikers tearing around a track on old bikes; it has become the living, beating heart that captures the lifestyle we love. Come check out some real works of art with bikes rarely seen in public and a talented group of racers who want nothing more than on a great show and keep the spirit and tradition of this great race series going for years to come.
The next Sons of Speed race event takes place on Saturday, October 15th at the New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Be there! For more info contact sonsofspeed1@gmail.com
photos by Erick Runyon
Get your tickets now! Don’t miss it at Biketoberfest Sat Oct 15th! Tickets@billylane.net BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 31
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$100 Gift Card Giveaway From : James Irwin, A Biker Helping Bikers
Ray V. Gordon is The Owner & Founder of Leather Lid Inserts, an established Leather Saddlebag Accessory business based in southwest Florida. They’ve coined the phrase “We take the sag out of the bag” because that is exactly what they do. Ray has been riding motorcycles since he was 14 yrs old and has watched the motorcycle industry grow and is glad to be a part of what it is today. After 35 years of owning and operating a successful aluminum company in Ft. Myers FL, Ray sold the business so he could retire (he thought) and bought himself a new Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. Just like everyone else with leather saddlebags,
his also started to sag and cave in. He saw a need to fix this problem. Ray says, starting this new business was something he just fell into by fixing his own saddlebags and then behold, friends of friends and others witnessed what Ray did and wanted him to fix their saddlebags too. As an inventor and entrepreneur, Ray took his creative background and put his skills to work by experimenting with several different types of materials to finally come up with a patented ABS lid and bag reinforcement kit that would be designed to help keep the original shape of any leather saddlebag made on the market. So, if you’re tired of looking at your caved in leather saddlebags and/or if they are starting to lose their shape and their parts, or if you have brand new bags and you want to prevent them from ever caving in, please keep Leather Lid Inserts in mind. For all your leather saddlebag accessory needs as a do-it-yourselfer or if you want them to install, visit www.LeatherLidInsert.com and order your DIY Kit or Find an area Dealer Installer.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A DEALER INSTALLER CONTACT RAY AT 239-339-7294 OR RAY@LEATHERLIDINSERTS.COM RIDE SAFE!
Leather Lid Inserts
18160 Old Bayshore Road N. Fort Myers, FL 33917
THE HIGH COST OF FREEDOM!
Hello everyone and welcome to October. One of my favorite times of the year coming up, of course we all know, is Halloween.
That time of year when everybody gets to dress up as their favorite character or entity. Everything from the ever-popular naughty nurse to the badass biker and you get the picture. I’m making an attempt to change my topics around a little as it was pointed out to me that it appeared my posts and articles were politically motivated. I myself, disagreed with that for the main factor that the topic of individual freedom to me is not a political matter. If anything, individual freedom should be non-political - period. After all, we are allowed to do the things that we are allowed to do because we are “free” to do so.
So, I guess the best way I could put it is, enjoy it while you can, because it sure doesn’t seem like we’re heading in the direction that will continue to allow us to pursue a free lifestyle. I guess I harp on the freedom portion because that is what our lifestyle is supposed to be about. Freedom to pursue what we want to do when we want to do it and how we want to do it. Unfortunately, it’s hard to pursue that when you can’t afford to do it. Being everything is exponentially gone up in price, without an increase in the demand, seems like no one can come up with a valid reason for why.
I’ve always believed that if the powers that be cannot legally take away from you what they want to take, they will just price it out of your ability to afford it. One example would be harder to fight the people over the second amendment and take away their firearms, it’s just easier to make it so they can’t afford the ammunition to utilize firearms.
At this point we cannot restrict your ability to travel throughout the country, so we make gasoline too expensive for you to do so. Kind of get the idea what I’m getting at? I hope so. Because there are plenty more examples that follow in line with us. At first, we couldn’t find people who wanted to
Tell
work, no there’s jobs, but they don’t want to take them because they don’t feel that they are getting paid enough. So, we raise the price of what they make per hour. People are overjoyed with it. And then in the same instance, the price of everything goes up. So where in reality is the more money that you are earning going? In my mind you’re actually making less than you were before. Because, after all, you’re making more money, which means they’re taxing more of your money and taking it from you. They raise the price of gas, they raise the price of food, they raise the price of everything. And for no valid reason.
There’s no shortage of gasoline. Just like there was no shortage in the 1970s. I don’t see the economy getting stronger. What I see is we are being used as puppets. There is an agenda out there that’s being followed that you’re paying for. How is that freedom? How is that being able to pursue an affordable lifestyle?
manipulating you because now there’s a housing shortage. Corporations are buying a properties and turning them into rentals. When’s the last time you were able to find an apartment, a crappy one at that, for under $1,200? Let alone a decent place. Personally, those people who take advantage of others should be dragged out in the streets… I’m gonna leave out what I’d like to see you have done to them. Anybody who treats their fellow man like that, is garbage. I understand people have to make a living. I get it. But it’s no different than the guy who goes out and price gouges somebody on their medication or their basic needs for survival. It’s disgusting.
Next thing you know, they’re gonna end up texting you on how many miles you put on your motorcycle. I mean, would you go into a place and pay $10 for a beer?
Well, I guess I’ll be the first one to admit I probably failed at my attempt to change my direction of thought for this column. I guess in the scheme of things, I just find having personal freedom one of the most important things I could possibly have in my life.
Pay attention people. You’re living your life being guided by somebody else’s script.
I read an article not too long ago that said musician Ozzy Osbourne has decided to move back to England because the United States is out of control. Think about that for a minute and consider the source of that. Wow. Well, I hope everybody out there is doing the best that they possibly can in the situation is that they are in. I wish a good majority of you well and those that I don’t, already know who they are. I guess I’ll be set in my ways, then. Take care and stay out on that road. See what you can see and meet all the new people you possibly can. Listen to opinions with open ears and a closed mouth.
All of a sudden, everybody thinks that what they own is worth way more than it is. You have slumlords renting out termiteinfested, mold-ridden houses for twice what it’s worth. And they don’t care. They’re
Until next time,
— Nefarious James American
”
One of my favorite times of the year coming up, of course we all know, is Halloween. That time of year when everybody gets to dress up as their favorite character or entity. Everything from the ever-popular naughty nurse to the badass biker ...
Jim what you’re thinking, what do you want to say to him? editor@borntoride.com
” BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 45
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It’s fall, it’s peak hurricane seasondamned Ian - and it’s almost High Seas Rally time. Mike tried to get me on the ship but to no avail. They don’t take a liking to me and my kin.
Granted, I’m not a seagull and I definitely don’t act like one, but they say no birds on the big boat unless they fly in after setting sail. Mike tried to explain that I do fly but on a Harley and I need no sails. They still stand by their guns and y’all know that I don’t do that flappin’ wing shit, it’s for the birds. So this year we won’t be attending the High Seas Rally.
Mike babbles, “Well Spyke, they’ve shivered our timber and burned our bridge for us to float on their boat. Now we’ll just have to walk the plank at several other shindigs happening this month. At least these promoters will appreciate and think highly of seeing a popular colored chicken at their event. They’re both bigger than a boat and tons of fun. Biketoberfest in Daytona is one of our favorites. Over the years we’ve enjoyed seeing our northern friends return, hanging out with local family and making memories happen.” I start squawking, “Yeah Biketoberfest, I love that event.
THERE SHE BLOWS
Everything from cacklin’ at the Cackleberry campgrounds to revvin’ it up at Destination Daytona Harley-Davidson, jamming on stage at the Broken Spoke to staying out of the smoke at the Iron Horse Saloon and its infamous burnout pits. While sittin’ on the loo and takin’ care of business, I saw in the magazine they’re having the Sons of Speed races at the New Smyrna Speedway. We’ve gotta go so I can knock that one off my bucket list; riding around a dirt track almost sideways at over 100 mph hangin’ off some dude’s shoulder, besides yours.”
Mike stops me short during my doodoo activity saying, “Don’t get your tail feathers all wet with toilet water, Spyke. Depending on the weather and how bad hurricane Ian tore up our favorite watering holes, we may have to change plans and hit the Thunder Beach Fall Rally in Panama City happening October 19th through the 23rd. The Florida Panhandle went through this whole dilemma unscathed”
I cackle, “Those damned wind and rain makers have a way of messing with people’s livelihood. Back in the Amazon where my kin live, they would just hunker down, be smart and wait it out. You humans like to get out there in the middle of it and do crazy things like stand on a seawall and let the waves roll over top of you or kayak down a street full of water trying to find an open store and purchase a Florida happy meal; snacks, alcohol, cigarettes, and a lotto ticket. It can be hurricane weather in one part of the Sunshine State and vacation weather in another part. Ian just proved that. It also reminds me of what a hurricane and a divorce have in common.”
Mike turns and says, “Sometimes I wonder what your bird brain is thinking when you’re in there stinking, and this is one of those times. I’ll just have to ask, and I know better, but what do they have in common?”
I look at him with one parrot eye while still holding the magazine and say, “Come on,
dude, you’ve been in Florida long enough, it never ends pretty and someone’s going to lose a trailer!”
Mike babbles, “Well, you’re right, Spyke, but what do you get when you cross a card game with a hurricane?”
I cluck, “Dude, that’s an easy one. Bridge over troubled waters, of course! I just thought of something else. They should name the storms after politicians. That way, we wouldn’t actually have to worry about them coming through with anything.”
Mike replies, “Sll joking aside, Spyke, even though we try to make light of a horrible situation, our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to those affected. It could have been us instead of them taking the brunt of a CAT4 hurricane. Now that it’s over, it’s time
for us to be good neighbors and reach out to those who were affected. If you, our avid readers, have the resources and time, I’m sure there’s people out there across the state that could still use your assistance.”
“Dude, I’m always willing to lend a wing in need,” I chirp. “We should make like hurricane Ian’s winds and blow on down the road looking for people to help. Let me flush my troubled waters and get my feathered ass off the can. Then you will be able to get my wings in the wind while riding on the backrest of the Fat Bird 3, your knees under the triple trees, and its two wheels rolling down the road avoiding debris.”
— SPYKE Do you have a riding pet story? Let us know, Spyke wants to feature them! editor@borntoride.com
BTR 52 | BORNTORIDE.COM
RONNIE and EMILY’SRONNIE and EMILY’S