Thunder Roads Texas - Feb 2013 by Thunder Roads Texas

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

February is Cold, but Let’s Talk About a Wedding!

February 2013

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Also Inside:

 2012 Christmas Toy Runs

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 2 * February 2013

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Contents 

February 2013 On the Cover 12 Pig Writes: February is Cold, but Let’s Talk About a Wedding! This Month

18 32

Ode to a Drain Plug 2012 Christmas Toy Runs

Regular Features

8 Letter From the Editor 10 Two Wheel Thunder TV Review: Sena Bluetooth 16 Pink Thunder: Let’s Talk Safety and Such! 29 Ride Map: Going for the Roses 36 ThunderCam 40 Joker’s Wild 42

Biker Band Corner

Resources

23 Event Listing CENTER - Pull-Out February 2013 Calendar 35 18

Biker Friendly Listing

On the cover: Photo by Raymond “Rainman” Meinhardt.

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 We are pleased to announce Randy McCamey has been promoted to Associate Editor. Randy has been writing and taking photos for Thunder Roads Texas for more than three years. Thunder Roads Texas Main Office 281.866.8149 Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Shelly “Cricket” Beatty San Antonio/Hill Country CricketGOC@yahoo.com * 210.445.2477

Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes ThunderRoadsBill@yahoo.com 321.960.6161

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

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

Diane G. - Houston trmtx@mail.com * 832.253.3262

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

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

D. Grey - Houston trmtx@mail.com * 832.881.9244 Darlene “Lady Diva” Hanson Dallas/Fort Worth ladyd1va@hotmail.com * 817.680.8121

FEATURE WRITERS

Shelly “Cricket” Beatty, 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.

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.

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It’s February and the month of love… but this month also is a preview to our 2013 Spring Riding Season! And it starts off with a BANG! The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Rally takes place February 8-10 in Hondo (near San Antonio) – back where they originally started. It’s their 36th Annual family and biker event with proceeds benefiting Therapy for Disable Children Through Horses. The Loading Dock in Galveston hosts a pre-spring-rally party, complete with some of the great rallies coming up this spring, including the Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally (April 19-21) and Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally (April 11-14). Proceeds benefit We Fight Like A Girl for ovarian cancer research and patient support. Beginning with this month, our subscription rates have increased just a bit… from $29/year to $32/year. You can thank the postal service for the 30 cent jump per first class mailed magazine! We’ve sucked up recent increases, but this one was just too steep… forcing us to pass this on. I keep getting the question… “Can I submit an article to the magazine?” ABSOLUTELY! While we have dedicated Contributors that help us cover the state, we always welcome submissions from our readers. There is only two criteria – it must be motorcycle-related and it must have a connection to Texas. A Colorado rider visiting Texas and submitting something about their experience works; as does a Texas rider making the trek to an out-of-state event. So please, feel welcome to submit your story. That brings me to businesses. As we keep preaching – we’re in business because of our advertisers. We are brought to our readers FREE at distribution locations around the state thanks to ad revenue. As such, we ask you, our reader, to visit these advertisers; support them as they support us. And make sure you TELL THEM you saw them in Thunder Roads Texas. If there is a business you think would benefit by advertising with us – don’t be shy – tell them about us! A reminder that our Points Across Texas program has been combined in with our Monthly Ride Maps. All the standard qualified locations, such as county courthouses, historic jails, and “capitals” of Texas remain. Only FIVE (5) photos gets you a patch; TWENTY (20) pictures gets your a Thunder Roads Texas T-shirt; and FIFTY (50) pictures will get you a free one-year subscription to Thunder Roads Texas magazine. AND for each of the individual pictures, you’ll get an entry to the annual drawing for a FREE weekend stay at Koyote Ranch in beautiful Medina, in the Texas Hill Country. See our Monthly Ride Map for more information. So we head into the season of Mardi Gras, love, Super Bowl celebrations, ground hog visits, and more… we remind you to be careful on the roads out there! Ride safe... and ride with THUNDER! Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan Editor / Owner, Thunder Roads Texas and Owner, Top of Mind Marketing Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 9 * February 2013

Sena Bluetooth echnology has done a lot for our lives; it confuses us, it takes up valuable time, and it tics us off! Yes, technology has done a lot. I personally don’t like talking to people while I am riding. There are others, however, who cannot stop talking – even while riding! Like bikes, each rider is different and if you are in a group that needs to talk safely while riding, Sena Technologies has solved your problem.

connect up to four headsets as an intercom conference. If you’ve got a passenger, you can rapidly hold a conversation that consists of more than just hand signals, leg squeezes and repeated kidney punches. If you’re out riding with a buddy, you no longer have to stick together or wait for each other in traffic – if you get caught at a red light or otherwise separated, you can tell the other rider immediately.

At first, I wondered how confusing this new communication system was going to be. I assumed the installation would be a pain, pairing it to a phone would be unpredictable, the battery would fade quickly and I’d have to remember what the different beeping sounds meant. I just wanted something that worked easily and quickly. I didn’t want to have to get a college degree every time I got a new system! The Sena SMH10 is so functionally simple that most users will spend far less time getting it up and running then they imagine.

Sena advertises the SMH10 as having about a one-half mile range in open terrain. If you get out of range or pass behind a large building, the signal gradually degrades and may cut out altogether. But it instantly and automatically re-pairs when the headsets are back within range.

To install the kit, you just push the mounting clamp in between the helmet shell and liner and tighten a couple of hex screws. You then Velcro the ear pad speakers into the ear holes in your helmet liner and tuck the wires away. Once installed, the Sena headset is simply a joy to use. I had it paired with my iPhone in a matter of seconds. The SMH10 gives you little voice prompts like “phone connected,” “battery level: low,” or “media connected.” Such a simple thing to add, but these voice prompts make a huge difference to the unit’s usability. When pairing with other headsets (i.e. to speak to another person), only one person needs to press on the round control knob; once for one other, twice for two others, etc. It is not safe if you have to struggle to operate a communications unit while riding. The controls on the SMH10 are fantastic to use even with gloves. There’s one button on the back and one big jog dial/combination button on the side. The back button operates the phone, the side button works the intercom, and the jog dial handles volume. You can push the intercom button in and rotate the dial at the same time to switch tracks on your music player. The basic functions are amazingly simple and easy to learn and used. Using the Bluetooth helmet intercom function, you can

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When paired with a smartphone, the SMH10 works pretty seamlessly. If somebody calls you mid-ride, you can answer the call by simply making a noise into the microphone, or hitting a button. You can access Siri, or voice dialing, by tapping the rear button once. The microphone quality is good enough to make the voice dialing process usable on the road. Likewise, you can use navigation or audio players on your phone with ease. You can also pair with a range of other Bluetooth devices like GPS units. When I ride with friends, it is crucial I have bike-to-bike communication. Whether it’s to alert one another about potential hazards, inform of a need for fuel or food or just to comment on the scenery, being able to communicate with other rides completely alters your riding experience. The quality of the audio is outstanding. At highway speeds in an open-faced or full face helmet, road and wind noise from the microphone is almost magically eliminated. The voice quality is so good that people on the other end of phone calls can hear you just fine. The speaker units also deliver a surprisingly loud volume when cranked up. One other ingenious feature is that each audio input – phone, intercom, and music – retains its own volume setting. So if you have to jack up the volume for a quiet song, you won’t blow your eardrums out when you get a phone call!

Battery life of the SMH10 is rated at a 10 day standby time and 12 hours of talk time and it only takes 2.5 hours to fully charge. You charge the units through a USB port plugged into a computer, a power adapter (not supplied), or through a cigarette lighter attachment. Using the cigarette lighter attachment will allow you to charge the unit and provides power for immediate use resulting in nearly unlimited battery life while riding! The Sena SMH10 is simple and intuitive, its audio performance is truly impressive, the intercom function is brilliant, and device integration is almost seamless. It is very small and easy to mount or store. It is simple: three ports, two controls. It has exceptional compatibility with Bluetooth headsets. It has seamless pairing and memory retention and it has outstanding battery life. Excellent sound quality and volume and an ingenious user interface make the Sena SMH-10 an obvious choice. Ride safe with hands free communication from Sena Technology. Check them out at SenaBluetooth.com.

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

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February is Cold, but Let’s Talk About a Wedding!

ell Piglets, it’s the month of February and that means only one thing, the stinging cold weather is still here. It’s that time of year when the nice weather riding days are few and far between. Fortunately, when the bike sits idle, one’s mind is still riding. I’ve been keeping myself sharp by doing lots of 12-ounce curls. In other words, I’m preparing myself for the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Rally hosted by the Alamo City Gypsy MC. It’s coming up fast so we all need to get ready for it. It will be February 8-10 at the Medina County Fairgrounds in Hondo. (Thunder Roads Texas is a sponsor again this year!) The Massacre will be the perfect remedy for all these cold days. I hope to see you all there. Being closed-in for the winter months makes me appreciate those long forgotten days of summer. Just the other night while the wind howled like a wolf at the door, I sat there munching on some Cheetos while I was thinking. (Ahh, yes I can do two things at once, thank you very much.) I was thinking about Ken and Deneen Carnathan’s wedding (July 21, 2012).

I have to say it was one of the best biker weddings I have been privileged to attend. The wedding was held at one of the campgrounds along the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels. It was a storybook wedding complete with family and friends, bikes and bikers, and some pretty good BBQ, too. (OK, you need to cue the harp music and the squiggly lines and allow yourself to fall into a dreamlike state while I attempt to warm your hearts during this cold time of year.) Our story begins back in June when Keyman (Ken), Rainman and I were out enjoying some back-road riding up towards Canyon Lake. We stopped by the campsite so Keyman could show us where the wedding was to be held. The bride, Deneen Sullivan, wanted her day to be filled with family and biker friends. Keyman went on and on

about how she had planned the perfect event. It was a laid back and relaxed outdoor setting next to the river. Her walk down the isle would be lined with bikes and chrome of all kinds glistening in the sun. To honor her husband, Keyman, Ladybug (Deneen) found the perfect “Red Carpet” to roll out. It was a roll of cloth with keyboard keys printed on it. It was as grand as a piano and I knew that day would be one of the most memorable days of my life. At first I wasn’t sure if I was invited or not. Brides always seem to act a little weird when I come around their

Continued on Page 16...

Want more Pig? Catch his online blog: PigsPage.wordpress.com Page 12

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

February 2013

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...continued weddings. But then Ladybug must have borrowed the “list” from Krista (you remember the list from Krista and Shawn’s wedding last June). I had to promise once again to behave myself. To assure my good behavior, Rainman volunteered to do the BBQ for the wedding. This way he was sure to keep me busy and out of trouble. The Friday morning of rehearsal day, Rainman loaded up the truck with gear and beer for a big BBQ. We arrived at the campground early and fired up the smokers. (Rainman was true to his word about keeping me busy; that SOB had me chopping wood all day long!) By 9:00 a.m. the briskets were on the grill and I was already feeling the pain from swinging the axe. All that hard work had sweat just pouring off my brow. Perfect, just perfect!

bride to her day of dreams come true. Deneen stepped out from the cabin dressed in a beautiful white dress with her sunflower bouquet. She stepped onto her two-wheel carriage and rode side-

make the Guadalupe River. What was really cool was the respect shown by the neighboring campsites on both sides. They all turned off their stereos during the ceremony. It was all very picturesque as words of love and devotion were spoken while people floated by on the river. When Rex announced the couple as married, a roar of applause erupted up and down the river. The party had begun as the beer and iced tea flowed. The food was served and everyone had plenty to eat. Several of the people took advantage of the cool refreshing river to swim and float the rest of the day away. A toast was made by Leatherneck Cacuy to the bride and groom. This was after Keyman had some fun opening the bottles of

Rainman then fired up a big pot of beans and poured half a case of our home brewed Christmas beer into the pot for flavoring. While I was sad to see the beer go like that, I have to admit, it made for a pretty good pot of beans. (Don’t worry Ron, next time I will put more jalapenos in it just for you.) We spent the

day there on the river just cooking meat and beans. My present to the bride and groom came during the rehearsal dinner. Dinner was regular ol’ hamburgers and hotdogs. I just couldn’t stand for that so I kicked things up a notch and whipped up some of my world famous chili-dogs along with some chili-burgers. They were a big hit right along with the jello shots and more of our home brewed green apple beer. The celebration festivities carried well on into the night with music and fellowship. The next morning, the wedding day had come. The weather was perfect. It was warm with a gentle breeze out of the west. For wedding days, I like to refer to them as D-Day… Da-Day when there would be no backing out for the groom! Wedding days are always so hectic; we all had our duty assignments. My duty, along with Rainman, was to have the meat hot and ready to serve by noon. Somewhere around 9:00 in the morning about 130 people showed up in cars and on bikes for the ceremony. Everyone gathered by the river to watch the maid of honor, Ladybug’s daughter Shelby Sullivan, be delivered to the isle by motorcycle. The escort was provided by none other than Phantom Shawn Canfield. He returned up the hill on his bike to escort the Page 14

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champagne by firing the corks over the heads of the crowd. We danced, we drank, and we celebrated the unity of two people who clearly love each other.

saddle down the hill to the ceremony. Shawn had delivered her to the church on time! But where was the groom? Well, I have to tell you, he was down by the river awaiting his bride. Dressed in casual shorts and shirt, Keyman looked like he had just stepped off the plane from Maui, and he looked good too. Tribe of Judah Rex Keating officiated the ceremony while best man Leatherneck CaCuy and the maid of honor Shelby witnessed the nuptials. The couple was encircled by family and friends in the shade of the rock bluffs that

And just to prove their love and devotion to one another will never die, I had the pleasure of riding behind Keyman and Ladybug during the annual toy run. They were such a cute couple riding together with their bikes side by side. Keyman displayed his devotion to his lady by placing himself in front of opposing danger to protect his lady. As they rode off into the setting sun, it looked as though they were actually holding hands. Ok, now that I have warmed your hearts, it’s time for you to get up out of that chair and go out to the garage. Use that new detail kit in the box you received at Christmas and put a decent shine on that chrome. I’ll see you at the Massacre. Oh, that reminds me, I still have another set or two of arm curls to do. Ride HARD or Stay Home

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

February 2013

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Let’s Talk Safety and Such Shelly “Cricket” Beatty (Feb/May/Aug/Nov) t doesn’t matter if you have ridden for years or if you are purchasing your first bike, safety is important. No, I’m not talking about the right riding boots or helmet. Although those are also very important, what I am talking about is being a female rider out there on the highway doing her thing. After you have found a bike that fits for you and your riding style, after you have purchased riding gear that is comfortable and protects you during the riding season, after you have taken a rider safety course… “What’s left” you ask? Let’s take a moment to assess riding from two different perspectives, riding alone and riding in a group. These two situations can be very much different, yet very much the same. Riding alone is great; it’s freedom. You know what I mean, no one to keep up with and no one trying to keep up with you. But, here are a few mistakes to avoid when you set out on the road alone: Not letting a soul on earth know where you’re headed or when you’ll be back. Heck, sometimes I don’t even know where I’m going until I get there but by giving someone else a general idea of my destination, I knew that someone would be looking for me if things didn’t go as planned. Don’t forget to check in from time to time! Not paying attention to the weather. Just because it’s sunny at 10:00 a.m. does not mean it won’t be pouring rain at dusk. Before you judge me on that topic, remember that we live in Texas and even the weatherman is wrong half the time! So, check the weather from time to time throughout the day. Not knowing how many miles my bike can go on one tank of gas and relying on the low fuel warning light! Not choosing to camp with friends at a rally. OMG, rally camping is fun! No pressure to be up at a certain time, carefree to do what you want, no one to babysit, meeting new people, etc. But, use your wits when camping around strangers. My experience with a not-so-mannerly neighbor at one rally led me to find some of my friends to camp with for the rest of the rally. I don’t think his Momma taught him how to properly ask a lady for a date, to put it kindly. Had I not been quick witted I could have easily ended up as a statistic. Yes, biker chicks are tough enough, but there will always be some guy out there who wants to take advantage of the fact that you are female and you are alone. Don’t forget this in a bar setting either, ladies, or anywhere else for that matter. Ok, so what about riding with a group? Yep, it’s great when a bunch of folks get together to enjoy a day of riding, but there are a few things to know before you head out: Know who you are riding with. It’s cool to pick up new riding Page 16

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partners from time to time but you may want to put them in the back of the pack until you know their capability.

accidents; how to approach an accident scene, how to best assist the victims, what kind of information to collect, and how to administering things like first aid and CPR. [Editor’s Note: Look for Accident Scene Management, Inc. (ASMI) courses. There are many different instructors around Texas, mostly in the major metropolitan areas.]

Know the riding preferences of the group members. What I call a “long” ride and what some of my girlfriends call a “long” ride are not the same!

If you are the veteran rider, don’t take it for granted that everyone knows biker etiquette. If someone is not in line with the safety aspects and protocol of the group, pull them aside and share your knowledge of conducting themselves as bikers in a friendly and non-threatening tone. Even as a female – Independent or patched – you are expected to know that you just don’t sit on someone else’s bike without asking first!

Know some first aid skills, like CPR, and carry a knife, cell phone, and contact information for people in the group. I’ve been in emergency situations where I’ve spent hours trying to figure out how to contact the family because every bit of information in my riding partner’s wallet was outdated – even their insurance cards! Cutting clothing free or removing fencing material from around the spokes is not what we think about when we go for a ride, but in emergency situations a good knife might become a necessity.

First time traveling out of state? Check the laws in those states as many have different requirements for helmets, riding gear, handlebar height, and noise.

Know where you’re riding and have a “meet up” plan if you get separated. Oh, and just because you fueled up doesn’t mean everyone else did. Check with everyone in the group before you head out. Here are a few more riding and safety tips I’ve picked up along the way: Check to see if there is a motorcycle safety course available locally. Try to find a course that is specifically focused on teaching riders about motorcycle related

Last but not least, water, water and more water! Drink water before you ride and take along water for the ride. This is particularly important should you break down in the middle of nowhere on a hot Texas summer day. I watched a biker nearly loose his passenger due to lack of water. I pulled over to assist when I saw her come off the back end of his bike as he stopped. They had no water with them and I gave her some I had. I learned the lady was an RN. She shook her head shamefully admitting that she, of all people, should have known to drink more water on a 103 degree Texas day! The one thing that saved her that day was a warning system the couple had put into place. She would tap him a certain way to let him know to pull over. This day, he stopped just before she fainted! I’m sure there are other things I could add to this list, but I will close for now. A happy riding season to you and I hope you enjoy our Texas landscape – safely!

 ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENT

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Ode to the Drain Plug By Randy McCamey, TRT Associate Editor

n unassuming little piece of equipment, the venerable drain plug is itself fundamental to the sport of motorcycles and motorcycle riding. Like any discussion about the food chain, the “riding chain” ultimately comes down to the drain plug. Without it, everything literally comes to a screeching halt.

the fresh gear oil ready to go. I put the oil cap aside and poured in the fresh oil. The type of tranny oil I use comes in a handy tapered plastic container, so I tilted the container up and it sat nicely in the oil fill hole all by itself. At my age (no, I’m not that old!) my knees and ankles do not take kindly to long squats, so I stood up as the oil went in.

My story begins on one of those fine and rare January weekdays when it was sunny, warm, and a light breeze fluttered the few remaining dead leaves on the trees. I had the day off work and my plans were to wait until about noon and have a great afternoon ride all to myself – 5 or 6 hours of cruising the backroads looking for the next interesting article for Thunder Roads Texas magazine. My odometer said it was just about time to change the fluids in the bike. I did not want to go to the hassle of changing the engine oil and pulling off the oil filter – and cleaning the mess that usually occurs when I do it – so I deferred changing the engine oil and focused my attention to changing the transmission oil. What could be simpler; drain the old oil, add a fresh quart and off I’d go.

“Hmmm”, I pondered, “Why is my drain pan filling up?” A moment of reality sat in, a moment of awakening, a moment when I realized that my actions – or rather my inaction – had just created a catastrophe. Usually such awakenings, or Igniseconds, occur when a catastrophe of common sense has or is about to occur. Such catastrophes are often the focus of much future kidding and embarrassment by those who know you best. Nicknames are sometimes born from such catastrophes. Well, you guessed it; my drain pan was filling up because I had forgotten to reinstall the drain plug!

I rode around the block to heat up the oil a little then I got my trusty socket wrench and put a drain pan under the bike. Off with the drain plug, I unscrewed the oil cap and out came the old transmission oil. I wanted to let the bike sit for a while to let the old oil drain out, so I went back in the house to do a few chores, have that last cup of coffee, and get my jacket and boots ready for the ride. A few minutes later, I get back to the bike with

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I think “%#*# $$@ *&#” were my exact words. And yes, my beautiful little drain plug was sitting right there on the footboard where I had left it. As a matter of principle, I cursed the little drain plug then stuck it back in its hole and tightened it up with a few more foot-pounds of torque than was listed in the owners manual! “Take that you little &%$#*&”, I said as if I were somehow triumphant in my superior skills and wisdom. Of course, no good dead ever goes unpunished and my simple oversight quickly became a nightmare as I found I did not have extra quart of transmission oil to replace the fresh oil that had run out over the sides of my drain pan. For those of you in the big cities, this might not be much

of a concern but for those of us in “rural America”, it can be a major problem as not every parts house or auto store stocks motorcycle oils. So began my journey to find another quart of oil. The tractor houses in my area do not keep any synthetic blends, so I start going to the auto parts stores. Nope, none there either. The closest place that “might” have the right oil is almost 50 miles away. By this time, I’m getting frustrated but I am powerless to do anything different so I gas up the truck and head off to continue the goose-chase. I finally find a quart of the correct oil and after 3 hours and well over 100 miles of travel in a cage I’m finally back where I started. The time now is about 4:00 p.m. I’m frustrated, the wind has picked up, and the afternoon temperature is dropping. “Damn the torpedoes”, I said, “I’m going for a ride”. So, after checking the oil level and the drain plug for the 10th time, I start the bike and off I go. Twenty minutes later, I’m back home too tired, cold, hungry, and frustrated to care about much. With a cold beer in hand, I try to forget this was not one of my best days. The moral of the story is this: The smallest things can have the biggest impact, so pay attention to the details. And when you screw up, make sure no one is watching!

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

February 2013

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EVENT

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EVENT

Event Listing

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

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

Armadillo Cycle Club Land Blessing ArmadilloCycleClub.net Cleburne Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Daytona Bike Week DaytonaBikeWeek.com Daytona, FL Blowout’s Biker Bash BlowoutsBikerBash.com Hitchcock Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston Online registration is open for. Bike games; special contests, including best leprechaun nighty contest; best dressed leprechaun; best St Patty’s Day themed campsite. Live music all weekend. Adult rally; 21 & up only. Held at the Galveston County Fairgrounds. $35 weekend pass includes Preregister by March 3, 2013 and get a FREE T-shirt. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

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Jalapeno Bike Rally and Bike Run JalapenoFest.org Laredo Region: South Texas Metro: Laredo

Hellelujah Rally HellelujahRally.com Cleveland Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

THUNDER ROADS TEXAS BIKE NIGHT Houston/Kemah Thunderroadstexas.com One Night – Two Parties! Our monthly (third Thursday) biker party with a few hundred of our closest friends! Hosted by NORTH: Concert Pub North (2470 FM 1960 West, Houston, 77068) and SOUTH: Jackie’s Brickhouse (1053 Marina Bay Dr/FM 2094, Kemah 77565; just west of Highway 146). Co-hosted 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! Reserved motorcycle-only parking, with plenty of cage parking, too. Rain or shine… the BEST and longest continually held bike night in Houston!

MARCH

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Bikers’ Expo & Swap Meet TexasScooter.com Fort Worth Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Parts & Party! Will Rogers Memorial Center (3401 West Lancaster Ave, Fort Worth). Admission only $8 adults; $5 kids (5-14) & Military; Kids under 5 FREE. Lots of vendors! Booth space goes fast, so reserve today. Only $40 for 10x10 space and includes one admission. Mail payment to Texas Scooter Times, 124 West Main St, Itasca, TX 76055. Payment must be received one week in advance. Walk-in vendors are welcome, but beware… reserve early to guarantee space.

APRIL Louisiana State HOG Rally LAStateHOGRally.com Houma, LA

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Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum LookLearnLife.org Waco Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Waco

Chrome Divas of Corpus Christi Open House ChromeDivas.com Corpus Christi Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Corpus Christi

12th Annual Spring Swap Meet TexasScooter.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Robert Arellano “Dawg” Fest Rally DawgFestRally.com Mount Plesant 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!

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Spring Kick Off Party at the Loading Dock Facebook.com/Strip-Club-Choppers-of-Texas Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston You want to PARTY with the Best of Texas?! Of course you do! The Loading Dock, Strip Club Choppers of Texas, CrossTown Renegades host all your favorite Spring Rallies! Thunder in the Hill Country, Oldest Town in Texas, Blowout’s Biker Bash, Carts, Bikers & Babes Rally, Hawgs of Texas Rally, and Bikers Adult Rally! The event is sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas and VIP Apparel. Pole Dance Contest, hosted by Strip Club Choppers. LIVE Music all day. 50/50 drawing benefitting We Fight Like A Girl!

Armadillo Cycle Club Annual Horseshoe Tournament ArmadilloCycleClub.net Cleburne Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Arizona Bike Week AZBikeWeek.com Scottsdale, AZ

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Party on the Trinity RoadDawgRallies.com Liberty, TX Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

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Livingston SJHR Annual Chili Cook Off 409.200.1737 Point Blank Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston

Chili Willy Fun Run & Kick Off Party engfxr@gmail.com Montgomery Region: Piney Woods 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! Registration is open now – with special “Early Bird” pricing. Call for availability of RV Sites – they go fast! Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

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St. Valentine’s Day Massacre MassacreRally.com Boerne Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio 36th Annual St. Valentine’s Day Massacre hosted by Alamo City Gypsy MC. We’re returning to our roots and heading back to Hondo, TX! Come join us at the Hondo City Park and Fairgrounds located at 733 FM Rd 462 N. Plenty of camping and room for self-contained RV’s. Over 45 food and merchandise vendors. Run Pins for the first 1000. 1st Annual Jalapeño Eating Contest. For info visit our website or call (210) 601-1932. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas!

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Bikers Expo & Swap Meet Fort Worth

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Jalapeno Bike Rally & Run Laredo (February 22-23)

A GREAT THING ABOUT TEXAS ... Fritos, corn dogs and, onion rings originated in Texas.

PRESIDENTS’ DAY

St Valentine’s Day Massacre Rally February 8-10 * Hondo

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EvenT Listing 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!

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TMRA State Rally TMRA.org Comanche Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Abilene 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! TCOC&I State Rally COCTX.org Katy Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

FUTURE May 2-4 Arkansas State HOG Rally ARStateHOGRally.com Hot Spring, AR May 2-5 Hill Country Run Motorcycle Rally HillCountryRun.com Luckenbach 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!

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May 3 International Female Ride Day Motoress.com May 9-11 New Mexico State HOG Rally NMStateHOGRally.com Albuquerue, NM May 10-19 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Spring Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC May 16-18 Texas State HOG Rally TXStateHOGRally.com San Antonio Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio Hosted by San Antonio this year in the Alamodome! Registration deadline is March 28. Register by January 30, 2013 and be eligible to win a Three Night Stay at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, our host hotel. Vendors, brothers, concerts, rides and more! Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas! May 16-19 Rally in the Crater - Spring Rallys-R-Us.com Mount Enterprise Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview May 16-19 The Aspen Cash Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM May 22-27 Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally RedRiverMemorialDayMotorcycleRally.com Red River, NM May 31-June 3 Branson Motorcycle Rally BransonMotorcycleRally.com 417.213.1391 Branson, MO June 8-16 Laconia Motorcycle Week LaconiaMCWeek.com 603.366.2000 Laconia, NH June 13-15 Colorado State HOG Rally COStateHOGRally.com Greely, CO

August 5-11 70th Annual Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis.com Sturgis, SD 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 September 26-29 Rally in the Crater - Fall Rallys-R-Us.com Mount Enterprise Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview October 2-6 Myrtle Beach Bike Week Fall Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC October 11-13 Boo Benefit BooBenefit.org Jefferson Region: Piney Woods Metro: Tyler October 17-19 Oklahoma State HOG Rally OKStateHOGRally.com Norman, OK October 17-20 Biketoberfest Biketoberfest.com Daytona, FL October 31-November 4 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally LoneStarRally.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

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June 13-16 Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally ROTRally.com Austin Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin June 17 Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Day RideToWork.org Facebook.com/ThunderRoadsTexas

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

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Thunder Roads Texas * Page 27 * February 2013

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 28 * February 2013

Going for the Roses! By: Shelly Horan, Editor/Owner

t’s the month of love. Some go for diamonds, some go for romance, some go for gold… we’re going for the Roses! There are three “rose”-named cities/towns in Texas. Two are close together, located near Beaumont. So using these as the starting point, we offer a loop route out of Beaumont, through Rose Hill Acres, Lumberton, Silsbee, Evadale, Vidor and Rose City. Total ride time is about 1.5 hours for a little over 50 miles. Starting in Beaumont… it was founded in 1838 and named after Mary Dewburleigh Barlace Warren Beaumont, the wife of Henry Millard, one of the three founders (Thomas B. Huling and Joseph Pulsifer, being the other two). The city was initially a shipping hub with railroad and river port access for businesses, especially lumber and rice milling being its mainstays. However, on January 10, 1901, their claim to fame changed… oil was discovered at Spindletop. It became the first major oil field and one the largest in US History. The town’s population exploded almost overnight.

RIDE

Self-touted as being “where Louisiana Cajun meets Texas cowboy”, the town is a blend of the two cultures. There are plenty of sights to see while in Beaumont. Check out the Tyrrell Historical Library. The building was originally built in 1903 as the First Baptist Church. Here you’ll find a beautiful building outside and a historical and genealogical research library.

There are many historic homes and museums in the area, including the Fire Museum of Texas, SpindletopGladys City/Boomtown Museum, Texas Energy Museum, the John Jay French house and museum (in the oldest surviving house in Beaumont), Dutch Windmill Museum, Museum of the Gulf Coast and so many more! If you’re there during the weekend of February 2223 this year, they host the Boomtown Film and Music Festival. And if Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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If you like architecture, visit the “Kyle Block”. It is one of the best examples of Zig Zag architecture in Texas. “Kyle” refers to a Beaumont Business man, linked to the Temple hotel for being that building’s principal investor. Zig Zag architecture refers to an Art Deco era style of commercial buildings and teh configuration of the buildings that creates a visual “zigzag” effect. Another great architectural phenomenon is the Beaumont Bank Building. Somewhat mimicking ancient Egyptian tombs with reliefs that depict almost every occupation in Beaumont when the building was built in 1937. The unique style of the building is mostly due to it being designed by a sculptor, Beaumontbased Matchett Herrig Coe. you’re looking for something a little different, even Cajun, visit Gator Country Adventure Park, where you can meet the stars of Country Music Television’s (CMT’s) “Gator 911”. Time to get on the bike and travel up Highway 287/Highway 96/Highway 69. On the way is our first “rose”, Rose Hill Acres. It’s a small suburban community that serves both Beaumont and Silsbee. No attractions are listed, but, hey, we needed a “rose”! Be sure to take a picture for Points Across Texas, though! Keep on going up Highway 96, splitting off from Highway 287/Highway 69, into Lumberton. The town was founded in 1894 as a stop on the Gulf, Beaumont, and Kansas City Railway. The railroad served the sawmills and lumber camps; hence the town’s name. Lumberton’s claim to fame is Village Creek State Park and the Village Creek Festival (April). The park attracts tourists from all over with

many different outdoor activities (canoeing, hiking, bird watching). Sorry, not many roads to ride through in the park, but will make a good stop to give the butt a break. If you’re visiting in April, look for the Village Creek Festival, a 20+ years annual chamber of commerce event. The primary purpose of the event is to raise funds for local scholarships, small business grants, and chamber office expenses.

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Going for the Roses!

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dreams… the Big Thicket Preserve with beautiful riding roads through tall pines; the Sandylands Sanctuary, and the Neches River. And we can’t forget to mention the small, main street shopping and restaurant district, centered around their Crockett Street.

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Continuing up Highway 96 into Silsbee, there is a little more to see here. Originally founded as “Mill Town”, the site was first reached via the Gulf, Beaumont, and Kansas City Railway in 1894. The town was renamed in recognition of Nathanial Silsbee, an investor from Boston, MA, who helped provide funds for the railroad. Another significant figure in Silsbee’s history is John Henry Kirby. He saw the potential of the piney woods area, and was instrumental in putting the railroad through the area. Eventually, he established the Kirby Lumber Company; a business that would be the main employer and strength of the Silsbee economy from the city’s beginning. Of interest to get off the bike and take a look is the Ice House Museum. We highlighted this location before, as part of our cover story “A Cultural Tradition… the Texas Icehouse” (August 2011). As a brief recap, the museum is locate in the old ice house erected in 1928 by Gulf States Utilities to produce and distribute ice in the area. Today, you can travel back in time to see the history of Texas icehouses. The Kirby-Hill House is named after its two historic inhabitants, James Lafayette Kirby (brother of John Henry Kirby) and Austin Mae Hill, Sr. Built in 1902, the house is a two-story, colonial revival style and is an exceptional example of the Neo-classical style form the late 19th/early 20th centuries. Most of the lumber used to build the home came from the Kirby mills. The history of the Kirby-Hill families is interwoven in the early history of Hardin County and the State of Texas. Of course, nearby are some outdoor enthusiasts’

Heading east out of Silsbee on Highway 96, the next stop if Evadale. Originally named Richardson (after Neches River ferry operator, Ben Richardson), the town was founded in the early 1830s. When Richardson died in 1849, the land was sold to the Ford family and became Ford’s Bluff. The location was prime for becoming a milling facility on the river. However, the effort failed when Philip Ford died of yellow fever while trying to buy equipment in New Orleans. In the 1890s, lumberman John Henry Kirby renamed the site after teacher Eva Dale, of Jasper’s Southeast Texas Male and Female College. He built a mill there in 1904. The mill became a casualty of the Great Depression. The town got an economic injection when the Champion Paper and Fiber Company bought riverfront land for a pulp mill. The mill was eventually acquired by TempleEastex Industries.

all from this small town. Out of Vidor, take Old US Highway 90 into Rose City. Named after the Rose Hill oilfield discovered in 1950, when the East Beaumont Oil and Gas Company Townsite Subdivision filed the town plat. The Rose Hill oilfield has yielded large quantities of crude oil and casinghead gas. For you guys… the city was featured in Playboy’s top ten sexiest cities in America, placing #9 overall for percentage of beautiful women as a whole (Playboy, September 1992). For dog lovers, the town is home to the 2003 Westminster Cup Winner “Shiloe” (a Shih Tzu breed of dog). Closing out the loop, head back to Beaumont via I-10. We’re sure you didn’t visit everything when you were there before, so see the rest now that you’re back.

REMEMBER: Our Points Across Texas program is now combined with our ride maps. So all named cities/ towns, sites, and locations are qualified photo opportunities to qualify for a FREE patch! See inset for detailed list.

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Out of Evadale, head south on FM 105. There are two options at the fork: Go left, continuing on FM 105, for a straighter, slightly shorter route or (as shown on our map) go right, on FM 1131 to keep closer to the lakes and offering a slightly curvier road. In the small rural community of Pine Forest, pick up FM 105 again, going south. Continue on FM 105 into Vidor. Vidor was founded in the late 1890s and named for lumberman Charles Shelton Vidor, who acquired the Beaumont Sawmill Company and later established the Miller-Vidor Lumber Company. It is locate on the scenic Neches River in Orange County. Still a lumber town today, Vidor’s make claim to fame is the Texas Bar-B-Que Festival (September). Celebrating more than 30 years, the festival brings in large country & western talent. Last year, it was Lee Greenwood. Speaking of Country music, famous musicians George Jones, Tracy Byrd, and Clay Walker are

Points Across Texas Qualified Destination List February 2013 Ride Map Beaumont

Tyrell Historical Library Kyle Block (any one of the buildings) Beaumont Bank Building Fire Museum of Texas Spindletop-Gladys City/ Boomtown Museum Texas Energy Museum John Jay French House and Museum Dutch Windmill Museum Museum of the Gulf Coast

Boomtown Film and Music Festival (banner during event) Gator Country Adventure Park

Rose Hill Acres Lumberton

Village Creek Park Village Creek Festival (banner during event)

Silsbee

Icehouse Museum Kirby-Hill House Big Thicket Preserve Sandylands Sanctuary Neches River

Evadale

Vidor

Texas Bar-B-Que Festival (banner at event) “Home of…” sign for George Jones, Tracy Byrd and/or Clay Walker

Rose City

Temple-Eastex Mill

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. Page 30

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2012 Christmas Toy Runs SALVATION ARMY TOY RUN By: Dean Downey, TRT Correspondent AMARILLO – On November 18, bikers in Amarillo gathered to show their love, support, and giving spirit in the Salvation Army Toy Run. It was a beautiful day in the Texas Panhandle and over 700 bikes participated in the toy run hosted by Tripp’s Harley-Davidson. The cost to participate was $10 or a new toy to benefit the Salvation Army and most of all the kids in the Texas Panhandle who might not have a bright Christmas. This year’s sponsors were Tripp’s HarleyDavidson, Budweiser of Amarillo, Happy State Bank, American Classifieds, Erwin’s Pawn, Amarillo Wealth Management, and

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RC Coin. The run began with sign in at Tripp’s HD followed by a parade to the Courts of Amarillo. There was a Top 40 where participants paid $100 to ride in the front of the line. After the parade, participants were treated to live music, great prizes, food, and beverage at the Courts of Amarillo. The event was a huge success thanks to all the sponsors, participants, volunteers, the Amarillo HOG Chapter, the City of Amarillo, the Amarillo Emergency Service, and the Amarillo Police Department, who provided the escort in the parade making sure everyone arrived safely. There were over 700 bikes, $5,500 raised this year, and a truck load of toys collected, according to Jason Tripp, the event coordinator. Bikers always proven that underneath all the leather is a lot of love and giving spirit.

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

NORTHWEST HOUSTON SAN JACINTO HIGH ROLLER TOY RUN By: Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan, TRT Editor/Owner HOUSTON – On Sunday, December 2, I participated in the Northwest Houston San Jacinto High Rollers’ (NWSJHR) 33rd Annual Toy Run. Each year, hundreds of NWSJHR riders and friends line up at Honda of Houston and head northwest to the Boys and Girls Country in Hockley. This is an awesome event! And, as with many of the December rides last year, the weather cleared out and warmed up, increasing the attendance of all. The estimated number was around 900 bikes, 1,000 folks. During the lineup at Honda of Houston, volunteers were busy accepting the toys, transferring them to a toy-wrapping station, and working with volunteers from the home to assign specific toys to specific kids. This is a little different from what I’ve experienced before. I think this makes the whole event much more enjoyable and memorable for both the bikers and the kids. After submitting my toy and purchasing my ride pin, I was guided around the back of the building to the lineup area. Then I got off and started meeting and greeting. Many of the folks I met have been riding this toy run for years. This year, as I’ve been told happened in previous years, we were greeted by kids hanging on the white-washed fence near the entrance, holding signs, welcoming us all with very open arms. (I’m tearing up just thinking about it). These kids are so grateful for the bikers that come each year and it so shows. The Boys and Girls Country of Houston (a 501(c)3 charitable organization) is a Christian home, providing children from families in crisis with love, security, a sense of self-worth, and opportunities to

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

prepare them for a successful life. In total, there were about 100 kids in need there in December. We filed in and took over the parking lot, then having to use the grassy areas after filling it all up! We crammed the auditorium of the facility. Once inside, we were provided with homemade cookies, coffee, spiced cider (non-alcoholic, of course), hot chocolate, and water. While we’re filing in, the NWSJHR toy run volunteers were busy bringing in the toys and organizing them on the table behind the stage. Then the roaring of a bike could be heard from behind a large rolling door. When the door was raised, in rode Santa (AKA Outlaw Dave) on his Harley, making sure to rev it up and make noise! The kids just love this! Everyone got settled and the volunteers started handing out the gifts. Each kid’s name was called and they got up to hug Santa

and receive their presents. Some waited to open the packages, some didn’t. It didn’t take long and the entire area was littered with wrapping paper and smiling faces! I reiterate, this is a neat touch, in that we got to actually see the kids receive our gifts, see the smiling faces as they inspect their haul – just like I remember our Christmas to be as a kid. (Again, more tears. Damn, I’m a softy.) After the festivities at the home were over, the after-party was on! Most of the group headed to the Brickhouse Tap & Tavern on 290 for some food, beverage, biker jail, and live auction. After the auction, I then headed on down to the Outlaw Dave Worldwide Headquarters (Washington & I-10) with some of the riders, meeting up with some who weren’t as lucky as I was (to participate) and hung out with Outlaw Dave. What a great day!

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2012 Christmas Toy Runs BIG TEXAS TOY RUN By: Randy “Harley Doc” McCamey, TRT Associate Editor DALLAS/FORT WORTH - If you were traveling along Interstate 30 between Fort Worth and Dallas in the early afternoon on Saturday, December 15 you either saw something magical or you were a part of an amazing event. For the 27th year, the Christmas toy run season was in high gear across the state and on this weekend, all eyes were focused on the Big Texas Toy Run (BTTR) in the DFW metroplex. We bikers are a charitable bunch, and the BTTR was no exception as we poured our hands and hearts out to the needy children of North Texas. Proceeds from this year’s run will go to benefit the Mental HealthMental Retardation (MHMR) Organization of Tarrant County, Metrocare Services (MHMR in Dallas County), and other children’s charities in the DFW metro area. Staging for the BTTR was at Gateway Park in Fort Worth, just west of the downtown area, and near the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas. It was a warm day in Texas that day, and at 1:00 p.m., riders headed out from both locations travelling down I-30 to meet in the middle at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie. A big thank you goes out to the local law enforcement personnel who escorted the ride and shut down the many entry ramps along I-30 to enhance the safety of the riders and the public. Thousands of people lined both sides of the interstate to watch the miles of bikes roll by.

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Several clubs and motorcycle organizations were present as well as all manner of cruiser, trike, Harley, sport bike, British bike, and more. Many of the bikes were creatively decorated to celebrate the holiday season! The BTTR Facebook page reports that there were an estimated 14,000 bikes as part of the toy run. All together, riders donated some half-million dollars in new toys for the charities. At one point several months back, the BTTR staff was looking to break a toy run record of 8,000 bikes but the process may have fallen through as the date drew closer. I have seen no information since then. The after-party at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie included live bands and some of the Harley Girls from Adam Smith’s Texas Harley-Davidson, a major sponsor of the BTTR. Plenty of food and drink was also available as well as vendors with leather apparel, do-rags and the ever-necessary bike bling for every biker at the rally. Of course, ol’ Saint Nicholas was around to greet the crowd and entertain the kids! What a great weekend for a great cause in North Texas.

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Riders came from a wide area across north Texas to participate in the ride and donate toys to the cause.

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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Want to see YOUR mug in our mag? Send pics to Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com. Page 36

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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WHY… ... do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters? … do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage? … does the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin? … can’t women put on mascara with their mouth closed? … don’t you ever see the headline ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’? … is ‘abbreviated’ such a long word? … is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’? Gives pause for thought. … is lemon juice made with artificial flavor and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? … is the man who invests all your money called a broker? … is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? … didn’t Noah swat those two damn mosquitoes hitching a free ride? … do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections? ... don’t sheep shrink when it rains? … are they called apartments when they are all stuck together? ... if flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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82-year old Biker Joe went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later, the doctor saw Biker Joe walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm.

scent over the envelopes. Mike’s curiosity had got the better of him, so I asked the man why he was sending all those cards.

A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Biker Joe and said, “You’re really doing great, aren’t you?”

The man replied, “I’m sending out 500 Valentine cards signed, ‘Guess who?’”

Biker Joe replied, “Just doing what you said, Doc: “Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.’’

“But why?” asked Mike.

The doctor said, “I didn’t say that. I said, “You’ve got a heart murmur; be careful.” Jim asked his friend, Tony, whether he had bought his wife anything for Valentine’s Day. “Yes,” came the answer from Tony who was a bit of a chauvinist, “I bought her a belt and a bag.’ “That was very kind of you,” Jim added, “I hope she appreciated the thought.” Tony smiled as he replied, “So do I, and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.” Mike walked into a post office just before Valentine’s Day, he couldn’t help noticing a middle-aged, balding man standing in a corner sticking “Love” stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. Then the man got out a bottle of Channel perfume from his pocket and started spraying

“I’m a divorce lawyer,” the man replied. A Few Definitions for Women Valentine’s Day (val*en*tinez dae) n. A day when you have dreams of a candlelight dinner, diamonds, and romance, but consider yourself lucky to get a card Patience (pa*shens) n. The most important ingredient for dating, marriage and children. See also “tranquilizers.” Blonde jokes (blond joks) n. Jokes that are short so men can understand them. Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride dressed in white?” “Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.” The child thought about this for a moment, then said, “So why is the groom wearing black?”

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

February 2013

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By Shelly Horan, TRT Editor/Owner

THE BARN STORM SURVIVORS

his month, we highlight Barn Storm Survivors. Some may remember them as Sticks and Stones. They play original music that is a cross between Southern Rock and Blues… with some Country mixed in. In a blog on their website from August 2011, they explain where their name comes from; from the era of the first powered airplanes. The pilots were daredevils, flying around the country walking on wings, executing death defying loops and maneuvers. Many died in the process. But those who survived were known as Barnstormers. This five member band can relate. They’ve all been through a lot and survived. These Survivors are proud of their background and bring it all together in their music. “Our most coveted ram is for you, as a fan an listener, to receive a moment of relief from everyday ups and downs and tears. Our pleasure is found in your escape.” With a sentiment like this, how can you not take a listen?! They’ve been together in various forms over the last 15 years or so. Some may remember them as the Sticks and Stones. Most of their music is original and is likened to ZZ Top, Marshall Tucker Band, Lynard Skynard, and Molly Hatchett. They are getting popular on the biker rally circuit, playing Rally in the Crater and Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) in 2012. They are already scheduled for OTT this year (April 19-21 – remember, they moved to the spring time!). “The Barn Storm Survivors quite simply rip the stage up! Their lead singer, JC Turner, belts it out with a southern passion that is just amazing!” comments Dennis Hinson of the OTT, “The 5th Annual OTT Rally welcomes Barn Storm Survivors back on Friday night, April 19th!” They will take the stage at 9:00 p.m. Over the years, the Survivors have produced a number of albums: Just Going Home, Live at the Wonderosa, Ace in the Hole, Fastwater, and their latest, The “Originals” released last year. I’ve listened to them all and found myself not wanting to turn it off! Aside from their self-purported Southern Rock, I’ll add that their Blues influence is a little more noticeable than they give themselves credit for – and that’s a good thing in my book. Some of the songs can cross over into Country. For example, in Country Walk (guess that should have been a hint, huh?), he sings of loving his guitar, but loving his woman more and has all the twang of a great country song. And the song Marianna is a two-stepper for sure! So we encourage you to check out their sound on BarnStormerSurvivors.com, where you can listen to most of what they’ve released and download some of them. Then meet us at OTT to see them strut their stuff in person!

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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 * 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 * 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

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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

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

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 * Custom Cycles Texas 14205 River Rd New Braunfels, TX 78132 210.846.1081 www.customcyclestexas.com Region: Hill Country 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

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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

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February 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

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

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

Lodging & Campgrounds * D’Rose Inn & Cabins Highway 83/Market St Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.5246 www.droseinn.com Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio 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 The Overnight Bunkhouse Bed & Kitchen 13132 Highway 90 North Singleton, TX 77831 936.395.2601 Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston

* Three Sisters Rally & Lodge 751 River Road Camp Wood, TX 78833 www.ThreeSistersRally.net Region: Hill Country Closest Metro: San Antonio

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

Miscellaneous AFL Motorcycle Camping Trailers al444@yahoo.com 281.685.5814 Cell, 832.695.0077 www.afltrailers.com Region: Gulf Coast Closest Metro: Houston 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

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

February 2013

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

February 2013

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Thunder Roads Texas * Page 47 * February 2013

Thunder Roads Texas * Page 48 * February 2013