Thunder Roads Texas August 2011 by Thunder Roads Texas

The MOST Comprehensive Event Listing Published in Texas!

A Cultural Tradition...

The Texas Icehouse August 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Also Inside:

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Growing Event to Stop Domestic Violence Rising of a Phoenix 2011 Allied Ride

Contents 

August 2011 On the Cover 34 A Cultural Tradition... the Texas Icehouse This Month

Growing an Event to Stop Domestic Violence

Rising of a Phoenix: Rebuilding the West of the Brazos

2011 Allied Ride

Regular Features 6

From the Editor

From the Road

Points Across Texas Snapshots

PigTrails: Learning to Ride

The Scout Report: Motorcycle Oils

Pink Thunder: For the Children (BrandY Valdez)

Monthly Ride Map: Piney Woods “X”

38 40

ThunderCam Joker’s Wild

Resources 23

Event Listing

CENTER - Pull-Out August 2011 Calendar

29 34

Biker Friendly Listing

On the cover: Photo by Bob Cooney.

OWNERS Bob Cooney, CEO/Photography ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan, Editor Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Thunder Roads Texas Main Office 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com

Bonnie Estes - Austin/Hill Country AngelWing1555@yahoo.com 512.673.6679

Reynolds Mansson - Statewide M2Motomedia@gmail.com 210.259.9916

Linda Morris - Houston tatewaci3322@msn.com 713.897.9109

Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes - Houston ThunderRoadsBill@yahoo.com 321.960.6161 Justin Turnage - DFW jtrockone8@gmail.com 254.205.1447

Laura Mae Benson - Houston/Galveston Laura.ThunderRoadsMagazine@gmail.com 979.481.9642 Manuel A. Valladares - DFW MValladares@saferis.net 214.245.6217

Angela Epperson - Waco/DFW AJoyEpperson@aol.com 254.493.3830 James Williams - San Antonio/Hill Country James@TexasMotorcycleAdventures.com 830.708.6198

Amy Conklin - Houston TRM.Amy@gmail.com 832.498.6693 Bob Engler - Plano/DFW Trip@BlackBettysBlog.com 302.229.4156

IN MEMORIAM FEATURE WRITERS Thunder Roads Texas Bob Cooney & Shelly Horan State Edition Owners 4631 Cashel Glen Drive Houston, TX 77069 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Mean Gene Kelton 1953-2010 Feature Writer - Black Leather Blues Thunder Roads Texas 2009-2010

Layout & Design Shelly Horan Top of Mind Marketing 832.585.4045 Top.of.Mind.Marketing@gmail.com Thunder Publishing, LLC Toni & Brian Shearon National Founders 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 615.792.0040 ThunderRoadsMagazine.com Thunder Roads Magazine® is Trade Marked and may not be used in any way without consent from Thunder Publishing. Thunder Roads Magazine of Texas is published by Thunder Roads Texas. All rights reserved. No part of its’ content may be reproduced without written permission. Publisher assumes no responsibility and is not to be held liable for errors beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error, slander of any group or individual, failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond our control, any and all suits for liable, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph. Opinions and claims made by advertisers and authors are their own and do not necessarily represent the policy of Thunder Roads Magazine®, Thunder Publishing, or Thunder Roads Texas. Publisher does not promote the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Ride & live responsibly. Thank you. Thunder Roads Magazine®, Thunder Publishing, and Thunder Roads Texas. Thunder Roads Texas is a wholly separate entity from Thunder Publishing LLC and Thunder Roads Magazine editions in other states. As such, content that runs in other states’ editions has no relation to the content in Thunder Roads Texas. Unless specifically stated, Thunder Roads Texas does not endorse, and is not responsible for, any content in other Thunder Roads Magazine editions.

“Crazy Al” - PigTrails; Elm “Scout” Valle - The Scout Report; Joni “Even Meaner” Kelton, Brandy “Tex” Valdez, Terri Williams (TMRA2)

CORRESPONDENTS Kitti Kluna - Houston; Ron Blansett - Houston; Linda Morris - Houston; Mark Appenzeller - D/FW; Joyce Siegert - D/FW; Brian “Native NYer” - D/FW; Travis “Blydawg” Blythe - D/FW; Dean Downey - Amarillo; Meghan Heller - Austin; Linda Nilsson - East Texas; Chantelle Sandberg - East Texas; George Darcy - Midland/Odessa; Kim Ferris; Shelly “Cricket” Beatty - Spring Branch; Sir Richard Vance - Corpus Christi; Randy McCamey - West Texas; Don Brewer - Livingston; Pete Martinez - Houston; Jason English - Piney Woods; Sean Kester - D/ FW; Roger Bowles - Waco; Lonnie & Pam Fitch - Galveston; Donny Phillips - LaPorte

Last month, we accepted Elm “Scout” Valle’s (Scout Report) resignation and are sad to see him go. September’s issue will house his final article. He’s gone into consulting that has already taken a lot of his time where he can’t make it out to Bike Night like he used to. Now it’s grown to the point that he can’t write monthly. He promises to periodically send something in for our readers. In the meantime, we’re on the hunt for a replacement feature writer and plan to have someone in place to start with the October issue. But I’ll take this opportunity to remind everyone that we welcome reader submissions. You don’t have to be signed on as a correspondent or feature writer. We believe only you know what you want to see in the magazine, so let’s see it! This fall will be a busy one for the Thunder Roads Texas team! We’re sponsoring: • • • • • • • • •

Summertime Bikes & Blues Festival * September 2-4 * Freeport Also – August 13th is their Kick-Off Party at Big Daddy’s Roadhouse in Galveston and our August 18th BIKE NIGHT will be a second “pre-party”. The Texas Rally * September 7-11 * Lyons (Lake Somerville) Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally * September 15-18 * Nacogdoches Tin Star Ranch Rally & Fundraiser * September 16-18 * Fredericksburg Texas Honor Ride Fundraiser * September 24 * Conroe Boo Benefit * October 7-9 * Jefferson Bikers for Bikers Annual Halloween Rally * October 28-30 * Magnolia Lone Star Rally * November 3-6 * Galveston Texas Honor Ride (the ride) * November 12 * Houston to San Antonio

We hope you’ll join us for all this FUN… because I’m not sure we can handle it all by ourselves! We’re working on our 2012 sponsorship schedule. If you are an organizer of an event/rally – no matter where in Texas – and would like Thunder Roads Texas to sponsor your event, please send a sponsorship package to me at the email address below or the mailing address on our Publisher’s Page (across from the Table of Contents). Last month, I joined about 200 other rides in Fort Worth for an 85 miles ride to honor British soldiers from the Terrell British Flight Training School (BFTS). I met a TON of great people, visited the pretty impressive BFTS museum at the small airport, and participated in the cermony at the cemetery. And while we were doing this (in 104 degree weather), six other states and two other countries were doing the same thing at a local Allied memorial/cemetery. You can read about my experience, along with others’, on page 29. A reminder that the Points Across Texas program is coming to an end soon. It’s not too late to get your FREE patch, by submitting only pictures showing that you’ve visited 10 qualified destination points*. You have until January 15, 2012 to submit 2011 pictures. To enter the drawing for a weekend stay at D’Rose Inn & Cabins in the Hill Country, plus some other great stuff, we must receive your entries/pictures by November 1, 2011. For every 10 points*, you get a drawing entry. The drawing will take place and winners notified by November 15th and announced in the December 2011 issue. *Remember, the GOLD Destination points are worth TWO points. Ride safe... and ride with THUNDER ! Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan Editor / Owner Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com Owner, Top of Mind Marketing 832.585.4045 Top.of.Mind.Marketing@gmail.com

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August 2011

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Hi Shelly, I wanted to take a little time to thank you and Bob for all the support and kind words. I love you guy’s, the both of you have been GREAT! The magazine article hit on everything that we wanted to get out to the masses. We are working hard to get everything underway for next year. We already have many vendors resigning, and sponsorship is looking great too. I promise year two you will have a cart to get around on, things were crazy at the show, but we now know what is involved and have a better strategy. The city is still on board and they are helping even more than in the beginning. Shelly,

Sincerely,

One of the best rides around the East Texas Area is at Lake Livingston. I live on Lake Livingston and ride all around the country and discovered that we have a beautiful lake to ride around.

C.J. Van Wart Partner / Owner Infinite Promotions Producer of the South Texas Biker Jam & Expo

I left the house the other day and started on Hwy 190 West went out to Hwy 156 and made a left to go to a biker bar called Pork Chops. Then we left and went to FM 224 to ride out by Wolf Creek Park and followed that road back to FM 156 and made a left. From there we went through Coldsprings and turned on Hwy 150 to go out by the dam. We stopped by the American Legion Hall for a cold one at Camilla across the street from Browders Marine. We then followed the road behind the dam and crossed the Trinity River Bridge and turned left on Hwy 1988. From there we turned left on FM 3126 and road out by Lake Livingston State Park and along the east shore line of the lake. We went to FM 350 and made a left and about a half of a block is the Wet Deck Bar. It is right on the lake so you can take a rest and sit and look at our Lake. Then when we left the Wet Deck we turn left again on FM 3126 and followed it to the Scenic Loop Road which is FM 3277. From there we stopped by the Whirl Wind Club which is where we live but you can keep going and top by Sally’s Bar and FM 3277. Then take a right on FM 2457 and if you are ready for some really good Bar B Q on the left is JR’s. After you get full you can follow FM 2457 and this road will take you back to Hwy 190 where you started. So next time you are looking for somewhere to ride remember your own back yard. Have a safe ride.

I saw the information about the Oldest Town in Texas rally last year in Thunder Roads Texas magazine and decided then that I would go this year. A friend and I rode over on Friday and we stayed at the Days Inn that was advertised on the web site. The rally was awesome. We did the bike parade through town, the poker run (er, you can’t say that) but as usual we didn’t win, but did get to donate to breast cancer research, and heard some of the best music we have ever heard. Every band was great, but especially noteworthy was the Alan Fox Band, Wes Jeans and Lance Rodriquez (possibly the best guitar players ever including, dare I say it, SRV), and I finally got to see Mean Gene Kelton who not only kept his clothes on but put on a great show. The stunt bikers were also excellent. We wrapped up the weekend by doing the loop down to Zavalla, San Augustine and back to Nacagadoches that you published in last month’s magazine. What a beautiful ride. Thanks so much for providing the information on the rally and sponsoring it as well. I look forward to this year’s event. Jim Horn Dallas, Texas

Biker Don

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Hey Shelly,

August 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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Sponsored by

Deadlines Are Looming... GOLD DESTINATIONS Each worth 2 points D’Rose Inn & Cabins PO Box 720 Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.5246 www.droseinn.com Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Rd Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 www.friocanyonmotorcycleshop.biz www.bentrimgrill.com

Goe Harley-Davidson 1350 S 288B Angleton, TX 77515 281.393.1000 www.goeharley-davidson.com Goe Kawasaki 1350A S Hwy 288B Angleton, TX 77515 www.goekawasaki.com Iron Hawg Saloon 6109 E FM 1462 Rosharon, TX 77583 281.595.2121 www.ironhawgsaloon.com

Frisco Custom Cycles 6427 Main St Frisco, TX 75034 214.387.0650 www.friscocustomcycles.com

Retreat Hill Cellars 14343 Liberty St Montgomery, TX 77356 936.449.5285 www.retreathill.com

George’s Bar & Grill 2031 Plantation Dr Conroe, TX 77301

Tommaso’s Italian Grill 507 N Gordon St Alvin, TX 77511 281.331.6262 www.tommasositaliangrill.com

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August 2011

e are quickly coming to the end of the year. Have you submitted your Points Across Texas photos yet? Remember... for every 10 photos submitted, you receive an entry for a drawing to win stuff like a weekend stay at D’Rose Inn & Cabins! Drawing will be held in November. Winners will be notified via email/phone and announced in the December 2011 issue. All submissions must be received no later than November 1, 2011 to be entered into the drawing. To receive your FREE 2011 Points Across Texas patch, 10 qualified phhoto submissions must be received by January 15, 2012.

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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Learning to Ride love the mentality of people who suddenly feel they want to ride motorcycles. Most of these folks should keep their comments to themselves. There is a tremendous amount of pride that goes along with what we do! I have heard things like when I get my bike I plan on doing stunts on it! What a dumb ass. Maybe you should learn how to ride the thing first. People have told me that the Harley Ultra Classic I own is for old people. Hey I’m getting old that’s cool. I actually feel the Ultra Classic is the ultimate motorcycle for smart riders who have survived the antics of youth and adrenaline riding style and this is now the rewards of respect for all things motorcycle! It’s too bad that there are too many bikers out there for the wrong reasons. And give the responsible ones a bad name!

a huge fan of this process. The idea is awesome! For the most part they are going to put you on a very manageable ride; usually a small bike like the Honda Rebel. At least when you dump this little bike you can pick it back up really easily. Once you’re done with the course, go get your motorcycle endorsement for your driver’s license. The only thing you have to do is go down to the DPS and take your written test and you can go for a ride that night. This is the smart way to learn to ride. [Editors Note: The classes are now a requirement for obtaining a motorcycle endorsement in Texas.] Many schools offer advanced classes that go deeper into cornering and braking techniques. Just take it slow even after you finish the course and begin to ride! Remember everyone else is in a big ass hurry, but you don’t have to be.

Now I am no saint when it comes to my own actions growing up or my doing something stupid in my earlier riding years. But I have paid my dues; whether it be fines to the all mighty law or the reality of a trip to the emergency room. I just feel that the youth of the day does not listen to experience. It’s like telling your young son he cannot have a BB-Gun because he will shoot his eye out (A Christmas Story). I love that movie! I try my best to keep from preaching and stick to commonsense talk about the smart way to begin the adventure of motorcycling. One thing I do know for sure… the adventure of riding is to ride another day! I say this every time I mount my ride.

Here are some dos and don’ts… Don’t perform stunts on public streets in the city. Are you kidding me!? There are a million miles of roadways out in the country where you can crash your ass off and not hurt a chipmunk; much less some innocent person on the roadway. There are also closed courses that are meant for this type of activity. Do have fun. Don’t ever try to prove your ability to ride in a group setting. Believe me we don’t care how good you are. But when you put one of us off the side of the road we then care a lot about how bad you are. Safety first when in a group setting.

This is what I feel you should do… first learn how to ride. There are many riding schools in the state of Texas and I am

Do take your time! Believe me you have all the time in the world. Most mistakes happen when you don’t wait just a

minute longer to make sure your situation is all clear and you do not have to make quick decisions. Do have health insurance! For goodness sake, if you are on a motorcycle you better have good insurance. It’s just part of it. You don’t know how valuable it is until you need it most! Do enjoy yourself! My daughter, Treasure Bunch, is getting married this September. Her husband-to-be is Bryan Ford. I introduced my girl to riding many years ago and she is a true fan of the open road and the lifestyle of the American Biker. Bryan on the other hand has not ever thrown a leg around a steel horse. This is sad! I am going to have to do something about this. As they read this column this month, I will hand Bryan his papers for a prepaid pass to the rider’s course located in North Richland Hills. The company is called Top Guns Rider Course Center of Texas! I have known of this company for a long time and know many riders who went through their program. I have only heard good things about the way they operate and put on their classes. Check out the website at RiderCourse.com to find out more about their offerings. I can’t wait to enjoy my favorite activity with new members of my family. By the way… Treasure I approve the match. Bryan you are a good man and I welcome you to my family! Alan and Paula Bunch together forever!

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Total Control Class taken by Bob Cooney, TRT CEO, in Houston, June 2009 (rider on left). Photos taken by Shelly Horan. Page 12

August 2011

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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Motorcycle Oils hether you ride in the blistering heat or biting cold, the right motorcycle oil can increase your machine’s performance and longevity. Changing the oil in your bike may be a pain in the butt but it is one of the most important things you can do for it over time. Oil in the motorcycle not only keeps the engine running smooth but it also lubricates the gearing. Motorcycles are different from automobiles in that both the gearbox and engine share the same oil. This makes the oil more susceptible to increased heat stress and viscosity breakdown. With so many types of oil available for your motorcycle; it leaves bike owners with a myriad of questions and confusions. The Right Oil The first step is to make sure you get the right oil for your motorcycle. Motor oils come in grades (or weights). Each grade is rated for ignition compression (for diesel engines), spark ignition (for gasoline engines), or for both types of engines. Oils can be synthetic or natural; can include detergents; be multi-grade (20W-50) or single grade (50); and made for motorcycles or cars. There is a huge debate on whether you can use car oil on a motorcycle, but the safest bet is to follow your owner’s manual and simply use motorcycle oil. The engineers and manufacturers of your motorcycle probably know more about it than an internet blogger. There are many brands out there, but we will get into that in a bit. I suggest using full synthetic oil (for modern bikes not for older models) since synthetic holds its properties much better than a natural oil. Maintenance on four strokes is simple. Drain the oil while it is still warm. Remove the filter and replace with a new one (use a recommended filter). Watch very carefully that he filter is sealed well. Check your owner’s manual for more tips. The Contenders! Most bikers use Amsoil and I must admit they are a great oil but are they really worth it. I have used both Amsoil and Mobil 1 in my motorcycle. They are both great oils but let’s take a closer look. Amsoil claims to be the best motorcycle oil in the industry. In fact they have published several white papers comparing the Amsoil oil to top competitors like Royal Purple, Mobile

1, Castrol, Valvoline, and Motul. But for the purposes of this article I will only compare the top two oils here; that’s right you guessed it: Mobile 1 and Amsoil. Mobile 1 has been well known to be used in major race car circuits, but will it stand up against Amsoil. The one great thing about Amsoil is that they produced the world’s first API qualified synthetic motor oil in 1972. This gives them the advantage of being the first and having many years of experience and research. Mobil 1 on the other hand, has been creating oil since 1920 but specifically for automobiles. Both Amsoil and Mobil 1 motorcycle oil provides wet clutch lubrication, high engine RPM and heat protection, as well as multi-functional use. Below is a quick comparison guide for the two motorcycle oils. (Source Data: “A Study of Motorcycle Oils. Second-Edition. 2009. Amsoil Power Sports Group.) • Published Viscosity Protection for Amsoil is 6.02 cP and Mobile 1 is 5.94cP – which is a difference of just 0.08. In this case a higher value is better. • Published Wear Protection for Amsoil is 0.40mm and Mobile 1 is 0.65mm – a difference of 0.25. In this case lower is better. • Published Oil Cleanliness for Amsoil is 11.11 TBN and Mobile 1 is 10.01 TBN – a difference of 1.10. Higher is better. • Published Oxidation Stability for Amsoil is 500 and Mobile 1 is 500 – no difference. Higher is better. • Tested 15 motorcycle oils in 10 categories. Amsoil placed first in 5 Categories and Mobil 1 placed first in 5 Categories as well. Amsoil is priced in the range of $10-$12 a bottle and for the most part can only be bought through a preferred distributor which are difficult to find or can be bought

online. Mobile 1 is priced between $10-$13 a bottle can be found at any major retailer like Advance Auto Parts, Walmart, and online as well. So what does this all mean? Well bottom line is that you cannot go wrong with either Amsoil or Mobil 1. I was surprised however, how low Royal Purple scored on the charting. The scoring between Amsoil and Mobil 1 is very close, but there was one significant factor that made me switch from Amsoil to Mobile 1. The fact that I could not readily find Amsoil at retail stores, made if very difficult to acquire the quarts I needed for an oil change. With Mobil 1, I was able to go to a local Walmart or Advance Autozone and pick up what I needed. This is why I chose Mobil 1 for my motorcycle. Conclusion No matter what oil you use for your motorcycle, make sure you follow your motorcycle owner’s manual and use the recommended oil weight. Remember that full synthetics offer more protection than standard non-synthetic oils. But you cannot go wrong with either Mobil 1 or Amsoil. For sales information about these products you can visit their websites. This is the Scouts Report signing out and “See you on the high ground!”

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I just wanted to thank you for letting me write for TRTM and it was a great experience. Due to circumstances my last article I will provide will be at the end of the third quarter which will be for the September issue. Consider this my letter of resignation. I do really appreciate everything. I am going back into consulting which will prevent me from having a lot of free time to write. Again, thanks for all the good times, and you guys will always be in thought and prayers. Respectfully, Elm V. From Editor: We have enjoyed having Elm as a valuable part of our team and are sorry to see him go. But we understand life’s ups-and-downs and wish him nothing but the best with his consulting business. We are working to find a writer who can commit to a monthly article, still rviewing products and services. As of going to print, we’re still accepting applications. Watch our Web-zine and Facebook page for updates. If you’re interested, please contact our editor via email: shelly@ thunderroadstexas.com. Page 14

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EVENT

For the Children

Brandy “Tex” Valdez. TRT Feature Writer & Stunt Biker Extraordinaire from El Paso, TX

ince I’ve been mostly out of state with my street bike freestyle and drag racing ventures, I haven’t had the time to do hometown events. I wanted to give something back to my local community so on June 25, I teamed up with the Organized Chaos Motorcycle Club and Santa Teresa Motorsports to hold an extreme event which benefitted the Lee & Buelah Moor Children’s home. I first got into contact with the children’s home earlier in the year knowing that I wanted to help them out in some way after taking a tour and meeting some of the kids that resided there. What a better way to help out while having fun at the same time? The fundraising weekend included everything from bikini babes, an extreme street bike stunt show, and live bands. Saturday began with a poker run which started off at Hooter’s and included nearly 100 sport bikes and cruisers. The weather forecast for that day was 107, but a digital thermometer at the event climbed up to 111 scorching degrees. To beat the heat, spectators enjoyed the festivities under some shade and helped themselves to the food vendor on site. At one point to get some of the kids riled up, I started filling water balloons for them (to be honest for myself too), but as fast as I could fill them they were being thrown at whoever they could hit. I tried stockpiling for a water balloon fight, but every time I filled one up, off it went to unexpectedly cool someone down. Pro stunt rider Andrew Jaramillo out of Las Cruces, NM and I put on a stunt riding show every hour in front of the dealership. Even though it was so hot out, I followed my motto, “I would rather sweat than bleed,” and threw on my ice water soaked gear. While rocking out to SAFO’s and The Coalition bands’ music, we entertained the crowd with rev limiter burnouts, wheelies, stoppies, and acrobatics which even made traffic slow down on the main street and pull over to watch the insanity. I decided to experiment with my drifting skills which made me slide out a couple of times. While pulling off a circle wheelie, Andrew had a spill due to some sand in the riding area and some serious sleep deprivation, but his dedication to the kids shined through when he forgot about himself and did it for the kids. No serious injuries were sustained because, well, we wreck bikes professionally. The models hired for the event showed up in the afternoon and the bikes lined up to be washed including a few jaw dropping custom street bikes and Harleys. Fortunately for the guys, the bikini clad cuties washed the bikes next to shaded seating but I think next time, I’m going to push for some male volunteers to help out for the lady riders that show up. My only concern is the selection of biker men that will be chosen and the physical pain from seeing a bunch of hairy men using their chest hair and beer bellies as a sponge. Maybe I could hold tryouts because I have a few bikes and a truck they could practice on. Think of the children, right? I know I would throw down some money to see one or two half-naked Texan hunks wash my bike. A big thanks goes out to Organized Chaos Motorcycle Club. They were a huge factor in planning the whole event and when it came time to donate, there were members pulling significant amounts of money out of their own pockets. In total, the proceeds neared $600 which will make a difference in the lives of the children living at the home. Page 16

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People from different walks of life, including a lot of our men and women in the military, came out to enjoy the fun knowing that it was all for the kids. It’s great to see all the different bikes, all the different styles, and all the different people coming together for a great cause, and not staying behind because, “They don’t ride with Harleys,” or “Biker clubs/bikers are bad people.” I thank them for leaving that

behind. I also thank the people who came out by themselves or with a loved one just to come out and did it just to kick back and relax with people that all have something in common, motorcycles.

 ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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EVENTS Page 18

August 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Growing an Event to Stop Domestic Violence By Digger O’Dell, Reader Submission

n 1999, Jimmy and Mary Cowart, owners of The Brown Saloon in Alvin, asked me to DJ and put together entertainment and security for a benefit at their bar. The benefit was on behalf of the Women’s Center of Brazoria County (WCBC) for abused women. It turned out really good and raised quite a bit of money to help the WCBC. A few years later (2003) a riding buddy of mine, Raul “Pinball” Hinz asked if I had any ideas on something we could do to help the community. I immediately thought about the WCBC. First need was for an auctioneer. Kenneth “Tinman” Ledbetter is the best I’ve ever seen; he can talk money out of a rock. It helps that he looks and sounds like a shorter version of Sam Elliot. I called him and pitched the idea. He said, “Hell yeah! Let’s do this!” And so it began. That year, the benefit was held at the Hour Glass Club in Alvin. We contacted our friends and started to put it together. With only 13 volunteers to run the event, it went over great. The following year (2004) Kathi Perkins, an advocate for the WCBC and a dear friend, asked if we were going to do another one. Tinman looked at me and we said “Sure thing!” From 2003 to 2009 the fundraiser moved to different bars around Brazoria County. In 2005, Tinman and his wife Karen “Sunshine” took over, while I headed to Iraq for the three years. With their efforts, and those of the many volunteers we now have, the event has grown immensely. 2011 will be the 9th year. It has grown each year, from a one-day event in 2003 to a three-day extravaganza over the last five years. It’s so big now that the only place big enough to have it is the Brazoria County Fairgrounds in Angleton, our second year there. Volunteers include bikers, cowboys, politicians, Brazoria County Sheriff Department, Alvin Fire Department, Alvin Police Department, other law enforcement departments in the surrounding areas, regular civilians from the community, from across Texas, from other parts of the state, and even a few folks I worked with in Iraq and other countries; all working together to stop domestic violence of any kind. “The WCBC was established in 1982 to provide services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. We work to prevent these crimes through advocacy and education. The Women’s Center operates two shelters in Brazoria County for battered women and their children. We also provide services out of five offices that are conveniently located throughout the county. Services are comprehensive and include group and individual counseling, twenty-four hour hospital accompaniment, a supervised visitation program, and a variety of other services designed to help victims regain control of their lives.” Some startling statistics (nationwide, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; NCADV. org): • One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. • An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. • Females between 20-24 years old are at greatest risk. • While 85% of domestic violence victims are women, children and men are among those that need help. • Children are victimized by physical assault, or just as bad, witnessing the assault on their parent.

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

• Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults. • Most cases are never reported to law enforcement, estimated at less than one-fifth of violence that resulted in injury. • Almost one-third of female homicide victims that are reported in police records are killed by an intimate partner. • The cost of this violence exceeds $5.8 million each year, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services. This year’s benefit (9th Annual) is scheduled for August 12-14 (rain or shine) at the Brazoria County Fairgrounds (901 South Downing St, Angleton, TX 77515). Admission and parking are free. Activities include a BBQ cook off, escorted motorcycle ride, live auction, car and bike show, live music all weekend, raffles and a “lotto hat.” Also, we’re selling tickets to win a 2011 harley-Davidson Super Glide

Custom with trailer. Tickets are only $10 and the drawing will take place Saturday, August 14 at the benefit. You do not have to be present to win. Visit WCBCBenefit.org for more information and updates. Make your plans to join us for lots of fund while supporting a great cause. For more information about the women’s center, visit WomensCenterBrazoriaCounty.com, or call Kathi Perkins at the WCBC, 281.585.0904. For questions concerning this year’s benefit: • Kathi Perkins: 281.585.0904 brotherskp@yahoo.com • Digger O’Dell: 832.226.2534 diggeriraq@gmail.com • Beth “Honey” O’Dell: 979.319.0456 diggersgirl@gmail.com • Karen “Sunshine” Ledbetter: 281.844.9100 kchillemi@yahoo.com

August 2011

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EVENT

Rising of a Phoenix By Bob Cooney, TRT CEO

ometimes a guy just can’t get a break. Cactus Jack had no sooner settled into the purchase of his new bar, West of the Brazos (Damon, TX), when it was totally destroyed by fire in May. Many of you read the blog I did on our website describing what happened, most of the rest of you have been filled in by the grapevine. But now I am here to tell you…HE IS BACK!

There is no way to keep a good man down! Back and better is what is happening right now. Jack, along with some really good friends is in process of rebuilding the bar, from the ground up! The slab was done by Buddy Schultz with South Central Concrete (AKA South Central Choppers). The metal building is being rebuilt pretty much by the towns people of Damon (isn’t that fantastic!), along with a lot of help from Damon Dave of The Texas Rally.

Currently the bar is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday under a 20x60 tent. Yep, they are serving cold beer as usual with the re-building process going on in the background. At the current rate, Jack expects to move into the new building sometime in August, with the kitchen opening soon after. Everyone should be happy to know that Roxy, the dog that Jack inherited with the bar, is doing fine and is hard at work helping rebuild her new home. If you are looking for a place to ride, make sure to add the West of the Brazos to your list of “must hit bars”, buy a beer or two, and give Roxy a head pet. Also, make sure you say hello to Catus Jack, he needs your support.

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EVENT

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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EVENT

Event Listing

The MOST comprehensive motorcycle event listing published in the State of Texas! Brotherhood of Bikers Too Broke Party 254-230-7417 Mexia Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Waco

Vets and Hawgs Bike RallyHogFollies.com Cleveland Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

End of Summer Block Party GrueneHarley.com New Braunfels Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

4B Wild West Bike Rally 806-831-2409 Brownfield Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Lubbock

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Toledo Bend Lake-Fin and Feather Lake-Resort.com Hemphill Region: Piney Woods Metro: Beaumont

Photo submissions for drawing entry deadline is November 1, 2011. To get your FREE patch, 2011 pics must be received by January 2012.

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“The Original” Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT -AND- Summertime Bikes & Blues Kick-Off Party #2 ThunderRoadsTexas.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Our monthly (third Thursday) biker party with a few hundred of our closest friends! Held at Concert Pub North (2470 FM 1960 West, Houston, 77069. Co-hosted by Outlaw Dave. Organizers from the Summertime Bikes & Blues Festival will be on hand giving out goodies, selling raffle tickets for the bike, which will be on display, and more! Stage games this month will be BLUES TRIVIA… so study-up! Live music, vendors, door prizes, and MORE! LARGE reserved motorcycle-only parking, with plenty of cage parking, too. Rain or shine… the BEST and longest continually held bike night in Houston!

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Summertime Bikes & Blues Kick-Off Party #1 Facebook.com/ SummertimeBluesFest Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Brought to you by Summertime Bikes & Blues Festival, all their sponsors (including Thunder Roads Texas) and hosted by Big Daddy’s Raodhouse – the newest hot spot in Galveston! Live music starting at 3pm. Chicken Coop (or is it “poop”?) Bingo, tricycle races, ballon games (almost everyone will win), cash prizes, door prizes, free hot dogs and hamburgers (while they last), beer specials all night long… and BYOB to Big Daddy’s which offers set ups.

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Iron Cuff Rally ReguladoresSCT.webs.com La Grange Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Austin

70th Annual Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis.com Sturgis, SD

TCMA Motorcycle Show TexomaCruisers.webs.com Vernon Region: Panhandle Metro: Wichita Falls

East Texas Choppers BIKE NIGHT EastTexasChoppers.net Terrell Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth The Dallas-area Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT! Join Randy and the crew at East Texas Choppers in Terrell for live music, vendors, food, drink specials, giveaways and more! Thunder Roads Texas correspondents will be there when avaialble…don’t forget to get a picture with them for your Points Across Texas™ entry. This is a great venue – a good ride – and just plain FUN… THUNDER-style! Blue Jean Fun Run TheFellowshipTC.com Texas City Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Dog Days Of Summer GWRRATXChapterI.com Jefferson Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview

EVENTS

Motorcycle Night @ Astros Game Astros.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

9th Annual Women’s Center Brazoria County Benefit WCBC.org Angleton Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Benefit Biker Run 979-559-0040 Damon Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Periodic Mayhem Party PhoenixMC-DFW.com Venus Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

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2nd Annual Ain’t Going to Sturgis Backpack Run 281.479.0900 Deer Park Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

H2O Rally In The Crater RallyInTheCrater.com Mt. Enterprise Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview

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Hogfest HogfestBikeRally.com Rotan Region: Panhandle Metro: Abilene 1st Annual Red Hot Road Rally CCHC-VIM.org McKinney Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Military Freedom Run 210-617-5107 San Antonio Region: South Texas Metro: San Antonio North Texas Feed the Kids Food Drive TXRHT.org/event Mansfield Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth August 31-September 5 Ignacio Bike Week IgnacioBikeWeek.com Ignacio, CO

Find us, Befriend us, Follow us, Join us!

Continued on Page 26... August 2011

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Monday

Tuesday

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Ain’t Goin’ to Sturgis Backpack Run Deer Park

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Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis SD Aug 8-14

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September 2011

9th Annual Women’s Center Brazoria County Benefit Angleton

Summertime Bikes & Blues Kick-Off Party #1 Big Daddy’s Galveston

East Texas Choppers BIKE NIGHT Terrell

July 2011 T

Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT & Summertime Bikes & Blues Pre-Party #2 Houston

Multiple-day events appear on the first day of event. For details on these and other events, see our Event Listing, Page 23.

Calendar Sponsored by Walker Texas Lawyer * 713.552.1117 * WalkerTexasLawyer.com

Ignacio Bike Week Ignacio, CO Aug 31-Sep 5

7th Annual Lost Pines Motorcycle Run 512-303-0689 Bastrop Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Austin A Season of Hope Bike Rally TheSeasonOfHope.org Decatur Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Annual 9-11 Event Combat Veteran Motorcycle Assn. 469-254-0294 Lewisville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Thunder Rally of Texas ThunderRallyOfTexas.com Austin Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin Temple All Harley Party Drags TexasScooter.com Temple Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Temple It’s “The Original Texas Style Party Drags” … an all Harley run what you brung at Little River Dragway, just 9 miles South of Temple on Hwy 95. $35 weekend preregistration; $40 weekend at the door; $20 day pass. Vendor space still available. Swap meet, field meet, live music, nitro Harley’s, bike show, bikini contest, JLBB Band & Ministry Sunday morning.

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The Golden Aspen Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM

Biker Bash Texas BikerBashTexas.com Granbury Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

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Hunt County Run for the Red HuntCountyRunForTheRed.com Commerce Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

The Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally OTTRally.com Nacogdoches Region: Piney Woods Metro: Tyler Great musiic by Iron Cowgirl Missy (her only 2011 Texas gig), Big Wampum with blues guitar legend Rusty Burns, Modoc, and MORE. All your favorite rally activities including vendors, stunt exhibitions, onsite camping, and more. This year, Riding for Teal rides are being organized around Iron Cowgirl Missy’s arrival at the fairgrounds. Visit the OTT website to sign up. PRE-REGISTRATION ENDS September 2 – so don’t wait! Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

The Texas Rally TheTexasRally.com Lyons Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Bryan/College Station It’s a Luau and Biker Bash at Big Creek Park & Marina! Free Luau dinner Saturday night. Great live entertainment, biker games, bike contests, feasts, parades, and CASH giveaways! Camp decorating contest. Proceeds benefit the Texas Biker Relief Organization (T-Bro). The Zoo (RV camping) sells out quickly – better reserve today! Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Hot Springs Rally TheHotSpringsRally.com Hot Springs, AR

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Tin Star Ranch Rally & Fundraiser TinStarRanch.com Fredericksburg Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin This year, the organizers honor Robert Castro, who is the original founder of this fundraiser. Live music by John Austin Hardaway and Chrome Pony. 50/50 drawing, bike games, vendors, good food, cold beer, raffle, poker run and more. Pre-register and get a free T-shirt,, poker run card & a patch – only $25. Register at the gate includes poker run card & patch. Children under 12 free. Extra poker run card(s) $5/each. Proceeds benefit Texas CASA. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Summertime Bikes and Blues Festival FreeportBluesFestival.com Freeport Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston It’s all about the BLUES! Live blues music all weekend long, brought to you by the VFW Post 4341 and Freeport Main Street. Raffle with grand prize of a 2011 Harley Softail Heritage Classic. Tickets are on sale NOW (visit the website for more information). Bike wash, bike games, food, vendors, giveaways, and new this year, a Swap Meet by Texas Scooter Times (to be a vendor, visit TexasScooterTimes.com or call 254.687.9066) and a classic car show. More fun for everyone. Great for families. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Texas Honor Ride Fundraiser TexasHonorRide.org Conroe Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Houston

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Brown Bag Buddies Benefit SJHRLiberty.com Liberty Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston 11am-7pm at the Elks Lodge in Liberty (650 FM 563/Wallisville Rd). Live bands, auctions, food, bike wash, vendors, 50/50 raffles, horseshoe competitions, and MORE! Benefiting the Dayton ISD and Texas Lions Camp.

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Rumble on the River BikerRalliesOfTexas.com Bandera Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio All the fun you’ve come to expect from Biker Rallies of Texas! Held at Mansfield Park in Bandera, this is one of the “must” rallies of the year! Bike show, biker games, wet t-shirt and naughty nighty contests, tattoo contest, burn out pit, live concerts, vendors, plenty of RV & tent camping. This year – Thursday night meet & greet party! Pre-register online for only $35/person for the weekend and get a free t-shirt.

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EvenT Listing

Bikes, Blues & BBQ BikesBlusandBBQ.org Fayetteville, AR

Myrtle Beach Fall Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC Texas National Motorcycle Rally TNMRally.net Baytown Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

FUTURE

October 7-9 Boo Benefit BooBenefit.org Jefferson Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview A long time Texas favorite and one of the largest “unsung” rallies we have! Online pre-registration is going on now. And you can purchase your chance to win a 2011 HarleyDavidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide with Diamond C Custom Trailer. Vendor spots are going fast, but still available as of going to print this issue. Live music, great bars, loads of vendors, and just plain FUN! And not to mention the great riding roads through the East Texas Piney Woods – just beautiful! Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! October 13-16 Biketoberfest Biketoberfest.com Daytona, FL

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

October 28-30 10th Annual Halloween Party BikersForBikers.com Magnolia Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Houston A Houston-area (and beyond) favorite. Held at beautiful, wooded Bikers Park, just north of Magnolia. Activities include poker run, field events, kids events, costume contest, bike show, Saturday night meal, live music, live auction, rifle auction, male/female long distance awards and more. All proceeds benefit bikers in emergency situations. $22 pre-registration includes entry for $50 lottery drawing. At the door is $25. Children under 2 free. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! November 3-6 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally LoneStarRally.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston We are once again headig to Galveston for our second year of being a major sponsor. Tons of vendors, cruising down the seawall, revving down The Strand ($10 parking pass required), great bars, various rides around town, inclduing the Outlaw Dave Ranch Ride, Rats Hole Bike Show, tatoo shops & contests, live music, bike giveaway, celebrity bike builders, and MORE!

November 12 Texas Honor Ride - The Ride TexasHonorRide.org Houston/San Antonio Region: Gulf Coast/South Texas Metro: Houston/San Antonio The entire year of fundraising activities culminates in a 200 mile, 4 hour, 600+ motorcycle ride from Houston to San Antonio. The ride is not only for the camaraderie of bikers, but for the organizers to formally hand over the year’s fundraising “check” to those at the Brooke Army Medical Center. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! About Our EventListing: Basic Event listings are FREE. Premium Event Listings (bold and up to 75 word description) are only $25/month. Send your event to: events@thunderroadstexas.com. To be included in the print version, information must be received by the 10th of the month prior to the month in which the event is scheduled or the month before you wish a Premium Event Listing to appear. Events must have some motorcycle element. Subscribe to our FREE Web-zine for updates with events that don’t make print, two weeks’ worth of events are provided every week to your email inbox. You can always visit our website to download a list of the “next two weeks” events.

EVENTS

Thunder Roads Texas does not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided and cannot be held liable. Things change, there may be typos, and weather happens. So before you climb on your steed and ride to one of these events, contact the organizers and verify the latest information.

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

2011 Allied Ride 3 Countries, 7 States... One Mission

or the third year now, the UK and Texas have particiapted in a joint ride to honor Allied service men and women that never made it home. As of print, we have these pictures to offer. This year, Canada and six other states joined the ride. There are plans for at least two more countries and additional states to join as well.

Shelly

The Allied Ride.org site has photos and videos from the various rides, adding more as they get them. This year, our editor, Shelly Horan, particpated in the Texas ride. Next year’s date is still being worked out, so watch their website for updates. Make your plans now. This is a very moving and interesting ride. If you’re interested in starting an Allied Ride in your area, contact George “Tank” Sherman (information on their website).

 “Tank” and Shelly

I just wanted to let you know how much Ed and I enjoy today. Our 11 yr old grandduaghter had never been or seen anything like this before and in her words it was “cool”. Not only did she see a run, but she also had a history lesson. One that she would not get in school. She walked away in total humbleness knowing because of those 20 soldiers, she has her freedom along with every other soldier that has died in the name of Freedom.

Texas

Thank you so much! Sue West AMRR Texas Rider

My old friend, Albert “Bert” Sims was brought to Ponca City from Enid by his daughter who lives in Oklahoma City so I appreciate her efforts to help her dad attend. Bert was in Course 7 at Darr School and knew one of the men who is buried at the IOOF here - John Swain. When it came time to present the flowers on each grave, Bert chose to honor his classmate. Bert will be 90 years old in October. He returned to Ponca City after the war and married his American sweetheart and the couple had 5 daughters. He worked for Conoco Oil Company, moving to Houston for many years and then retiring to Enid. He attends all our Memorial Day ceremonies and presents the poem “High Flight” by John McGee.

Oklahoma

Bert does not hear well and I am not sure what he was getting himself into when he accepted to participate in this remembrance ceremony. He and his daughter rode in my car as we followed the bikes and he kept laughing and saying “Paula, I don’t know what you have gotten us into!” I replied that it was wonderful to be our ages and still find new and different things to do in our lives and that they certainly were not dull. After the ceremony Bert was invited to ride back to the American Legion by Bill Cantrell and sure enough, Bert rose to the challenge, and with help he climbed on to the three-wheeler. Pretty soon he was whisked away to the American Legion. He enjoyed the ride and now has something else to tell his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren about! Paula Carmack Denson Ponca City, OK

Canada

New Hampshire Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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EVENTS

Pi n e y Wo o d s “ X ”

By Shelly Horan, TRT Editor

RIDE MAP

Some of the information is provided by MotorcycleRoads.us; your one-stop resource for great motorcycle roads in the US.

here are a couple large events coming to the East Texas Piney Woods this fall; the Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally (Nacogdoches; September 1518) and Boo Benefit (Jefferson; October 7-9). So, we’re giving you a map from the area to take along with you. It’s an “X” crossing through the small town of Harleton. Do both runs in a single day or

do one “cross” during the OTT Rally and revisit the area during the Boo Benefit. Either way – they promise to be great roads and a good time. The first leg of our “X” runs along FM 450, from Ore City to Hallsville. This is approximately 27 miles, with about 1 hour of ride time. The route has been described as “great high speed sweeping turns up and down hills with very scenic desolate roads.” Ore City was first settled in the 1850s by the Murray League, a Methodist Episcopal group out of Tennessee. After the Civil War, rich iron ore deposits were discovered in the area. Sporadic and minimal mining efforts were taken up from the 1860s to about 1910. It was then that Colonel LP Featherstone set up shop with a full scale mining effort to go after the ore. He encouraged the Santa Fe Railway to finance a railroad link to Port Bolivar to help export

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

the ore. In 1911, the railroad purchased land for the city and planned it out. Unfortunately, World War I halted further expansion of the rail lines and the ore company failed. The town got a brief respite when the US government built a steel plant to mine the ore to build weapons and vehicles for WWII. But the war ended just as the plant was completed and it was sold to a Texas group who operated it as the Lone Star Steel Company. In 2007, the plant was sold to the US Steel company and it still operated there today. Our “cross-town”, Harleton, has a brief history and is good for a fuel stop, but not much more. It was originally founded as Fontana in 1890. The name was changed to Harleton in 1892, after JW Harle who owned a sawmill operation and built a railroad tram connecting Harleton and Marshall to move the timber from his mill. In 1937, the railroad abandoned the town, but it still grew and in 1946, saw a small revival thanks to a gas field identified and opened nearby. Your final destination, Hallsville is the epitome of a town that

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Piney Woods “X” operates primarily around the education system with Texas tradition of Friday night high school football games the most popular activity in town. The town is so proud of their high school and football team, that the school runs a popular Bobcat Radio that can be listened to from around the world via the internet.

RIDE

MAP

Hallsville was originally Fort Crawford and located one mile west of the current location in 1839. The Fort was built in the “Neutral Zone” between Texas and Louisiana to protect settlers against Indians, renegades, and outlaws. The Neu-

tral Zone was disputed land between the two states and attracted all sorts of not-so-lawful groups. When the Cherokee War broke out in 1839, settlers sought refuge in the Fort. Unfortunately, the Fort’s stores weren’t sufficient for the numbers and many had to leave in order to survive. The original fort site is now located on private land and no ruins can be seen. However, a cemetery still remains there that can be seen from the road. When the Southern Pacific Railway bypassed the Fort location, Hallville was born. The name comes from a railroad officer, Elijah Hall, (as was common for the time period). The town became a hub for the railway, housing offices, and machine shop to service the railroad. Texas and Pacific Railroad purchased Southern Pacific Railway and moved the offices to nearby Marshall in 1872. This caused the population and business to decline. At this time, the town lost its incorporation. In the 1920s, the US Post Office added an “s” to the name, renaming the town to Hallsville and the town reincorporated in 1935. If you visit Hallsville during the first weekend of October, you’ll be in the middle of their annual Western Days. Started in 1972 as a fundraiser for a city park, the event has grown from a one-day local event to a three-day tourist attraction; complete with a street dance, craft booths, downtown parade, chili cook off, bike decorating contest, live bands, a Fun Run, a Civil War reenactment, and a Miss Hallsville Western Days competition. The second leg of our “X” is FM 2208 from Jefferson to Longview. A rider who recently took this route (May 2011) commented that it is… “a nice road, friendly traffic…” and “very scePage 32

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nic, around 40 miles of fun.” It’s about 35 miles long and estimated to take an hour to ride.

(pro-

Jefferson has a significant place in Texas history and has become a tourist destination for a few reasons: 1) they boast the most antebellum era homes for touring; 2) are touted as one of the most haunted places in Texas (see article in our October 2009 issue), and 3) it is considered the Bed and Breakfast Capitol of Texas with no less than 60 B&Bs to choose from in the area. The city was named for Thomas Jefferson and was the largest inland port in Texas during the steamboat era (1845-1875). As a large inland port along the border of Louisiana and Texas, it served an important role in the Civil War, aiding in moving supplies around the Confederacy. With the clearing of the “Great Red River Raft” (as the Caddo Indians called a naturally occurring log jam on the Red River) by the Army Corps of Engineers, the steamboats could no longer reach this once booming port town. Around the same time, railroads were being built, crisscrossing the nation. As with so many other small towns of the era, Jefferson was bypassed by the railroads. These two situations caused population and business to decline. There is a rumor that the town leaders turned down a railroad magnate’s (Jay Gould) attempt to put a railroad through the area. The leaders felt being a vital port was all they needed. Gould bypassed the town though another, more receptive one, close by out of spite. The story is not only unsubstantiated, it has been proven false, but it still persists as folklore in the area. Once boasting about 30,000 residents in its hey-day, Jefferson’s population today is around 2,000. However, that swells in October, as the Boo Benefits hits the small, historic town with about 50,000 bikers. Aside from that weekend in October, there are many tourism activities you can enjoy: take a walking ghost tour; ride in horse drawn carriages and trolleys with historical presentations; ride a steam train taking you back into the 19th Century; tour the historic homes in the area, take a tour of Cypress Bayou (once Cypress River that brought the steamboats into port); visit the local museum; or visit Jay Gould’s private rail car. If you visit in February, you’ll experience Mardi Gras Upriver or if there in May, attend the reenactment of the Battle of Port Jefferson (Civil War; 1864). And, of course with most small historic towns, there is a multitude of antique and boutique shopping and dining experiences.

This route will cross through Harleton, then on to Longview, home of our friends, the Alan Fox Band. They will be playing at the OTT Rally again this year. Originally founded as two rural communities, Earpville

nounced “Arp-ville”) in the east and Pine Tree in the west, today’s small town was created in the early 1870s, when Southern Pacific Railroad extended its track form Marshall into Gregg County. The railroad bypassed Earpville and created a new town to the west on land purchased from Ossamus Hitch Methvin, Sr. Railroad employees called the settlement Longview, thought to be based on a comment made by someone from Methvin’s house, referring to what a “long view” there was from the hill. Apparently it was an impressive view from the house which was located on what is now Center Street. Earpville disappeared from the map, but Pine Tree survived. It was later known as Awalt, Willow Spring, and Greggton; and eventually annexed by Longview in the 1960s. Longview became a hub for multiple railroad lines, so it flourished. During The Great Depression, the town was fortunate to be in the middle of oil fields, so they felt less of the disastrous effects than the rest of the nation. Today, a community movement is working to preserve the oldest buildings in downtown. Along with these buildings, there are interesting places to visit: • Downtown hosts Heritage Plaza, a park with a series of brick walls covering the town’s progress from 1870 through 1970. • Campbell Honeymoon Home – Home of Texas Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell when he married Fannie Bruner while serving as a Gregg County Clerk. • Stagecoach Stop Museum – One of the few remaining homes from Earpville, dating from the 1860s. • Gregg County Historical Museum – Located in the historic Everett Building, originally the Citizens National Bank. • The Post Office Mural – A 1942 “WPA” mural. If you visit Longview in July (okay, so missed this one by a month), you can enjoy the Great Texas Balloon Race. A 32-year event and now the Balloon Federation of America’s Hot Air Competition Division has announced that Longview will be host to the US National Hot Air Balloon Championship, 2012-2014. Thanks to this long-standing tradition, the Texas Governor designated the town as the Balloon Capital of Texas in 1985 (AKA a qualified Points of Texas destination). Hosting a whole bunch of activities, this national event promises to be something to plan for in 2012. We hope you enjoy this “X” route. We’d love to see pictures when you use these maps, so please take a lot and send them to shelly@thunderroadstexas.com. If you have a route to suggest, you can email those as well.

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENTS

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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A Cultural Tradition... The Texas Icehouse By Shelly Horan, TRT Editor

exas icehouses have a unique place in history. The “icehouse” (or “ice house”) was originally just that, they sold ice. The concept was originally developed in Persia, well before electricity, gas, much less home refrigeration was even invented. Buildings were used to store ice throughout the year. The most common designs were underground chambers, usually man-made, and built close to natural sources of winter ice. During the winter, ice and snow would be taken into the ice house and

packed with insulation. It would remain frozen for months, often lasting until the following winter. This allowed access to ice year round. As you can guess, the primary use was for storing perishable foods during the warmer months. Texas ice houses are a unique cultural tradition; no other state has turned these old buildings into anything near what we have. They were originally just the icehouse, producing, and storing ice for individuals and businesses. Over the years, men would stop by the ice house to pick Page 34

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up ice or food for the family. They started storing their beer at these icehouses, enjoying a cold beverage and relaxing a bit before they headed on home. Thus the beginnings of the Texas Icehouse… a local watering hole where folks meet for a cold one. Some icehouses are still purists – serving only beer. Some offer setups; if you prefer to bring in your own stronger spirits. And still others have moved to offer a full bar. Regardless of the beverage choices, all icehouses have some similarities: • They are the local “watering holes” of choice for folks heading home after a long day at work. • There must be a stuffed armadillo, on its back, holding a bottle of Lone Star beer. • Usually outfitted in wood and sheet metal. • Often containing the Coors Light “Texas Ice House” façade. • All sell long necks – the state beverage – iced to perfection. • Lots of neon signs adorn the walls. • Jukebox music for patrons to

• Necessary tongue-in-cheek bar signage, such as: o BAR RULES 1 – Bartender is always right. 2 – If bartender is wrong, see Rule #1. o It’s not a beer belly, It’s a fuel tank for a sex machine o It’s 5 o’clock somewhere! o Free beer… tomorrow.

Some say that an icehouse must have garage doors that are open when the weather is nice. And while this is most definitely an “ambiance” enhancer in many icehouses, it’s no longer a necessity. And with our 100+ degree weather in Texas during the summer, one can no longer require an establishment to keep the doors open. Some bikers will say “suck it up”… while others will welcome the cold respite.

choose their own music. ThunderRoadsTexas.com

If you’re interested in more history, visit the Ice House Museum in Silsbee (818 Earnest Ave, Silsbee, TX 77656). They are on Facebook (Facebook.com/icehousemuseum). The museum is housed in a 1928 icehouse building erected by Gulf States Utilities. The building changed hands in 1943, producing about 30,000 tons of ice a week at the time. Spark Ice Company took over at some point before household refrigeration was available. But once the new invention was popular, sales declined. They continued producing and supplying ice for special events and local businesses. In 1983, the Ice House officially closed and remained unused until 1990. It was then that a group of preservationists took over to refurbish the

badly deteriorating building. In 1991, the Texas Historical Commission gave the old ice house building that houses a historical designation (the only one in Silsbee). Besides being a historical Ice House, the museum exhibits artwork and other historical pieces. They also offer children and adult artwork classes and art appreciation lectures.

WINNER of the drawing for the weekend stay at Koyote Ranch is Trent Cooke. He submitted many different “favorite” locations. Thanks to all who participated and CONGRATULATIONS Trent!

Many now offer live music – at least on the weekends. Some have built enormous stages and music venues, becoming a destination for great live music. And most will be more than happy to host a biker event, especially a benefit. Some offer food, some don’t… but if they do, don’t expect a huge, gourmet menu. Others are very proud of their hamburgers. In addition to music, many offer dominos, pool, horseshoes, and other games to keep you occupied.

In researching this article, I found that you can indeed find ice houses as they were originally defined – they sell ice. One such is the Texas Ice House in Dallas. They offer private refrigerated/freezer space for small food/beverage businesses. We put out a call for readers’ favorite icehouses and/or local watering holes. Some we’ve visited; others we will visit at some point. All are biker friendly and recommended by readers. Take a gander at the list (it’s in alphabetical order) and check out your fellow rider recommendations. When you visit one – make sure they know you saw them in Thunder Roads Texas… and send us a picture!

LIST SUBMITTED FROM READERS 11th Street Cowboy Bar 307 11th Street Bandera, TX 78003 830.796.4849 11thstreetcowboybar.com 146 Roadhouse 3435 Hwy 146 Bacliff, TX 77518 832-864-3788 Facebook.com/pages/146-RoadHouse/188356384516071

Buckhorn Bar & Grill 4377 Hwy 83 South Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.4755 FrioBuckhornBar.com “Allow bikes inside to set up for pics.” Dawgs N Hawgs 310 E Louisiana Street McKinney, TX 75069 972.542.9640 On Facebook

Alamo Bar & Grill 7846 Fallbrook Dr Houston, TX 77086 281.537.7647 www.myspace.com/houstonsalamo

Deer Crossing Saloon 4810 East FM 1518 North Selma, TX 78154 210.651.4541 DeerCrossingSaloon.com

Big Daddy’s Roadhouse 310 19th Street Galveston, TX 77550 713.555.1212 BigDaddysGalveston.com The newest HOT SPOT in Galveston! Owers, Lonnie & Pam (also own VIP Apparel) are great folks - great fun!

Drifters Icehouse 29293 FM 149 Richards, TX 77873 832.754.5788 DriftersIcehouse.com

Bimbo’s 16718 Huffsmith-Kohrville Road Houston, TX 77070 281.370.3037 On Facebook “What happens at Bimbo’s stays at Bimbo’s!” And Bob, our CEO can attest to this statement! Stop by on a Sunday afternoon for their “the sink-and-all” Bloody Mary specials. Bryant’s Ice House 26913 Katy Freeway Katy, TX 77494 281.392.2337 BryantsIceHouse.com Bubba’s Big Deck 1402 Gruene Road New Braunfels, TX 78130 830.627.8816 BubbasBigDeck.com

El Roy Icehouse 266 Bell’s Camp Road Trinity, TX 75862 936.594.0342 On Facebook Fort Half Moon 14369 Recreational Road 4 Somerville, TX 77879 (979) 596-1234 Budasworld.com “They even have cabins so if you twist too many bottles, you don’t have to twist the throttle- you can just stay put!” Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Road 337 West Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 FrioCanyonMotorcycleStop.biz BentRimGrill.com “This is a MUST stop when riding in the Hill Country. Great people and the view of the Texas Hill Country from their back porch is worth it!”

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Knot in the Loop Saloon 236 Ranch Road 1323 Willow City, TX 78675 WillowCitytexas.com “Write anything you want on a dollar bill. They give you a thumb tack and a silver dollar. Then wrap your dollar bill and push the tack through it. The ceiling is about 20 feet high. If you throw the dollar and it sticks, the bar will buy you a beer. If you miss, you buy the entire bar a round.”

Hardtails Bar & Grill 1515 North IH-35 Georgetown, TX 78628 512.869.5454 HardtailsBarAndGrill.com Hawg Stop 11335 Sheldon Road Houston, TX 77044 281.456.7867 HawgStop.com Hilltop Ice House 6520 Highway 190 Point Blank, TX 77364 936.377.2506 On Facebook Icehouse Bar & Grill 2016 North Velasco Street Angleton, TX 77515 979.849.0084 Many submissions raved about their Steak Night. Jailhouse Saloon 310 Preston Spring, TX 77388 281.288.0255 JailhouseSaloonTX.com “An Old Town Spring favorite. Sundays are packed with bikers from all over the Houston area… there for the Charlie Parker Band open mic sessions.” Jimbo’s Roadhouse 35230 Hempstead Highway Hockley, TX 77447 936.372.1113 JimbosRoadhouse.com Joker’s Ice House 704B East Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard Killeen, TX 76541 254.245.9944 JokersIceHouesBarAndGrill.com

Kruzzers Roadhouse 4250 FM 1774 Plantersville (Fetzer), TX 77363 832.797.9882 “Formerly Ray’s and recently purchased by Texas Thunder – who moved to this location and renamed the bar to Kruzzers. Located 3.5 miles North of FM 1488.” Lost Coyote Saloon 6108 Andrews Highway Odessa, TX 79762 432.362.4355 Lost Coyote Saloon II 6100 Andrews Highway Odessa, TX 79762 432.362.0058 Lost Coyote Saloon 3 5710 North County Road West Odessa, TX 79762 (432) 362-0058 Montana’s Saloon 2111 Airport Rd Conroe, TX 77301 936.788.2883 MontanasSaloon.com/Conroe Mothers Speakeasy 3505 Hwy 146 Bacliff, TX 77518 281.559.2040 MothersSpeakeasy.net

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A Cultural Tradition... The Texas Icehouse Neon Moon Saloon 1201 South 16th Street La Porte, TX 77571 281-471-6366 On Facebook Noah’s Ark Bar and Grill 4438 Boulevard Bacliff, TX 77518 281.339.2895 NoahsArkBarAndGrill.com “Located on the water with a great view and motorcycle-only parking. Get the Hot Mermaids… shrimp wrapped in bacon with jalapeno, batter & deep fried, served with ranch dressing – YUM!” Pine Tree Lodge 3296 Pine Tree Road Beaumont, TX 77705 409.796.1600 ThePineTreeLodge.com Poop Deck 2928-1/2 Sewall Boulevard Galveston, TX 77550 409.763.9151 Pop’s Ice House 22210 Loop 494 Kingwood, TX 77339 281.359.7884

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Pork Chop’s Ice House 397 Hwy 156 Point Blank, TX 77364 PorkchopsIceHouseBar.com Redfish Roadhouse 6121 HWY 6 Hitchcock, TX 77563 409.986.9047 RedfishRoadhouse.com New bar that’s making a big splash! The food is exceptional for a local watering hole with a live bands every weekend. Rocky’s Pelican Junction 1307 S. Hwy 146 Baytown, TX 77520 281-837-7122 RockysPelicanJunction.com A favorite haunt of the late Mean Gene Kelton Rolling Thunder Bar & Grill 6441 County Road 2173 Fluvanna, TX 79517 325.573.HAWG (4294) RollingThunderBarAndGrill.com Scooter’s Icehouse 1134 North Main Street Pearland, TX 77581 (281) 485-6124 ScootersIcehouse.com

... continued

Shade Tree Saloon 13430 Hwy 281 N. Spring Branch, TX 78070 830-885-5550 TheShadeTreeSaloonAndGrill.com

The Thirsty Parrot 13200 FM 359 Hempstead (Monaville), TX 77445 979.826.4344 TheThirstyParrot.com

Softtails Bar and Grill 4122w Hwy 80 Terrell, TX 75160 972.524.1055 EastTexasChoppers.net

West of the Brazos 23220 Hwy 36 Damon, TX 77430 979.742.3100 MySpace.com/WestOfTheBrazos An electrical fire associated in May took this biker paradise down to the ground. They are open limited weekend hours and are working hard to reopen with full hours this month. (See article page 21.)

Steel Horse Saloon 18567 N State Hwy 94 Apple Springs, TX 75926 936-831-2332 SteelHorseSaloonOnline.com The Dam Ice House 1718 S Hwy 6 Houston, TX 77077 281.496.1603 TheDamIceHouse.com The Loading Dock Bar & Grill 504 25th St Galveston, TX 77550 409.765.5155 LoadingDockGalveston.com The Spot 3200 Block Seawall Blvd Galveston, TX 77550 409.621.5237 TheSpotGalveston.com

Woody’s Beach Bar 11149 FM 3005/Termini Galveston, TX 77554 409.740.6969 WoodysBeachBar.com Yankees Tavern 10328 FM 244 Anderson (Carlos), TX 77830 936-873-3314 YankeesTavern.com One of the best places for bikers – a true biker destination. Anytime we’ve traveled out of town, this is a stopping place for the ride home.

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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Want to see YOUR mug in our mag? Send pics to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com. Page 38

august 2011

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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A man bumps into a woman in a hotel lobby and as he does, his elbow goes into her breast. They are both quite startled. The man turns to her and says, “Ma’am, if your heart is as soft as your breast, I know you’ll forgive me.” She replies, “If your penis is as hard as your elbow, I’m in room 221.” A Series of Random Thoughts… If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the entire purpose. Is there another word for synonym? What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant? If a turtle doesn’t have a shell, is he homeless or naked? Can vegetarians eat animal crackers? If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent? How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs? One nice thing about egotists: they don’t talk about other people. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? Whose cruel idea was it for the word ‘lisp’ to have an ‘s’ in it? Why are hemorrhoids called “hemorrhoids” instead of “assteroids”?

If you’re not from Texas, some advice to get along with the locals… Get used to the phrase “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” And the collateral phrase “You call this hot? Wait’ll August.” Just because you can drive on snow and ice does not mean we can. Just stay home the two days of the year it snows. If you do run your car into a ditch, don’t panic. Four men in the cab of a four wheel drive with a 12-pack of beer and a tow chain will be along shortly. Don’t try to help them. Just stay out of their way. This is what they live for. Remember: “Y’all” is singular. “All y’all” is plural. “All y’all’s” is plural possessive. If you hear a redneck exclaim, “Hey, y’all, watch this!” Stay out of his way. These are likely the last words he will ever say. Chili does NOT have beans in it. Brisket is not ‘cooked’ in an oven Don’t tell us how you did it up there. Nobody cares. If someone says they’re “fixin” to do something, that doesn’t mean anything’s broken. A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her small daughter was very sick with a fever.

She hugged the man and through her tears she said, “Thank you so much! You are a very nice man.” The man replied, “Lady, I’m just a man. A man who got released from prison today. I was in prison for grand theft auto, and have only been out on the streets for about an hour.” The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, “Oh, Thank You God! You even sent me a Professional”. A little old lady had always wanted to join a local biker club. One day she goes up and knocks on the door. A big, hairy, bearded biker with tattoos all over his arms answers. She proclaims, “I want to join your club.”

The little old lady replies, “Yep... my bike’s parked over there”, and points to a Harley in the driveway.

She didn’t know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened.

The biker asks, “Do you drink?”

The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, “You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door.”

She bowed her head and asked God to send her help.

Three tequila,

As soon as she raised her head, a beat up old motorcycle pulled up, with a weathered and tattered looking bearded man who was wearing a faded skull dew-rag on his head.

August 2011

He said, “Sure.” He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened.

She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.

Two tequila,

The woman explained her situation. “Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?”

The guy was amused, but says she needs to meet certain biker requirements in order to join. The biker asks, “Do you have a motorcycle?”

One tequila,

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The woman sent a silent question up to Heaven, “This is what you sent to help me?” She was desperate, but also, she was extremely thankful. The man got off of his cycle and asked if he could help.

She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication.

The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground. She knew just finding it there was a good sign. She looked at the hanger and said, “I don’t know how to use this.”

Floor.

He had full-sleeve tats on both arms.

The little old lady replies, “Yep... drink like a fish. I’ll drink any man in your club under the table.” The biker asks: “Do you smoke?” The lady replies, “Yep... smoke like a chimney. At least four packs of cigarettes a day while I’m shooting pool.” Very impressed the biker last, “Last question, have you ever been picked up by the fuzz?” The old lady thinks for a minute and says, Nope, but I’ve been swung around by my nipples a few times.”

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EVENT

Biker Friendly

Listed here are businesses that are SERIOUS about serving the Texas Motorcycle Community. The list is set up in categories. Regional and Metro information is included. An “*” means the location is a Thunder Roads Texas distribution point. Visit ThunderRoadsTexas.com to find a full listing of distribution points. Tell them you saw them in Thunder Road Texas!

Accessories & Parts * Stitches 1308 Hwy 6 South Houston, TX 77077 281.558.8572 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Bars & Restaurants * Alamo Bar & Grill 7846 Fallbrook Dr Houston, TX 77086 281.537.7647 www.myspace.com/houstonsalamo Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Boll Weevils 16003 FM 1236 Needville, TX 77461 979.793.6163 www.Facebook.com/Boll.Weevils Region: Closest Metro: Houston * Concert Pub North 2470 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77068 281.583.8111 www.theconcertpub.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Curtis Lowe’s Bar 11800 FM 1960 E Huffman, TX 77336 281.324.7400 Find us on Facebook! Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Rd Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 www.friocanyonmotorcycleshop.biz www.bentrimgrill.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio Points Across Texas GOLD Destination * George’s Bar & Grill 2031 Plantation Dr Conroe, TX 77301 Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Houston Points Across Texas GOLD Destination * Hawg Stop 11335 Sheldon Rd Houston, TX 77044 281.456.7867 www.hawgstop.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Jailhouse Saloon 310 Preston Spring, TX 77373 281.288.0255 www.jailhousesaloontx.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Loading Dock 504 25th St Galveston, TX 77550 409.765.5155 www.theloadingdockbikerbar.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Noah’s Ark Bar & Grill 4438 Boulevard St Bacliff, TX 77518 281.339.2895 www.noahsarkbarandgrill.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Rolling Thunder Bar & Grill 6441 County Rd 2173 Fluvanna, TX 79517 325.573.HAWG (4294) www.rollingthunderbarandgrill.com Region: Panhandle Closest Metro: Lubbock * Rons Relay Retreat 36009 Howell Rd Waller, TX 77484 713.204.8333 www.ronsrelay.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * RPM’s Bar 26210 FM 2978 Magnolia, TX 77354 713.557.1103 Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Houston * Scooters & Shooters 525 E Hwy 29 Bertram, TX 78605 512.355.8070 Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin * West of the Brazos 23220 Hwy 36 Damon, TX 77430 979.742.3100 www.WestoftheBrazos.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Yankee’s Tavern 8703 Ada Oaks Ln Anderson, TX 77830 936.873.3314 www.yankeestavern.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Dealerships & Shops * Cowboy’s Alamo City H-D 11005 IH 35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 800.397.7875 www.cowboysalamocityharley.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio * Cycle Heaven 3770 Hwy 69 N Lufkin, TX 75904 936.634.8404 www.cycleheaventx.com Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Tyler * Harley-Davidson of Kingwood 111 Northpines Dr Kingwood, TX 77339 281.358.0457 www.kingwoodharley.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Harley-Davidson of Waco 4201 S Jack Kultgen Expy Waco, TX 76706 254-753-0393 www.hdwaco.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Waco * Houston Motorsports North 9550 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070 281.890.2020 www.houstonyamaha.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Javelina Harley-Davidson 29078 I-10 West Boerne, TX 78006 800-860-9696 www.javelinaharleydavidson.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio * Legacy Harley-Davidson 12100 W Hwy 80 East Odessa, TX 79765 800.788.6921 www.legacyh-d.com Region: Big Bend Closest Metro: Midland/Odessa * Longhorn Harley-Davidson 2830 West I-20 Grand Parairie, TX 75052 972.988.1903 www.longhornhd.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth

* Mancuso Harley Davidson - Crossroads 12710 Crossroads Park Dr Houston, TX 77065 281.970.9700 www.mancusocrossroads.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Motorcycle Tire Shop 1917 S Hackberry San Antonio, TX 78210 210.533 BIKE (2453) www.motorcycle-superstore.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio * Phantom Rider Choppers 6535 West Hwy 46 New Braunfels, TX 78132 830.228.4606 www.phantomriderchoppers.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio * Potterosa Cycles & ATVs 19447 FM 1485 New Caney, TX 77357 832.971.3728 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Southern Metal Choppers 11116 Middle Fiskville Rd, Ste E Austin, TX 78753 512.833.5044 www.southernmetalchoppers.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin * Team Mancuso Powersports Southwest 7537 Southwest Fwy Houston, TX 77074 713.995.9944 www.tmpsw.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Thunder Alley Cycles 416 NE Wilshire Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 817.295.0955 www.thunderalleycycles.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth * Yamaha of San Antonio 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.655.2625 www.kentpowersports.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

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Biker Friendly Entertainment/Bands * Mean Gene Kelton 901 N Gaillard Baytown, TX 77520 713-866-4872 www.meangenerocks.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Insurance & Attorneys * Ball Insurance 416 S Main St Highlands, TX 77562 800.444.7014 www.ballins.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Farrar & Ball Law Firm; Law Tigers 1010 Lamar, Ste 1600 Houston, TX 77002 713.221.8300 www.lawtigers.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston * Insurance Lady Agency 642 W Rhapsody, Ste A San Antonio, TX 78216 210.403.2216 www.insuranceladyinc.com Region: South Texas

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Closest Metro: San Antonio Walker Texas Lawyer 1924 Portsmouth Houston, TX 77098 713.552.1117 www.walkertexaslawyer.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Lodging & Campgrounds * D’Rose Inn & Cabins Highway 83/Market St Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.5246 www.droseinn.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio Points Across Texas GOLD Destination DUBL-C Guest House (Gastehaus Schmidt Properties) Kerrfille area: Located on Hwy 39 between Ingram & Hunt Ingram, TX 866.427.8374 http://www.fbglodging.com/properties/129/ Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio SPECIAL: Stay 2 nights, get 3rd FREE

Motorcycle Towing * Dragonstar Motorcycle Transportation PO Box 444 Bryan, TX 77806 281.935.8890 www.getaride.net Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station Mission Wrecker 4535 FM 1516 North Converse, TX 78109 210.341.0333 www.missionwrecker.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

Riding Gear/Leather * Moto Liberty - Dallas 11441 N Stemmons Fwy, Ste 201 Dallas, TX 75229 972.243.5995 www.motoliberty.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth * PitStop 13028 Hwy 21 West Austonio, TX 75835 936.661.7518 Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station

Continued... * The Hog Pound 13710 RR 12, #4 Wimberley, TX 78676 512.847.3444 www.thehogpound.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin

Miscellaneous * Barry Claffey - Mullis A/C Houston, TX 281.468.5819 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston Outlaw Dave Productions PO Box 25028 Houston, TX 77265 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

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Listings Starting @ ONLY $149/Year! Call Today: 281.866.8149

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

August 2011

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