This little darling was helping with parking at one of Roscoe’s neighbors yards.
With all the running we, and she did, this was about all we could muster up. If anyone out there happens to know Jazzy, please tell her we did our best to get her a feature. She’s a Sweetheart!!!
Thanks to Chopper Dave for the use of his machine…
Miserable
We rolled in about 10:15 AM Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, and what a pleasure it was…seeing all the people already there and all set up for an all-out FUN week-end!! I got my rig all set up, and traversed the grounds, looking for early photo-opps!!! AND, I got ‘em too!!
I turned in early to save my strength for what lay ahead…(little did I know!!!) Anyway, Friday dawned somewhat murky, pre-conditions for the big front that was heading our way, and, it arrived in a BIG way, with a down-burst, heavy rain, and at least 3 tornadoes sighted in the Lakeland area!! Needless to say, my camping rig was all but destroyed, bedding soaked, tent ruined, causing me to have to sleep in my truck for 2 days!!!! NOT GOOD for an old guy!! Surprisingly, right after the storm, the crowd DID gather in front of the stage area…band was playing, vendors were selling, food and wares…everything back to normal. A storm did little to keep these bikers from having fun!! A welcoming ceremony took place, including a huge American Flag display, as well as banners representing all branches of our Military. The National Anthem was presented as was sounding of TAPS…very inspirational…!
Saturday dawned sunny and a bit cooler…Corn-hole tourney going on, chili cookers getting set up, and a steady stream of riders at the gate…waiting to enter and join the action.Biker games were starting, including slow races, weenie bite, and the ever-popular Out-house Races…lots of action, after which, it was time to sample all that sweet smelling CHILI. Whew…time to cool it a bit, take a seat, listen to the bands, check out the babes that MC Pogo was interviewing on stage…that guy is an artist!!! Later, awards were given out for Corn Hole, body paint, and of course…the best chili. All this mixed in with arm wrestling, custom bike awards, pole dancing, and another Flag Ceremony, and several “beauty contests”…!!! Folks…something for everybody!!
I’d like to thank Roscoe, David, Liz, Steve, and the whole staff for their hospitality and a job WELL DONE. Hope to see you all in 2019…
Miserable George
Old School Biker Magazine
April 28, 2018, started out a wee bit on the cool side, but, it certainly didn’t take very long to heat up…I’m thinkin’ it was all those bikers streaming into town that did the trick. Standing on Main St, and looking west, it was bikes as far as you could see…Bikefest 2018 had begun!!!
That crowd just kept growing, and I was told, that it was a record!!
the way it should be!! Market St. was packed with shoppers, all agog with what was offered by the myriad of vendors, featuring food, drink, leathers, jewelry, well, you name it…it was there!! Up on Main St., it was elbow to elbow with big, burly, bikers, to sweet little biker chicks, and of course, the proverbial baby buggies…some of them containing dogs!!! At the 6th. St. Town Square area, the crowd was cooling it, sitting down and taking in the near-by band, a few girls were actually cooling it IN the fountain!!
I had my usual lunch at the Porch Cafe, followed by a nice rest period at the Media Center, where I learned that there would be NO trip to the top of the Lightstream Bldg. till 9 that night!!! Well, I missed that…!
I always enjoy a stroll through the Rat’s Hole Chopper display area, where we eye-balled some pretty radical machines. Later, we took in the Miss Rat Mate contest, followed by the awarding of prizes for the Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show…those trophies were fabulous!! Radical Randy did his usual terrific job as main EMCEE, and it was a pleasure meeting Easyriders’ ace photog again…Don Rogers.
Well, it was getting late by now, and, this old boy was getting pretty tired, so, it was time to hit the road for home. A big THANK YOU goes out to Ken and Amanda for their hospitality and help during my day in Leesburg. Thanks too, to Randy for all the plugs…(Florida’s oldest photographer was one of them)..ya well, I guess it’s true!!
Meanwhile, ride safe, and, stand up for your country…!!!
Miserable George
I really don’t quite remember how many of Willie’s Chopper Shows I’ve been to, but, several other veterans and I agreed that this years’ was one of the largest!!! As has been the case lately, March 15 dawned bright and clear, AND…COLD!!! But, thanks to the Big Weatherman in the Sky, it warmed up quite well…well enough for a few of the little darlings prancing around to shed some un-needed clothing…ah yes, biker babes…ya can’t beat ‘em!!! Out front, were several Rat Rods that the little darlings enjoyed posing with, plus, all the custom built bike entries, and in the back yard, were a host of vendors, and of course, the band stand, featuring a friend of mine…Big Rick and the Troublemakers. Back around front, it was time to award trophies, many of them handmade, along with tossing out of souvenir T’s and the usual “coolies”.
Nice to meet Mike Lichter and son, and famous bike builder Dave Perowitz again. All in all, a fabulous day…looking forward to the next one!! Hey, support our troops, and, stand up for your country…ride safe, (and often)…
Miserable George
A day in Samsula includes the Cabbage Patch as well as Cacklebery Campground. I got there early on a very cool, brisk Wednesday of Bike Week, 2018. Ran into my friend, photag “Jackman”, and we kinda backed each other up all day long. It was my first visit there, since we lost Ronnie awhile back…I really missed him. Several good bands there, including my friend, BIG DADDY….always a pleasure to see him. Of course, the “biggie” at the Patch, is the cole slaw wrestling. Huge crowd was there for that event.
Crazy man…!!! Cold weather, not-with-standing, a few of the ladies bared a bit of skin…oh yeah!! Also, the one man band inside the bar, filled the place to over-flowing…never saw the bar THAT crowded…he was good too!! It was a beautiful day all around, and I thank the Patch and Cacklebery folks for their help and consideration, and all the babes who stood still for my camera. Always a pleasure to visit there during the Biker weeks in Daytona….
Miserable George
Sunday, March 11, 2018, as far as I know, was the beginning of Daytona’s Bike Week-2018…the weather was beautiful, so, we boogied north to the Broken Spoke, to pick up on a Chopper and Rat Rod showing.
Hunger had a hand in it as well, so, we ventured next door to good old Smiley’s Tap, one of our old hang-outs from years ago!! Nostalgia and my love of “old school” took me over there for a bite to eat…!! Good food, and good service combined to make my mealtime a real pleasure!!!
Lots of changes in that area down through the years…no more bike parking on US#1, and, no more babe in the bed of a pick-up truck hawking beer!!! Although, Smiley’s still featured their delicious, out-door afternoon meal…that was always a winner!!
I’d like to extend my thanks to both Broken Spoke, and Smiley’s for their hospitality, which included allowing me to park my HEMI on the grounds of a biker event…(unheard of!!!) Made my job a lot easier, thanks guys!!! Made a few new friends, and, ran into a few old ones too…yes, I REALLY did!!! More adventures during Bike Week-2018…coming up…stay tuned…ride safe…stand by our vets and your country!!!
Miserable George
We pulled into ROSCOE’S CHILI CHALLENGE…2017 on Thursday morning at 10AM, and, the place was already bustling with activity…bikes moving in and out, campers setting up for the week-end, vendors preparing for business, the sound man hooking up the system…etc!!! Looked good!!! Best part was, the food vendors were open!!! After setting up our camp, my partners, Jay and Donny, and I, made a bee-line for John’s Heavenly Hotdogs and pigged out!!! Later, I traversed the perfectly manicured camping area, looking for people that I might know…and…I found them!! It’s nice hooking up with friends that you’ve not seen in about year. I might add, that the weather was perfect!! Also, time for this old guy to rest up for a big day on Friday!!
No actual events planned for Friday, but, there was live music, and a pretty steady stream of riders entering, and searching out that “perfect” camping spot! I might add here, that the main camp area was serviced by 50 Potra-lets, as was the more “primitive” area across the bridge, and the main vendor and activities areas in front of the stage. The units were serviced regularly too!!! Several good eating stands, a bar for adult beverages, as well as
Saturday morning saw the on-going horseshoe matches, plus…of course…the cooking of the chili. Li’l Hank had the big Roscoe cauldron bubbling away in no time!! Meanwhile, across the yard, Geoff was getting the biker games started. Slow race, weenie bite, and of course, the biggie…the Out-house Races!! Pretty soon,
And again…I over-did it!!! AND…free beer to wash it all down!! Following the scarfing down of the chili, the mini-bikes started warming up for some exciting racing…in a new location this year, but, none-the-less exciting. One guy got knocked clean out…he was OK, but a bit rattled!!! After a period of rest and relaxation, there was arm wrestling, a tattoo contest, a body paint contest, and this year…yes…a “Beauty Contest”, plus lots of pole dancing. Trophies and awards were given out for all the competitive events. The official welcoming events included the National Anthem, and playing of “Taps”, plus a display of all the U.S. service banners…a very emotional tribute to our Armed Forces…no “kneelers” here!!! Live music continued till the wee hours, and, all too soon, another edition of Roscoe’s Chili Challenge was history!! We had a blast, and, working with Don Rogers from Easyriders Magazine was a pleasure too!! My thanks to David, Roscoe, Pogo, Mike, Geoff, Steve, Liz, and the entire crew who made this a Chili Challenge to remember. Also “Little Girl”, Laura, Kim, Tammy, and Kayla, and all the other ladies who really sparked up my time at the big party. If I forgot anything…please forgive me! Looking forward to my 27th. party next year. Hey, ride safe, remember our vets…
Miserable George
