With the cooler weather arriving here in the Sunshine State the riding and events just get better. The new Ace Café Orlando has been non-stop since opening. It seems that every weekend there’s some new event going on that targets motorcycles or classic cars. They’ve even started a bike night on Thursday nights that draws every year and model of bike… One of my favorite local watering holes in Eustis, Pugs Pub, seems to always have a lot going on. If it’s not a Customer Appreciation Day with drink specials and a table full of potluck goodies then it’s a great band kickin’ up the afternoon with good music like the afternoon of July 22, when Liquor Boxx was providing the entertainment… The next afternoon Seminole Harley-Davidson stepped up the beat with an event advertising bikes, babes and bands. The band Highway Starz has a good following in the area and provided the music while Wolfy’s Restaurant served up the adult refreshments, and Tasha Taylor, Miss Seminole Harley with her sexy appeal, made an appearance—all making for a great afternoon… The weekend of August 11–13 we took a ride up to the Starke Bikefest a couple hours north of O-town. This event started back in 2006 and it’s been held in October but this year the promoters tried August. It was being promoted as “old school fun” along with a pancake breakfast for veterans as well as Jell-O wrestling, burnouts, a wet T-shirt contest and a bike show. There were a few vendors along Call Street, and maybe 100 bikes if you counted everyone on the street as well as riding by. We stopped for a quick bite and ran into some friends who live up that way. They talked us into leaving the “excitement” of the downtown and checking out the local biker-friendly establishments. Timbuktu and Whiskey River had as many motorcycles out front as we had seen in downtown, and a lot better music. Thanks, Jaybird, for saving the day!… On August 19, Gator Harley hosted the registration site for the Bikes & BBQ 4 Autism benefit run. Riders left Gator about 10:00 a.m. and hit several local watering holes before ending back at the Chicago Brewing in downtown Leesburg for the after party… I was recently reminded that I made an error about Leesburg Bikefest when I stated that the city had banned the Tattoo Expo during the event. Although that’s what I was told by more than one person, I found out that the building had actually been sold and that’s why the expo wasn’t occupying the space. Rumor has it that the 2018 expo might be held at Gator Harley-Davidson, so stay tuned for more info… And for those of you who are riding around on a dirty bike, my friend Keven Lare just started a new detailing business so give him a call at 352.408.4332 or hit him up on Facebook at K&K Detailing and let him make your baby sparkle like a new penny… Or if you need your iron horse taken to the local shop or your favorite MC tech, call German Dave at 407.810.3630 and he’ll pick it up and give it a lift to wherever it needs to go… That’s about it for me this month. Ride safe and take care of each other. God bless.
