I hate to open my column on a depressing note but the events that took place in Central Florida the first week or so of June brought many of us to our knees… literally. I’m sure many of you reading this are aware of what I’m talking about. The murder of a young singer, the death of a little child and the massacre of 49 people in a nightclub all in the span of a week or so was almost more than some could fathom. As we all know, bikers are always on top of the list when it comes to supporting those in need. Although there weren’t a lot of benefits for individuals I was aware of, there were several that were done to support and raise money for the victims and the families of victims that lost their lives in the Pulse Nightclub in downtown Orlando. The One Heart One Pulse event took place on July 2 and was hosted by EagleRiders of Orlando where participants registered. The ride wound its way through the streets and past the site of the sadness before ending up Johnny’s Fillin’ Station. There were about 300 bikes in the ride and I saw many of the more popular clubs. Johnny’s parking lot was rather full with vendor tents so the bikes were parked in a large field across the street but some of us were able to squeeze into a discreet parking spot on the back of the parking lot in the shade… Prior to that, Seminole Harley in Sanford hosted an event on June 25 called Orlando Strong to honor first responders and their families. Radio station 101.1 WJRR was on hand to add to the fun while Hard Drive took over the stage to provide the musical entertainment. There was free beer and food trucks for the adults and a bounce house for the kiddies. Of course, everyone enjoyed the flyover by the Seminole County Sheriff’s helicopter and the display of their vehicles on site. The proceeds from the event were shared with families of first responders who were in need… That same day down on the East Coast, Space Coast Harley was supporting another worthy cause, the honor guard from the American Legion Post 117. They too were offering free beer, food, a silent auction, biker games and music by the Quarter Bones Band. The next day the 4th annual Summer Heat bike and car show took over their parking lot. There were classes for cars, trucks and bikes with nice trophies for each… And Seminole Harley took advantage of the long holiday weekend and hosted an Independence Grand Slam event—a three-day event of motorcycles and music. Bobby Friss opened the festivities on July 2 with his familiar style of rock. Then on Sunday Shotgun Dirty (yep, that’s the name) took the stage and for the 4th of July, local favorite Hayfire was the choice of entertainment… Over in Daytona, the Indian dealership on Beach Street held their last Sunday Run Day for the season on the 3rd of July. This has been a well-attended get-together and gave local riders a chance to ride and get to know other Indian owners. The rides will start up again in the fall when the heat and afternoon rains fall away. The dealership also unveiled the new AZZKIKR custom bagger “Victory Through the Gears.” This beautiful machine has a gorgeous custom paint job done by artist Chris Cruz over in Deland. Chris’ talent has been well known in our area for years as his work is exceptional… And not to leave out Gator Harley, they were just as busy over in Lake County with two back-to-back weekends. The weekend of July 8-10 shoppers enjoyed big discounts on clothing and gear and the following weekend, they held a Hotter than Hell blowout sale which offered up to 60-percent off obsolete parts and accessories. And it was hotter than hell. I know… I was there on Sunday, the 17th, to enjoy a band called Eustis Station for a while before taking off to get some wind in my hair. That’s it for now, till next time.
