JAN 2024 #236
JANUARY 12TH - 14TH read it/watch it/ride it
BORNTORIDE.COM
Contents
JANUARY ISSUE 236
FEATURES
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COLUMNS
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Are You Part of the BTR Group? Back of the Dragon Gibtown Bikefest Rockabillaque Ride Appalachia Babe of the Month: Jasmine
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James Irwin - Biker Helping Bikers Matt Danielson Insurance Letterfly Nefarious James Craven Moorehead Spyke & Mike CMA
DEPARTMENTS
Contents Page Editors Letter Movie Review BTR Kids
REPORTS
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Ron Galletti - Tampa Bay Harley-Davidson BTR Youtube Craig Paints Bikes
ON THE COVER Gibtown Bikefest January 12, 13, 14, 2024 The Showmans Club Gibtownbikefest.com
Start Born To Ride TV and Magazine in your city! Call 888-795-5779
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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.
Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. & affiliates.
I know I’m alive. WHEN I RIDE, EVEN the FAMILIAR SEEMS STRANGE and GLORIOUS. The air has weight. AS I PUSH THROUGH IT, ITS TOUCH is as INTIMATE as WATER TO A SWIMMER. from Season of the Bike by Dave Karlotski
America’s #1 MOTORCYCLE INSURER 1-800-PROGRESSIVE | PROGRESSIVE.COM Quote in as little as 3 minutes
BORN TO RIDE Magazine
PO BOX 3021 Brandon, FL 33509 PUBLISHER
Ron Galletti 813-785-3895 888-795-5779 rg@borntoride.com
CO-PUBLISHER
Deb Galletti dgalletti@borntoride.com
EDITOR
Steve Poindexter info@borntoride.com
ART DIRECTOR Peter Soutullo art@borntoride.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erick Runyon
ART DEPARTMENT
Erick Runyon , Peter Soutullo, Craig Miller art@borntoride.com
OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Deb Galletti DGalletti@borntoride.com
SALES & MARKETING 888-795-5779
ROAD CREW
Vick Velosity, Mark Crowder, Doug Bright, Birdman Mike,
SCENIC RIDE CONSULTANT
Steve Finzelber-Finz Finds
ON THE ROAD TEAM John & Heather
CONTRIBUTORS
JP Brady, Neale Bayly, Susan Hurst, Spyke & Mike, Eric Albright, Paul Murray, James Gladstone, Scott Odell Indian Rider Bill. The Phantom
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ron & Selena Hawks, Doug Bright Daniel Gallant, 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 ADVERTISE BORN TO RIDE OFFICE
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Letter from the Publisher
RON GALLETTI HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2024 Happy New Year to everyone reading this. I wish you all the best health happiness and success in this new year. Sad news of a great loss to the biker community , a man who was always there for charity and helping others. The Sarasota biker community and beyond will miss his passion for the yearly 911 Ride. He was there at Ground Zero too. Rory MacConnel has passed away. A staple with Thunder by the Bay from day one, he was a member of the Blue Knights MC as the Sarasota President and International Vice President. He was a Shriner and a Widow Son. His energy and Patriotism with everything he did will be missed. We honor his life and Memory. Ride on Rory we send love to his friends and family. Rory MacConnel 1963 - 2023 Born to Ride has expanded and consolidated at the same time. We have combined the Florida BTR Magazine with the Southeast BTR Magazine. Now there will be distribution with one Magazine in FL GA AL NC SC TN and into VA. You will see Law Firms from those states as well. With print costs going up all the time we are bringing both magazines into one to get the most value and milage we can . The state of print magazines are becoming harder and harder to deliver and digital seems like a way to reach the universe at one time but for now we will still be printing and putting it on the streets and in the shops. Our on-line issue gets thousands of views monthly. As we move into 2024 we will monitor this trend and do what is best to keep Born to Ride out there for people to read. What do you think ? On the streets hard copy or just digital ? The magazine creates store traffic and we get calls from dealerships saying “ hey we are out of magazines and people are coming in asking for them “ can you get more magazines over here ?” Kind of funny but not really here is a dealership that don’t even advertise with us but
just admitted it creates store traffic for them. Is this reality of dealerships or ownerships that doesn’t even realize what the free magazines do? We document the biker lifestyle in a proper manner and in turn creates impact to the business of riding motorcycles. New riders new sales and the enjoyment of the biker lifestyle. After 28 years it seems like part of the industry is closing down around us. Does it reflect our economy and economic times or is it just a new generation of the digital marketing age? Speaking of digital let me share some December numbers with you. Our Facebook reach is up 206.5% at 108 Million accounts. Interactions are up 210.1% we gained 37 thousand new followers. Our Instagram reach is up 539% at 240.3 K accounts. Content interaction is up 100% for a organic total over 4000 thousand followers with continued growth. Our web site www.borntoride. com gets thousands of views daily and has stood the test of time. Born to Ride TV is Back daily at 8PM EST every night with classic BTR TV Episodes on our facebook page BorntoRideTVMagazine. We will be integrating new content as well. I produced 1340 BTR TV Episodes over 28 years and there is plenty of great biker content travel and adventures for you to see. Speaking of that we are about to launch something really exciting to keep fresh new content rolling along so stay tuned. Gibtown Bikefest is coming January 12 13 14 and get ready for the BTR Southern Fried Moto Show Saturday the 13th. Letterfly has designed the awards in a very special Letterfly way. Special thanks to James Irwin A Biker helping Bikers and Attorney Fran Haasch for Sponsoring the bike show. All this and more it’s all here in this issue. Thank you. It’s always great to hear from you. - Ron Galletti rg@borntoride.com
Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. & affiliates.
Cars lie to us. MOTORCYCLES TELL US THE truth — WE ARE SMALL, AND EXPOSED, AND PROBABLY MOVING TOO FAST, BUT THAT’S NO REASON NOT TO ENJOY EVERY MINUTE of EVERY RIDE. from Season of the Bike by Dave Karlotski
America’s #1 MOTORCYCLE INSURER 1-800-PROGRESSIVE | PROGRESSIVE.COM Quote in as little as 3 minutes
RON GALLETTI WELCOMES YOU TO TAMPA BAY HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND HE IS READY TO GET YOU THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF YOUR DREAM. NEW 2023 MODELS OR PRE-OWNED, RON WILL SET YOU UP ON A DEMO RIDE ANYTIME. CALL: 813 918 6521 TRADE-INS ARE WELCOME AND WHEN YOU BUY FROM RON HE WILL PUT YOU IN BORN TO RIDE MAGAZINE.
A Biker Helping
Bikers
JAMES IRWIN
LET’S AVOID EVER HAVING TO SAY “I WISH I KNEW BACK THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW” HAPPY NEW YEAR FELLOW BIKERS AND MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE FOR 2024!
Since my birthday is New Year’s Eve, my wife, Jamie, hosted a dinner for some friends at Bascom’s Chophouse in Clearwater to celebrate my 64th birthday! Following a fabulous dinner, we rang in the New Year at Orange County Choppers Roadhouse.
I start by helping my clients answer the 4 most important financial questions in 15 minutes: 1. D o you know what rate of return you need to earn on the money you have today to be able to live in the future like you live today, adjusted for inflation, without running out of money before your life expectancy? 2. D o you know how much you need to save on a monthly or annual basis to make sure you will have enough in the future for you to live like you live today adjusted for inflation? 3. D o you know how long you will have to work doing what you are doing now before you will be able to live on what you have accumulated and your money last to your life expectancy? 4. D o you know how much you will have to reduce your standard of living during retirement the future to keep your money from running out before your life expectancy? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? CALL ME 833-467-2865 The 5 Major Wealth Transfers The five major areas wealth transfer occur are: 1. How you pay for your house 2. Funding your Qualified Plan 3. Taxes 4. Education Expenses
And a special thanks to all those out there I have had the privilege to serve. You are the heroes in your life story for taking action by calling me to get your financial GPS on course. If I could help you increase your net worth, by a million dollars, without having to take another job or even decrease your current lifestyle standards, wouldn’t you like me to help you? I’m a Retirement Planning Specialist who specializes in providing solutions for rising taxes, market crashes, and secure retirement cash flow.
5. Major Capital Purchases (Home, Cars, Vacation) I am uniquely trained at helping you eliminate unnecessary losses in these five areas. The average American family saves only 4 cents of every dollar earned and spends the other $.96. Most financial advisors focus on providing investment strategies for only those 4 cents. However, I take a very different approach by analyzing the entire dollar. I specialize in finishing areas of your spending where you are perhaps unknowingly transferring dollars away and bring those back to you. I believe there is more money to be had by avoiding the losses than trying to pick the big winners, and I can prove it!! I look forward to working with you so we can redirect those funds in a more efficient way!! CALL ME 833-467-2865 - James Irwin, CSA Certified Senior Advisor® www.bikerhelpingbikers.com
Call 833.467.2865 Bi-monthly Money School 20 min. Webinars at Healthinsurance65.com
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ARE YOU BORN TO RIDE?
THE LIFE & TIMES OF MOTORCYCLE
JOIN OUR GROUP NOW!
ES & THE PEOPLE WHO RIDE THEM
BACK OF THE DRAGON IS A MUST FOR YOUR BUCKET LIST! If its true that mountains draw you in, then pack your bags for a long stay in Tazewell County ! The adventure capital of the Appalachians , Tazewell County is home of the ATV trails , motorcycle routs ,hiking ,biking and other adventures in the mid-Atlantic region. Aside from adventure tourism , the scenic vistas in this county are matched by none. Home of the famed Back of the Dragon , Tazewell County is home of the best motorcycle riding in the Appalachians. The Litz Mansion is a beautiful historic mansion constructed in 1859.The home is situated on a 3.16 acre lot
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and its conveniently located within walking distance of Tazewell County Main Street area. The nights we stayed and spent at the Litz mansion were just amazing and once you meet the legend of Back of the Dragon, Mr. Larry Davidson you will understand why this is such a powerful place to put on your bucket list . Meeting Larry and having lunch with him at the world famous Back of the Dragon welcome center was even more amazing then the mansion. Spending the day with Larry and learning the history of Back of the Dragon from him was such a unforgettable day. The most spectacular
part of our day was when he said let me show you the best road in America and let me show you the future vision we have for our little town. That my friends is a day we will never forget as you can see in these wonderful photos. The Back of the Dragon Welcome Center has everything you need to know and learn about the town of Tazewell Virginia and the most amazing road in America. For more information go to: www.backofthedragon.com or Call : 276 979 4288 tell them Born to Ride sent you. - Ron Galletti
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23-SCI-10339 BORN TO RUN MAGAZINE AD 1-24_11x17.indd 1
MUST BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD TO ATTEND INDOOR SHOWS. MUST BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD TO PLAY SLOTS AND TABLE GAMES OR TO RECEIVE UNITY BENEFITS. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS A GAMBLING PROBLEM, PLEASE CALL 1.888.ADMIT.IT.
MOREINPARADISE.COM
MINUTES AWAY FROM MORE 11/30/2023 3:05:44 PM
“Ride So Children Can Thrive”
1998
26 Motorcycle Charity Ride 2024
SUNDAY – FEBRUARY 18
PRESENTING FESTIVAL SPONSORS
SCAN TO PRE-REGISTER OR DONATE
PROCEEDS BENEFIT A fundraiser to help support critical therapy services for children with special needs.
Registration At Adrenaline Harley-Davidson
$20 Per Person - 9:30 am til 11:00 am – Ride Departs 11:15 am Includes FREE pancake breakfast! Includes FREE admission into the Festival & preferred parking! Stops include three local non-profits who receive funding support from Suncoast Charities for Children! MAJOR FESTIVAL SPONSORS
FEATURED HEADLINER
CHARITY RIDE PARTNERS
INFO: THUNDERBYTHEBAY.ORG
TEXT THUNDER TO 941-205-7223 TO RECEIVE FESTIVAL UPDATES A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA OR ONLINE AT www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com, REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” REGISTRATION #: CH4531
PRESENTING SPONSORS “A Fundraiser To Help Local Children, Teens, And Adults With Special Needs.”
PROCEEDS BENEFIT
Early Bird Tickets - $10 Per Day (12 & Under FREE) Available Online & Adrenaline Harley-Davidson Thru 02/15/24
$15 At The Gate - VIP Tickets Available - On-Site Camping Available
FEATURED HEADLINERS
FRI.- FEBRUARY 16
SAT. -FEBRUARY 17
SUN.- FEBRUARY 18
TICKETS: THUNDERBYTHEBAY.ORG
OVER 100 VENDORS – CONTINOUS LIVE MUSIC – 17 CLASS BIKE SHOW STEREO SOUND-OFF COMPETITION – BIKER GAMES FLAT OUT FREESTYLE SHOWS – LIVE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING “RIDE SO CHILDREN CAN THRIVE” MOTORCYCLE CHARITY RIDE AND MUCH MORE!
INFO: THUNDERBYTHEBAY.ORG
TEXT THUNDER TO 941-205-7223 TO RECEIVE FESTIVAL UPDATES A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA OR ONLINE AT www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com, REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” REGISTRATION #: CH4531
RIDE APPALACHIA
RIDE WITH THE HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS Now that we have taken you on a ride through Country Music History, this month we are going to take you to another incredible area to ride and explore in our Free Backroads of Appalachia Mobile Application and it’s just a short hop from where we left off last month. Just a few gear shifts away from Country Music Highway 23 or as we call it Country Music Gateway 23, you will find the town of Pikeville, The county seat of Pike County Kentucky. Home to several of our great trail routes but we will talk about that later. Pike County also happens to be home of Kentucky’s most famous family…. The McCoys! And just a short distance away in West Virginia along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River you will find the home of West Virginia’s most famous family, The Hatfields! Now some say the feud started after the men in each family returned home from the Civil War, with families serving on different sides, but most agree here locally that this feud really all started over a dispute in ownership of a HOG! We know how much we all love our own HOGs so it kinda makes sense but this was over an actual PIG! This famous family feud escalated even further when Roseanna McCoy entered a relationship with Devil Anse’s son Johnson, known as “Johnse” (spelled “Jonce” in some sources), leaving her family to live with the Hatfields in West Virginia. There is a whole lot more to that story including a baby and another cousin but we do not have the space to tell you about it here. On election day in 1882 things got much worse as Ellison Hatfield, brother of Anse, was killed by three of Roseanna’s younger brothers who stabbed him 26 times and finished him off BTR 36 | BORNTORIDE.COM
with a gunshot! Then there was the New Year’s Eve Massacre in 1888 when “Devil Anse” and the Hatfields attacked and burned the McCoy Family’s houses and shot everyone who fled! We are just scraping the surface of this stranger than fiction feud which officially ended in 2003 when a peace treaty was signed by kin on both sides officially ending the feud which has inspired many things including a game show. I bet you can guess the name of that one?!. Now they hold many great events on both sides of the border such as the “Hatfield and McCoy Homecoming” the “Hatfield and McCoy Reunion” to celebrate the history of their families and the World’s most famous family feud. You do not have to attend an event or google this information to learn about the Bloody History of these infamous families as you can experience all that right now from the back of your Iron Horse first hand! Thanks to our partnership with Hatfield-McCoy Trails and our relationships with the State of Kentucky and the State of West Virginia, we are able to bring you this one of a kind riding experience that can only be found right here on the Backroads of Appalachia! From our GPS-Enabled Bootlegger’s Shuffle Route in Pikeville, Ky to HMT’s “Devil’s Den” Trail System over the border in WV, which includes 11 routes and over 1000 miles and is Named after “Devil Anse” Hatfield himself! You can now ride the backroads once traveled by both families and visit many locations where these families lived and where they feuded! This is one bad ass ride
you definitely want on your bucket list as the scenery, mountains, curves, and history of this area are truly unforgettable. On this self-guided tour/ride you can even visit their old homeplaces such as the McCoy Cabin Site and the Hatfield Homeplace and even the Hatfield Cemetery where all the feuding Hatfields from back then are buried. Do not forget to visit the Hatfield and McCoy Museum in Sarah Ann, WV not far from the Hatfield Cemetery. The HatfieldMcCoy Trails System offers a whole lot more than just great riding for us pavement pounders with plenty of Off-Road and Outdoor Adventure for those who like it rough! Go visit our partners at trailsheaven.com for more information and discover Country Music Gateway 23, Bootlegger’s Shuffle and HMT’s “Devil’s Den” now by downloading our Backroads of Appalachia Mobile Application available free for IOS and Android! Also do not miss our “WCMG/ BOA Down in the “Devil’s Den” Hatfield and McCoy Ride coming in the spring to our 2024 schedule! So what are you waiting for? You Ain’t Skeered are Ya? Let’s Ride with the Hatfields and McCoys Appalachia! -Jay Fryman (FryDaddy) Founder, Whitley County Motorcycle Group Backroads of Appalachia Journalism Team
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FREE INSURANCE POLICY REVIEW By Matt Danielson, The Motorcycle Law Group
An insurance agent’s job is to sell you the best policy at the lowest rate. However, your agent may not be thinking about what happens to you if you are injured by someone who bought very little insurance, or none at all. No matter how much you may like your agent, after a claim is filed your agent is out of the picture. Your claim is handled by an adjuster, and that person’s job is to save their company money. Attorneys analyze policies and claims after an accident The attorneys at Motorcycle Law Group are experienced in reviewing and analyzing insurance policies when you need them most – after an accident involving a major claim. It’s our job to help ensure you get everything you’re entitled to under your insurance policy in the event of a major accident. We invite you to submit your insurance policies for a free review from our legal team. We can tell you if you have the right coverages in the right amount so that you and your family are properly protected. Through our free policy review, our team can advise you on: - How to get the best coverage - How to organize multiple policies to your advantage - If you have enough, or even too much, of a specific coverage - Which coverages and limits you need to ensure you’re protected We’ve helped many riders get much more coverage with relatively little change to their rates. The process is simple, free and takes no longer than one week. What you need to get started and what to expect from us: Step 1 – Send us your insurance policy’s declarations pages, typically the first three to four pages of your policy, via fax or email (numbers and emails for each state listed below). These pages BTR 38 | BORNTORIDE.COM
explain the types and amounts of coverage for every vehicle on your policy. Step 2 – Someone from our firm will review and recommend changes to the policy to give you more coverage to protect you or your family in the event of an accident or damages to your vehicle. After we send our recommendations, we’ll ask if you have any questions or feedback. Step 3 – Send your feedback to Motorcycle Law Group, we’ll finalize the recommended changes and discuss them with you. Step 4 – Take the changes directly to your insurance agent and ask them to update your policy. Remember, your insurance agent is the salesperson. We want to help you get the coverage you’ll need so you’re protected if you find yourself dealing with an adjuster. *Send GEORGIA policies to Chad Fuller via email at chad@motorcyclelawgroup.com or fax to (803) 926-7508. Matt Danielson McGrath, Danielson, Sorrell & Fuller The Motorcycle Law Group 1-800-321-8968 Motorcyclelawgroup.com
Matt Danielson is a partner at the Motorcycle Law Group, a personal injury law firm whose attorneys all ride motorcycles and practice in VA, NC, SC, GA and WV. Matt has successfully represented clients in cases from simple property damage to complex multi-million dollar personal injury claims. He is also a lobbyist, adjunct professor and works with motorcycle rights organizations. To learn more about the Motorcycle Law Group, visit MotorcycleLawGroup.com.
Have you been injured in an Accident? Contact our Law Firm1-800-321-8968
HIT THE ROAD AND THRIVE took my set of drums, a few paint brushes and headed out on the highway where I found a way to live in harmony with the ever-changing road of life.
“Hey you ought to write a book,” someone blurted out one afternoon, “about how to hit the road to encourage others!”
Watching a hand painted pinstripe design come alive on a motorcycle, pickup truck, guitar, prosthetic leg or even a cake mixer is pure entertainment. In the midst of admiring bikers, while another delicate motif comes to life - right before their eyes - I hear many comments; “Wow that must take a steady hand, we admire what you’re doing, and, I envy your life traveling the country living the dream.” For those who don’t know me, I ‘m Letterfly the pinstriping guy. I travel the summer months going across the country to customer dedicated Harley Davidson motorcycle dealerships where I have fun making bikes look good and people happy. I keep alive the old school manner of creating custom artwork by hand with paint everywhere I go. Having fun doing what I love began after high school when I followed a hunch,
That suggestion prompted a flood of ideas. I looked back at my life seemingly for the first time and realized that by developing various creative specialties, all taking place on the road, I had accumulated experiences that taught lessons that others could apply to their lives. So, I began to write my book about how to live the life of your dreams.
Although I make my living on the road with the creation of artwork, this book is not necessarily about how to paint. I wrote the content for those who are dreaming about finding a product or a service to use while traveling to have some of the valuable insights I accumulated to provide a leg up for when they hit the road. But my book is not limited to those who dream about life on the road – the insights for maximizing effectiveness wherever you are can also be applied to your life right now - right in your own home. Hit the Road and Thrive is a guide book for anyone who wants to change their life’s trajectory. I organized the enlightening stories that reveal the lessons learned into categories I call the seven secrets. In the first chapter, you will read about how to acquire the
Let Letterfly create amazing art for your home or business.t Call 813-505-5539
gumption to step forward fearlessly into the mystery of what lay ahead before you. Another section reveals the strategy for fitting seamlessly into whatever situation you find yourself. Yet another colorful story teaches about promoting sustainability, avoiding the pitfalls of life and our responsibility to integrity. And because I want everyone to benefit from this easy to read, entertaining collection of stories from the road of my life, I made the manuscript available for free for a limited time on my author website DaveLetterfly.com If you are curious about what it takes to wake up eager for the new day, grab all the gusto you can and prepare what it takes to embark on the trip of a lifetime, you do not have to wait another minute. You can get this book right now by visiting DaveLetterfly.com
By downloading Hit the Road and Thrive you may just change the way you live your life whether you head out on the road or enjoy maximizing your experience right in your own home. My gift to you is Hit the Road and Thrive and your copy awaits you on DaveLetterfly.com Be Good, Be Well, and Ride Safe!!
—Dave “Letterfly” Knoderer
HIT THE ROAD AND THRIVE IS AVAILABLE FREE ON DAVELETTERFLY.COM BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 43
with Jim. They part and Bronson rides into television history over the next 2 years and 26 episodes. What is interesting is the kind of biker Bronson is. He’s not a tear-it-up terrorizer of decent common folk, as so many movies make us out to be. Neither is he the trendy young motorcyclist so many Honda ads of the time purported us to be, riding our little, brightly colored scoots, wearing white slacks and boat shoes, and with a pert college girl on back. What Bronson was, and what I aspire to be as a biker and a person, is a selfreliant man in charge of his bike and his life, not the pawn of others. He’s quiet and a thinker, and not afraid to get his hands dirty for that next tank of gas and a bit of food, or wrenching his ride on the side of the highway. He’s not a pushover, but neither is he a troublemaker. He leads himself and is not led by others. He lives by his own rules, but they are not thoughtless or selfish rules and he listens more than he talks. What it all comes down to is his choice of going out and living his life, instead of accepting life as other people tell him it is or should be.
They art and Bronson rides into television history over the next 2 years and 26 episodes
Nineteen sixty-nine was a pivotal time in American history. It was also a beginning of sorts for my love affair with motorcycles, begat in large part by a short-lived television series starting that year—Then Came Bronson. I was 12 years-old and devoured every episode of the lonely stranger and his eye-emblazoned Sportster wandering across the country. This movie introduced Jim Bronson (Michael Parks) to the world. The film begins with Jim’s friend, Nick (Martin Sheen) in crisis and disillusioned with life — as so many young men are. Part of the “Stompers” motorcycle club, Nick had settled down with a wife and a “real” job—offering much promise for advancement according to his wife—but he knows better. Dead end, dull job, responsibilities, and no resources—is that what life is all about? The only thing he has worth anything is his Sportster, so under the Golden Gate Bridge he asks Jim to buy it from his wife and then promptly jumps to his death, Jim returns to the office of his oncevalued profession, a reporter, only to realize BTR 44 | BORNTORIDE.COM
he is facing much the same as his friend—a dull job and an industry hungry for unsavory stories, ones that “show people at their worst.” Jim loads up the Sportster and hits the road. He doesn’t get far before he eyes a young girl (Temple Brooks, played by Bonnie Bedelia), running away from her pending life of responsibility, shedding her wedding dress and engagement ring on a northern California beach. She runs away sans clothes, but they meet again when she runs Bronson off the road. Jim catches up and lets her driver door have it with a kick of his boot. Off he goes, suitably avenged. At a gas stop, they meet again, where the convertible driver becomes a passenger on the Sportster, abandoning her car as the result of a curious policeman’s questions. From here on love fitfully blooms. On the road to New Orleans they slowly figure each other out. However, on arrival they realize they need to part, he to continue his quest for meaning and her to return to the very thing that had scared her onto the road
Bronson is so soft-spoken I occasionally had to back up to catch quiet bits of dialogue set against the unmistakably late 60s music. Maybe someday that music will attain an aura of classicism, but to my ears it is awkward. The movie, however, makes up for that music by a couple instances of a nice rendition of “Wayfaring Stranger” sung by Michael Parks and Bonnie Bedelia. For an observant rider, little things like the magical appearance of knobbies on the Sportster (really a Jawa) for the hillclimbing scene may disturb the flow a bit, but the story is worth putting up with little inconsistencies. Many viewers will not even notice the poetic license taken here and there. If you recall the show from your youth and enjoy an occasional blast from the past, pick up this flick. Be warned—you may end up following your viewing with online searches for TV episodes and “Bronson Bikes.” You may even think about your life, your choices, and what you love about riding. This DVD is available from. The Phantom Movie Review
Do you have a favorite Biker Movie we don’t have? Let us know: info@borntoride.com
PUTTING IT TO THE TEST “People, we must evolve to continue to be something better. Not only for ourselves and our children but for the future of or species.” First of all congratulations on making it to 2024. Amazing how quickly the time has flown by. I’d like to start out by thanking all of those persons, and it’s a very short list, for being in my life and reminding me how not everyone around me is a piece of s**t. Thanks to Born to Ride, ownership, staff and supporters, for allowing an open platform that subjects all of you to my rants and point of view. In one statement, it’s American. Freedom is such a precious commodity that many countries have ,but few allow expressed freely. That’s why people come here in droves. Unfortunately it’s something that has gotten out of hand. My personal view is, if you migrate to another country because things are so bad in the one you’re leaving, why would you want to lower the quality of life in the country you’re migrating to? Why would you disrespect and attempt to destroy what many consider the American dream? Why would you attempt to turn America into the impoverished, oppressive, crime riddled slum that you ran away from? If you miss where you left so much you feel compelled to turn the United States into the country you left, then return home to your country of origin. It’s that simple. I for one, don’t want a United States that will become a police state. 2024 is the election year. I don’t give a rats ass what candidates you like or dislike. I want what will protect and preserve the United States. I, and many like
me, took an oath to protect this country from enemies, both foreign and domestic. One way of doing that is through your vote. First on our agenda should be the assurance of a fair and legal voting system. A citizens “only” voting system. IF you’re not a citizen of the country you occupy, you should have no say. NO VOTE FOR YOU!. That means a legal citizen. Not a visa, not a permit, a card carrying, tax paying citizen. I don’t see
any other countries allowing visitors or illegal aliens or undocumented individuals being allowed to be shipped in to determine the outcome of a national leaderships vote. Bring back American owned, American made goods and services. This next statement should piss off alot of you but here it goes. If your and American citizen you’re an American citizen. Not a Mexican American, not an African American, not an Italian
Tell Jim what you’re thinking, what do you want to say to him? editor@borntoride.com
American etc. you’re an American. Those identities are used to devide us by the elite. This is most noticeable on the battlefield where you see we all bleed red and all suffer through the same trauma as all human kind does. Where you see true brotherhood and the best and worst human kind has to offer. The one true place to experience both unconditional love and extreme hatred. People, we must evolve to continue to be something better. Not only for ourselves and our children but for the future of or species. We are all born with a clean slate. Love comes naturally. Hate is taught. When I question that statement I look at my dog. He has true, unconditional love. He responds to what he’s been taught and is always happy regardless. Here’s an example I was told. A friend told me his girl loved him unconditionally and wanted to put it to the test. He was told to put his girl in the trunk of one car and his dog in the trunk of another and wait 12 hours then let them out. One guess as to which was happy to see him and which one flew into a rage. I don’t advise doing this but I’m sure it makes its point. I’ll wrap this up by saying have a safe and prosperous new year. Be the person that helps make positive changes and be safe out there. See you out there.
--Nefarious James American Patriot BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 47
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Craven Moorehead
Angels are Real, Happy New Year I had a yard sale this weekend. I put signs out on the main drag and the other streets to direct people in. Just before it got totally dark, I jumped into the old Dodge pickup to go retrieve the signs. I was at my 3rd stop (on RT 60 & Jerry Smith) when the truck ran out of gas. I’m standing in the turn lane realizing that I would have to walk back to the shop to get an empty gas can, and then walk back to the corner of Turkey Creek and 60 to get some fuel and then walk back to the truck. By this time it was dark. I swear to you, I could not believe what happens next. This isn’t Winslow Arizona – but a girl in a Ford Expedition rolls down her window at the stop sign and asks me “what’s wrong.” “I’m outta gas” I replied. So she says “Come on, I will give you a ride.” “Lemme see if I have my gas can.” After a short search, I realized that the can was not in my truck. Knowing that I had run out of luck, I just walked to the passenger side of this really nice truck and got in. Oh my God in heaven, I looked at her and she was absolutely beautiful!! Long blonde hair, perfectly dressed, hot body, and to top it all off she was within my wheel-house of maturity. I am really surprised that a woman of this stature and elegance would even stop and look at an old ‘scooter-trash’ looking dude like me much less actually wait around and piss people off at a busy intersection while I took the time to look for my gas can. But she did, and evidently she is very brave. After a short introduction and some small talk she asked me which gas station I wanted to go to – the RaceTrac or the Sunoco. So naturally I said, “RaceTrac.” She told me that after she picked up her friend on the other end of the road she would give me a ride back to the disabled hillbilly truck. She went out of her way to drop me off at the gas station, and I reminded her that she was truly an ‘Angel’ for giving me a ride. When I went inside the store, I searched for a gas can. Yeah, there was only one left. $12.99 plus tax which equals almost all I made in the last two days of the yard sale. But I was on a mission to get the truck back, knowing that the battery would be dead soon because I had left the parking lights on. Anyhow, when I get to the counter a girl that I’ve seen in my frequent visits to the store (which is also very cute and extremely nice) is wondering why I am buying a gas can. I asked “Do y’all rent these?” to which she replied – “No, they aren’t for rent.” But she would go check her car to see if she had one that I could borrow. This was yet another effort by someone to help me with a problem, with no expectation of recompense. She BTR 52 | BORNTORIDE.COM
returned and apologized, which was not necessary and I paid for the can and headed to the gas pumps after telling her the story of the beautiful angel that had given me a ride. “I saw her drop you off and I thought maybe she was your girlfriend or wife.” “I wish” is all I could say, and we both laughed. I get a few dollars worth of gas and started hoofing it back down 60 toward the truck. A fellow in a pickup truck stops and says “Man, I heard the story about you running out of gas, and I actually saw that hot girl that dropped you off, so if you want me to, I will drive you back to your truck – just in case she doesn’t come back to get you.” I accepted the ride and the man even offered to hang for a minute just to make sure that I could get it started. I thanked him profusely and told him that I was very appreciative. We conversed about the ‘paying it forward’ thing just like the beautiful girl that brought me there did, and of course, I also told him that he was also an angel unaware. I poured the gas in the tank leaving just a little to dump into the carburetor for good measure. After grinding the battery to the point of death, she finally fired up and as usual the old worn out hillbilly Dodge didn’t let me down. It’s been a very long road with me and that truck. I picked up my signs and went home. This isn’t a fabrication or fantasy by any stretch of the imagination. This is a TRUE story that you should ALL take heed to. I don’t care if you believe in God or whatever deity it is that you worship. It’s none of my business. I can tell you this; there are good angels walking this earth, paying it forward every day that they live and breathe. Personally, I try to help people whenever I can, and I am not prophesizing or preaching here so don’t get the wrong idea. But do yourself one favor – help people if you can. Your reward may not come immediately, so have faith and push on. In the end, it doesn’t really matter, but you only take with you what you have put in. Here’s the kicker. That beautiful woman did come back to look for me, she slowed down, got into the turn lane and after seeing me pouring gas into the tank she just blew the horn and drove away. It is what it is, but I believe that you should take every opportunity that presents itself to you. Perhaps I should have been more patient and had a little more faith in humanity, but alas I did not. Sometimes it is hard to make the right decision based upon faith alone, but I did accomplish the mission and made it back home intact. My agent called to get me booked for some gigs coming up in the near future. I told her this story. She may not be impressed, but she questioned me about why I didn’t get this girl’s phone number. I should have. I learn something every day and my faith in people has been restored to a great extent. Angels are everywhere regardless of your religion. … Everything happens for a reason I suppose. But if anyone knows who this beautiful angel is, then let her know that she has a fan that would love to repay her in so many ways. Later that evening. … The woman somehow tracked me down. I was in my shop, working on an old computer when I saw a truck pull in. It was her! I went over to the window and she, in a sweet as sugar voice asked me if I would mind checking on what the strange ticking sound in the motor was. I of course obliged and after she opened the hood, I began examining the motor. The truck was so tall that I had to sort of get up on the front tire and lean under the hood. I had only been under there for about 20 seconds when something moving behind me startled me and I glanced over to see her standing behind me. All of a sudden, she began pulling on my leg, just like I’m pulling yours! CRAVEN
R.I.P. Craven Moorehead, Your Words Will Live On Forever
STEVEN TYLER READS BORN TO RIDE
RESET YOUR RRESOLUTIONS
What’s up my BTR friends? It’s a new year and time to put 2023 in the rearview mirror and go full bore into 2024. Mike cleared a few hurdles out of his life last year and is looking forward to less bumps in the road ahead this year.
I, on the other hand, have been riding a bumpless super highway and picking up speed on the downhill slide, enjoying the ride the whole way! I’ve been hitting the social media platforms hard and have over 5000 followers on my Facebook page; Spyke Tales, Rock Tales & Cocktails. If you’re a fan, you should check it out.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my homebase BTR page and have been pecking about our monthly escapades here for 20 years. I may only get 2 or 3 pictures and a page story once a month but in the world of the Internet, my pics and adventures are endless. Mike breaks in, “OK Spyke, are you done plugging yourself? It’s January and we need room for all my resolutions and a few of yours. I’ll start with mine first and then you can chirp in about what you think.
First and foremost I’d like to ask my nonexistent friend dear Luck, can we please reconnect in 2024. It seems like he’s been avoiding me for the past several years. Speaking of avoiding me, I would like to ask dear God to answer my prayers for a FAT bank account and a THIN body. I believe he’s been dyslexic in that request.” I cackle, “you would start with something that is out of your control. They are still BTR 54 | BORNTORIDE.COM
presently looking out for you. Unfortunately many other people have been asking for the same thing and those two have been spreading themselves thin. Believe me, if anyone needs their full-time help, you do! They will both be fully in your corner soon. Now, put those dreams on the back burner and give me something that you CAN control.” Mike babbles, “OK and thanks for popping my bubble you funky colored chicken. Let me just say every year I make resolutions to change myself, this year I’m making resolutions to be myself. If 2023 were a person, I’d sue him for lost wages, pain and suffering. I hope to remember 2023 like it was yesterday. Here’s my abbreviated list about weight loss: 1. I am going to stop buttering my donuts.
2. I will not gain any more weight. Losing weight is such a hard goal, so I figured why not make it easier. First, I’m going to maintain my weight, then ask Alexa how to lose it.
3. Let the brownies cook in the oven for an extra hour while I take a nap. That will burn 2000 calories. 4. Find a more accurate scale, mine keeps reading the same damned numbers. 5. Don’t blame the dryer for my clothes not fitting.
6. Buy new clothes big enough to account for next year’s holidays. 7. Stop saying I can skip the gym today and play Wii boxing.
8. Drive by the gym, actually stop and go in. 9. Use Google to search for a video about how to reset my body back to factory settings.
I squawk, “Dude, you don’t have to do all that. Just practice the put and push method, put the fork down and push yourself away from the table. It works for everybody else! Let me give you my five resolutions and some inspirations:
1. I will not sit in my room all the time while I peck out my articles, I will perch poolside. 2. I will work harder to find time to sleep more. 3. I will start having you buy my lottery tickets at a luckier store.
4. I will spend less than seven hours a day on parrotporn.com. 5. I will stop trying to find a sponsor to pay your bills, even though you are a charity case.
Mike, you need to stop thinking that New Year’s Eve is a life-changing event. If your life sucked last year it’s probably still going to suck this year. You should make a resolution to break your New Year’s resolutions. That way you are succeeding at something! You should also stop procrastinating about procrastinating.
Remember, you can reset your resolutions on January 14 (Orthodox New Year) and February 8 (Chinese New Year). After that you’re shit out of luck! Try to forget that a New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. I pray that your troubles last as long as your resolutions. But if all else fails I hope your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accepts you. I’ll be done pecking out the story shortly then chillin’ in the pool. You need to get off the couch, pull the brownies out of the oven and get the bike out of the garage. It’s time to get my wings in the wind, your knees in the breeze and the Fat Bird 3 wheels rolling down the road. We need some wind therapy to blow out 2023.” -SPYKE
10. Build my biceps by increasing reps of Ding Dong curls to 3 sets of 15.” Do you have a riding pet story? Let us know, Spyke wants to feature them! editor@borntoride.com
RONNIE and EMILY’S
CONGRATULATIONS EMILY! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! MUCH LOVE AND SUCCESS -MOM & DAD
CHRISTIAN MOTORCYCLISTS ASSOCIATION As we ride into the New Year, have you ever heard the phrase “New year, new me”? We always start the new year with hopes and dreams of something new for ourselves; or at least something better. So what will be new for us this year? For me, I am planning one or two out of state rides with friends in a few new destinations. I also have an idea for a new bike modification and a new helmet with a communication system attached. I also look forward to doing things differently this year. This year I will do Daytona bike week in a new way. I am planning to travel in different ways this year including a trailer for my farthest destinations. I am excited for this new year! As we get older, there are other areas of our lives that may need some new things, too. Some include spending more time with loved ones, restoring broken relationships, and taking care of our physical bodies. Others might start performing more regular maintenance on the items they own, traveling more, or learning a new skill. When we look in the Bible, we can also see the Lord making things new. He can take what looks like old and broken things and restore them. Isaiah 43:19 reads, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a
pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” The Lord is able to propel us to a new destination as easily as He can restore the losses in our life. He can bring new people into our lives and He can repair relationships that we regret letting slip away. He is a healer and can bring provisions for our needs. He is more than enough. Just as the Chinese Proverb says “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, let us take the first step on our journey to the “new” things of this upcoming year. Teach’s Takeaway, - Our hopes and dreams can be a reality if we allow God to do His work in our lives. - Let this year be a year of new things that God is leading us to . - The journey through our new year begins with one step. The biker community is rich with people helping people on this journey called life. We at CMA would love to help all of our fellow riders reach new destinations. Let’s pray together for new things in your life and bless your bikes in the process. Ride on. Fellow Soldier in Christ, Wayne (Teach) Masiker Christian Motorcyclists Association wayne.masiker@att.net
Check out BornToRide.com for more articles from Christian Motorcyclists Association
BORNTORIDE.COM | BTR 55
MEET JASMINE PHOTOS BY DANIEL GALLANT
Jasmine Perry is a current waitress at DUKES Brewhouse in Lakeland for the past seven years. Her aspirations are traveling and to be published in a fast and sexy magazine. BTR 56 | BORNTORIDE.COM