Thunder Roads Texas - July 2010 by Thunder Roads Texas

The MOST Comprehensive Event Listing Published in Texas!

Also Inside:

 Wichita Falls Loop - Ride Map  Party in the Pines  Welcome to Elvis' House  Snapshots from Points Across Texas

July 2010

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

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Contents 

July 2010

On the Cover 34

Down & Dirty - Customizing on a Budget

This Month

Party in the Pines

Welcome to Elvis’ House

Regular Features 8

From the Editor

Snapshots from Points Across Texas

PigTrails: Crazy Al Goes to the Dark Side

Black Leather Blues: Biker Band Survey

The Scout Report: Shift Touring Riding Jeans

ThunderCam

Joker’s Wild

Resources 23

Event Listing

CENTER - Pull-Out July 2010 Calendar 31

Texas’ BEST Bike Nights

Monthly Ride Map: Wichita Falls “Points” Loop

Biker Friendly Listing

On the cover: Heather “Phoenix” Wright, Red Phoenix Marketing. Shop location, Cut Throat Customs. Photo by Bob Cooney, Thunder Roads Texas.

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

Bob

ADVERTISING SALES Thunder Roads Texas Main Office 281.866.8149 ThunderRoadsBob@yahoo.com M2 Motomedia - Statewide Reynolds Mansson M2Motomedia@gmail.com 210.259.9916

Reynolds

Bill

Bill “Shovelhead” Barnes - Houston ThunderRoadsBill@yahoo.com 321.960.6161 Travis

Heather “Phoenix” Wright - Houston info@redphoenixmarketing.com 832.527.4318

Heather

Travis “Blydawg” Blythe - DFW travis.blythe@grandecom.net 940.435.8226 MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS “Crazy Al” Mean Gene Kelton Elm “Scout” Valle CORRESPONDENTS “Shovelhead” Bill Barnes - Houston Houston & Margaret Pruett - Victoria Kitti Kluna - Houston Ron Blansett - Houston Linda Morris - Houston Mark Appenzeller - D/FW Joyce Siegert - D/FW Ken Foster - D/FW Brian “Native NYer” - D/FW Travis “Blydawg” Blythe - D/FW Dean Downey - Amarillo Meghan Heller - Austin Linda Nilsson - East Texas Chantelle Sandberg - East Texas George Darcy - Midland/Odessa Glenn “Gambler” - San Antonio

Crazy Al

Gene

Elm

Dean

Meghan

Pruetts

Kitti

Mark

Joyce

Ron

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

Linda M

Linda N

George Gambler Native NYer Thunder Publishing, LLC Toni & Brian Shearon National Founders 1421 Chapmansboro Road Chapmansboro, TN 37035 615.792.0040 ThunderRoadsMagazine.com

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

What Happened Spring? Happy New toYear! It’s another HOT summer day in Houston. Seems like we didn’t get a Spring this year; went straight from the coldest winter I’ve experienced in more than 30 years here to what’s promising to be a very warm summer. Will we get a Fall? Let’s hope so! We have a lot of events coming ‘round the bend! Continuing our commitment to our readers, we have signed on to sponsor more great motorcycle events in Texas. Coming this month in Houston, is the Freedom Ride & Rally on July 3rd. Dedicated to the memory of Stephen Burns who lost his life in a tragic motorcycle accident. His mother, Terri, is honoring his love of riding with a rally to benefit kids. On August 28, we’re sponsoring the 5th Annual Ride for Troops, benefiting our Wounded Warriors at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC). Then the fun really begins with no less than 11 more major events around the state of Texas through November... and we’re still working on a few more! On a sad note, we continue to see far too many motorcycle accidents resulting in riders’ deaths. If you want to know how you can help, contact the Texas Confederation of Clubs & Independents (COC&I - www.COCTX.org) or the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association (TMRA2 - www.TMRA2.org). They have programs in place, working to make our roads safe for riders and you can get involved. At the very least, pull out our May issue (you can still get it online at ThunderRoadsTexas.com) and share page 39 with your friends and family. Most cage drivers simply don’t see us and lives can be saved by getting them to pay more attention. We continue to host the BIGGEST bike night in Houston! Last month, we had more than 300 bikes and about 400 people enjoying our monthly biker party! In July, we have to move our bike night from our every third Thursday to the fifth Thursday, due to a scheduling conflict with the venue. But... we’ll have Dyno Drags and more! So if you’re in town around July 29, but sure to drop by and party with a few hundred of our closest friends! Wishing you all a safe 4th of July... hope you’re riding! Ride Safe & Ride with THUNDER! Find us, Befriend us, Follow us, Join us!

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Shelly “TX Dragonfly” Horan Editor / Owner Shelly@ThunderRoadsTexas.com Examiner.com/x-16815-Houston-Motorcycle-Travel-Examiner - Not just for Houston!

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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July 2010

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Snapshots from

Sponsored by D’Rose Inn & Cabins * Leakey Points Across Texas is still going very strong and we can’t be MORE pleased! It’s time to start looking to the future... 2011 is closer than you think! So, put on your thinking caps and send us some suggestions: • What places should be in the list? • How are the numbers? Too few to earn a patch? Too many? Just right? • If we don’t do rockers for levels next year - what would you like to receive for going that additional “mile?” • If we did something for the groups participating, what would groups like to receive? It’s been a good year for a new program. More riders on the road than ever before. Many readers have said this program gave them a reason to ride. So keep up the riding... ride safe and ride with THUNDER!

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EVENTS

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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Crazy Al Goes to the Dark Side ll my life I have been riding Honda Motorcycles. I have been very proud to ride on a Honda. My first bike was a Mini Trail 50 sitting under the Christmas tree when I was only in third grade. I only had it three days before I was convinced I could do my first Evil Knievel jump! It did not go that well. I wrecked it! After that I went on to own just about every Honda ever made. As soon as I could touch the ground on a bigger model I moved up! For the last ten years I have been riding a 2000 Honda Shadow Aero. And yes that baby still sits in my garage as I write this! Damn Harley folks told me they would give me 1,200 bucks for my pride and joy! Are you kidding me! The windshield is worth more than that to me!

right? Holy crap this is the best day of my life! From that moment on I felt like a celebrity. My wife and I were led around to every department in the building; we were introduced to every department head. Shawna was

The next day off my wife and I had, we looked on the HOG Chapter calendar and found that they were having a dinner ride that very day. These poor people… they have no idea who they have allowed to join their organization! I will pray for them all! I have to say I was blown away by the pure organization of this event. Even though I was scolded by Kim less than five minutes of me arriving to the ride! I loved it! Did they not think about the fact that my name is “Crazy” Al? Seems they don’t care for the riders to be wearing short pants and checkered Vans. For the rest of the day I am going to try and be a good boy.

I was in the Honda shop getting a new tire put on the bike when I asked them what’s it take to purchase one of those shiny new Gold Wings? The salesman said lets run it through finance and see what comes back. About ten minutes later they came back and flat out told me no! What? NO! Seems they were going to hold it against me for having a couple of ugly spots on my credit. Hell… who doesn’t have a few ugly spots these days! So feeling dejected I went outside to have a smoke when this ray of sunshine hit me from the north. I could barely see from the bright light that was shining on my face. I squinted my eyes, strained to focus, and the letters started to appear before my eyes! ... “

This ride was really cool. It was a progressive dinner ride. They had three houses we were going to visit and be served a part of a meal at each one with dessert at the last stop. We traveled awesome back roads throughout the whole ride. And we were split into groups for safety reasons. These guys are so professional. Shelly you would be proud to ride with this group! I didn’t want to make an impression that day. I just wanted to be part of the group. Well it didn’t turn out that way.

H A R L E Y - D A V I D S O N.” It’s like a tractor beam started to tug at my feet! I didn’t try to fight it! A warm calm began to cover my whole body! I could hear small voices in my head ringing out “We don’t care that you didn’t pay the dentist.” As I walked in the door I was immediately greeted by the friendliest salesman you have ever met. Can you imagine that? His name was Randy Mitchell and from that moment he became my best friend in the whole wide world! I told him I wanted no sales mumbo jumbo; that I was looking to buy a Harley that would take my lovely wife and me on all our future travels. He said “Ultra Classic.” I said let’s roll! They had a great selection of used Ultra’s to pick from. As we walked by the bikes it’s like I felt a tug on my jeans when my pants got caught on the highway peg from the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life! It was a 2005 Electra Glide, Ultra Classic, FLHTCUI Special Edition Shrine Model, Peace Officer Special! And I want to tell you right now the longer it takes to say the whole name of your motorcycle, the more times you want to repeat it! OK I’m a motorcycle geek! I can’t help it! Next thing you know I hear the words that would change my life forever! “You have been approved.” You’re pulling my leg Page 12

July 2010

Got two free T-Shirts! And last but not least the keys to my new motorcycle! How am I going to get my Honda home? Screw it! I’ll figure that out later! I want to say thank you to the whole crew of Fort Worth Harley-Davidson for making my purchase of a Harley-Davidson something I will never forget. And… I am now a member of the Harley Owners Group (HOG)! A free membership came with the bike!

our tour guide. The insurance lady was named Faith. I think they hired her for that name! We went all the way up the ladder to the big cheese herself, the General Manager, Kim Briggs. Turns out she is the sister of a very good friend of mine. Small world stuff for sure! We were taken out to the front of the store and got our picture taken that would end up on our very own plaque to hang in my living room.

Being new to my bike I misjudged my gas consumption and thought a quarter of a tank would last me the whole day. I was wrong. All of a sudden, the bike started spitting and the fear of God rushed over my whole body! I’m going to run out of gas on my first ride with the Fort Worth Chapter of the Harley Owners Group! Please, God, don’t let this happen to me! I can just hear the comments. “It was the dude with the short pants and the stupid shoes.” I waved everyone by as my bike started to coast. When they all passed by except Big Dave, the tail gunner, I shook the bike from side to side and hit the start switch. It fired back up! At that very moment God showed up! A gas station was just a few blocks down the road. Then the bike stopped again. I shook it again and once more my new steed roared back to life. I threw on the throttle and got just enough speed to coast into the station! Dave had a huge smile on his face as he rolled up beside me at the pump. That’s because he didn’t have to push my bike! By the end of the day everyone had a good laugh. They tried to give me a new road name but I declined. I told them my name still fits me just fine. I am Crazy Al. When it comes to motorcycles I have always said life begins when you get one! But now your second childhood begins when you get your first Harley-Davidson! God Bless America!

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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thank you message from Party in the Pines organizers: Well...2010 is a wrap! Was an awesome weekend. Thanks so much for all of you for coming to the rally and hope you all will make plans for 2011 Party in the Pines...planning has already started. Many thanks to the 200+ volunteers that work hundreds of hours planning and making each one better than the last! Thank you Dean Arnold of Henderson, Texas who kindly donated back $500 of his winnings for our grand prize drawing of $1,000 to Party in the Pines! Longview Child Development Center is truly grateful and so are we! When answering the question posed as to how many bikes were there… “over 3,500 folks, 325 bikes in our parade. Best guess would be around 2,000 bikes.” Events included: DJ, vendors, Dyno-Drag runs, Ride Like a Pro classes, parties, poker, live bands, guided rides, high stakes joker runs, bike show, bike games, biker bingo, belly dancers, beer tents, food, and their famous Patriotic Bike Parade with a salute to our military. And they’re already working on next year’s event so watch their website (or our magazine) for updates as they set their plans in motion for 2011. Some comments from those who attended: “We came to the rally last year, in a car because of the rain. This year we rode our motorcycles all the way from EL Dorado Arkanasas, it was a blast. We had had plans to stay one night, we stayed for the whole rally, and we had a great time.” ~ John T “WOW HAD A BLAST! We were there from Thursday to Monday Morning. Saw old friends and family, and met new friends. the Joker run was fun and the parade, was awsome. I like the control you guys have on the rally. We always have our family at this one, because of this reason. All the vendors were great people. My son was e...ven one up on stage dancing with Mustang Sally lol. Then Sunday Night we just chilled and listen to the Modoc band. Looking forward to next year! “ ~Rhonda S This rally was just awesome...loved looking at all the bike’s. “The racing was interesting... never been to a bike race before....can’t wait until next year !!!” ~ Rhonda C “We had a great time at the Party in the Pines rally this year, already looking forward to next year’s party! Special thanks to Prescilla for your help with the helicopter ride--hope to see you out there next year!” ~ Brent S

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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Biker Band Survey fter finishing my article for the May issue of Thunder Roads Texas, I received an email from Thunder Roads publisher, Shelly Horan, asking me if I would be willing to write about other bands. Meaning: would I write about bands other than my own? My answer: of course! After giving it some thought, I realized that I did not know which bands bikers liked or would be interested in reading about. In my article in the June 2010 issue of Thunder Roads Texas titled: “Who Are YOUR Favorite Bands?” I asked the following questions to bikers: Do rally promoters speak for YOU when it comes to picking YOUR live entertainment? Who are your favorite bands in your region? Which bands do you go see on purpose at biker events? Which bands would you go see at a biker event in your area? Additionally, I posed the same questions to my biker friends on Facebook along with questions about country-western and tribute bands. Here are some of the responses from my survey. Brenda: “David Allen Coe, George Thorogood, Charlie Parker Band. Bands will get me there. No music... Not going.” Sheri: “live music has one of the largest impacts on if we actually visit the rally. Not [going] to a rally with no music or if they have a DJ. If I wanted to listen to a DJ – I have Sirrus and would rather ride!” Abby: Mark May, Charlie Parker, ‘Lectric Ed & The Welders.” Abby: “Tribute bands are for douches.” Kitti: “...bands at rallies are PROBABLY the biggest draw. The Mustang Sally Band! Linda: “check out the music first thing. Most tribute bands suck... Very few good ones. Wolff’s new band [Loosely

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Tight]... Bert Wills.

Joyce: “David Allan Coe”.

Darcy: “bands who have their own sound but can also do justice to a cover song.”

Mike: “David Allan Coe, Kevin Fowler, Willie Nelson, Ray Willy Hubbard, Jason Allen,Randy Rogers, Eli Young, Gary Allen, Max Stalling, Hank III, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt.”

Yvonne: “what’s a rally without music?” Madelen: Benny Brasket, Dave Nevling.” Michelle: “ Abraham’s Tree.” they ask... ‘Who’s playing’, no rap or hip hop... ONLY Classic Rock ,Blues, some country.” Dick: “I don’t go for tribute bands... am also peeved by bands that have the name of the original band but [have] only 1 person from the original band and sound WORSE than the nearest tribute band.” Jimmy: “Ghostriders Band, Artimus Pyle.” Ashley: “”music will make the event! Mark May, Electric Soul, The Dogs.” Mojo: [no bands] “is like having a frat party without beer.” Pat: “Toman Bros.” Walter: “No tribute bands. Either do your own stuff or be a good cover band.” Perry: Country? Hank Jr., Country can be played at rallies... like the old style country... Not the new teeny bopper or new main stream country... old style southern rock or blues...” Aaron: “Blues Crew, John Epperson & Drivin’ Blind from Waco, The Dogz, Wide Open Throttle, The Dean Seltser Band from Austin... The crowds always seem to like them.” Brooke: “Nightbird.” (a Stevie Nicks Tribute Band) Dennis: “Misbehavin’, Cody Kouba, Jonah Ramirez.”

Stacy: “Keith Urban, Trace Adkins.” Nicki: “Hank Williams, Jr.” Gary: “Mustang Sally.” Vicki: “Gary Allen”. Dawn: “Steve Krase, Mark May, Matt Leddy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Allan Coe, Gary Allen... We appreciate good music.” Abby: “Carolyn Wonderland.” Walter: Texas country... A mix of country, rock and blues... Kevin Fowler, Bleu Edmonston, Randy Rogers, David Allan Coe.” So there you have it folks, bands that Bikers in Texas want to see/hear or hear about. I’ll try to do some interviews with these artists in coming months for future articles in Thunder Roads Texas. I’m sure that there are dozens more bands that bikers like that are not mentioned here so I welcome your continued suggestions at meangene@ genekelton.com. Just for the record, I omitted my own band name from the above list of suggestions, but thanks to those of you who included Mean Gene Kelton & the Die Hards in your recommendations. I appreciate it. For the sake of credibility, you may view the list of comments in their entirety by befriending me on Facebook then – scroll down to see my “older posts” dated June 1st and June 2nd. Thanks. Ride safe.

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July 2010

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Welcome to Elvis’ House I

’ve know Bob “Git-R-Done” Hillin for about eight years now. Some time ago he informed me that it was a childhood dream of his to ride a motorcycle to Elvis’ house. For some reason, he doesn’t call it Graceland. Last October, on a Saturday night in Git-R-Done’s garage, we put together a new MeetUp.com motorcycle group, and as we were putting together ideas and rides for the new group. A ride to Elvis’ house became a topic of our group’s first road trip. We ride most every Sunday somewhere between 200-300 miles. In two years of riding together Git-R-Done and I had yet to take a road trip with an overnight stay. When the logistics were worked out it was decided we’d make it a five day trip with two days to get there, a day to soak up the “Elvis experience” and two days to get back home. Bob is no longer a young pup but he isn’t what you’d call an old man either, not in my book anyway. But as Bob set up the ride, it became known as the “BBLR” for Bob’s Bucket List Ride. The BBLR was set to take place the first full week of June after the kids got out of school. As we began working on a route and hotels for the BBLR, another member of our group Kriss (Tinker Bitch) played an instrumental roll in route planning and web surfing for places to stay. We wanted to avoid major highways and instead enjoy more of a scenic route with two of our four nights staying in small towns. It was decided our first night would be spent in Ruston, LA, followed by two nights in Memphis, and our last night in Vidalia, LA. Our trip began on Sunday morning June 6th. We had nine members and one guest in all. Bob and his wife Carol (Puddin’), myself and my wife Becki (Trooper), Kriss and her husband Michael along with their son Scott. Also joining us were Vinny (Vinnybagadonuts), Kaz and Harmik. My wife

Becki and Carol would split time between riding on the bikes and driving our minivan loaded with luggage and beverages. Vinny and I split the time leading while Harmik ran “sweep” the entire trip.

Parkway. What a beautiful piece of road that was! The shade from the trees hanging over the road made for a pleasant ride on that hot June day. Just after crossing the Mississippi river we reached our hotel for our fourth and final night on the road. We stayed right on the bank of the river in Vidalia, LA. Our hotel had a terrific view of the river and we enjoyed watching the tugboats push barges north up the Mississippi.

After leaving from Spring, the first day’s ride took us through Huntsville, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Carthage, Shreveport and ended in Ruston, LA. After checking in at our hotel in Ruston we all decided to hit the pool before going out to dinner.

Day 5 arrived and it was time to run our final stretch back to Texas. We were faced with possibilities of encountering some rain on our way home but we were fortunate to miss it all. We stopped for pictures just across the state line near Burkeville and then headed for a late lunch in Jasper. We made one final fuel stop in Livingston and said our goodbyes as we knew the next stop for everyone would be their own driveway.

Day two for the most part was spent traveling across Arkansas. We arrived in Memphis late in the afternoon and after checking in and a quick shower we headed for dinner on Beale Street. We decided to try out the Pig Stop and we were not disappointed. The food there was great. After dinner we spent our time browsing the many shops on Beale before calling it a night.

When it was all said and done, 1,303 miles, 4.5 cases of water, 1 case of Gatorade, about 40 bags of ice, and 1 dream come true!!

Day three was all about Elvis. We got an early start from the hotel and got to Graceland in time for the 10:00 a.m. tour. After touring the house and the airplanes we went across the street to check out Elvis’s car collection at his museum. After shopping for souvenirs we headed back to our hotel to freshen up and head over to the Peabody Hotel. We were trying to get there in time to see the famous ducks exit the fountain in the lobby, up the elevator to their “Condo” on the roof of the Peabody. Unfortunately, we missed this event but did get to see the ducks up on the roof where they spend the majority of their time.

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After the Peabody we headed over to Huey’s for dinner. You can’t miss seeing the thousands of toothpicks stuck in the ceiling tiles. While waiting for your food they bring out cups of toothpicks and straws and you can try your hand at seeing if you can blow a toothpick through a straw and stick it in the ceiling. After dinner it was back to Beale Street. We did a little more souvenir shopping here and stopped in a bar to listen to a great three piece band; the singer sounded exactly like Johnny Cash. Day 4 was basically spent making our way south through Mississippi. After lunch we took a bit of a detour from our planned route and caught part of the Natchez Trace

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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Shift Racing Torque Riding Jeans iding jeans are much more versatile in both style and comfort. They easily blend in with everyday casual clothing and more importantly, they provide protection to the riders. There are many manufacturers out there that make riding jeans, but none seem to have perfected them, save one. SHIFT Racing is known for creating stylish riding gear that does not compromise safety or quality. One of the most popular lines of riding gear is their jeans. The Torque Riding Jeans are new for 2010 and is a top choice for riders of every kind.

styling of these jeans. The style is up to date and they can be worn even casually with normal clothing. Here is what people are saying about them:

Comfort. The Torque jeans are lined with Kevlar reinforced panels to offer protection, however the jeans are also lined with cotton poplin to provide an extra layer of comfort. These jeans are extremely comfortable compared to other riding jeans I have tested in the past. In fact, they look and feel just like regular jeans. They will feel slightly on the heavier side due to the Kevlar and reinforced stitching. The jeans also have a relaxed ergonomic fit making them very roomy.

There are multitudes of comments on how great the styling of these jeans are so it is just not my opinion.

Reliability. One of the best features of these jeans is that the front button is not sewn on, but instead it is punched through the jeans with a metal button. This feature gives the jeans a longer life and you will not have to fear of the button coming off due to de-threading. I have put mine through the wash already hundreds of times and the color has not faded. My pair has seen the extreme sun and heavy rain. To date, it has withstood the elements beautifully! Safety. The denim itself is made of durable and abrasion resistant material. Kevlar reinforced panels in the saddle, knee, and shin area provide maximum safety to common fall damage areas. Though it will not offer the same protection as a leather pair of pants, the Kevlar and Denim will provide sufficient protection in case of a fall. Style. I cannot mention enough good things about the

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“These jeans are a perfect fit. They look and feel great. I would definitely recommend them to others.” “They fit very well and look great. Unlike my other pair of riding jeans, these have no obvious panels showing so I can wear them around the office and no one knows they are riding jeans.”

• Colors available in Dark Indigo or Light Indigo Conclusion: I really love these jeans and they are the perfect balance of style, comfort, and protection. Even at $99 a pair they are worth every penny. For everyday use, these jeans will definitely do the job and better yet, everyone will think you are wearing a pair of regular jeans. For more information visit ShiftRacing.com. So as always, ride safely and “See you on the high ground!”

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Pros: • Very Durable and Reliable • Up to date styling compatible with most clothing • Perfect all around riding jeans Cons: • Only two colors to choose from • $99 for Jeans (then again they are Kevlar and heavy denim lined) Manufacturer Features: • Durable denim provides greater abrasion resistance and protection • Kevlar reinforced panels in the saddle and knee/ shin areas provides maximum safety and abrasion resistance • Cotton poplin reinforcement covers the Kevlar, providing a third layer for comfort • 5-Pocket design • Relaxed, ergonomic fit for comfort in the saddle • Inseam grading from 28” to 36” for optimal coverage of the ankle on the bike • Two progressive washes with additional appliqués, grinding, and treatments for unique styling

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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Event Listing

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

JULY

Bike and Trike Show 817-266-7417 Fort Worth Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Summer Days IX Bike Show 940-399-9679 Decatur Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

11 13 15-18

Bikers Adult Rally BikersAdultRally.com Alvarado Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

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Texas COC & I Meeting - Corpus Christi COCTX.org Corpus Christi Region: Gulf Coast

Texas COC & I Meeting - El Paso COCTX.org El Paso Region: Big Bend

1st Annual Hubcaps Biker Blast HubCapsWings.com/bikerblast Gainesville Region: Prairies & Lakes

10th Annual Watermelon Festival Car & Bike Show McDadeTexas.com McDade Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Austin

Old River-Winfree Founders Day ORWFoundsDay.com Old River-Winfree Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston 5th Annual Skinfest MMX 903-467-1592; 903.574.2423 Tyler Region: Piney Woods West Texas Blackgold Biker Rally BlackGoldRally.com Goldsmith Region: Big Bend Metro: Midland/Odessa Wet N Wild WetNWildRally.com West Tawakoni Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth 2nd Annual Save the “Ta-Tas” Ladies Only Benefit Run CGHW.com Cedar Creek Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

19th Annual School Supply Ride GoeHarley-Davidson.com Angleton Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Cross Bones Giveaway Doolins.net Texarkana Region: Piney Woods

4th Annual Christian Classic Cruisers Car & Bike Show 254.592.4336; 254.592.3538 Stephenville Region: Prairies & Lakes

4th Annual Fest Island Adventure Car & Bike Show DDRockinRods.com Bedford Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

1st Annual Run Run and Rally 214-418-6689 Terrell Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

EVENTS

Grass Roots Freedom Ride for FairTax Overview GrassRootsFreedomRide.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast

Freedom Fest Car & Bike Show 940.676.3861 Wichita Falls Region: Panhandle

Allied Memorial Ride AlliedRide.org Benbrook/Terrell Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

Biggest Small Town 4th of July Parade in Texas VisitSeguin.com Seguin Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: San Antonio 4th of July Benefit for The Forgotten Warriors HawgStop.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast

City of Laredo 4th of July Festival/Twin City Bike Rally TwinCityBikeRally.com Laredo Region: South Texas

Honoring the life of Stephen F Burns who lost his life doing what he loved – riding his motorcycle. Proceeds benefit Youth-Reach Houston. Harleyrun, giveaways, two concerts, silent auction, plus a chance to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Rally starts and ends at Harley-Davidson of Kingwood. Registration begins at 8:30am; kickstands up at 9:45am. Breakfast and lunch by Ninfa’s. Cosponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine!

4th of July Parade, Bikes Welcome ci.Stephenville.tx.us Stephenville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: San Antonio

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Pleasure Island Texas Motorcycle Rally 512-971-1377 Port Arthur Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Beaumont

Memorial Freedom Ride StephenBurnsMotorcycleRally. blogspot.com Kingwood Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

3rd Annual Mid-Year BBQ Cook-Off-ToysForTots ToysForTotsToyRun.com Pasadena Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

2-4

Granbury 4th of July Car & Bike Show DDRockinRods.com Granbury Region: Prairies & Lakes

2-3

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. Remember, all events listed in Thunder Roads Texas qualify for the Points Across Texas™ reader rides program! Just have to prove where you are, so find a sign and send a pic. For updates with events that don’t make print time, two weeks worth of events provided every week to your email inbox - subscribe to our FREE Web-zine. Visit us online at http://ThunderRoadsTexas.com.

WestSide Annual Mid-Summer Bash 713.705.1315 Houstno Region: Gulf Coast 2010 Mustang Reunion Ride jmustang_1100@live.com Fredericksburg Region: Hill Country Bikinis and Chaps Bash JavelinaHarley.com Boerne Region: Hill Country Metro: San Antonio

Continued on Page 27... July 2010

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June

Monday

3 10 17 24 31

Tuesday

July 2010 7

August

Wednesday

Thursday

2 Pleasure Island Rally TMRA2 Anniversary Port Arthur

Friday

Allied Ride Benbrook/Terrell

Stephen Burns Memorial Freedom Ride & Rally Kingwood

Saturday

4th of July

Sunday

30 Easyriders Rodeo Tour July 30-Aug 1 Columbus

“The Original” Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT @ Texas Rock Tavern Houston

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

2nd Annual Save the Ta-Tas Ladies only Benefit Ride Cedar Creek

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

Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT @ Brickhouse Humble

EVENT

Texas COC & I Meeting - NW Levelland COCTX.org Borger Region: Panhandle

30 30-Aug 1

2nd Annual Bikers Rule For School 903-581-0606 Tyler Region: Piney Woods

5-8 6-8

3rd Annual Iron Horse Rodeo 956-472-6322 Pharr Region: South Texas Metro: McAllen

H20 Rally in the Crater RallyInTheCrater.com Mt. Enterprise Region: Piney Woods Metro: Longview BoBarosa Biker Bash 325.718.9571 San Angelo Region: Panhandle

Texas COC & I Meeting - Austin COCTX.org Austin Region: Hill Country

AUGUST

Ride for Life KingsOfInk.com Falfurrias Region: South Texas

9-15

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

70th Annual Sturgis Bike Week Sturgis.com 605.642.8166 Sturgis, SD

11 12-15

24th Annual LongRiders MC Rally & Fun Run LongRidersMotorcycleClubOfTyler.org Tyler Region: Piney Woods 2nd Annual Iron Cuff Bike Rally ReguladoreSSCT.webs.com LaGrange Region: Prairies & Lakes

Benefit for Betty’s Haven SJHR.org Channelview Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

3rd Michael “Buck” Buckley Memorial Cook Off 281-804-8327 Cleveland Region: Piney Woods Metro: Houston Burke Rally BurkeRally.com Driftwood Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

2010 NBMM Motorcycle Rally & Car Show NewBeginningsMM.org Georgetown Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

Cancer Benefit for Jackie Dorris 832.771.8449 Angleton Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

6th Annual Nut Run Rally RRMCTGC.com Water Valley Region: Panhandle Metro: San Angelo

6th Annual Show & Shine Charity Car & Bike Show LongviewCarShow.com Longview Region: Piney Woods Dog Days of Summer Motorcycle Rally GWRRATXChapterI.com Marshall Region: Piney Woods

4B Wild West Bike Rally 806-831-2409 Brownfield Region: Panhandle Too Broke for Sturgis Party on the Patio BrotherhoodOfBikers.net Mexia Region: Prairies & Lakes

Continued on Page 28... Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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EVENTS

Benefit for Smokey Hover 979.709.3816 Clute Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Easyriders Rodeo Tour EasyRidersEvents.com Columbus Region: Prairies & Lakes Beautiful Colorado County Fairgrounds. Tickets only $40 for the weekend and includes tent camping. Friday or Sunday day pass $15; Saturday day pass $20. All tickets sold at the door. No one under 18 allowed. Showers available onsite. Live music, rodeo action, barstool racing, vendors, exhibits, bike show, trophy girl contest, food and beverage and a used parts corral. For more information, visit the website or call 800.962.9857.

Deep in the Heart of Texas-Women’s Retreat ThreeMountainRetreat.com Clifton Region: Prairies & Lakes

6th Annual Blessing of the Bikes daniel@emergency-plans.com Corpus Christi Region: Gulf Coast

8th Womens Center of Brazoria County Benefit WCBCBenefit.org Angleton Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

14-15

17 18

Texas COC & I Meeting - DFW COCTX.org Waxahachie Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

23-24

Howard & Linda Geurin Memorial Toys for Tots Run 254-855-8522 Waco Region: Prairies & Lakes

Our monthly biker party with a few hundred of our closest friends! Sponsored by Eagle Cycles on Jones Road. Co-hosted by Outlaw Dave. Dyno Drags – for only $25/person, put your bike up against your buddy’s and RACE! Live music, vendors, door prizes and MORE planned! LARGE reserved motorcycle-only parking, with plenty of cage parking, too. Rain or shine… the BIGGEST bike night in Houston!

HT Power Show PowerShows.org Hallsville Region: Piney Woods

13-14

“The Original” Thunder Roads Texas BIKE NIGHT ThunderRoadsTexas.com Houston Region: Gulf Coast

2nd Annual Pre-Sturgis Party 940.594.2515 Azle Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth Christmas in July NorvilleCenter.org Terrell Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Dallas/Fort Worth

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13-15

EvenT Listing

EVENTS

31-Sep 5

5th Annual Ride for Troops SARide4Troops.org San Antonio Region: South Texas

Benefiting The Fisher Houses, a non-profit organization that provides a home away from home for military families during a time of medical crisis. $20 pre-registration; $25 after August 14. Check-in 8:00am-9:00am. First 250 registered riders receive ride patch. 2010 Rockers can be purchased for $5. 100% of all registration fees will be donated solely to the San Antonio Fisher Houses. 50/50 Raffle and door prizes at the finish point. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine. THE Four Corners Rally IgnacioBikeWeek.com Ignacio, CO

FUTURE

September 2-4 Texas State HOG Rally TXStateHOGRally.com Wichita Falls Region: Panhandle

Red River HOG invites all HOG members to the biker friendly city of Wichita Falls! This year’s rally offers an involved dealer (Red River Harley-Davidson), live entertainment (including national chart topping Lonestar), various rides, casino trip, Wichita Falls Police Motorcycle Team demo, and more! Must be a HOG member to attend (one non-member guest allowed), but it’s not too late to join! Pre-register by July 15 for only $30 (onsite $45). The rally is also looking for volunteers and vendors. Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine is the EXCLUSIVE motorcycle media sponsor!

September 3-5 Summertime Bikes & Blues Festival FreeportBluesFestival.com Freeport Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

It’s all about the BLUES! Live blues music all weekend long, with Saturday evening headliner, Mean Gene & the Die Hards. Raffle with grand prize of a custom bike, bike built by Amen Motorcycles of South Texas. Bike wash, bike games, food, vendors, giveaways, and fireworks. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine.

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September 3-6 Four Corners Biker Rally FourCornersBikerRally.com Durango, CO

September 9-12 The Texas Rally TheTexasRally.com Somerville Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Bryan/College Station

This year, Thunder Roads Texas is pleased to sponsor “The Best Little Rally in Texas” at Big Creek Park & Marina. It’s a Luau and Biker Bash! Free Luau dinner Saturday night. Great entertainment, including world famous comedian, Gallagher - no fruit/veggie is safe! Games, contests, feasts, parades, and CASH giveaways! Special 9/11 Tribute Saturday. Proceeds benefit the Texas Biker Relief Organization (T-Bro). The Zoo is almost sold out – better reserve today! September 9-12 Hot Springs Rally TheHotSpringsRally.com Hot Springs, AR September 15-19 The Golden Aspen Rally MotorcycleRally.com Ruidoso, NM

September 17-19 The Oldest Town in Texas (OTT) Rally OTTRally.com Nacogdoches Region: Piney Woods

The 2010 OTT Rally will once again feature the Harley’s Angels Charity Poker Run, Biker Games, Burnout Contest, Custom Bike Show, Bikini Contest, Downtown Parade, Freestyle Streetbike Exhibitions featuring Team Stunters, Vendors, and of course the OTT BB’Q Cook Off! Reasonably priced (same as 2009) with a 3-day, all-access pass for only $30. Preregistration is now open. Register online by September 3 and receive a FREE rally T-shirt. Sponsored by Texas Thunder HarleyDavidson, Budweiser, and Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine!

September 17-19 Tin Star Rally & Fundraiser TinStarRanch.com Fredericksburg Region: Hill Country

Live music featuring the Drug Street Cowboys Saturday. Poker run, biker games, guest rooms and houses, dry camping, raffle, 50/50 drawing, good food, cold beer. Pre-registration $20, includes t-shirt, one poker run card & rally patch. Children under 12 free. $25 at gate includes one poker run card & rally patch. Saturday after 7pm, $10. 10% of proceeds benefit Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine!

September 25 Texas Honor Ride Fundraiser TexasHonorRide.org Conroe Region: Prairies & Lakes Metro: Houston

Raising money for our Wounded Warriors at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio. All funds raised go to the Warrior and Family Support Center. Hosted by West Conroe Baptist Church. Live and silent auctions, military helicopters, vendors, great food, and entertainment. All donations are tax-deductible. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine. September 29-October 2 Bikes, Blues & BBQ BikesBluesandBBQ.org Fayetteville, AR September 29-October 3 Myrtle Beach Fall Rally MyrtleBeachBikeWeek.com Myrtle Beach, SC

October 1-3 Texas National Motorcycle Rally TNMRally.net Baytown Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Reclaim your independence at Houston Raceway Park. $50 weekend pass; $30 single day (Fri/Sat); $20 Sunday only. Live music, vendors, racing and more. Watch website and Thunder Roads Texas for information as it is released. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine!

October 2 VFW Post #9761 Ride & Bike Giveaway RollingThunderTX2.com Crosby Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Bike run with guaranteed $1,000 prize for first. First bike out at 11am; Last bike in at 4:30pm. Bike drawing at Pooky’s Tavern at 5:00pm. First prize is a 2010 Harley Street Glide; 2nd Prize $3,000 VISA gift card; 3rd Prize is $2,000 VISA gift card. Tickets are $100/each and only 600 will be sold. Buy tickets online at www.rollingthundertx2. com/vfw.htm. Co-sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine! Find us, Befriend us, Follow us, Join us!

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July 2010

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

EVENT

Co-sponsored by:

EvenT Listing October 8-10 Boo Benefit BooBenefit.org Jefferson Region: Piney Woods

The Boo Benefit started in 1998 by a group of friends as a fun run benefit put together to help their friend “Boo” who suffered from burns from a welding accident. Boo, in turn, gave the money to the Percy Johnson Burn Foundation. Once recovered, Boo continues this tradition of giving to organizations that help children and adults survive and recover from severe burns. Today, the Boo Benefit draws 30,000-50,000 riders, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for two charities: still giving to the Percy Johnson Burn Foundation and this year, to the Shriners Hospital for Children Burn Union in Galveston. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine!

October 9-November 28 Texas Renaissance Festival TexRenFest.com Plantersville Region: Prairies & Lakes

October 14-17 Biketoberfest Biketoberfest.com Daytona, FL

October 22-24 Thunder in the Pines ThunderInThePines.org Bastrop Region: Hill Country Metro: Austin

Benefitting Texas CASA, Court Appointed Special Advisors for abused and neglected children. Featuring top local, regional, and national bands all weekend. Activities include fun run, biker games, food, onsite restaurant and a biker bar, vendors, biker church on Sunday, $2 beer, and more. Rustic tent camping, RV camping & motel rooms available onsite. Tent setup and breakdown services available. $15 (in/out wristbands); only $12 if purchased by August 1. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine.

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

November 4-7 Lone Star Motorcycle Rally LoneStarRally.com Galveston Region: Gulf Coast Metro: Houston

Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine is the OFFICIAL media sponsor for this year’s Lone Star Rally! The 2010 Rally celebrates our military, past & present with a patriotic theme. Details and schedules are being worked out, but you can still count on FREE entry to the main events; only $10 parking pass to access The Strand on your bike; live music stages, plenty of vendors, and simply a GREAT time. Watch their website and Thunder Roads Texas for updates. November 11-14 Three Sisters Fall Rally ThreeSistersRally.net TBA Region: Hill Country

November 13 Texas Honor Ride - The Ride TexasHonorRide.org Houston/San Antonio Region: Gulf Coast/South Texas

More than 800 bikes on a police escorted ride from Houston to San Antonio, ending at the BAMC with staff and Wounded Warriors greeting riders with open arms, free food, entertainment, and brotherhood. This is one of the most unique and moving rides you can ever participate in. Riders can join at any point along the route or just meet the group at the BAMC. Active army base, so protective gear is required to enter. Sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine.

March 3-15, 2011 Thunder in the Tropics Cruise ThunderInTheTropics.com The High Seas

Thunder Roads Magazine® and ETA Motorcycle Cruises are setting sail with a bike rally on the high seas! Leaving from Miami, FL on the Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, visiting St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan, and Labadee. Biker-only activities include a Thunder Beard contest, Thunder Belly-Flop Contest, Leather Dinner Nights; Poker Walk, and Scavenger Hunt. Bike builders, motorcycle-related vendors, and top entertainment will make this a rally-to-remember. Tickets must be purchased through ETA (www.cruise-eta.com/ themecruises.htm; 615.356.0702) in order to be a part of Thunder in the Tropics. March 4-13, 2011 Daytona Bike Week DaytonaBikeWeek.com Daytona, FL April 8-10, 2011 TMRA State Rally TMRA.org Comanche Region: Prairies & Lakes

Texas Pride Barbeque Every Thursday 2980 E. Loop 1604 Adkins, TX 78101 Phone: 210-649-3730

A real Texas barbeque joint with a REAL bike night. Live music, no cover, “Class Rock” beer specials, drive through pavilion, and good Texas BBQ. Just 20 minutes East of San Antonio.

Thunder Roads Texas @ Texas Rock Tavern ** JULY ONLY ** 5th Thursday - July 29 2470 FM 1960 W Houston, TX 77068 Phone: 281.866.8149

Join the Thunder Roads Texas team at Texas Rock Tavern for live music, no cover, cheap drinks, good food, door prizes, and more! Sponsored by Eagle Cycles on Jones Road. Co-hosted by Outlaw Dave and Bryan “the Babe Wrangler” partying with the team! Rain or shine, the BIGGEST biker party in Houston! We resume 3rd Thursdays in August.

Thunder Roads Texas & Cut Throat Customs @ Brickhouse Tap & Tavern 140 FM 1960 Bypass East @ Hwy 59 Humble, TX 77338 Phone: 281.319.4410

NEW! “Custom Built” Bike Night. Sponsored by the US Army and Texas Body Art. Great drink specials, vendors, body painting, giveaways, custom cars & bikes on display, entertinament and MORE!

July 2010

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EVENTS

Behold the sights and sounds of the 16th Century featuring hundreds of daily performances; international cuisine, unique fine artisan and craft shoppes; humanpowered rides; strolling performers, and the Royal Fireworks display at dusk. Saturdays, Sundays and Thanksgiving Friday. Themed weekends, School Days, personalized weddings, and group event planning services. Located 50 miles Northwest of Houston on more than 50 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Parking is free and campsites are available for an additional charge. Discounted “Early Bird” tickets available online through September 24.

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EVENT

Exclusive Media Sponsor:

Wichita Falls

A small loop south of Wichita Falls, hitting some popular Points Across Texas stops, enough to get your first patch. 175 miles; About 4 hours Start in Wichita Falls Home of the 2010 Texas State HOG Rally sponsored by Thunder Roads Texas In Wichita Falls: Wichita County Courthouse Wichita County War Memorial • Head South on US 281 • Left on FM 1954, heading East

Lake Arrowhead State Park • Leaving the park, turn right on FM 1954 • Right on FM 2606 • Left on FM 2847 • Left on TX 148 In Henrietta: Clay County Courthouse

Loop

• West on 380 In Graham: Young County Courthouse Young County Veterans’ Memorial • Head North on 380

• Take TX 148 South, heading back South

In Newcastle: Fort Belknap State Park • Take 79, heading North

In Jacksboro: Jack County Courthouse Fort Richardson State Park

Archer City: Archer County Courthouse • Continue North on 79 back into Wichita Falls

Revision Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

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By Heather “Phoenix” Wright, Red Phoenix Marketing; Information from Cut Throat Customs

Customizing on a Budget

Not all custom bikes are expense. There are options for a custom build that some people don’t know about. For instance, have you ever looked online or in the classifieds for older, used bikes? Sometimes you can find great deals on non-running bikes, slightly wrecked bikes, and even some that someone’s wife thinks is getting in the way and he “has to sell it now.” If you find a builder you like, talk with them about your options, you might be able to turn someone else’s junk into your dream bike. Already have a bike? Some custom bikes might already be sitting in your garage. Is it stock or is it already almost your dream bike? Did you buy a bike a few years ago, but it’s waiting to reflect your real personality? Depending on the builder, chances are that weekend warrior in your garage can be flipped to look like the bike you’ve always wanted. Take it in, tell them what you want or ask them what they can do. Qualified builders will take the time to sit with you and go over what can be done to your bike. Think you can’t afford a custom bike? Sure you can! If you have the money to walk in and say, ”This is what I want, go for it,” great. But most cannot do that. Family budget, the economy, a spouse, not enough time to do it yourself… maybe there is a wall you run into every time you talk about building a custom bike. If you don’t have an unlimited budget you will need patience. Patience is FREE! Set your goal, put the money aside, and establish a priority list. Take the build one day at a time. Maybe you want some hand fabricated parts like handlebars or foot controls. How about adding a sissy bar or change up your fender? One of the most drastic changes is modifying the frame. Changing the frame can change the entire look of your bike. You can always budget for a frame change and work from there. Frame modification prices can be done for as little as $1,200 by some builders.

ometimes those in the motorcycle industry go on and on about technical things and what it takes to build a custom bike. It’s time we strip away all the bull and get down and dirty on the artistry and work that goes into custom builds and how everyone can afford a custom bike! No more about what equipment is used. No more about how much of an expert builders think they are. Let’s talk about how you can afford a custom bike… because everyone can. After years of seeing custom bikes on TV and at bike shows that are priced well beyond the average rider’s budget or aren’t practical, ride-able bikes, let’s dispel some myths in custom bike building. Learn more about what you can do to get a custom bike or create one from the motorcycle you already have. Page 34

July 2010

Some people would only ride a full custom bike if given the opportunity. But others just want to change their bike up a bit; to personalize it. However, there may be a few obstacles in the way… time… money… or you don’t know what you want. “Custom Build” can mean different things to different people. Paint, chrome, hand fabricated parts, modified frames… Do you know what you want? To get started, a builder needs to know: • What is your definition of a custom motorcycle? • Do you have the patience or time for a custom build? • What is your budget? • Do you know what you want… style, type, etc? • Lastly, do you know what goes into the process of a build?

Your bike can go from Stock to Sexy… Modest to Mean with only a few simple changes. Try some new handlebars. Chances are you can pick up a new set of handlebars for under $350 at your local builder. There are even options like custom water jetted foot boards with your favorite design on them! “We’ve had clients ask us to design chrome parts that you just can’t find at a regular bike shop or store,” says Danny Sanchez, owner of Cut Throat Customs. Maybe you’ve got every piece you’ve always wanted on your bike, but there’s just something missing… or showing in some cases. Is your bike is chromed out from front to back, but there’s a place you can see your frame that’s bugging you? Parts can be produced to cover all parts of a stock frame with nice, clean chrome frame covers. Those are great on FLH baggers. Sissy bars can also make a big change to a bike. It gives it a different shape without any large modifications or cost. You’d be amazed at how different that one small change can do for your bike, not to mention the lady on the back who can lean back and relax while riding-and not fall off! ThunderRoadsTexas.com

What goes into a bike build? You’ve seen custom builds on TV… ten different people working on the bike, $100,000 worth of equipment turning out machined parts in a week or two, and the end result is a bike you would likely park somewhere safe in a museum, or worse, something you can’t just jump on and ride after a rain shower. The reality of the custom bike that really can be ridden doesn’t fall into that boxed in concept. The popularity of the TV shows did propel the custom bike world into the spotlight and brought out a lot of bad ass builders and talent in general. Unfortunately, it gave some of the middle class riders the wrong impression of what it’s all about. Sanchez says, “I’m a descendent of an Apache metal artisan. I appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears of my ancestors’ artistry. I can relate to the old school chopper builders of the 60’s and 70’s when it was about building your bike with what you had… not what you could buy. Many of those great builders went unnoticed over the years for various reasons and a few are only just now getting the true credit they deserve. I believe the best builders put their heart into their work. That doesn’t always mean they make a lot of money or they turn out a lot of bikes. A number of those really talented people are doing it in their garage or small businesses. There are still some out there who have fallen victim to the fluctuating economy and unpredictability of this industry. They are still great nevertheless. I do take the time to recognize

Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

them when I can, whether it’s at a show, stopping in their shops when I’m in town, or hitting them up online here and there.” Make do with what you have is sometimes the best way! Just like when we need a tool that we just can’t get right away… we’ll make it,” says Sanchez. It should be no different when you have a bike you love, but you want it to fit your style. One of the greatest things about getting your bike built by a local builder, or even sending specs to one to build for you wherever they may be, is if you pick the right shop, they will walk through the process with you; from conception to completion. The great part about a custom builder is also what they are giving you is something that didn’t exist before they built it. Sanchez says, “Sure, sometimes people come to us to “copy” other products, but making it original at the same time is what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter what part we build, if we made it, it’s like a fingerprint; they are all different.” The metal is forged and bent by hand, sometimes by great quality machinery to assist, sometimes by shop-built tools… but they are hand built. “We try to adhere to the concept of hand built as often as possible. With full custom builds we have more of an ability for that end result, but for the most part, we will stay true to “hand fabricated” as often as possible,” Sanchez further states.

The Process - The fact is that you never know what we can do until you stop by, sit down with your builder, and find out how far you can go with your bike and budget. Consider a builder your own R&D bike shop. You come in with a concept they’ll tell you what is possible. They’ll test it, work it, and get you on the road on something you’ve never seen before. Builders are a laboratory of motorcycle concepts, constantly changing things up. The Options - Don’t forget that if you prioritize what you want built first, you can customize on a pay as you go basis. You don’t have to swallow the watermelon whole! You can even save money and time by dropping off your own parts to powder coating, chrome plating, and paint shops. Much of what costs so much in a custom build is time. With your builder, you can find ways to shave off unnecessary costs. The build moves along much faster if we’re not driving all over town delivering parts, instead working on getting you on the road! The Result - Take a look at what subtle changes can do. These two builds started as regular stock bikes. The “Copper Chopper” has won several awards and to this day is one of our favorite bikes! Both have turned heads and brought us repeat and new customers!

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ThunderRoadsTexas.com

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

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Joker’s Wild T

The other little girl, sitting and rocking away in her chair in her rolled up bib overalls and tattered T-shirt calmly replies, “That’s nice.” To which the little rich girl points her finger at the nearby three-story garage and says, “My Daddy owns some of the finest automobiles, both new and antique, worth millions of dollars.”

“Very good,” said the teacher. Little Jenny was next, “I sold magazines,” she said, “I made $45 and I explained to everyone that magazines would keep them up on current events.”

wo little Southern girls were sitting on the front of a grand, plantation-style Georgia home. One was excessively rich, the other humble and poor. The one little rich girl opens her arms wide as she sits in her perfect hand-sewn, imported silk dress and exclaims, “My Daddy owns all this land.....as far as the eye can see and then thousands of miles even after that.”

The other little girl replies, “My Daddy owns an old motorcycle, but your Daddy ownin’ all them cars.....that’s nice”. Then the little rich girl says, “Do you see those stables? My Daddy owns most of the finest racing horses and breeding horses known to man.” The other little girl says, “We tried to buy a pony once but they wanted too much. But the fact your Daddy owns all them horses, that’s nice.” The little rich girl is getting really upset that the poor girl is taking everything in stride so she declares, “My Daddy sent me to Charm School and I was taught manners and etiquette by the world’s most charming, aristocratic women”. The other little girl says, “That’s nice. My Daddy scraped together almost six months’ worth of savings and I went to Charm School myself. The little rich girl bout’ chokes as she sputters out, “Oh, really, and what, pray tell, did they teach the likes of you in Charm School?” The little poor girl stares directly in the rich girl’s eyes and casually replied, “They taught me how to say ‘that’s nice’ instead of F*#* You!”.

usings of an old biker…

he kids filed back into class Monday morning. They were all very excited to relay the results from their assignment. Their weekend assignment was to sell something, then give a talk on productive salesmanship. Little Sally led off, “I sold Girl Scout cookies and I made $30,” she said proudly, “My sales approach was to appeal to the customer’s civil spirit and I credit that approach for my obvious success.”

“Very good, Jenny,” said the teacher. Inevitably, it was Little Johnny’s turn. The teacher could only sigh and hold her. Little Johnny walked to the front of the classroom and dumped a box full of cash on the teacher’s desk. “$2,467,” he said. ”$2,467!” cried the teacher, “What in the world were you selling?” “Toothbrushes,” said Little Johnny. “Toothbrushes!” echoed the teacher, “How could you possibly sell enough toothbrushes to make that much money?” “I found the busiest corner in town,” said Little Johnny, “I set up a dip & chip stand and gave everybody who walked by a free sample.” They all said the same thing, “Hey, this dip tastes like dog poop!” Then I would say, “It is dog poop…wanna’ buy a toothbrush?”

was in Lowe’s the other day pushing my cart around when I collided with a young guy pushing his cart. I said to the young guy, “Sorry about that. I’m looking for my wife and I guess I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”

The young guy says, “That’s OK. It’s a coincidence. I’m looking for my wife, too. I can’t find her and I’m getting a little desperate.” I said, “Well, maybe we can help each other. What does your wife look like?”

• Life may begin at 30, but it doesn’t get real interesting until about 120 mph. • You start the game of life with a full pot of luck and an empty pot of experience. The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty the pot of luck. If you wait, all that happens is that you get older. • Don’t ride so late into the night that you sleep through the sunrise. • Sometimes it takes a whole tank of fuel before you can think straight. • In the time it takes to play 18 holes, I can be 500 miles away. • Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town. • One bike on the road is worth two in the garage. • Whatever it is, it’s better to do it in the wind. • Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at 70 mph can double your vocabulary. • A long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of fuel. • If you can’t get it going with bungee cords, wire, and electrician’s tape, it’s serious. • Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you. • Don’t lead the pack if you don’t know where you’re going.

The young guy says, “Well, she is 24 years old, tall, with blond hair, big blue eyes, long legs, big boobs, and she’s wearing tight white shorts, a halter top and no bra. What does your wife look like?” I said, “Doesn’t matter --- let’s look for yours.” Most old guys are helpful like that....

redneck was stopped by a game warden in Central Mississippi recently with two ice chests full of fish. He was leavin’ a cove well-known for its fishing.

The game warden asked the man, “Do you have a license to catch those fish?” “Naw, sir”, replied the redneck. “I ain’t got none of them there licenses. You must understand, these here are my pet fish.” “Pet fish?” “Yeah. Every night, I take these here fish down to the lake and let ‘em swim ‘round for awhile. Then, when I whistle, they jump right back into these here ice chests and I take ‘em home.” “That’s a bunch of hooey! Fish can’t do that.” The redneck looked at the warden for a moment and then said, “It’s the truth Mr. Government Man. I’ll show ya. It really works.” “O. K.”, said the warden. “I’ve got to see this!” The redneck poured the fish into the lake and stood and waited. After several minutes, the warden says, “Well?” “Well, what?,” says the redneck. The warden says, “When are you going to call them back?” “Call who back?” “The FISH,” replied the warden! “What fish?” replied the redneck.

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Texas-based, Texas-focused, Texas PROUD!

July 2010

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Biker Friendly Listing

Listed here are businesses that are SERIOUS about serving the Texas Motorcycle Community. The list is sorted by Region, as provided by the Texas Travel Guide. An “*” means you can find Thunder Roads Texas at these locations. Additionally you can find us at ALL Harley-Davidson dealerships, and Cycle Gear and Renegade Classics locations in Texas. Visit ThunderRoadsTexas.com to find a full listing of distribution points. Tell them you saw them in Thunder Road Texas!

BIG BEND *Barnett Harley-Davidson 8272 Gateway East on I-10 El Paso, TX 79907 800.453.1513 BarnettHarley.com *Legacy Harley-Davidson 12100 W Hwy 80 East Odessa, TX 79765 800.788.6921 LegacyH-D.com

GULF COAST *Alamo Bar & Grill 7846 Fallbrook Dr Houston, TX 77086 281.537.7647 MySpace.com/HoustonsAlamo *Awesome Cycles 281.293.7663 AwesomeCycles.com *Backwoods Bar & Grill 11310 FM 1725 Bear Creek, TX 77328 281.592.2254 BackwoodsBarGrill.com *Ball Insurance 416 S Main St Highlands, TX 77563 800.444.7014 BallIns.com *Big Mike’s Apparel 5014 Louella Deer Park, TX 77536 281.542.9938 BigMikesApparel.com *Corpus Christi Harley-Davidson 502 Padre Island Dr Corpus Christi, TX 78408 361.854.3146 CorpusChristiHarley.com *Cowboy Harley-Davidson Beaumont 1150 IH-10 South Beaumont, TX 77707 88.839.4464 CowboyHarley.com *Eagle Cycles 11800 Jones Rd Houston, TX 77070 281.955.0064 EagleCyclesTX.com *Farrar & Ball LLP LAW TIGERS 1010 Lamar, Ste 1600 Houston, TX 77002 888.LAW-TIGERS (529.8443) LawTigers.com *Goe Harley-Davidson 1350 S 288B Angleton, TX 77515 281.383.1000 GoeHarley-Davidson.com Haley Insurance PO Box 8787 The Woodlands, TX 77387 888.4.BIKERS (424.5377) HaleyInsuranceOnline.com *Harley-Davidson of Kingwood 111 Northpines Dr Kingwood, TX 77365 281.358.0457 KingwoodHarley.com

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July 2010

*Houston Motorsports North 9550 FM 1960 West Houston, TX 77070 281.890.2020 HoustonYamaha.com

*D’Rose Inn & Cabins 527 Hwy 83 Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.5246 DRoseInn.com

*Jackel Motorsports West 3719 Hwy 90 Brookshire, TX 77423 281.934.4444 JackelWest.com

*Cindy’s Gone Hog Wild 5496 Hwy 71 E Cedar Creek, TX 78612 512.247.4600 CGHW.com

*Mancuso Harley-Davidson Crossroads 12710 Crossroads Park Dr Houston, TX 77065 281.970.9700 MancusoCrossroads.com

*Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop & Bent Rim Grill 657 West Ranch Rd Leakey, TX 78873 830.232.6629 FrioCanyonMotorcycleStop.biz BentRimGrill.com

Mullis Air & Heat Houston Area 281.468.5819 *Republic Harley-Davidson 12707 Southwest Fwy Stafford, TX 77477 866.843.6481 RepublicHD.com

*Gruene Harley-Davidson 1288 Loop 337 New Braunfels, TX 78130 830.624.2473 GrueneHarley.com

Ride Like a Pro - Houston 281.844.6818 RideLikeAProHouston.com

*Javelina Harley-Davidson 29078 I-10 West Boerne, TX 78006 800-860-9696 JavelinaHarleyDavidson.com

*San Jacinto Harley-Davidson 3636 E Sam Houston Pkwy South Pasadena, TX 77505 281.991.4275 SanJacintoHD.com

*Phantom Rider Choppers 6535 West Hwy 46 New Braunfels, TX 78132 830.228.4606 PhantomRiderChoppers.com

*Stitches 1308 Hwy 6 South Houston, TX 77077 281.558.8572

*Southern Metal Choppers 11116 Middle Fiskville Rd, Ste E Austin, TX 78753 512.833.5044 SouthernMetalChoppers.com

*Stubbs Harley-Davidson 4400 Telephone Rd Houston, TX 77087 713.644.7535 StubbsHD.com *Team Mancuso Powersports - Gulf Fwy 10222 Gulf Fwy Houston, TX 77034 281.486.4604 TMPGF.com *Team Mancuso Powersports - SW 7537 SW Freeway Houston, TX 77074 713.955.9944 TMPSW.com *Texas Rock Tavern 2470 FM 1960 Houston, TX 77068 281.583.8111 * VIP Apparel 2219 Post Office Street Galveston, TX 77550 VIPBikerApparel.com 409.457.8316 *West of the Brazos Bar & Grill 23220 Hwy 36 Damon, TX 77430 979.742.3100 MySpace.com/WestOfTheBrazos

HILL COUNTRY * Buckhorn Bar & Grill 4377 US Hwy 83 South Leakey, TX 830.232.4755 FrioBuckhornBar.com

PANHANDLE *Affordable Leather 3302 N Midkiff Rd Midland, TX 79705 432.699.0775 Affordable-Leather-WTX.com *Big Apple Deli & Bar 1804 25th St Snyder, TX 79549 325.573.7788

PINEY WOODS *Backwoods Bar & Grill 11310 FM 1725 Bear Creek, TX 77328 832.579.7668 BackwoodsBarGrill.com *Cycle Heaven 3770 Hwy 69N Lufkin, TX 75904 936.634.8404 CycleHeavenTX.com *Misfit Motorcycles 11210 FM 1488 Magnolia, TX 7354 877.MIS.FITZ (647.3489) MisfitMotorcycles.com *Phantom Custom Cycles 34507 SH 249 Pinehurst, TX 77362 281.766.1549 PhantomCustomCycles.com

PRAIRIES & LAKES Dragonstar Motorcycle Transport Bryan, TX 77806 281.935.8890 GetARide.net *Frisco Custom Cycles 6427 Main Street Frisco, TX 75034 214.387.0650 FriscoCustomCycles.com *Harley-Davidson of Waco 1524 I-35 South Waco, TX 76706 254.753.0393 HDWaco.com *Horny Toad Bar & Grill Cranfills Gap, TX 76637 254.597.1100 HornyToadBar.com *Longhorn Harley-Davidson 2830 West I-20 Grand Prairie, TX 75052 972.988.1903 LonghornHD.com

*Bully’s Grill 8542 Seymour Hwy Wichita Falls, TX 76310 940.689.9195

*Moto Liberty 11441 N Stemmons Fwy Dallas, TX 75229 972.243.5995 MotoLiberty.com

*Flying V Creations 1903 College Ave Snyder, TX 79549 325.436.0197 MySpace.com/FlyingVCreations

*Snook Watering Hole FM 2155 Snook, TX 77879 979.272.3715 SnookWateringHole.com

*Lubbock Custom Motorcycles 11804 South University #A Lubbock, TX 79423 806.745.7167 LubbockCustomMotorcycles.com

*Thunder Alley Cycles 416 NE Wilshire Blvd Burleson, TX 76028 817.295.0955 ThunderAlleyCycles.com

*Midessa Motorcycles 8100 West Highway 80 Midland, TX 79706 432.563.4109 MidessaMotorcycle.com

*Yankee’s Tavern 10328 FM 244 Carlos, TX 77843 936.873.3314 YankeesTavern.com

*Rolling Thunder Bar & Grll 6441 County Road 2173 Fluvanna, TX 79517 325.573.HAWG (4294) RollingThunderBarAndGrill.com

SOUTH TEXAS *American Riders 10874 Leslie Rd, Ste 2 Helotes, TX 78023 210.695.6343 AmericanRiders.us

ThunderRoadsTexas.com

*Caliente Harley-Davidson 7230 NW Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78245 210.681.CALI (2254) CalienteHarley.com *Cowboy’s Alamo City Harley-Davidson 11005 IH 35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 800.397.7875 CowboysAlamoCityHarley.com

Mission Wrecker 4535 FM 1516 N Converse, TX 78109 MissionWrecker.com *Texas Pride Barbeque 2980 East Loop 1604 Adkins, TX 78101 210.649.3730 TexasPrideBBQ.net

*Insurance Lady Agency 642 W Rhapsody, Ste A San Antonio, TX 78216 214.403.2216 InsuranceLadyInc.com

*Yamaha of San Antonio A Kent Powersports Company 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.655.2625 KentPowersports.com

*Joe Harrison Motorsports 9710 I-35 North San Antonio, TX 78233 210.656.9400 JHMS.com

*Mean Gene Kelton 713.866.4872 MeanGeneRocks.com

*Kent Powersports 15664 I-35 Selma, TX 78154 210.656.9400 KentPowersports.com

STATEWIDE

Outlaw Dave Show 9*5*0 AM in Houston 950KPRC.com to listen online. OutlawNation.us

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