Thunder Roads Texas - April 2013 by Thunder Roads Texas

It’s not about the bike... it’s about the RIDE!

HUGE 18-page Event Section Inside!

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Also this month:

 What Lurks Inside that Little Pink Head

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 2 * April 2013

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 3 * April 2013

Page 4

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 5 * April 2013

Contents ď &#x2DC;

April 2013 On the Cover 42 From the Ashes... This Month:

HUGE Events Section, featuring... 20 A Rally to Remember 38 Growing Event Set for Luckenbach

What Lurks Inside that Little Pink Head?

Regular Features

8 Letter From the Editor 10 From the Road 12 Two Wheel Thunder TV Review: Stop-N-Go Tubeless Puncture Pilot 14 Pig Writes: It was a Massacre! 16 Ride Map: Chasing Bluebonnets! 44 ThunderCam 48 Jokerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wild 50 Biker Band Corner: John Epperson & Drivin Blind

Resources

23 Event Listing CENTER - Pull-Out April 2013 Calendar

35 40

Biker Friendly Listing

On the cover: West of the Brazos, the new building!

OWNERS

ADVERTISING SALES

Bob Cooney, CEO/Photography ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com

Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan, Editor Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Randy McCamey Harley.Doc@hotmail.com

Thunder Roads Texas Main Office 281.866.8149 Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Don “DB” McGovern - Dallas/Fort Worth ThunderRoadsDon@gmail.com 972.896.1919

Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes ThunderRoadsBill@yahoo.com 321.960.6161

Darlene “Lady Diva” Hanson Dallas/Fort Worth ladyd1va@hotmail.com * 817.680.8121

Laura Mae Benson - Houston Laura.ThunderRoadsMagazine@gmail.com 979.481.9642

Aaron “HookemHaulin” Gerbert (photo to come) Austin Facebook.com/hookem.haulin

Traci “Sweet N Low” McClure - East Texas Traci.McClure@yahoo.com * 936.671.9567 Bonnie Estes - Austin/Hill Country AngelWing1555@yahoo.com 512.673.6679 Shelly “Cricket” Silva San Antonio/Hill Country CricketGOC@yahoo.com * 210.445.2477

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

Chere “FlipFlop” Laine (photo to come) Corpus Christi 361.215.4661 ChereLaine@ymail.com

FEATURE WRITERS

Shelly “Cricket” Silva, Pink Thunder (Feb/May/Aug/Sep) Terri Williams, Pink Thunder (TMRA2; Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec) “Pig” Meinhardt - Pig Writes

CORRESPONDENTS

Thunder Publishing, LLC Toni & Brian Shearon National Founders 1528 Matlock Drive Chapmansboro, TN 37035 615.792.0040 ThunderRoadsMagazine.com

Layout & Design Shelly Horan Top of Mind Marketing 832.585.4045 Top.of.Mind.Marketing@gmail.com

Michael Jackson - Galveston; Joyce Siegert - D/FW; Dean Downey Amarillo; Mary “Ima Ryder” Taylor - Austin; Don Brewer - Livingston; Donny Phillips - LaPorte; Mike “Biker” Boone - Houston/Gulf Coast; Jason English - East Texas; Don McGovern - Terrell/DFW; Jason English - Rusk; Donna Herrin - Edinburgh; Leah Hanscom - Piney Woods; Ann Edwards - El Paso.

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.

Facebook.com/ThunderRoadsTexas

Wow… I just finished laying in the calendar and it’s a full riding month, for sure! Lots of things going on and lots of events sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! Be sure to check our event list and calendar – then mark your own schedules for the events you find interesting. Go ahead – try something new! Last month, an erroneous ad for the Dawg Fest Rally in Mt. Pleasant made the magazine. Charlie Daniels is NOT playing this rally. He and his band will be at the Texas State HOG Rally in May. All I can say is… I claim “blonde”! So my official retraction (and humble admission) is complete. We continue to look for aggressive sales representatives for the magazine. We need folks who don’t take “no” – but rather, find solutions and build relationships with our clients. Commission-based position with bonuses, perks, and the possibility for advancement. Interested applicants should send me a resume, along with a brief description of your background in the motorcycle community, if any. Folks send in pictures for the Thunder Cam pages and we do our best to publish them as soon as possible. If you submit photos and don’t see them right away, continue to watch future issues. Sometimes, we receive more than we can handle… saving the overflow to publish later. As an example, if you look at this month’s Thunder Cam pages, you’ll see some photos that are a few months old. So don’t hesitate to send them in! A reminder that our From the Road feature is for YOU! Have news you want to share, of any kind? Please feel free to send it to me for publication. However, a warning, we do no publish negative comments and reviews against retailers or shops. We leave that to other publications or online reviewing processes (which we encourage you to review them online – Google is especially handy!). An my last reminder this month… PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE visit our advertisers. Without them, we can’t continue to bring this wonderful magazine to you FREE each month. And while there, make sure you let them know you saw them in Thunder Roads Texas! If you have a favorite shop that doesn’t advertise or carry our magazine for distribution, tell them they should advertise with us! If they mention you, we’ll PAY YOU… $25 for each lead that purchases advertising worth a minimum of $250/contract. Ride safe... and ride with THUNDER! Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan Editor / Owner, Thunder Roads Texas and Owner, Top of Mind Marketing Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Page 8

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 9 * April 2013

ROAR BY THE SHORE ANNOUNCES MOVE TO CORPUS CHRISTI Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the group decided to bring the event to Corpus Christi for the first time, according to a news release from the Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau. BikeFest, a volunteer-run nonprofit, teamed up with Budweiser Corpus Christi to bring the event, and its economic boom, to the area.

PIG GIVES KUDOS Shelly, 1. So I run into Tribe of Judah Rex Keating at church today. He tells me this little story of what happened to him at the Harley dealer this week. Rex is the Minster for the wedding on the front cover of this months. He went in to the Harley dealer and the salesman he knows comes up to him. The guy asks Rex if he knew that he was on the cover of Thunder Roads this month. Rex said “yeah, cool huh.” The hands Rex a copy and says that he had been saving it for him all month. Rex tells him he already had a copy. The asks him how did he get one and Rex tells him that he knows Pig. “You know the PIG”, the guy says “Oh wow, that is so cool. Hey tell him to stop by some time I’d love to meet him.” So Rex tells him “Dude, he comes in here at least 2x’s a month” 2. Every time someone asks Deneen (the bride on the cover) who is that bride on the cover, she squeals in a high pitched voice “That’s MEEEEEEEEEEE! It is so funny to hear her do that! Just thought you would like to know people really do like the work that you do on the magazine. Pig EDITOR’S REPLY: Thanks Pig! We love our readers.. oh yea, and you, too!

“We strive for and expect to provide the best rally experience in Texas with top notch entertainment. October is a beautiful time of year on the Texas coast,” said G.J. Reyna, BikeFest organizer. Corpus Christi was selected in part because the statewide draw has participants coming from Houston, Austin and San Antonio and the drive to the coast is particularly scenic, organizers said. The visitor’s bureau projects the benefit as $5.8 million based on expenses for hotels, restaurants and retail spending, The group also has donated more than $700,000 to charities and nonprofits during the past 19 years. “It’s up to our community to welcome participants and make them feel at home so we can make Corpus Christi their permanent base,” said Keith Arnold, CEO of the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. The event, planned for Oct. 11-13, is sponsored locally by L&F Distributing and will include field riding events, motorcycle tours, bike contests, a sunset parade and concert, according to the news release. Many of the events will be held at the American Bank Center. EDITOR’S NOTE: While not everyone is thrilled and rumors abound as to other reasons for the move, we know that our biker community will rally around the location, filling it with roaring pipes and brotherhood.

GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE?

Send your news, updates, comments, etc. to shelly@thunderroadstexa.com

Page 10

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 11

Stop-n-Go Tubeless Puncture Pilot here are certain products you don’t ever want to need! Bullet proof vests, Kevlar infused blue jeans, air masks in an airplane, a defibrillator, and a Stop-nGo Tubeless Puncture Pilot for Motorcycles! Most of the examples should be self-explanatory! I can safely say I haven’t had the dubious pleasure of having to use any of these devices. Maybe I don’t have enemies and maybe I don’t have enough bad luck.... yet! But I can tell you that if I ever need any of them, I hope I have them close at hand and they are working well. I have done plenty of research on flat tires and probabilities. For example, the probability of getting a flat tire seems directly proportional to the quality of your flat repair kit and the walking distance to the nearest help. Another correlation I have found is that there is a direct link between having a flat and the lack of cell phone coverage! So the real question here is, what percentage of motorcyclists have taken precautions to outfit their ride with a flat tire repair kit? We might also ask, what percentage of riders have a good flat tire repair kit? We all know that time is money and if you don’t have a working plan in the event of a flat, you have to ask yourself how much your time is worth? Let’s create the best possible scenario; you have a flat in town, maybe within ten miles of your mechanic, you have AAA, you have good cell phone coverage and your battery is fully charged. So, you call a friend/companion to let them know what happened. Then you call AAA for the tow truck. By this time half an hour has already passed. You wait another hour or more, the tow truck loads your bike (another half-hour), you haul it to the shop and unload it (another half-hour). There, you pick out a tire they have it in stock. Your bike wasn’t on the schedule (who knew it was your day?). But… great news, they can squeeze you into the schedule in about an hour! Maybe it turns out to be closer to an hour and a half – but who’s keeping track at this point anyway? Besides, you get to hang out at the shop talking with friends, right? A couple more hours go by while your bike is on the lift

Page 12

April 2013

and then finally, bamm, you are all done! Great day for a flat! Sure glad you weren’t planning on riding or, even better, that you didn’t have to get somewhere and be on time. So, all of this only took about six hours and that is really the best scenario I can think of. Rewind the scenario… maybe there is a better way! I have in my hands a Stop-n-Go Tubeless Puncture Pilot for Motorcycles. I know Stop-n-Go has been offering tire repair kits for every kind of tire for over 30 years and I know they are doing it right. They have repair kits for motorcycles, scooters, automobiles, lawn mowers, bicycles, golf carts, and ATV’s. The kit contains everything you need and the quality of everything in the kit is top of the line. It includes the award winning Pocket Tire Plugger with its (15) mushroom shaped rubber plugs and the very compact mini-air compressor. It comes in its own compact case, weighs only less than two pounds, and fits in the palm of your hand. As I already said, I haven’t had the “pleasure” of using it yet since it has been winter and riding really hasn’t been frequent. I will be out a lot in the spring, summer and fall and you can bet I will be prepared! The other thing I can promise is if that dreaded day comes when I have a flat, I

will be letting you all know how invaluable the Stop-n-Go Tubeless Puncture Pilot really is. In the meantime, I am comforted in knowing that at least I am prepared with Stopn-Go Tubeless Puncture Pilot in my saddlebag. Are you? Check them out at StopNGo.com before spring... before you may need it!



ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 13

It Was All a Massacre!! ey, Hey, Hey good people. Welcome back to Thunder Roads Texas. It’s time for another bull session with the Pig. Yep, it’s me again, your favorite little pink porker with another dish of bacon just for you. (Hey there is no imitation bacon here, just the real deal.) Today I have great news but sadly, I also have some bad news. The good news is that I just returned home from the St. Valentines Day Massacre. Now don’t go looking at me like that, I know it was back in February, it just takes a while to get some things published, okay? Jeez. Like I said, I was at the St. Valentines Day Massacre and it was a great time for all. Those guys and gals from the Alamo City Gypsy’s really know how to throw a great party. Oh, and the sad news, I lost all my pictures from that weekend! Modern technology and pigs don’t mix very well. For three days, February 8-10, everybody lived high on the hog in God’s country - Hondo Texas. This year the Gypsy’s brought the Massacre back to Hondo and the town welcomed them with open arms. Unfortunately for us, we couldn’t make it out for Friday. It seems that Rainman’s work refused to let him off early that day. He came home all cranky and fussy and pissed off about it so Mama had her little boy lay down for a nap before he was allowed (Yes I said it, ALLOWED) to go anywhere. What a whimp. We finally got to go on Saturday morning. We brought along Rainman’s nephew Raymond AKA “Little Man”. He’s thirteen this year and this was his first rally. We knew we were about to open this young mans eyes to a whole new world. Since Little Man doesn’t have a father around, he and his Uncle Rainman share a special bond. Uncle Rainman has always been around for his nephew doing those dad-like things with him. We’ve taken Raymond all over Texas on the back of the bike so Rainman (with some specialized help from me) decided the rally would be a good time for Little Man to experience some grownup fun and maybe learn a lesson or two about being a man. As we headed out toward the wild and wicked west of Hondo, the first lesson we had to teach Little Man was trust. Every man has to know who he can trust and the first lesson in trust is: What happens at the Massacre stays at the Massacre! Little Man agreed but then he asked, “What about Pig?” I just looked up at him, smiled, and said “Kid, you just need to watch and learn.” We signed in and picked up ride pins at the registration tent. Rainman and I had one of the Gypsy ladies place our pins on our chests. Another lesson we wanted to teach Little Man was that it was an honor to have one of the host club ladies do this for us. We wanted to show Raymond that is was okay to trust a lady to stick a pin in his chest! The Gypsy’s had arranged a day full of fun and excitement with rides, field events for the kids, and vendors galore. We

walked by all the vendors’ booths and rummaged through piles of patches and new leathers. We looked at knives to buy and jewelry to wear. Along the way we ran into all sorts of people we knew.

seasoned just right. They practically melt in your mouth. I would highly recommend you get some at the next rally where you see Piggy Puffs. Be sure to tell them Pig sent you!

The next lesson for Little Man was to use proper biker protocol when making introductions. Rainman explained who everyone was and what clubs they rode with. Several patch-holders showed Raymond their patches and explained each one to him so that he had a better idea about the people he met. This also allowed us to teach Little Man a little about love and respect among bikers. It was pretty exciting to see the look on the young man’s face as he took all of that in. It was a whole new world to him and he enjoyed every minute of it. Little Man was rather surprised to find out how many friends Rainman and I have in the biker community.

We continued on, I made amends with Pig by agreeing not to eat the pork rinds in front of him and I bought him another beer. The world was at peace for us once again. Well, the truth is the peace only lasted until we came upon another vendor. We were looking for something to eat but couldn’t decide what. We came found this one particular food vendor trailer unlike all the other ones with their fancy paint jobs and signs galore advertising their menu. No, this place was a little different. It only had two small signs, Norm’s Place and Deep Fried Baby Back Ribs. It wasn’t very busy. As a matter of fact there wasn’t anyone around it when we strolled up.

With all that walking around, the meeting and greeting began to take its toll on us and we started getting rather hungry. It was time to find a couple of cold beers and some hot food from one of the roach coach vendors. We got a coke for the kid and beer for us and began to decide just what would cure our hunger. We stopped by one vendor and saw the sign for “Piggy Puffs” and decided to investigate.

Norm stuck has head out the window and I asked him if the ribs were any good. He informed me that they would be the best ribs I’d ever had. Now let’s review the situation for a moment. Here we are at a biker rally, we’re drinking beer, hanging out with friends and about to order ribs from a rolling roach coach food vendor that has no customers, and this guy is telling me that he has the best ribs I’ll ever taste. Can anyone tell me what’s wrong with this situation? Yeah, that’s what I thought too.

WARNING: The following information is a little graphic and may be unsuitable for some people! We walked up to the table and horror flooded my eyes! I could feel the bile rising in the back of my throat when I realized that “Piggy Puffs” are actually fried pork rinds! Arrrggggg! It looked like a massacre had really happened at the Massacre. Immediately my head started swimming and my mind went all crazy. What if they were made from someone I once knew? Oh how disgusting. I look over and, WTF, are Rainman and Little Man really… Yes, they are tasting some free samples, that’s what they were doing! I held back my vomit; I tried my best to keep from doubling over. I wanted to speak out in protest but the mere thought of someone eating fried pig was just too much for me to handle. I looked at my betrayer of a friend and said, “I sure hope that pork rind you have in your mouth is a piece of Cousin Wilbur’s ass.” Rainman just smiled and said back, “If it is, he sure is tasty. Here try one”, he offered. With that said, I just walked away as I could bear no more. As I walked away I turned to look behind me; Rainman was buying a whole bag of “Piggy Puffs”. Damn traitor! Rainman responds: Hey everyone, Rainman here. I decided it might be a good idea if I wrote this next part, who knows what Pig would say next. Well actually, he is refusing to write about what happened next since he cannot jeopardize his PG-13 rating. Well anyway, Pig walked off all in a huff about the Piggy Puffs. I do have to say in all fairness to the Piggy Puff people, those are some damn good pork rinds! They are light and airy and

I looked at Little Man, he looked back at me and said, “Lets try them”. Words spoken like the dare of a true biker. “Give us a cheeseburger for Pig and ribs for Little Man and me”, I said. “I promise you won’t be disappointed”, Norm replied. A few minutes later Norm appeared at the window with our order and I thanked him as we began to walk away. “Hold on there boys”, Norm said. I thought maybe I forgot to pay him or something. “I want to see the look on your face when you take the first bite.” Raymond wasted no time in digging in on his first rib; a smile crossed his face as he nodded his approval. “Pretty good Sir”, he said. Now it was my turn. I looked over at Pig. With his mouth full of cheeseburger he attempted to say, “It’s Cousin Wilbur”. Not to be out grossed by a pig, I took a big bite out of the biggest rib. It was heavenly pleasing! A crusty layer of rib meat mixed with so many different seasonings it was hard to pin down all the different flavors. Every spice complemented the other. It was wonderful; I looked at Norm and he was smiling back at me! He was right; it was the best tasting rib I’d ever eaten. We all went and sat down to finish them off. I asked Pig about his cheeseburger. He said he was quite pleased with it as he chased it down with a beer. But Raymond and I could not get over how good those ribs were. After eating, we went back to talk to Norm about the ribs. We told him we were with Thunder Roads Texas and his jaw dropped with the excitement of a jack rabbit on a hot date. Norm then told us the story of how his ribs came about. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), I would

You can contact Pig or Rainman by e-mail at pig8080@LIVE.COM For more of Pig’s wild adventures, check out his blog at pigspage.wordpress.com or follow him on Facebook.com/pig.meinhardt Page 14

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

give Norm’s ribs a 12! You need to look for Norm at the next rally and try his ribs, they are that good! Oh and Norm also does catering. Pig replies: Yeah, yeah, we all know the ribs were good Rainman but it is time to get back to the rally. Where was I? Oh yeah, so after that disgusting display of carnage, we finally got away from all the jackals of pork products and were able to enjoy the rally. We had a great time just hanging out with everyone doing things Raymond’s mama wouldn’t approve of. The trip home later that evening was filled with questions about the biker community, why we were not members of a club, how do clubs settle their differences, and why would there be any differences in the first place. We could tell the Little Man was very impressed with everything he took in that day. We returned to the rally early on Sunday morning. We saw that many of the partiers were not as frisky as they were the night before! Actually we came back on Sunday morning to attend church. The Open Road Biker Fellowship had been invited to provide church service to anyone interested. They brought their band and gear and they really rocked the place. The rally began to wind down as everyone was packing up to head home. Another opportunity to tell more war stories of legend. Rainman and I want to take a moment to thank the Alamo City Gypsy’s for all their hard work in putting together the rally this year. We would also like to thank all of our friends who made such a great impression on “Little Man”; you guys are the greatest! And last but not the least, I want thank Norm for assuring me that the pork ribs he serves do not contain any of my dead family members… or Cousin Wilbur. Knowing that makes me feel much better about the situation and I can honestly say that you should look up Norm and give his ribs a try. If not, then at least try one of his Black Angus cheeseburgers, now those are good! I hope to see you all real soon out there on the road, but until then… Ride HARD or Stay Home! PS... If anyone has pictures from the rally they’d like to share with our readers, please send them to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com and I’m sure I can sweet talk her into putting them into a future issue.

RALLY DONE! No pics, due to Pig-erator error. If anyone has pics of this rally they’d like to share, send them to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com for future publication.



Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 15

MAP RIDE

Article by Shelly Horan, TRT Editor/Owner Photo courtesy of Anet Noska... thanks Anet!

It’s

that time of year – wildflowers are abundant! And of course, this includes the Texas State Flower – the bluebonnet. Yep, we’re going bluebonnet hunting! “The bluebonnet is to Texas what the shamrock is to Ireland, the cherry blossom to Japan, the lily to France, the rose to England, and the tulip to Holland.” ~Jack Maguire, historian

Did you know Texas has more than one state flower? At the turn of the 20th Century, the Texas Legislature put aside their normal politics and debated the choices for state flower. The choices: 1) the prickly pear for the durability of the plant and the orchid like beauty of its flower; 2) the cotton boll, since cotton was king in Texas in the day; and 3) the bluebonnet. As you well know, proponents of the bluebonnet won the debate! The original species adopted in 1901 was the Lupinus subcarnosus. However, that wasn’t the end of the story… seems there is more than one species of bluebonnets gracing the hills and plains of Texas. Some thought the Lupinus subcarnosus was the least attractive bluebonnet and wanted to change the state flower to the Lupinus texensis, which is more a vibrant blue and in more abundance than the official flower first adopted. The debate raged for about 70 years and in 1971, the Legislature amended the state flower to include “any other variety of bluebonnet not heretofore recorded,” thus lumping all types of bluebonnets under the state flower. At the time, they had no idea that there were four more identifiable bluebonnet species. Remember, we’re in Texas – and everything is bigger in Texas… so we have six state flowers! For the horticulturists in our mix, the complete list (as we know it now) is the Lupinus subcarnosus, L. texensis, L. havardii, L. concinnus, L. perennis, and L. plattensis. So, we head out on the hunt for bluebonnets and places in Texas that celebrate this native flower. There are four bluebonnet affiliated “capitals” of Texas – Ennis, “Bluebonnet City”; Chappel Hill, home of the “Official Texas Bluebonnet Festival”; Llano County, “Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas”; and Burnet County, the “Bluebonnet Co-Capital of Texas”. Three are close enough for a weekend route, so away we go!

Continued on Page 18... Page 16

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

“The b luebonne t is t shamroc o Texa k is to s what Ireland, to Japa th n, th England the lily to F e cherry bloss e , and t om rance, t h h e e rose tulip to ~historia to Hol and.” n, Jack Maguire ,

RIDE MAP

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 17

... continued South (toll) just east of Liberty Hill. North of Austin, take Highway 45 (toll) around to pick up Highway 290 East; skirt on the bypass of 290, south of Brenham, to catch FM 1155 North into Chappell Hill. Air Show

RIDE

MAP

Dog House Races

Weiner Dog Races Dog Parade

Starting northwest of Austin, in Burnet, with the 30th Annual Bluebonnet Festival (April 12-14; BluebonnetFestival.org) in the Texas Hill Country. Burnet is situated around the intersection of Highways 29 and 281. We’ve covered Burnet in two other issues (December 2011, “Texas Hill Country Lights” and June 2012, “A Little Bit of Everything…”), but never really talked about the history of this small “main street” Texas town. In 1852, the area was originally known as Hamilton or Hamilton Valley, named for John Hamilton a prominent landowner. When it was time to apply for a post office, there was already another town named Hamilton in Texas, so the citizens voted to name the town after the county, Burnet. The name comes from president of the provisional government of the Republic of Texas’ David G. Burnet. In 1847, the Texas Rangers had a station in the area to protect residents from Indian raids. In March 1849, the station was closed and Fort Croghan took its place, continuing to provide security for the burgeoning small town. It is the county seat for Burnet County, so the Points Across Texas county courthouse and historic jail, along with the “capital” designation, give riders three qualified photo opportunities – more than half way to the free patch! Burnet is considered one of the best places for viewing wildflowers. After receiving the “Bluebonnet Capital” designation, the chamber of commerce decided a festival was in store! It has grown to see over 30,000 attendees and adding new activities each year. Events include a scholarship pageant, pet parade, Grande Parade, 5K run, carnival, dog house races, wiener dog races, children’s bike decorating contest, birding and wildflower show, rubber ducky race, gunfighters shoot out, air show, arts and craft vendors, live music, food, drink, and more! Check out their schedule and plan your trip accordingly. For other attractions while in Burnet, look up our June 2012, “A Little Bit of Everything…” available in archive on our website (ThunderRoadsTexas.com). Heading out of Burnet on Highway 29, catch Highway 183 Page 18

April 2013

Chappell Hill claims to be the “Heart of Bluebonnet Country” and hosts a longstanding festival as well. This year they celebrate their 49th year (April 13-14, ChappellHillMuseum.org) with more than 250 juried exhibitors, delicious countrystyle food, live music, children’s activities, tours of the historic community, and more. The event was voted #7 as “Most Popular Festival in Texas” by Texas Highways Magazine. Proceeds from the festival help the Chappell Hill Historical Society with preservation of the community’s history and historic buildings.

Chappell Hill was founded in 1847 by Mary Hargrove Haller, granddaughter of Robert Wooding Chappell, for whom the town was named. It sits in the heart of Stephen F. Austin’s original colony in Texas. Today, the small Texas town offers a colorful history and year-round hospitality and charm. Main Street has been designated as a National Register Historic District, meaning visitors can enjoy beautiful past-era architecture… if you like that kind of thing! It remains one of the best historically preserved towns in Texas. Being in Washington County, the “Birthplace of Texas”, the town played an integral part in the history of the Republic of Texas. All kinds of historic homes and markers are in abundance in the area. In 1867, the small town was hit with a yellow fever epidemic that almost wiped it out. The area was rebuilt with Polish immigrants in the 1870s. In 1933, as a result of the Great Depression and stock market crash in 1929, banks across the US were ordered closed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. In Chappell Hill, the Farmers Bank of Chappell Hill refused to close its doors. Today, the small town enjoys a healthy tourist trade, attracting visitors with restored historic homes, the Bluebonnet Festival, the Scarecrow

Festival and an interactive museum. Among other things to do/see before setting out on your steed, a selection of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: the Chappell Hill Methodist Episcopal Church (circa 1901), Chappell Hill Circulating Library (circa 1912 Colonial Revival style), Chappell Hill Public School and Chappell Hill Female College Bell (circa 1927), Isaac Applewhite house (circal 1852), and the Stagecoach Inn of Chappell Hill (circa 1850, Greek Revival style). Also of note to visit is the old Rock Store (folk-art wall hangings), the Chappell Hill Bank (formerly the Farmers Bank of Chappell Hill mentioned above; operating in its current location since 1907), and the Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery. Heading out of Chappell Hill, continuing North on FM 1155; a little over two miles out, turn left on County Road 83/South Meyersville Road. There are a few tight, zig-zag turns before you hit Highway 105, where you’ll go right, heading east. In Navasota, pick up Highway 90 North and in Madisonville, catch I-45 North. Ennis is just located off I-45 North, just before reaching Dallas city limits. We’ve never covered Ennis in a ride map before, so get ready for some historical information, sights to see, and, of course, a highlight of the Bluebonnet Trail and related festival! Established in 1871 and named for Colonel Cornelius Ennis (a railroad official of the Houston and Texas Central Railway), the small town was created as most towns of the era, by the railroad that bypassed other towns in the process. However, unlike other railroad town histories, this one resulted in violence. The citizens of the bypassed town, Burnham, attacked Ennis, killing one citizen and

Bluebonnet Festival - Chappell Hill

Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery Stagecoach Inn of Chappell Hill

Isaac Applewhite House Chappell Hill Bank

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

railroad tried to move their headquarters, but courts upheld the agreement, forcing them to stay in town. By then, the Texas Midland Railroad arrived in town, Ennis’ second rail line. Eventually, both railroads were acquired by the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, which abandoned the tracks between Ennis and Kaufman after frequent washouts in the Trinity River bottoms. This left one railroad, the Texas and New Orleans, which then was merged into the Southern Pacific, which still rolls through the town. One historical fact I find interesting/ funny… in 1873, the Temperance Council was established to provide an alternative to “drunken carousing”. Guessing that era in Texas was tough times, requiring many-a-drink! What’s our excuse today?

wounding several others. The town was built on Christian values, with the railroad offering free town lots to any Christian communion that would built a church.

On a final note, we address a commonly held misnomer, that picking bluebonnets is illegal in the State of Texas. This is false. There are no laws prohibiting the picking of bluebonnets. However, there are laws addressing trespass on private property and damaging or destroying rights-ofway. So go ahead… pick some flowers! Just be careful not to trespass, dig up whole clumps, or trash the beautiful common areas while doing so. Another caution, please be aware of your safety at all times. Park well off the roadway, don’t walk across busy highways… and beware of snakes and fire ants; they love bluebonnets, too! That ends our hunt for the bluebonnet. We hope you take lots of pictures and share them with us and our other readers. And, of course, be sure to submit pictures to earn your FREE Points Across Texas patch!



While in Ennis, there are plenty of places to visit: the Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum, offering a fascinating collection of train memorabilia; the Texas Motorplex race track, which draws crowds for their NHRA racing; the 85 Speedway dirt track; a healthy Historic District (small town USA), with antique and craft shopping in abundance; and, of course, festivals. Ennis hosts two of note, the Annual National Polka Festival and the reason for its inclusion in this map, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival (April 20-21, VisitEnnis.org). This year, Ennis celebrates 62 years of the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, with over 40 miles of mapped riding offered by the Ennis Garden Club (Facebook.com/ EnnisGardenClub). These are the oldest such trails known in the state, with tens of thousands of visitors making the trek for an astounding wildflower show. Typically,

For more reader submitted bluebonnet photos, check out our Thunder Cam pages!

Points Across Texas Qualified Destination List April 2013 Ride Map BURNET • 30th Annual Bluebonnet Festival (sign) • Bluebonnet Capital of Texas (sign) • County courthouse • County jail • Historic Burnet Square • Fort Croghan Museum

CHAPPELL HILL • “Heart of Bluebonnet Country” (sign) • Bluebonnet Festival (sign) • Chappell Hill Museum • Historic Downtown • Chappell Hill Methodist Episcopal Church • Circulating Library • Chappell Hill Public School • Female College Bell • Isaac Applewhite house

• Statecoach Inn • Old Rock Store • Chappell Hill Masonic Cemetery ENNIS • Bluebonnet City (sign) • Texas Motorplex • Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum • 85 Speedway • Historic District (downtown)

• National Polka Festival • Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival • Bluebonnet Trails map • Ennis Garden Club (sign or member with shirt) The Texas State Flower – the Bluebonnet (motorcycles/motorcyclists in front of fields of bluebonnets is always nice!)

Quick Rules:

• Locations/items must be easily identifiable in the photo. Signs are best (cities, events, mountains, parks, etc.), but some are self-explanatory (like Prada Marfa, a mural, the bank vault, etc.). • Your AND/OR your bike must be in the picture. • Photos must be emailed to PaT@ThunderRoadsTexas.comor can be posted on our Points Across Texas Facebook page (Facebook.com/PointsAcrossTexas). • Deadline for 2013 photos is January 15, 2014. Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 19

MAP

Ennis became the northern division headquarters for the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, providing water and machine shops for the railroad yards. As part of the agreement, Ennis had to build three lakes, with the last not completed until 1940. Between 1910 and 1915, the

The festival offers all the normal small-town charm and hospitality, full of activities. Visitors will find arts and crafts, bluebonnet souvenirs (of course!), bluebonnet trail maps, food, children’s activities, and live music. Additionally, on that Saturday, there is an Antique American Independent Auto Show (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) and the Ellis County SPCA Adoption Trailer will be onsite for pet adoptions (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).

RIDE

By the 1990s, Ennis was part of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area and became a highly industrialized region… where before they were primarily agricultural with a chamber of commerce slogan, “Where the Railroads and Cotton Fields Meet”.

the Garden Club suggests you make plans for the third week of April. Of course, that third week also includes the Festival. They encourage visitors to check their website for bluebonnet and wildflower bloom information.

Ready for a Rally to Remember? Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally * Lake Somerville * April 11-14

ere we go again! The 4th Annual Carts, Bikers, and Babes Rally is looking like it will be one of the biggest April rallies in a long time. With no other rallies in the Somerville area this month, this rally is the only true party on the lake.

Carts, Bikers, and Babes is a rally with class. Yes it’s still very adult, but done right. The Pit Stop Lounge is our newest addition to this classy party. It’s a potable bar that seats 40 at a time with satellite TV, celling fans, outside decks for our biker family to relax in style. Nine bands take the “Zoo” stage… Bag Lady Sue will take to the stage on Friday and Saturday nights to make even the hard core blush. You will see some great bands like Nightbird, a Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks tribute; Chris Brade, a country singer that tore it up at the Texas Rally in September; and Midnight Express, a band from the east that will play a classical rock show from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, playing almost any song you remember.

EVENT

Yes the party is back in the Zoo by popular demand! This year will feature the Battle of the AfterHours Campsite Parties. We all know it’s the people that make the real party. We’re just here to put it all together for you! Four campsites have signed up to participate in the biggest after-hours party competition (and maybe the only one) ever! Pretty much anything goes! Three items are required to qualify for the competition: dance pole, sound system, and lots of lights. Each night, after the main stage shuts down, judges will travel to the party sites. It’s simple to win… throw the best after-hours party in the Zoo! Winners take home up to $1,000 in cold hard cash. What’s in it for the rest of the folks? Enjoy the party! Of course, the party wouldn’t be the same without bike games, cart games, the “Bring Out Your Bad” cart and bike show, and the always popular “Nascart” Race on Saturday afternoon. Buda will keep the stage jumping all day and night. As we always say “you can rest when you get home”! With 50 vendors with everything from leather to lace, from boudin to burgers, there’s something for everyone. We want to thank all of our sponsors this year… Brookshire Brothers food store, Susie’s Mexican Restaurant, (in Somerville), Liquid Gas, Buck’s General Store (in Waller County), Brad of Route 36 Bar and Dancehall; Dybalas Automotive; The Dirty Dog bar (in Austin); Golf Carts of Texas’ Dave Beecher and crew; and Pekars Autobody (in Wharton), and Thunder Roads Texas. A special thank you goes out to Rob’s Fun Centers; my brother, Big Dawg, owner of the Loading Dock Bars (in Galveston and Bacliff); and West of the Brazos in our own backyard.



Page 20

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENT

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 21 * April 2013

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 22 * April 2013

EVENT

Event Listing

The MOST comprehensive motorcycle event listing published in the State of Texas!

Pet Adoption Day StubbsHD.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston 2013 Spring Open House, too… with motorcycle vendors, food, door prizes, music and more! Free gift with any monetary pet donation. Adopt your next dog or cat! Benefit for Raymond Fregia 936.391.4537 Liberty Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

12-14

TMRA2 Bikes & Bass Rally texasbarker@aol.com Point Blank Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

12-14

2nd Annual Sole Mission Benefit Run hamiltonduane@sbcglobal.net Conroe Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Houston

Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally CartsBikersAndBabesRally.com Somerville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Bryan/College Station BRING OUT YOUR BAD – we’re stepping back in time! Join Damon Dave and the crew for a weekend full of music and fun at Big Creek Park on beautiful Lake Somerville! Live bands, plus Bag Lady Sue returns to entertain. RV Sites, free tent camping (with entrance fee), bike & cart games, vendors and more. The party never stops with the Battle of the After Hours Campsite Parties! Call for availability of RV Sites – they go fast! Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! Hill Country Holler HillCountryHoller.com Boerne Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio A new Texas rally with an Old West twist! Held at the beautiful Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne, surrounded by some of the most beautiful riding in the US – the Texas Hill Country. Live music, old western town central, onsite camping, lots of vendors, trick shooting & wild west who, quick draw contests, covered wagon rides, tours of the exotic wild life preserve and MORE. Saturday headliner, Bad Compan featuring Brian Howe. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! Motorcycle Mayhem BlackthorneResort.com East Durham, NY Not2Hot Run 361.228.0626, 361.720.6773 Alice Region: South Texas Metro: Corpus Christi

Jericho Ride Jerichoride.yolasite.com Various Cities See website for city closest to you or to create your own. Organized Chaos MC Bike Wash Charlie2@live.com Denton Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Spring Fever Fun Run Meetup.com/PassionRiders/Events/99775372/ Carrollton Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

13-14

Robert Arellano Dawg Fest Rally DawgFestRally.com Mt. Pleasant Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview Named in honor of Robert “Dawg” Arellano who lost his life in a motorcycle crash in 2010. He was a well-known peace officer with over 30 years serving his community. Funds raised benefit the Robert Arrellano Criminal Justice Scholarship and other charities. Featuring live bands, biker games, church service, vendors, food and drink… and so much more. Open to the general public. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

11-14

Thunder in the Hill Country BikerRalliesOfTexas.com Bandera Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

Lone Star 92.5 Bike Night LoneStar925.com DFW Area Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth It’s a roaming bike night! Randy James of Lone Star 92.5 hosts an every Thursday bike night at various locations around town. Visit LoneStar925.com for information about upcoming bike nights. Proudly sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

TMRA State Rally TMRA.org 325.653.3763 Comanche Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Abilene 12th Annual MARC Run 512.540.2561; 512.446.2821 Rockdale Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Killeen/Temple

Arizona Bike Week AZBikeWeek.com Scottsdale, AZ

Bikers Adult Rally BikersAdultRally.com WARNING: Adult Content Wills Point Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

10-14

It’s a roaming bike night! Randy James of Lone Star 92.5 hosts an every Thursday bike night at various locations around town. Visit LoneStar925.com for information about upcoming bike nights. Proudly sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! Louisiana State HOG Rally LAStateHOGRally.com Houma, LA

March of Dimes Bikers For Babies MarchOfDimes.com Pasadena Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Lone Star 92.5 Bike Night LoneStar925.com DFW Area Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

APRIL m

Wounded Heroes Rally WoundedHeroes-Texas.org Maypearl Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Waxahachie Motorcycle Swap Meet TexasScooter.com Waxahachie Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT NORTH ThunderRoadsTexas.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Our monthly (third Thursday) biker party with a few hundred of our closest friends! Hosted by Concert Pub North (2470 FM 1960 West, Houston, 77068). Co-sponsored by the Outlaw Dave Show. Live music with no cover or drink minimum, drink specials (big ass beer night!), vendors, stage games, 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! SEE NEXT EVENT PAGE FOR MORE THUNDER ROADS TEXAS BIKE NIGHTS!

Continued on Page 26... April 2013

Page 23

EVENTS

5-7

4-7

4-6

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 24 * April 2013

EVENT

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 25 * April 2013

The Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally OTTRally.com Nacogdoches Region: Piney Woods Metro: Tyler Join the OTT team for their 5th year in Nacogdoches – NOW IN THE SPRING! They always have a great band line up all weekend. Also, custom ride-in bike show, bikini contest, burnout competition, BBQ Cook Off, Charity Poker Run, Downtown Parade, vendors, onsite camping, beer gardens, biker

games, and awesome scenic rides through the beautiful East Texas Piney Woods. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Off held at Sam Houston Race Park. Check in starts at 8am with KSU @ 11am. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Beach-n-Biker Fest BeachNBikerfest.com South Padre Island Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Brownsville/Harlingen Where music and bikers come together. 7355 Padre Blvd. This annual charity fundraiser is hosted by the Magic Valley Riders MC. Concerts and music all weekend, parade, poker run, biker games, ride in bike show, vendors, and more. Beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and hotels within minutes of the rally. Enjoy three days of biker fun in the sun.

Erath County Relay for Life “Cruzin’ for a Cure” 254.592.2060 Stephenville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

19-21

... continued

COC&I Region 3 Texas State Rally COCTX.org Katy Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Back the Badge Ride Facebook.com/BackTheBadgeRide Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston It’s the annual ride to support the first responders in the Houston area. Starting at San Jacinto Harley-Davidson (3636 E Sam Houston Pkwy South, Pasadena 77505) and ending at the Texas Association of First Responders Wild Game Cook

Hell and Back Biker Run Facebook.com/SanAntonioVAMC Kerrville Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio VFW MG Spring Fun Run 817.980.7530 Alvarado Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

20-23

19-22

Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT SOUTH ThunderRoadsTexas.com Kemah Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Hosted by Jackie’s Brickhouse on Marina Bay Drive (FM 2094) just west of Highway 146. Cosponsored by the Outlaw Dave Show. Live music, Big Ass Beer, door prizes, CRAWFISH, and more! Reserved motorcycle parking. Rain or shine!

19-21

EVENTS

EvenT Listing

Texas COC&I State Rally COCTX.org Katy Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Join the Houston area COC&I as they once again host the annual COC&I State Rally at Bryant’s Ice House (26913 Katy Freeway, Katy 77497). The event brings hundreds of bikers from across the state to celebrate our riding independence and support motorcycle rights efforts. Bike raffle, vendors, DJ, live bands, bike games, bike show,

Continued on Page 29...

Page 26

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

25-28

Leesburg Bike Fest LeesburgBikeFest.com Leesburg, FL Marshall Bike Rally 903.702.7777 Marshall Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview Thunder on the Caprock Rally 325.573.HAWG (4234)( Fluvanna Region: Panhandle Metro: Lubbock

Ride to Restore Live TheCircleForLife.com New Braunfels Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio $30 registration includes Fiesta Buffet, official Circle for Life T-shirt, Circle for Life medal, live music. Police escorted ride starts at Javelina Harley-Davidson (29078 I-10 West, Boerne), follows the Fiesta Flambeau parade route, ending at Sunset Station. Live music, raffle for prizes, and lunch served at end point. Proceeds benefit organ, tissue and eye donation. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Lone Star 92.5 Bike Night LoneStar925.com DFW Area Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a roaming bike night! Randy James of Lone Star 92.5 hosts an every Thursday bike night at various locations around town. Visit LoneStar925.com for information about upcoming bike nights. Proudly sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Wild Hog Musicfest & Motorcycle Rally WildHogMusic.org Helena, AR Ms. Wild Hog Contest w/ cash prizes; burnout; poker run; bike parade; field events; bike show; dyno contest; bikini bull riding contest, bikini oil wrestling, and more. Music by Delbert McClinton, Geneva, 7 Bridges, The Return, Grand Theft Audio, Memphis Yahoos, and Purfect Daze. Open to all bikes. No bike? No problem, $20 general admission. We Fight Like a Girl One Night Stand against Ovarian Cancer WeFightLikeAGirl.org Livingston Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

20-23

Laughlin River Run LaughlinRiverRun.com Laughlin, NV

... continued

Pink Ride PinkRide.org Texarkana Region: Piney Woods Metro: Texarkana Escorted ride starts at Whiskey River HarleyDavidson (802 Walton Dr, Texarkana). KSU 10am. Registration opens at 8am. Funds raised benefit cancer patients for costs not covered by insurance. Pink Ride is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Vendors, food, band all day. 40th Annual Pig Roast adam_dean@yahoo.com Azle Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Continued on Page 30...

April 2013

Page 27

EVENTS

24-28

Hogs for Hope Bike Show Facebook.com/Events/list#!/ events/514601085249250 Burleson Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

hot rod show, burnout contest, tattoo contest, and more. Camping onsite available or many hotels are nearby. $20 donation at the gate supports the Texas COC&I. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

EvenT Listing

APRIL FOOL’S DAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Lone Star Bike Night D/FW Area

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Stubbs HD Pet Adoption Day Houston

SUNDAY

Robert Arellano Dawg Fest Rally * Mt Pleasant * April 5-7

SATURDAY

TAXES DUE

Houston and Kemah

Lone Star Bike Night D/FW Area

ADMIN PROFESSIONAL DAY

19 Back the Badge Ride Houston

Pink Ride Texarkana

Ride to Restore Life New Braunfels

13 20

12 19 26

11 18 25

1 8

March 2013

7 14 21 28

13 20 27

1 8

May 2013

Wild Hog Music Festival & Motorcycle Rally * Helena, AR * April 25-28

Beach & Biker Fest * South Padre Island * April 19-21

Texas COC&I State Rally * Katy * April 19-22

Oldest Town in Texas (OTT Rally * Nacogdoches * April 19-21

Hill Country Holler * Boerne * April 12-14

Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally * Lake Somerville * April 11-14

A GREAT THING ABOUT TEXAS ... We say “Howdy, ya’ll, and mean it!

Lone Star Bike Night D/FW Area

15th Annual Ein-Stein Rally 830.560.6554; 830.832.6989 Seguin Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: San Antonio

Arkansas State HOG Rally ARStateHOGRally.com Hot Spring, AR Three Sisters Spring Fling ThreeSistersRally.net Camp Wood Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

EVENTS

International Female Ride Day Facebook.com/InternationalFemaleRideDay International

Facebook.com/ThunderRoadsTexas

Page 30

April 2013

Annual Spring Fling 817.902.9734 Venus Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

3-4

27-29

Stacked Deck Poker Run NTHOG.com Carrollton Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

2-4

Heart of Texas Endurance Rally Facebook.com/HeartofTexasRally Brady Region: Hill Country Metro: San Angelo

MAY

2-5

Big Brothers Big Sistes Poker Run ASUUnitedCampusMinistries.org San Angelo Region: Panhandle Metro: San Angelo

... continued

3-5

EvenT Listing

Cossacks MC Hog Wild Fest 903.272.6611 Paris Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Hill Country Run Motorcycle Rally HillCountryRun.com Bandera Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio Annual fundraiser for the Fredericksburg Optimist Club. The fun starts Friday social in Fredericksburg; Saturday includes helicopter rides, live music, stunt riders, Hill Country rides, bike games, bike show, Cowboy Breakfasts; Ending with Sunday services provided by the CMA. Registration is open NOW. Register before April 26, 2013 to receive a T-shirt. $45/per person includes: entry all four days, social “kick-off” on Friday, Cowboy Breakfast Saturday & Sunday, Hill Country rides; bike games, and bike show T-shirt. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! Vets & Hawgs Rally 2013 ALR393.com Cleveland Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Bikers Against Breast Cancer BABCTexas.org Pasadena Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC

15-25

9-11

New Mexico State HOG Rally NMStateHOGRally.com Albuquerue, NM

Run For The Wall RFTW.org Nationwide One Run – Two Routes (Central and South). The southern route goes through Central and North Texas, with the final destination the Rolling Thunder Rally in Washington, DC. Catch the ride or just visit with the riders at any of their Texas stops and show your support. The Run For The Wall is a 501(c)3 organization and welcomes donations. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

5 9

Rose Ride Facebook.com/#!/Events/483553601690782/ Pasadena Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Armed Forces Freedom Ride EastTexasFreedomRide.org Jasper Region: Piney Woods Metro: Beaumont Supporting our Armed Forces of all service branches, including veterans, POW/MIA, KIA, active troops and the families. Ride starts at The Hideaway (320 Hicks St). Registration begins at 9am; KSU 11am. Live music, door prizes, raffles, vendors and a gun raffle begin at 2pm. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Continued on Page 34...

April 2013

Page 31

EVENTS

Texas Honor Ride Fun Run TexasHonorRide.Org Texas City Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston The THR Spring Fun Run has moved to Texas City – Memorial Lutheran Church (2021 29th Street North, Texas City). Music, prizes, 50/50, food, drinks, THR merchandise. $20/per bike; $5/passenger. Register online or on ride day. Onsite registraton opens at 8am. First bike out @ 9am; Last bike in by 10am. The onsite festivities start at Noon. Proceeds go to benefit our wounded troops and their families at Brooke Army Medical Center. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

Spring Fling Scooter Ride Facebook.com/#!/Events/547400645294178/ San Antonio Region: South Texas Metro: San Antonio

12th Annual Ride for the Fallen POMF.org Austin Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin Pre-registration open online, $35/bike includes T-shirt; Onsite $40/bike. Check in opens at 8am; KSU 10am. Police escorted ride starts at Cowboy Harley-Davidson (10917 South I-35, Austin) and ends at the Peace Officers’ Memorial at the Texas Capitol, where a short tribute service is held. Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt after the service. Enter four photo submissions from a list for a drawing. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

... continued

10-19

EvenT Listing

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 32 * April 2013

EVENT

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 33 * April 2013

EvenT Listing Renegade Classics 2nd Anniversary Party RenegadeTheWoodlands.com The Woodlands Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston Parking lot party with FREE food and FREE beer; Live music by CrossTown Renegades; Renegade Girls; and bikini bike wash.

FUTURE June 8-16 Laconia Motorcycle Week LaconiaMCWeek.com Laconia, NH June 13-16 Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally ROTRally.com Austin Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

EVENTS

June 17 Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day RideToWork.org International August 5-11 70th Annual Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis.com Sturgis, SD

Page 34

April 2013

... continued

August 29-September 2 Four Corners Motorcycle Rally (formerly Ignacio Bike Week) IgnacioBikeWeek.com/ Ignacio, CO September 5-7 Hot Springs Rally TheHotSpringsRally.com Hot Springs, AR September 18-21 Bikes, Blues & BBQ BikesBluesandBBQ.org Fayetteville, AR September 18-22 The Golden Aspen Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM October 2-6 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC Region: Out-of-State Metro: October 11-13 Boo Benefit BooBenefit.org Jefferson Region: Piney Woods Metro: Tyler

October 17-20 Biketoberfest Biketoberfest.com Daytona, FL October 31-November 4 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally LoneStarRally.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston About Our Event Listing: Basic Event listings are FREE. Premium Event Listings (bold and up to 75 word description) are only $15/event. 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. 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.



ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENTS

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 35

EVENTS Page 36

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENTS

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 37

Growing Event Set for Luckenbach

EVENT

17th Annual Hill Country Run * Luckenbach * May 3-5

any riders from across the state and beyond will enjoy the Texas Hill Country in a whole different way - astride a motorcycle at the 17th Annual Hill Country Run Motorcycle Rally. This event is sponsored by the Optimist Club of Fredericksburg and represents their largest annual fundraising event. Billed as “More than just a plain ole motorcycle rally,” the Hill Country Run is three days filled with hearty food, live music, new friends, and miles of riding through the towns and vistas of the scenic Texas Hill Country. “Our rally is a laid-back, safe, and friendly getaway with good music, nice scenery, and interesting people from all walks of life,” says Debbie Farquhuar-Garner, event coordinator. It is a small town event that is getting big. The weekend gets an early start on Thursday, May 2, with a social and welcome at Hondo’s on Main in Fredericksburg

Page 38

April 2013

(312 West Main Street). Guests are invited to an informal social gathering featuring music and food, with extra surprises for attending registrants. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, check-in and registration begin at 9:00 a.m. in Luckenbach. Participants can enjoy more live music all afternoon and evening, along with vendors, exhibits, stunt shows, food, and more. On Friday, join the Hill Country Ride and an action-packed afternoon of fun. Some of the exciting weekend action includes Daniel Weeks, owner of PiNN-iT motorcycle stunt show. He has enjoyed riding and jumping dirt bikes for years and has always pushed it to the limit. Two demos are scheduled for Friday and three on Saturday. For the first time there will be an exhibit of Evel Knievel memorabilia including his leather suits worn during his daredevil jumps. The popular Saturday evening Brisket & Brew dinner is back. Tickets are sold in advance for $12 per person (call 830-997-8515).

The Optimist Club has planned a route for Saturday’s Hill Country Road Trip, with detailed directions and prize opportunities. Strictly speaking, the Hill Country Road Trip is not a competition, but more of a leisure ride in the beautiful Hill Country. The distance is less than 100 miles, so the entire trip can easily be completed in several hours. Along the way, riders will pull into designated stops, where they can drop tickets in a box. At the end of the event, tickets will be drawn from each stop for some great prizes. Saturday and Sunday start with a hearty Cowboy Breakfast, included in the registration fee. The hosts provide the ingredients and 30 individual cooking stations, so early-risers can fry up their favorite breakfast of eggs and bacon, laid on warm tortillas, garnished with cheese, onions, and green peppers, and washed down with fresh, hot coffee and orange juice. During the day, hungry riders can satisfy their hunger with pulled pork sandwiches and cold drinks. The weekend entertainment includes the Spare Parts of ThunderRoadsTexas.com

2013 Hill Country Run Schedule of Events... Lots of great, fun things are in store!

Thursday, May 2, 2013 6:30pm

Social at Hondo’s on Main. Join us for our annual kick-off! Lots of fun in store!

Friday, May 3, 2013 9:00am

Check in/Registration begins at Luckenbach

11:00am-11:00pm Food & Beer Available at the Food Haus and in the Luckenbach General Store Hill Country Ride Be sure to return to Luckenbach for more fun! 1:00-5:00pm

Luckenbach Local Flavor Evel Knievel Exhibit

Two demos by Pinn-It stunt riders 6:00-9:00pm

Spare Parts Band

7:30-9:30am

Cowboy Breakfast

9:00am

Check in/registration begins

9:00am-2:00pm

Hill Country Road Trip

11:00am-11:00pm Food & Beer Available at the Food Haus and in the Luckenbach General Store 1:00-5:00pm

The Dust Devils Band

Three demos by Pinn-It stunt riders Evel Knievel Exhibit

Fredericksburg on Friday 6:00–9:00 p.m. and Saturday, an Austin favorite, Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones 6:00-10:00 p.m. Vendor booths offering motorcycle-related items and souvenirs will be on hand throughout the event. On Sunday, the event closes out with a final Cowboy Breakfast and Sunday morning worship service. Of course, what would a rally be without the ability to camp! Onsite primitive and self-contained RV camping is available at Luckenbach for only $15/person. The Optimist Club encourages riders to arrive early and stay late in order to enjoy all the hospitality Luckenbach and Fredericksburg have to offer, including antique shopping, fine dining, Texas history, and ample sightseeing. The whole weekend full of food, fun, music, rides, and more is only $45/person. Registration is available on their website. Deadline for pre-registration is April 26 and includes a commemorative event T-shirt. While registering, payment for camping and tickets for the Brew & Brisket dinner can be reserved as well. Proceeds from the Hill Country Run go to fund Fredericksburg Optimist Club projects, including the T-Ball Program, Scholarship Program, Oratorical Contest, and Essay Contest. The focus of the Optimist Club is “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.” Optimist Clubs conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. With their upbeat attitude, Optimist Club members help empower young people to be the best that they can be. All of our rally’s net proceeds are returned to the youth in Fredericksburg. Every year Optimist International conducts over 65,000 service projects and serves well over six million young people. For information, call 830-997-8515, or visit HillCountryRun.com, or be our friend on Facebook. Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!



3:30pm

Bike Show

5:30-6:30pm

Brew & Brisket in Luckenbach, $12 per person (advance tickets required)

6:00-10:00pm

Ponty Bone and the Squeezetones

7:00pm

Winners announced: Bike Show, Live auction, other surprises

Special guests – Dorsai Racing Team, Vintage World Record Holder at Bonneville Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:30-9:30am

Cowboy Breakfast

8:30am

Biker Church by CMA Schedule subject to change without notice. April 2013

Page 39

EVENT

Saturday, May 4, 2013

What Lurks Inside that Little Pink Head?

Hey... get out

of my head!

By Randy McCamey, TRT Associate Editor

associate editor for Thunder Roads Texas, it’s my job to interview new correspondents for positions here on staff and also to review the performance of our veteran writers each year. I usually ask a series of questions to get these individuals to talk about themselves, their skills, and accomplishments. This process lets me peer into the deep abyss of their minds and try to figure out what they are really all about. From their responses, Bob, Shelly and I can make a more informed assessment as to how well our current or future correspondents meet the high journalistic standards that you expect from this great magazine.

a member of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency?

Some of Pig’s recent behaviors have given me cause to wonder. After all, attending weddings, drinking champagne, and feeling no pain – what gives?! So I thought it might be a good time to interview Pig just to check, you know, his emotional stability and such. (I call it a performance evaluation, but don’t tell Pig. He would think it is some sort of conspiracy!) This time I thought it might be good to publish Pig’s answers so that you, our loyal readers, could judge for yourself the overall mental stability and demeanor of our beloved Pig.

HD: Only your closest and dearest friends will see your answers. Everyone else who reads Thunder Roads Texas will see both the questions and your answers.

Pig: Ahhh, Harley Doc, I have a few questions I need to ask you before we can proceed… Question #1: Are you currently, or have you ever been,

Page 40

April 2013

HD: I got arrested once, does that count? Pig: Question #2: Are you interviewing me with the purpose of using my answers as testimony in a court of law? HD: On the advice of my attorney, I take the Fifth (or is that, I’ll take a fifth…after this interview, I may need one!) Pig: Question #:3 Will my answers to these questions be kept confidential?

HD: Please state your name and any nicknames or aliases. Pig: Pig Meinhardt. HD: What are your favorite foods and beverages? Pig: I would have to say it is hot dogs from a gas station, flaming hot Cheetos, and beer. HD: Tell me about the first time you ever rode on a motorcycle. Pig: Rainman [that’s Pig’s “handler”] and his friends were

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

headed to a bar for drinks. I wanted to go, so they threw me on the back and I haven’t gotten off the bike since. HD: What is it like being an animal in the sport of motorcycling that is dominated by humans? Pig: Who are you calling an animal? HD: Well, some of the girls at the bar say you can be a real anim…, oh wait, that’s another story! Let me rephrase the question: What is it like being you in a sport dominated by humans? Pig: Hmmm… Well ya know what Doc? It’s like this. Bikers accept me for who I am, no one tries to change me and no one gets hurt. HD: What do you say to friends who, for the first time, find out you are a biker? Pig: Relax baby, this won’t hurt a bit. HD: What was the best time you’ve ever had that you don’t remember? That is, what was the best time you’ve ever had when you’d had a few too many? Pig: Well Doc that would be the time I was arrested at the strip club for trying to order a fish taco. HD: Do you have a favorite charity or charitable event? Pig: Now Doc, I try to help them all as much as I can. But if I had to pick a favorite I would say it would be the Save the Ta-Ta’s charity. HD: How did you get starting writing? Pig: It was Rainman’s idea. He wanted me to do something else with my time instead of sitting around the house all day drinking his beer. HD: Tell us how you happened to get in good with our editors, Shelly and Bob. What was it like the first time you

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

saw your name on a Thunder Roads Texas article? Pig: Ha, ha, ha, Bob was easy, a 12-pack of beer and I was in. And Shelly, wellll let’s just say I smoothed her over with my boyish charms. The first time I saw my name in Thunder Roads I shouted WOO-HOO LET’S PARTY. HD: If you could have lunch with anyone living or dead, who would it be? Pig: I thought long and hard on this one Doc and I have two answers. I would have to say my first choice would be Outlaw Dave, because I would just love to be on his show. He always has the hottest chicks hanging around. My second choice would be Rachael Ray, cause that broad knows how to cook. HD: Any girlfriends? Pig: Too many to count and if I did count them all it would just make you jealous. HD: I noticed that you close each article with “Ride HARD or Stay Home”. Why is that? Pig: Dude, if I have to explain that to you, you need to go home and ask your wife. HD: I see that you like to use quotes in your writing. What quote is your favorite? Pig: Ahhhh that would be “The famous last words of a biker: WATCH THIS!!!” By the way, did you know that I wrote a quote of my own? Here goes. Titties and beer, Titties and beer, this Pig loves titties and beer. HD: I’m guessing that wet T-shirt contests might be your favorite full-contact sport then, eh? Pig: You could say I like to be in the middle of things like that, yes.

Pig: Wilbur is my low life, POS, pink trash, sorry ass excuse of a relative from my mother’s side of a cousin. The lousy SOB owes me money. He is so rotten he is not even worth BARBECUING! He ain’t no damn good! HD: What disappoints you the most, other than Wilbur? Pig: Well Doc, that would be three things: 1)Running out of beer, 2) Married women, and 3) People who think eating bacon is cool. HD: What are some of your dreams for the future? Pig: Having my own brand of beer (PIG BEER for everyone) and working for the FBI. HD: Really. You would want to work for the FBI? Pig: Yep… I would just love to be a Female Body Inspector. HD: Last question, just between the two of us, what do you really think about Rainman? Pig: Doc, you will never find a better friend, the man has given me the shirt off his back. I just wish he would get rid of that stupid shit eating grin of his. There you have it, folks, straight from the horse’s, errrr, the Pig’s mouth. Send us your thoughts and comments. For now, he’s good to go, but we should all continue to be watchful. I ask that you, our faithful readers, take Pig out on the town as often as possible. He needs constant support and a beer or two with friends every few days to keep his spirit alive. After all, a pig who is depressed is a terrible thing! Or is that, a wasted pig is a terrible thing? Hmmmm, so many questions, so little time.



HD: Pig, you have mentioned a cousin Wilbur. Who is he?

April 2013

Page 41

ON THE COVER

From the Ashes...

By Shelly Horan, TRT Editor/Owner

his month, we take a jaunt down Texas Highway 36, off I-10, southwest of Houston… to a little bar wellknown to the area, West of the Brazos in Damon.

The bar’s been around a long time, but it was purchased from Curtis Maricle by “Cactus Jack” Graham in January 2011. Unfortunately, just a few months after Cactus Jack took over, the bar burned to the ground (May 2011) – forever losing the impressive neon sign over the bar, along with just about the rest of the whole building. While no suspicions of foul play are out there, the start of the fire is still officially on the books as “undetermined”. Before the bar could burn down, Cactus Jack had continued his annual April birthday party and crawfish boil, moving it to the new bar. This year, on April 27, he will host the 26th Annual Cactus Jack’s Birthday Party and Crawfish Boil. They will have about 1,200 pounds of mudbugs and it’s not unusual to have some left for Sunday riders visiting this favorite haunt. Now, he’s not saying how old he is, but his daughter, Wendy Graham, concedes he will admit to 39. Not too long ago, before Wendy turned 29, he would claim 29… guess she caught up to him! After the bar burned, it reopened almost immediately with a temporary set up to serve adult beverages (it’s officially an “ice house”, serving beer and other beverages of less than 5% alcohol content). On the day after Thanksgiving that same year, they were pleased to reopen a whole new (and larger) building, complete with kitchen and all. Additionally, the front parking lot got an upgrade and most of it is now paved. They maintained the feel of the place… what I would call “casual comfort”. They maintained the wrap around porch, big comfy chairs on the front porch corners, outside picnic tables, original sign on front of the building, games, and plenty of good old fashioned hospitality inside.

Wendy actually moved from Michigan to help her father rebuild the infamous establishment. Today, Wendy has taken over the day-to-day activities, while Jack has become what she affectionately calls a “storage warrior”. But he can be found there pretty regularly. Wendy has help from friend, Veronica Smith, to whom she also gives credit for a big part of the rebuild. She also wants to acknowledge Donna Johnson (Cactus Jack’s fiancé) and Dearing “Doc” McAlpine, III for all the help they have provided her and her father in getting the bar back up and running. There are still some things to be done… but really, anyone who owns any kind of building/property – there’s always something that needs to be done!

is big and the hamburgers are highly recommended. The kitchen is open 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. every day, with great weekday lunch specials. The bar remains open until 2:00 a.m. seven days a week. So, when you’re riding in the Houston area, be sure to mark your maps with West of the Brazos in the small town of Damon (don’t blink!). And… mark your calendars for April 27 to enjoy a big ole birthday bash!



The new owners have also continued the reputation of West of the Brazos as supporting local rides and benefit events. In March, they hosted the 40th Annual Zodiac Run, organized by the San Jacinto High Rollers, benefitting the Texas Lions Camp for Kids. On April 20, they’ll host a trail ride, full of horses and wagons! The small bar is home to riders and cowboys alike! They want to invite everyone to return to hitting the West of the Brazos on their way around the area. It’s a great stop if you’re heading down to ride the Bluewater Highway, from Freeport to Galveston. The parking lot

When asked how her father came to be owner of West of the Brazos, Wendy replied, “He’s always been a biker guy, often in the bars… including West of the Brazos. So when it became available, it was a good fit.” This isn’t the first bar Cactus Jack has owned… and probably won’t be his last! Page 42

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 43

Page 44

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

A special THANKS to Gene McKinney, Liz LeMoine, Mark Hime, RJ Hathaway, and Steven Styles for responding to our call for photos with bluebonnets!

Want to see YOUR mug in our mag? Send pics to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com. Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 45

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 46 * April 2013

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

April 2013

Page 47

An 80 year old man is having his annual checkup. The doctor asks him how he’s feeling.

Chopper Zeke was in a bar n’ grill yesterday, feeling no pain and chillaxin’ with a great mellow buzz, when he suddenly realized he desperately needed to fart. The music was really, really loud, so he timed his farts with the beat of the music. After a couple of songs, he started to feel a whole lot better. He finished his beer, and noticed that everybody was staring at him... Then it dawned on him that he was listening to his iPod. Great Bumper Stickers • This Vehicle Swerves and Hits Pedestrians at Random • Your kid may be an honor student, but you’re still an IDIOT! • Don’t drink and drive.... You might hit a bump and spill your drink. • My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student! • I STOP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. • Don’t laugh, your daughter could be in here. • Some people are alive only because it’s illegal to kill them. • Cover me. I’m changing lanes.

Page 48

April 2013

“I’ve never been better!” he replies. “I’ve got an eighteen year old bride who’s pregnant with my child! What do you think about that?” The doctor considers this for a moment, and then says, “Well, let me tell you a story. I know a guy who’s an avid hunter. He never misses a season. But one day he’s in a bit of a hurry and he accidentally grabs his umbrella instead of his gun. So he’s walking in the woods near a creek and suddenly spots a beaver in some brush in front of him! He raises up his umbrella, points it at the beaver and squeezes the handle. BAM The beaver drops dead in front of him.” “That’s impossible!” said the old man in disbelief, “Someone else must have taken a shot at that beaver.” “Exactly.” answers the doctor. A man came to visit his grandparents, and he noticed his grandfather sitting on the porch in his favorite rocking chair wearing only a shirt, with nothing on from the waist down. “Grandpa, what are you doing? Your “winkie” is out in the wind for everyone to see!” he exclaimed. The old man looked off in the distance without answering. “Grandpa, what are you doing sitting out here with nothing on below the waist?” he asked again.

The old man slowly looked at him and said, “Well....last week I sat out here with no shirt on, and I got a stiff neck that lasted a week. This here is your Grandma’s idea.” Two bikers; Buster and Bodie, rode into a gas station in rural Texas for a fill-up because they heard about a contest being offered by the station to patrons who purchased a full tank of gas. When they went inside to pay, the guys asked the attendant about the contest. “If you win, you’re entitled to free sex” said the attendant. “How do we enter?” asked Buster. “Well, I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 10, if you guess right, you win free sex.” “OK. I guess 7,” said Bodie. “Sorry, I was thinking of 8,” replied the attendant. The next week, the two buddies go back to the same station to get gas. When they went inside to pay, Buster asked the attendant if the contest was still going on. “Sure,” replied the attendant. “I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 10, if you guess right you win free sex.” “2” said Buster. “Sorry, I was thinking of 3,” replied the attendant. “Y’all come back soon and try again.” As they walked back to their bikes, Bodie said to Buster,

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

“You know, I’m beginning to think this contest is rigged.” “No way,” replied Buster. “My wife won three times last week.” A crusty old Marine Sergeant Major found himself at a Gala event hosted by a local liberal arts college. There was no shortage of extremely young idealistic ladies in attendance, one of whom approached the Sergeant Major for conversation. “Excuse me, Sergeant Major, but you seem to be a very serious man. Is something bothering you?” “Negative, ma’am. Just serious by nature.” The young lady looked at his awards and decorations and said, “It looks like you have seen a lot of action.” “Yes, ma’am, a lot of action.” The young lady, tiring of trying to start up a conversation, said, “You know, you should lighten up. Relax and enjoy yourself.” The Sergeant Major just stared at her in his serious manner. Finally the young lady said, “You know, I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but when is the last time you had sex?” “1955, ma’am.” “Well, there you are. No wonder you’re so serious. You really need to chill out! I mean, no sex since 1955!” She took his hand and led him to a private room where she proceeded to “relax” him several times. Afterwards, panting for breath, she leaned against his bare chest and said, “Wow, you sure didn’t forget much since 1955.” The Sergeant Major said, after glancing at his watch, “I hope not; it’s only 2130 now.”

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

A lawyer and a biker are sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer is thinking all bikers are so dumb that he could get one over on them easily. So, the lawyer asks if the biker would like to play a fun game. The biker is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks. The lawyer persists, saying that the game is a lot of fun. “I ask you a question and if you don’t know the answer, you pay me only $5. Then you ask me one, and if I don’t know the answer, I will pay you $500,” he says. This catches the biker’s attention and, to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game. The lawyer asks the first question. “What’s the distance from the Earth to the Moon?” The biker doesn’t say a word, but reaches into his pocket, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer.

The next day, their husbands are talking and one says to the other, “You know we need to watch our wives when they go out for their nights out. My wife came home last night without her knickers. “You think that’s bad,” said the other husband;”Mine had a card stuck to her butt that said ‘from all the guys at the fire station – we’ll miss you’!” A couple of weeks after hearing a sermon on Psalms 51:24 and Psalms 52:3-4 (lies and deceit), a man wrote the following letter to the IRS: I have been unable to sleep, knowing that I have cheated on my income tax. I understated my taxable income, and have enclosed a check for $150.

Now, it’s the biker’s turn. He asks the lawyer, “What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?” The lawyer uses his laptop to search all references he can find on the internet. He sends emails to all the smart friends he knows; all to no avail. After an hour of searching, he finally gives up. He wakes the biker and hands him $500. The biker pockets the $500 and goes right back to sleep.

Sincerely,

The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer. He wakes the biker again and asks, “Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?” The biker reaches into his pocket, hands the lawyer $5, and goes back to sleep.

“Two things you need to know about taxes. They’ve extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it out to China.” –David Letterman

Two women were walking home after a girls’ night out and they felt the need to pee. So passing a graveyard, they decided to answer the call of nature. Of course they have no toilet paper. So the first one uses her knickers and then throws them away. The other woman spots a ribbon on a wreath and pulls it off and uses that.

“It’s fitting that April 14 is National Pecan Day because today, we recognize nuts. And tomorrow, on April 15, we pay our taxes to support them.” -Craig Ferguson

Taxpayer PS If I still can’t sleep, I will send the rest A couple thoughts on income taxes...

“Tax day is the day that ordinary Americans send their money to Washington, D.C., and wealthy Americans send their money to the Cayman Islands.” –Jimmy Kimmel



April 2013

Page 49

By: Shelly Horan, TRT Editor/Owner

popular biker band is John Epperson & Drivin Blind. As I sit here and write this, I am missing them perform at Blowout’s Biker Bash, finishing off this month’s issue so it can go to press on time! Damn!

They have been rocking biker rally and bar stages since 2005, formed as a Southern Rock Biker Band. Some of their favorite artists include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alman Borthers, ZZ Top and many more. They’ve even played in Sturgis, Daytona, Myrtle Beach, and Laconia, making them a national band, while Texas-based. The power-house trio consists of John Epperson on guitar and lead vocals, Donny Rorie on drums and backup vocals, and Benny Lamson on Bass. You may have found them at some of the most popular biker rallies in Texas, such as Bikers Adult Rally, The Texas Rally, Hawgs of Texas Rally, and many, many more. Additionally, they’ve opened for Foghat, Molly Hatchet, Brian Howe formerly of Bad Company, Blue Oyster Cult and so many more big names! Check out their website JohnEpperson-DrivinBlind.com to get their schedule, hear some of their music, and check out a video of them rocking the stage at our north BIKE NIGHT location, Concert Pub North.

 Page 50

April 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Biker Friendly These businesses are SERIOUS about serving the Texas Motorcycle Community. The list is set up in business 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! Want to be on this list - it’s only $149/YEAR - visit our website or email Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com for information.

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

Bands & Entertainment BE THE FIRST! ONLY $149/YEAR http://ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Bars & Restaurants * Bryant’s Ice House 26913 Katy Freeway Katy, TX 77494 281.392.BEER (2337) HoustonIceHouse.com * Deanville Bar & Grill 1789 FM 60 S Deanville, TX 77852 979.535.7776 Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station * Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Rd Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 www.friocanyonmotorcycleshop.com www.bentrimgrill.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio * Headwaters Saloon 229 S Ranch Rd 783 Harper, TX 78631 830.377.5034 Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

* Hot Rods and Harleys Bar & Grill 13124 FM 306 Canyon Lake, TX 78133 830.864.2911 www.hotrodsandharleysbar.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

* West of the Brazos 23220 Hwy 36 Damon, TX 77430 979.742.3100 www.WestoftheBrazos.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Johnny O’s Ole House Tavern 9905 Camp Bowie West Fort Worth, TX 76116 817.874.2535 www.chulachaser.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

* Yankee’s Tavern 8703 Ada Oaks Ln Anderson, TX 77830 936.873.3314 www.yankeestavern.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station

* Loading Dock, The 504 25th St Galveston, TX 77550 409.765.5155 http://loadingdockgalveston.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) http://rollingthunderbarandgrill.com/Home_Page.php Region: Panhandle Closest Metro: Lubbock * Tommaso’s Italian Restaurant 507 N Gordon St Alvin, TX 77511 281.331.6262 www.tomasositaliangrill.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

Dealerships & Shops * Collin County Choppers AKA Frisco Custom Cycles 6427 Main St Frisco, TX 75034 214.387.0650 www.collincountychoppers.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth * 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

Continued on Page 52...

April 2013

Page 51

Biker Friendly * Harley-Davidson of Kingwood 111 Northpines Dr Kingwood, TX 77339 281.358.0457 www.kingwoodharley.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Mancuso Harley Davidson - Crossroads 12710 Crossroads Park Dr Houston, TX 77065 281.970.9700 www.mancusocrossroads.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Harley-Davidson of Waco 4201 S Jack Kultgen Expy Waco, TX 76711 254-753-0393 www.hdwaco.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Waco

* Motorcycle Tire Shop Welding/Technical Services 1917 S Hackberry San Antonio, TX 78210 210.533 BIKE (2453) http://motorcycletireshop.synthasite.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

* Hawgs N Dawgs Motorcycle Shop & CafĂŠ 1333 SE Military Dr San Antonio, TX 78214 210.924.0203 www.HawgsNDawgs.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

* Potterosa Cycles & ATVs 18143 FM 314 Conroe, TX 77302 281.572.4774 www.potterosa.net/ Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

... continued * Yamaha of San Antonio 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.655.2625 http://www.kps-sa.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

For the Girls * Coco & Duckie 20 E Main St Bellville, TX 77418 979.865.9393 www.CocoAndDuckie.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Houston GOT GREAT BIKER GIRL GEAR? ADVERTISE HERE! http://ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Insurance & Attorneys

* Javelina Harley-Davidson 29078 I-10 West Boerne, TX 78006 800-860-9696 www.javelinaharleydavidson.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

* Southern Metal Choppers 11116 Middle Fiskville Rd, Ste E Austin, TX 78753 512.833.5044 www.southernmetalchoppers.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: Austin

* Ball Insurance 416 S Main St Highlands, TX 77562 800.444.7014 www.ballins.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* 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

* Thunder Alley Cycles 416 NE Wilshire Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 817.295.0955 www.thunderalleycycles.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Ft Worth

* 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

* 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

* Tugs Cycles 19529 County Rd, #2 Brazoria, TX 77422 979.798.6061 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Freeway Insurance 642 W Rhapsody, Ste A San Antonio, TX 78216 210.403.2216 http://insuranceladyinc.com Region: South Texas Closest Metro: San Antonio

Page 52

April 2013

* Woods Cycle Country 1933 I-35 East New Braunfels, TX 78130 830.606.9828 www.woodscyclecountry.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

Continued on Page 54...

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 53 * April 2013

Biker Friendly Lodging & Campgrounds DUBL-C Guest House (Vacation Rentals by Owner) Kerrville area: located on Hwy 39 between Ingram & Hunt; Stay 2 Nights, get 3rd FREE 866.427.8374 www.vrbo.com/385945 Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

* Dragonstar Motorcycle Transportation PO Box 444 Bryan, TX 77806 281.935.8890 www.getaride.net Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Bryan/College Station

Riding Gear & Leather Goods

*Scoot On Inn Cabins & Camping, LLC 4397 South Highway 83 Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.4442 Office/Home 512.517.5349 Cell-Tim Region: HIll Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

* American Man Cave 18 E Main St Bellville, TX 77418 979.865.9383 www.american-man-cave.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Houston

*The Overnight Bunkhouse Bed & Kitchen 13132 Highway 90 North Singleton, TX 77831 936.395.2601 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Motorcycle Outpost, The 103 S College Westminster, TX 75409 972.838.8222 www.TheMotorcycleOutpost.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Motorcycle Towing Cyclone Cycle Rescue 1100 Crane Dr Euless, 76039 76039 817.308.9086 www.MotorcycleTowingTX.com Region: Prairies & Lakes Closest Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Page 54

April 2013

Coppersage Biker Gear 1002 Goodson Rd Magnolia, TX 77355 281.730.1835 Region: Piney Woods Closest Metro: Houston

... continued

Miscellaneous American Legion Post 402 11457 US Highway 190 West LIvingston, TX 77351 936.646.7411 Oklahoma Backroads OKMotorcycleTours.com 405.996.0411 888.785.8733 blongarborist@wildblue.net Outlaw Dave Productions PO Box 25028 Houston, TX 77265 www.OutlawNation.us Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

ď &#x2DC; Want to see YOUR business listed? Just $149/YEAR and includes being a guaranteed distribution point for the magazine. Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com 281.866.8149

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 55 * April 2013

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 56 * April 2013